Summary

Come to the hills and spend an early morning paddling on the lake as the sun rises up over the Knuckles Mountains. Join us in our beautiful jungle Shala for calmly guided
classes that develop and refresh your own practice.
Explore a very real side of this beautiful island with guided walks through local villages to hilltop temples and up into the foothills of the mountains that surround Ruk.
Enjoy carefully considered, fresh Sri Lankan dishes, all making the most of the delicious ingredients readily available nearby.
Relax and refresh with massage treatments from our own carefully-trained local therapists.
In the hills close to Kandy, we love this gorgeous but untouched part of Sri Lanka. We'd love you to experience it with us.

Features

Styles
Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga

Skill Level
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Description

Your time with us at Ruk may look like...

Morning Hatha Yoga
You start each day (unless heading for a sunrise paddle on the lake) with a guided Vinyasa class at 8 am. Rose will lead you through an energizing practice to lift you into the day.

A slow and easy breakfast
After yoga enjoy a sumptuous (but healthy!) breakfast looking across the treetops and to the lake. Breakfasts are a delicious mix of Sri Lankan and Western creations.
Time to relax
Late mornings make a great time to fully relax, either by the pool, with our guys on hand to serve cooling drinks, or down by the lake, taking a paddleboard out on the calm morning water and exploring little islands easily reached.
Explore
You may choose to head out with your own naturalist and guide, walking through quiet villages to the rock temples and monastery at Bambaragala. The adventurous can climb higher and up to the stunning viewpoint on top of Pettigala - looking right across Victoria and to the Knuckles.
Afternoons
Relax in the afternoon, perhaps booking a restorative massage with one of our own local therapists. We have worked hard to train local ladies from the village in simple but healing massage techniques.
Or try a cooking class - we have developed a simple but fun class in our boat shed by the lake; one of the local teams from the nearby village shows off the best of Sri Lankan dishes with a delicious introduction to the style.
Art therapy
We have teamed up with a Kandyan artist and teacher to offer a semi-guided art class. With all the materials and simple instruction provided remotely, you can explore a skill you maybe didn't know you had. The main deck, looking across jungle tree-tops to the mountains is an ideal setting.
Afternoon tea
For those who haven't ventured out from Ruk, we tend to meet up in the late afternoon for tea and a light snack, sharing news of the day and just catching up with new friends.
Evenings
From 6 pm (or sometimes slightly later) they draw the day in with a calming Yin class. A candlelit walk back to the house brings you up to a delicious dinner of Sri Lankan dishes. Nights are not often too late at Ruk but for those wanting to hang out a little more we'll light the fire in the fire-pit down by the pool.

What Makes This Retreat Special

• Being in a space that's unique and different and calmly away from more touristy parts of Sri Lanka
• 2 expertly guided daily yoga classes in a gorgeous Shala
• A guided hike up to the rock temples of Bambaragala
• A 60 minute full body therapeutic massage
• Being able to explore a real side of Sri Lanka - on foot, on a bike, on a paddle-board
• Carefully considered food and drink
• Generous touches like cooling King Coconuts after morning yoga
• Beautifully prepared rooms to rest
• A warm and friendly team to welcome you

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  Program

   

  How you fill the day is up to you but you might like...

  Coffee and fresh fruit in the library looking out over the jungle as the sun comes up before yoga.
  An energising Vinyasa class to lift you into the day followed by a delicious breakfast.
  A walk through the village to the monastery and cave temples at Bambaragala or...just relax by the pool.
  Head to the lake with Akash or one of the team and paddle out to little islands or around the headland.
  As the day warms up retreat to the cool of our main deck and explore an art practice with a simple guided art therapy, or arrange a Sri Lankan cooking class with Kumari in our re-styled boat-shed.
  If that's all too much, unwind with a massage treatment from Janaki or one of our local team.
  Ease down into the evening with a soothing and gentle Yin class as the sun sets.

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  Food

• We've developed a delicious set menu that picks our favourite traditional Sri Lankan cooking as well as western vegan and vegetarian dishes.
  Try a jackfruit curry with gotu kola and cashew salad or Negombo prawn curry with brinjal chutney and curried butternut. Lunches lean on colourful and flavourful salads with breakfasts, a celebration of Sri Lankan styles and a few western touches.
  We offer fresh King Coconuts to guests after morning yoga classes.

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  Meals Provided

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

• Diets Catered

• Gluten Free
• Vegan
• Vegetarian

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  Nearby Activities

• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Stand Up Paddleboarding
• Swimming
• Wildlife watching

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  Organizer

  Rukgala Retreat

  Indulge in restorative rejuvenation at Rukgala Retreat - our "shelter on the rock", situated in a beautiful and still pretty unknown part of Sri Lanka, 45 minutes from Kandy.
  A boutique hotel meets retreat space making it the ideal sanctuary for yoga teachers, students, and those just keen to escape and explore.