In 2003 I spend 250USD a month on everything including food and hostels with beachfront in Hikkaduwa, met less than 50 tourists over these months. In 2013 I spend 400USD a month. 3 months incl flight from Europe = 1800 USD/Euros. These days the prices are crazy. Food, trains and buses are still cheap though. It's worth a trip if you have not been there. Soft mellow waves.
The local businesses went crazy with the prices. There's only a few restaurants that you can eat a resonably priced meals. Most places that cater to tourists charge an obsene amounts of money. Avocado toatst for 4 dollars. Breakfast for 6 or 7 dollars. Going out is even more ridiculous. Also scammers everywhere. The local people have no shame!
Just outside of Midigama there’s Yoyo Surf Hostel which is awesome! It’s across the road from a nice surf spot that usually doesn’t get as crowded. The hostel owner Gee is a legend, definitely recommend checking it out!!!
Hey dan, I love your content! I'm Heading to SL at the end of march, specifically the midigama area. I'm an intermediate surfer looking to level up my surfing. I'm debating where to stay. Do you recommend staying in welligama and taking a tuk-tuk to different surf spots or staying at plantations and surfing the breaks around there?
Thanks for sharing as always my friend The most useful travel tips on RUclips Although this destination at the moment there is quite a bit if turmoil with the government See state department website before traveling here Always appreciate your honest opinions my friend Be well and Stay Frosty 👍🤙
Hey Michael!! Thank you and yes I have heard about that, I did have a look and seems to be ok at the moment, but definitely something to keep watch on!!
Please make a video about sharks, I’d love to learn to surf but too afraid of them, as far as I know I’ve been considering just Ireland, Scotland or somewhere where can’t think about them 😂🥹 lived in Australia 4 years and never dared to jump in the water🥹
Hey mate!! Great shout as it's such an interesting/scary topic in surfing and totally understand where you're coming from! But yeah Northern Europe, you'll have no issues with Sharks haha!!
Thanks for the so many info! For the tuktuk rent it seems like there is only one company which rent for quite high prices, especially if we want the tuktuk delivered to galle. Are there local ways to rent them too?
Hey mate!! Sorry for the slow reply... yeah the ones you find online would be expensive, I'd suggest finding them just on the road, should be much cheaper!!
Hello Mate, great review and super helpful. I want to ask you, I'm planing to go Sri Lanka, November December , its my "one in a life time opportunity " and I wanted to go surfing in Arugam bay... so, I know its the end of the wave season, but sometimes near of the end still coming some swells. What could you recommend? should I go or give up? Thanks a lot.
Hi mate!! Epic, you're gonna have a wicked time!! I'd suggest just watching the chart, and if the swell comes up, do a strike mission over there, because it can be hit and miss in November! Down south though, you'll get heaps of fun waves!!
Mate this is so handy I’m 80% set on Sri Lanka to hide from winter, thanks for the info! How’s the board rental availability? Is it possible to buy a board out there then sell it on?
Hey Joe! in the main towns you shouldn't have any issues getting a foamie or mal, something like that! But I wouldn't expect to get your hands on anything fresh or high performance. That said, it might be worth looking on Facebook Marketplace (from other travelling surfers doing the same) and I haven't been to SL for a few years so there might be more surf shops around now :)
Hey mate!! Yes, they do advertise this rate, but in my few years of doing it, I find that with gaps (you only get paid for the time you're on call) between calls it generally works out closer to $8, despite the advertised rate! But then again it depends what day you're teaching :)
Hi Dan, heading to SL in December and looking for a spot with fun waves but preferring less crowds over great surf - also prefer reef breaks - Hikkaduwa seems to be presented as the best option but at the same time seems most crowded - what would you recommend ? Im keen to stay put in one place (holiday more than mission :) Thanks
Hey Simon! Hikkaduwa is a solid option but the area in/around Midigama/Weligama has so many different waves, that it can sometimes spread out the crowds, places like Mirissa and Lazy Left are pretty easy reef breaks and the beaches are beautiful :))
Yeah for sure! I guess it depends where you go, local roadside joints you can do it, but that said, I haven't been there for a few years so it's probably more expensive anyway!!
In 2003 I spend 250USD a month on everything including food and hostels with beachfront in Hikkaduwa, met less than 50 tourists over these months. In 2013 I spend 400USD a month. 3 months incl flight from Europe = 1800 USD/Euros. These days the prices are crazy. Food, trains and buses are still cheap though. It's worth a trip if you have not been there. Soft mellow waves.
Wow!! Gnarly inflation and price increases!! Heading back in two weeks!!
@@DanHarmon123 how are the prices now?
The local businesses went crazy with the prices. There's only a few restaurants that you can eat a resonably priced meals. Most places that cater to tourists charge an obsene amounts of money. Avocado toatst for 4 dollars. Breakfast for 6 or 7 dollars. Going out is even more ridiculous. Also scammers everywhere. The local people have no shame!
Just outside of Midigama there’s Yoyo Surf Hostel which is awesome! It’s across the road from a nice surf spot that usually doesn’t get as crowded. The hostel owner Gee is a legend, definitely recommend checking it out!!!
Hey Henry!! Epic, thanks for the heads up on that hostel!! Heading to SL in two weeks so will check it out if i pass through Midigama!
Amazing video man! Going to Lanka for my 3rd time at the beginning of October. Be hitting Arugam Bay for 2 weeks. Great content, cheers!🤙
Thank you!! Epic mate!! I'm heading there soon also, so might see ya there!!
Wow, I was learning your IELTS online 🙏🙏🙏. I did not realize that you are a surfer and visited Sri Lanka 🇱🇰. Love from Ireland 🇮🇪.
Hahah!! Epic! I do many jobs haha ;)
Hey dan, I love your content! I'm Heading to SL at the end of march, specifically the midigama area. I'm an intermediate surfer looking to level up my surfing. I'm debating where to stay.
Do you recommend staying in welligama and taking a tuk-tuk to different surf spots or staying at plantations and surfing the breaks around there?
Thanks for posting this video. I was in Sri Lanka in 2019, itching to get back there mate!
Epic!! Yeah i'm gonna head back there soon as well actually :)
@@DanHarmon123 if you're coming around Ahangama do get in touch.
Dan the Man, good show mate. Been to heaps of places over the yrs but never Shi Lanka. Philippines is somewhere you could go. Bit fickle but pumps.
Yeah definitely one to check out for something easy/fun!! And yes, for sure, it's on my very long list of destinations hahah!
Your content is incredible. Thank you for the knowledge brudha!
Thank you!! So happy you find it useful :))
love your videos Dan! Keep it up!
Thanks Jake!!
You had me at weak and crowded 😂🤙
Hahhah 😂 My guilty pleasure is weak beach break waves to be fair hahah!!
Thanks for sharing as always my friend The most useful travel tips on RUclips Although this destination at the moment there is quite a bit if turmoil with the government See state department website before traveling here Always appreciate your honest opinions my friend Be well and Stay Frosty 👍🤙
Hey Michael!! Thank you and yes I have heard about that, I did have a look and seems to be ok at the moment, but definitely something to keep watch on!!
Please make a video about sharks, I’d love to learn to surf but too afraid of them, as far as I know I’ve been considering just Ireland, Scotland or somewhere where can’t think about them 😂🥹 lived in Australia 4 years and never dared to jump in the water🥹
Hey mate!! Great shout as it's such an interesting/scary topic in surfing and totally understand where you're coming from! But yeah Northern Europe, you'll have no issues with Sharks haha!!
@@DanHarmon123 I hope you include even Portugal and France as safe in that 🥹
Thanks for the so many info! For the tuktuk rent it seems like there is only one company which rent for quite high prices, especially if we want the tuktuk delivered to galle. Are there local ways to rent them too?
Hey mate!! Sorry for the slow reply... yeah the ones you find online would be expensive, I'd suggest finding them just on the road, should be much cheaper!!
Hello Mate, great review and super helpful. I want to ask you, I'm planing to go Sri Lanka, November December , its my "one in a life time opportunity " and I wanted to go surfing in Arugam bay... so, I know its the end of the wave season, but sometimes near of the end still coming some swells. What could you recommend? should I go or give up? Thanks a lot.
Hi mate!! Epic, you're gonna have a wicked time!! I'd suggest just watching the chart, and if the swell comes up, do a strike mission over there, because it can be hit and miss in November! Down south though, you'll get heaps of fun waves!!
Mate this is so handy I’m 80% set on Sri Lanka to hide from winter, thanks for the info! How’s the board rental availability? Is it possible to buy a board out there then sell it on?
Hey Joe! in the main towns you shouldn't have any issues getting a foamie or mal, something like that! But I wouldn't expect to get your hands on anything fresh or high performance. That said, it might be worth looking on Facebook Marketplace (from other travelling surfers doing the same) and I haven't been to SL for a few years so there might be more surf shops around now :)
Sick🤙🤙 just to let you know dude cambly pays 10.40 per hour...👍
Hey mate!! Yes, they do advertise this rate, but in my few years of doing it, I find that with gaps (you only get paid for the time you're on call) between calls it generally works out closer to $8, despite the advertised rate! But then again it depends what day you're teaching :)
Hi Dan, heading to SL in December and looking for a spot with fun waves but preferring less crowds over great surf - also prefer reef breaks - Hikkaduwa seems to be presented as the best option but at the same time seems most crowded - what would you recommend ? Im keen to stay put in one place (holiday more than mission :) Thanks
Hey Simon! Hikkaduwa is a solid option but the area in/around Midigama/Weligama has so many different waves, that it can sometimes spread out the crowds, places like Mirissa and Lazy Left are pretty easy reef breaks and the beaches are beautiful :))
$10 a day for food. 😂 sure you can do b.fast for that or lunch or dinner or eat rice at every sitting but realistically it's double that.
Yeah for sure! I guess it depends where you go, local roadside joints you can do it, but that said, I haven't been there for a few years so it's probably more expensive anyway!!