About The Retreat

We specialize in Ayurveda which is an ancient art of healing the body and mind through nutrition, relaxation, and herbal treatments. Our Ayurvedic doctors and senior therapists have over 15 year of experience.

Our retreat at Plantation Villa provides a chance to deepen and renew your yoga and meditation practice, whilst caring for your body and mind with loving care from our village team.

Set in a rural village, surrounded by lush green natural landscape, we are a community center where a village has come together to serve you and take you on an unimaginable journey. The retreat funds and maintains the Metta Trust charity to do community development, wildlife conservation and forest preservation activities.

We maintain the local temples, village schools and fund majority of the community activities in our village and surrounding villages.

Over 90% of our staff team are local villagers from underprivileged backgrounds who we have trained and offered employment along with mentoring to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

Experience the ultimate in relaxation and wellness with this Ayurveda and yoga retreat. Drawing from centuries of wisdom, the Ayurveda treatments are tailored to your individual needs and complemented by yoga and meditation practices.

Ayurveda emphasizes balance in all aspects of life, diet, lifestyle, and thought patterns – to prevent illness and promote well-being. The yoga and meditation classes help restore harmony in mind, body, and spirit, allowing you to overcome personal challenges and reach your full potential.

Retreat feedback: “Beyond individual well-being. This is far more than a yoga retreat. It’s a living, breathing, immersion into bringing you closer to nature’s rhythm, reasoning and resonance. From the routine, diet, yoga and plant medicines to the talks, demonstrations, walks and books. Plantation Villa is a unique experience in tasting Ayurvedic practices whilst learning about this village’s history and life. If you have more than a few days, then I would recommend getting stuck in for several weeks as there are very few places like this.”

Yoga and Wellness

Rejuvenate your mind and body with daily yoga and meditation sessions in the tranquil surroundings of Kalutara. Savor a variety of Ayurvedic meals and snacks, thoughtfully prepared to nourish your body and balance your doshas. Engage in Ayurvedic talks and workshops designed to help you achieve optimal wellness and deepen your understanding of holistic health.

Experience the transformative power of mindfulness practices each day, leaving you refreshed and energized. Connect with like-minded individuals on a shared journey to enhance overall well-being, creating lifelong friendships and lasting memories.

Highlights

• 4 Nights of Comfortable Accommodation: Relax and unwind in serene, well-appointed rooms that provide the perfect retreat.
• Daily Guided Yoga and Meditation Sessions: Rejuvenate your mind and body with expertly led sessions designed to enhance your well-being.
• Meals Prepared Using Organic Ingredients: Savor nourishing meals crafted from fresh, organic ingredients that support your health and vitality.
• Attend Talks on Yoga and Ayurveda Philosophy: Gain valuable insights into yoga, Ayurveda, and healthy living, with discussions on improving daily habits and more.
• Participate in a Cookery Class: Learn to prepare delicious Ayurvedic dishes using natural, wholesome ingredients.
• Enjoy Seasonal Activities: Immerse yourself in the local culture with activities such as vegetable and fruit picking, rubber tapping, and paddy harvesting.

Accommodation

Plantation Villa was once a colonial bungalow with 30 acres of rubber, coconut, cinnamon and black pepper. Today, as a Wellness Sanctuary, the villa retains a sense of authentic charm across all its rooms, suites, quiet alcoves, communal and meditation spaces.

Surrounded by lush rainforest, the plantation is also a home to many rare bird species, butterflies, tropical flora and fauna, all existing in harmony with us. The property consists of the main Villa and two Lodges, each about 2 minutes walking distance from each other.

The Lodge-1 is the original house of the first occupier of this colonial treasure. With time, their son built a bigger home to house his expanding family. This is now the main Villa.

The Villa consists of 8 rooms (2 Suite Rooms and 6 Deluxe Rooms), the Dining Hall, Lounge, Veranda’s and Spa.

The Lodge 1 and 2 consists of 9 Standard rooms and open Veranda’s. The Villa and the Lodge were renovated in 2016 and is decorated to contemporary colonial style in keeping with the age of the property and to meet our guest comforts and modern needs. All our rooms have private ensuite facilities.

Guest rooms categories are as follows:

Standard Rooms – All of our standard rooms are in the Lodges. All open in to a relaxing open veranda overlooking the garden.

The rooms and bathrooms are completed beautifully to include modern guest requirements. The rooms have fans but they are not air-conditioned.

Deluxe Rooms – All of our deluxe rooms are in the Villa and they also all open in to open veranda’s overlooking the gardens. The rooms and bathrooms are completed beautifully to include modern guest requirements. Unlike the standard rooms, Deluxe rooms are air conditioned.

Suite Rooms – We have two Suite Rooms which are in the Villa and they open in to a beautiful front veranda within the main Villa. The rooms and bathrooms are large and spacious and our completed to luxury standards. The Suite Room bathrooms have both a shower and a bath. Both Suite Rooms are air conditioned.

Retreat schedule

At Plantation Villa, you’ll experience a truly unique holiday, immersed in nature and guided by ancient Vedic traditions and mindfulness practices. Here, you’ll find complete relaxation and inner peace, far from the typical activity-packed or spa holidays. The retreat offers a natural environment free of man-made distractions, allowing you to turn inward and explore your emotions and cognitive behavior patterns—areas often neglected in modern life. With expert guidance, you’ll gain a deeper awareness of your inner self and its impact on your physical well-being.

(Please note this timetable is indicative and timings may change slightly from time to time)

Daily schedule
06:30 – 07:30: Yoga
07:30 – 09:00: Breakfast
09:00 – 12:30: Ayurvedic treatments (for those on treatment packages). Other guests may also take morning walks in the village or swim before treatment.
12:30 – 14:30: Lunch
14:30 – 17:00: Rest or participate in afternoon activities, including plantation walks, tree planting, cookery classes, and talks with yoga teachers or doctors.
15:30: Afternoon tea & snack
17:00: Evening yoga
18:00: Evening guided meditation
18:30 – 19:30: Dinner
19:30 – 20:00: Discussions with the Ayurvedic doctor or yoga teacher on Ayurveda, yoga, philosophy, special meditations, or other activities

Retreat price

Prices are in US dollars

This vacation is available all year round, please select an arrival date below. Please note that there are no discounts available for arrival dates between December 21, 2024, and February 28, 2025.

Special Offer discount of 5% if you book between 2024-Oct-13 and 2025-Oct-15.

5 days / 4 nights

1 person
Private single room: Discounted rate US$646 / Normal rate $680
Shared villa – Deluxe room single occupancy

1 person
Private single room Discounted rate US$760 / Normal rate $800
Shared villa – Suite single occupancy

2 persons
Private twin room Discounted rate US$1064 / Normal rate $1120
Shared villa – Deluxe room

2 persons
Private double room Discounted rate US$1178 / Normal rate $1240
Shared villa – Suite

Includes

During this retreat, you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of daily afternoon activities, including:

• Guided walks in the plantation and paddy fields to immerse yourself in nature
• Cookery demonstrations to learn new recipes and techniques
• Discussions about yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, meditation, and other wellness topics to deepen your knowledge and understanding
• Seasonal vegetable and fruit picking activities to experience farm-to-table living (seasonal)
• Seasonal rubber tapping or paddy harvesting to learn about traditional agriculture practices (seasonal)

Does not include

* Ayurvedic Treatments
* Airport transfers
* Day trips (these can be purchased at extra cost).

Spa & Wellness Treatments

Additional treatments (Not included = charges applicable):

• Abhyanga Massage Therapy
• Akshi Tharpana (Eye Treatment)
• Panchakarma
• Pinda Sweda Massage Therapy
• Shirodhara
• Vashpaswedanam Steam Bath and Inhalation
• Pichu
• Nasya
• VastiVirechana (Therapeutic Purgation)

Whether you are addressing specific health issues or maintaining your well-being, treatments and herbal medicines will be tailored to your constitution and individual requirements. These treatments are designed to promote healing, balance, and rejuvenation – please ask a member of staff for more info during your stay.

Optional activities/tours

If you have not come on a package that includes day trips, we can arrange day trips to local places of interest. These can be organised according to your schedule and request, so you can still see some wonderful places further a field, during your time with us.

Most of our trips are either to rather unique cultural or historic sights or charity/conservation based projects.

Sinharajah Natural Rain Forest – the last remaining rain forest in Sri Lanka which is lush and green and hike through this will be an amazing experience.

Whale & Dolphin Watching in Mirissa – We work with a company working with whale conservation in Sri Lanka. It is an early morning start but totally worth the experience.

Udawalawe National Park (to see Elephants) – we recommend this trip over the trip to Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage, where we have heard mixed reviews about how the animals are treated. This is an opportunity to see elephants in their own natural habitat. Holding the largest population of elephants in Sri Lanka, you are almost guaranteed to see elephants here.

Kandy Town and Temple of the Tooth – The last kingdom of Sri Lanka still rich in art and culture. Kandy also has the Temple of the Tooth where Buddhas tooth is kept and is one of the most venerated sights in Sri Lanka. Apart from its religious significance, it is also a must see sight to understand the richness of Sri Lankan art and culture.

Local turtle hatchery – A turtle conservation project to help save turtles from extinction. You can see and learn about turtles and can have the opportunity to release baby turtles to the sea!

Beach – Picnic at some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful beaches

Kalutara Bhodiya –  One of the most famous temples in Sri Lanka with a Pagoda with architectural value and a Bo Tree over 2000yrs old

Galle – A visit to one of the most vibrant cities in Sri Lanka where the influences of colonial time is prevalent with some world heritage sites

Warakagoda Temple – An ancient cave temple with a natural forest displaying some amazing Sri Lankan art on the rock.

Richmond Castle –  Left over from the British Empire depicting the influences of European Architecture.

What past guests have said

”What a wonderful, warm and uplifting experience for the human spirit. Plantation Villa is a priceless experience. And yes, one could go to any number of 5* hotels with super-plush beds or for standalone Ayurvedic treatment, but what Plantation Villa has which sets it apart is a loving kindness which ebbs through every living thing there. From the unspoilt rural but working rubber plantation location, to the nonplussed resident iguanas who cross paths with the omnipresent staff and owners, the villa is an environment to experience, enjoy and acclimatise to. At Plantation Villa you are cherished as an individual rather than just another one of countless guests. You’ll find yourself talking slower, walking slower, even thinking slower(!) which for some of us from big cities is no mean feat. The food is legendary (not spicy or heavy, just really tasty and fresh) as are the staff who cater unobtrusively to almost your every whim. And last but not least the authentic Ayurvedic treatments for which, if you are on the programme, you readily forego 1.5hrs of each and every day!. I would return in a heartbeat.” Leona (London, UK)

”Relaxing and magical place with the best staff. I stayed 6 night – only yoga and meditation package. It was the best I have ever done for myself! The room was amazing, the surroundings were so relaxed and magical. No matter what time of the day, you can always find animals in the garden. The food was very delicious and I loved the way they served it. You really learn to stop eating when you are full. The staff were lovely and they tried to do everything to make you comfortable. the doctors were super friendly, also even I didn’t get the Ayurveda package. They would gladly tell you about their knowledge. Ranjit is a very hardworking man who is gorgeous and helpful! Also the cleaning ladies are so lovely. I love this place and will definitely come back. Thank you so much for this great retreat – wish everybody on plantation villa all the best.” Anne (Zurich, Switzerland)

“A wonderful paradise. A truly amazing environment, natural beauty personified by amazing people -warm welcoming, humble, sensitive and caring to every individuals needs for restoration of mind and body. The plantation provides tranquility, harmony and complete rest and a chance to be at one with a natural environment of wonderful fruit, vegetables, animals, birds and flowers. I hope all future visitors take away some of the qualities that this “garden of Eden” provides and I wish Plantation villa continued success for the preservation of such natural beauty for the future of mankind.” Keith (Shrewsbury, England)

What to pack

• Old underwear (they will get oily)
• Light summer clothing
• Flip flops and walking shoes
• Yoga outfits
• Mosquito repellent

Booking

To book your place on this 5 day ayurvedic yoga and meditation retreat at Plantation Villa, please fill in the form below.