Sri Lanka

Phase One: Tekanda Lodge – Days 1 to 5

From the moment you arrive at Tekanda Lodge, you’ll feel an immediate sense of calm and wonder. Imagine waking up each day surrounded by tropical tranquility, cooling off in an infinity pool, and savoring delicious meals prepared by a private chef. This stunning sanctuary offers the perfect setting to unwind, recharge, and reflect.

But this is just the beginning. As you take in the views from the yoga platform or venture to nearby surfing beaches, you’ll feel a renewed sense of vitality and excitement. Daily yoga and surf lessons help you embrace both calm and exhilaration, grounding you in mindfulness one moment, and immersing you in the thrill of the waves the next. Feel your stress melt away, and experience pure presence as you navigate the surf.

Empowerment Through Purpose: The Women’s Empowerment Centre

At the Women’s Empowerment Centre, you’ll feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment as you help local women develop essential skills. Here, you’ll be more than just a visitor—you’ll become a vital part of a community, making meaningful contributions that empower women to seize new opportunities in the growing tourism industry. You’ll return home with a deeper understanding of resilience and a renewed appreciation for life’s simplest pleasures.

Phase Two: Central Highlands – Days 6 to 8

In the breathtaking Central Highlands, you’ll feel your adventurous spirit awaken. As you hike through forest reserves, and stand in awe before thundering waterfalls, you’ll reconnect with nature and challenge your body in ways that make you feel vibrant and strong. Climbing to the summit of Ella’s Rock, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that reminds you how powerful you truly are—mentally, physically, and emotionally. The stunning views from the top will serve as a beautiful metaphor for the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

Why This Midlife Adventure Is Life-Changing

This adventure is more than a break from routine; it’s a journey back to yourself. You’ll feel:

Rejuvenated by the breathtaking landscapes, and activities that calm and strengthen the body.

Inspired by the community connections, helping others find new meaning and purpose in life.

Energized by the physical challenges that remind you of your strength, resilience, and capacity for growth.

Fulfilled as you immerse yourself in cultural exchange and discover new perspectives.

Rediscover Your Best Self. Embrace the Adventure.

Join us for this unique midlife adventure that goes beyond travel—it’s about feeling truly alive, breaking free from routine, and rediscovering your passion for life. Feel youthful, energized, and inspired again. Are you ready to embark on this journey?

Phase one will be spent at the stunning and spoiling Tekanda Lodge, a beautiful hill-top home set on a private tea estate, with panoramic views across the jungle and paddy fields. Can't tell you how beautiful this place is.

Here you will be immersed in tropical tranquillity, cool down in the infinity swimming pool, and be cooked delicious meals by their private chef (FYI the food is exceptional). Tekanda is literally a stones throw away from some of Sri Lanka’s hipest surfing beaches and has a yoga platform for the morning lessons overlooking the jungle and padi fields below. Peachy perfect.

Accommodation

The focal point of the lodge is a super stylish living area, with panoramic views, A large infinity pool sits just below surrounded by palms and tropical flowers.

Five large en-suite double bedrooms in the main lodge sit off the central courtyard. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms and private verandahs. Think rustic chic.

Shared accommodation only. Room configuration: 3 rooms have a double and a single bed. 2 rooms have 2 single beds. .

Food

Utterly delicious. Breakfast, lunch and supper included, prepared by head chef Rana using the freshest tropical produce available. Expect a combination of plant-based dishes with some fish, seafood and meat. Vegan and vegetarian diets available. Rana promises to integrate the very best of mouth-watering Sri Lankan cuisine with global influences.

If you choose to eat out then that is not included.

Community Contribution

The contribution element of this programme will be to help Charlie’s community project called Gamata Atak meaning ‘A Hand to the Village’ who's principal aim is to bridge the rural-urban skills divide in Sri Lanka.

The plan is for everyone to spend part of each day at the centre with the local ladies helping improve their spoken English, tweak their cooking skills to meet the tourist tastes, and help maintain the vegetable garden that we just completed. The ladies are fun-loving and will welcome you into their world, so the experience will be positive for all.

If anyone loves cricket – then before you know it, you’ll be whisked off to the Girls Cricket Academy, to help coach and inspire the next generation of female cricketers.

Yoga and Surfing

Interwoven into your day will be an early morning yoga practice, and surf lessons with private instructors late afternoon. FYI these beaches are famous for their surf.

Free time will be made available (promise) so you can explore the meandering streets of Galle, settle in for a sundowner or two, visit local tea factories and buy a gem stone or two.

Phase two will be spent exploring the dramatic Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. Here you will stay at the pretty Amba Estate (https://www.ambaestate.com), which is a community-run organic team estate and guesthouse perched above the Ravana-Ella Waterfalls, with views of Ella's Rock and Lipton’s Seat.

Amba produce a range of artisanal teas, coffees, spices and preserves, and work with the local community to support a variety of educational, economic, and environmental initiatives, which you will be introduced to.

Your final night will be spent in Colombo, staying at the famous Galle Face Hotel for your final night.

Accommodation

Amba’s old estate farmhouse, and the two neighbouring bungalows operate as full-service guest houses. The accommodation is simple, yet cozy and everyone will be in twin rooms.
https://www.ambaestate.com

Galle Face Hotel in single rooms. https://www.gallefacehotel.com/

Food

Amba
All meals will be provided, cooked by the lovely ladies who were all former fieldworkers from the village, and as much as possible, use the ingredients sourced from the organic farm or neighbours in the valley. Breakfast usually includes Sri Lankan specialities like hoppers or dosai. For lunch, they typically serve a lighter farmhouse meal, like quiche and salad or soup and roti but will provide picnic lunches for those on hikes, and the default main course at dinner is rice with delicious village-style curries.

Galle Face Hotel
Supper is extra but breakfast included.

Wildlife Safari

On the way to the Central Highlands, you will pass through Udawalawe National Park where you will go in search of their wildlife including some of the biggest wild elephant herds in Sri Lanka – so pack your binos.

Hikes and Ella's Peak

The first evening will be spent on a gentle one-hour hike through the dramatic 50-acre forest reserve, exploring the secret cave and thundering waterfalls, finishing off with a sundowner at the ridge overlooking Ella’s Rock before returning to Amba for supper.

The following day you’ll start with another more challenging three-hour (ish) hike, climbing more than 400 meters, to reach the top of Ella’s Rock. Along the way you’ll walk past tea estates, cross rivers and meander through a small eucalyptus forest till you finally reach the summit. From the top, you’ll get a panoramic view of Ella’s Gap and Little Adam’s Peak - it's worth it! From there you’ll hike back down for a late lunch before a restful afternoon of tea tasting.

The final day will start with a 30 min sunrise hike above Amba before heading back to Colombo for the final night, staying at the famous Galle Face Hotel. We went to the oh so stylish Paradise Cafe for supper, which I highly recommend.