29 Mar 2025 10 Weeks All Levels Split Payment Options Trips from £5495

Overview

Combine an epic Sri Lankan surfing experience with a serious surf coaching qualification.

This 10 week surf training programe and instructor course Sri Lanka is aimed at anyone who wants to become a surf instructor, experienced or not, whilst experiencing the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.

We will teach you the fundamentals of surfing, traveling from the East to West Coast of Sri Lanka, through the beautiful Hill Country, whilst getting you ready for your ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Award and Surf Lifeguard Qualification, which combined together enables you to work as an instructor around the world.

What to Expect

Depending on whether you're joining the tour in October or March the itinerary changes with the switching of the seasons.

October - You’ll start things off on the East Coast at the world-famous Arugam Bay, embarking on your surfing journey riding the reeling, sand-bottom point breaks, learning the fundamentals, enjoying some of the longest waves of your life, whilst exploring the natural beauty of the surrounding area by visiting the national park, lagoon tour etc.

You will spend the next section of the trip at the Ticket to Ride Surf House in Ahangama, on the South West Coast, focussing on improving your surfing under the wings of a team of qualified and seriously experienced surf instructors led by ex-world tour surfer Nikita Robb as your head coach.

Halfway through the course, you slow down a little and head on a week long tour of the beautiful Hill Country, stopping in Ella, Kandy and 'Adam's Peak'.

Once you’re back at the Surf House the surf training goes up a gear with daily coaching and feedback to prepare you for your ISA Level 1 Exam in the final week.

March - If you're joining us in March you will start at in Ahangama on an intensive four week surf course. Then you take a much needed break to visit the Hill country, followed by three weeks back at the Surf House focusing on your surfing and training for the ISA Course which is taken the following week. After completion of the course we head up to Arugam Bay where the right hand points will be peeling perfectly and the group get to have a well earned surf holiday riding some of the most perfect right handers on the planet :)

After passing your instructor exams, the Ticket to Ride team will set you up interviews at partner surf schools across the World, where we currently have a 100% success rate in getting a job!

*Accommodation will either be in a comfortable triple, twin, double or single room either at the Surf House or 1km up the road at Cafe Ceylon. If staying at Cafe Ceylon these rooms are larger with a dedicated co-work space and kitchen to use. A bicycle with lock and lights is also included. If you would like to stay here, please mention when booking and you can do at no extra cost. If you would like a private room upgrade this is an extra £150 per week.

What's Included


  • Airport Transfers

  • Breakfast

  • Surf Camp Accommodation

  • Trip Leaders For Duration

  • Video Surf Analysis

  • All Surf Lessons

  • All Surf Transport

  • Surf Hire

  • Additional Excursions And Activities

  • Weekly Coaching

  • Surf Instructor Course

Trip Timeline

Here you'll find a day by day breakdown of your course.

  • Arugam Bay

    If you're joinin us in October week one will be spent on the East Coast at the world famous Arugam Bay, one of the most chilled out places on earth, embarking on your surfing journey riding the reeling, sand-bottom point breaks, learning the fundamentals of surfing and enjoying some of the longest waves of your life.

  • Surf, Surf, Surf!

    For the next 5 weeks you will be based in our legendary Surf House in Ahangama, a stone’s throw from the ocean, surrounded by palm trees, with an array of epic surf spots right on our doorstep. Our base for the rest of the course.

    With daily surf coaching, photo and video analysis, theory classes and guided surfs complimented by functional training sessions, you’ll quickly progress and be able to take advantage of the wide array of surf spots dotted along the Sri Lankan coastline.

  • Hill Country Tour

    This week is about relaxion physically and mentally, before your surf instructor course starts. We travel in-land from Hiriketya to explore the incredible 'Hill Country', including Ella, Kandy and Adams Peak, visiting tea plantations, monesteries, temples, climbing the famous 5,000ft Sri Pada pilgrimage and receiving a much needed traditional ayurvedic massage. On the final night, we will still be aching from climbing all 5,500 steps at Adam's Peak, so a big Sri Lankan curry will be much needed, followed by a couple of cold Lion Beers. In the morning we head South, back to Ahangama to get stuck into training for the instructor course.

  • Surf Training

    Once you’re back at the Surf House the surf training kick up a notch and you’ll be progressing your surfing even further, whilst preparing you for your ISA Level 1 Exam and Lifeguard Course in week 9.

  • ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course (2.5 days)

    Wake up and meet the group for breakfast, before hitting the classroom (beach!) to undertake your 2.5-day ISA training course.You will go through all the learning modules and assessments, breaking for lunch back at the surf camp. The training day will round up in the late afternoon, then you can chill at the camp (we always have an amazing feast for dinner), check out the local scene, or head to Mirissa for an evening out!

  • ILS Water Safety Course (2.5 days)

    Straight after your ISA training, your Water Safety training will kick off for 2.5-days. This will be a mixture of theory and practical, learning the essential life saving skills required to work as a surf instructor.

  • Celebration!

     

    The course is over and you can catch your breath! This is a good chance to ask any final questions to the training team, and get all your work signed off. With the day to spare, this is the perfect time to unwind and get some waves. We will be sure to have a final feast for the whole crew!

  • Departures :(

    After an epic 10 weeks exploring Sri Lanka, it's time to get out there and start coaching! For those heading back to the airport, we will arrange your transfers, and for those travelling on around Sri Lanka we will give you all our advice and recommendations for where to surf next.

Course Video

What past riders say


FAQs

Got a question about this course? Here's the best place to start. If you don't find your answer here, you can request a callback or get in touch using our contact page.

A meal in Sri Lanka can range from as little as £1 for a simple rice or curry, while a fresh tuna steak and a large Lion beer will set you back about £7. Your breakfast is included daily and evening meals are whilst we are based at the Surf House and lunch is included at Arugam Bay, so you don't have to worry too much about budgeting for your food. 

To pass the Surf Instructor course, you need the essential surf skills and fitness levels to gain the qualification. You must complete a timed swim of 200m completed in less than 5 minutes to prove your water fitness is strong enough.

For your surfing, you must be able to paddle out back and duck dive when needed, pop-up consistently on green waves and perform basic maneuvers, turning both left and right.

We will work on all of this through the course.

Everyone traveling to Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for entering in to Sri Lanka. Visit www.eta.gov.lkfor more information.

Fully vaccinated

  • You must have a valid tourist visa. All visas must be applied online here: www.eta.gov.lk.Show proof of the vaccination status upon arrival
  • Enjoy your holiday

Non vaccinated

  • You must have a valid tourist visa. All visas must be applied online here: www.eta.gov.lk.
  • Have done a negative PCR test report within 72 hours or Rapid Antigen Test report (self-swabs are disallowed) within 48 hours prior to embarkation.
  • Show proof of the negativae PCR / rapid antigen test
  • Enjoy your holiday

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Of course! The vast majority of people on any of our trips come alone, as it is a great way to meet people and do the holiday you want. 

Your first year's ISA (International Surfing Association) Membership is included in the course fee. You must ensure you pay your membership annually (directly to ISA via their website) in order to hold a valid qualification and membership with ISA. If you miss this deadline, you may be required to take the course again.

After you pass the course, you have the qualification for 2 years. After this time you will need to take a 'refresher' course. This is shorter and cheaper than the full course and is designed to refresh your skills and update you on new methods and techniques. After this, you're required to take a Refresher course every 2-years. Should you miss any of these deadlines then you will be requied to take the full course again.

They are widely recognised and respected, allowing you to work all around the world as long as both your ISA and Lifesaving qualifications are in date.

After your course you are required to gain 20 hours surf coach shadowing experience with a surf school. We can help arrange these hours in Sri Lanka immediately after your course week, or you're welcome to arrange this yourself somewhere else.

Early starts and early finishes ;)

  • 6am - Coffee
  • 6:15 am - Surf Lesson
  • 9am - Breakfast
  • 10am - Analysis and Theory
  • 11am - Functional Training
  • Midday - Break
  • 3pm - Guided Surf Session
  • 5pm - Happy Hour
  • 7pm - Dinner
  • 10pm - Bar closed / music off

Straight from the surf