We Escape Weligama

I decided to go to Kima surf camp on a whim, to get away from the cold and from work and meet some new people. Everyone at the camp was so kind and easy-going , travelers and staff alike. I had an incredible time and learned so much in just a week! I made new friends, ate amazing food, did some really cool activities…and I will definitely be back!

I went to Kima Surf Camp in the off-season during September and had a fantastic experience. The surf instructors were, by and large, amazing. In particular, Chuti was always motivating me to push to a higher level and providing just the right level of encouragement and advice. The kitchen staff were also great, very attentive without being overbearing. The whole experience, from breakfast to dinner, was one of the best I’ve seen at a hostel in my time traveling (over the course of many years). Kima also advertises a learn-to-surf package, which is a 5-day course of morning sessions. I would say this is an appropriate course for those who have no experience, but if you have the ability to stand up on the board and position your feet while stationary on the sand, and you know how to turn, then this course might be unnecessary, since it would be covered in the surf guiding sessions for the one-star courses anyway. However, I did like the structure provided by the learn-to-surf courses, and it was helpful for meeting new people. So, in that respect, I think it might be worth the money for those considering it. I would say that the hostel is quite social and good for solo travelers. However, during my visit, there were a lot of German-speaking travelers (in the order of 80%), which made it a bit of a different experience compared to hostels I’ve stayed at in Europe and Asia. That said, there were many activities organized, and it was easy to meet people through yoga sessions, surfing, or the social events hosted by the camp. Dinners were typically very social, especially if you chose to sit at the larger tables. The rooms were excellent, and there were plenty of bathrooms available, so I never felt like there was an issue in terms of facilities.