Soul & Surf is a small surf and yoga retreat company that started in Varkala, India, and now runs its retreats from a cove hotel in Ahangama, Sri Lanka, and a farmhouse near Burgau in Portugal. It suits surfers of all levels, yoga fans and solo travelers who like a sociable week with a set rhythm.
What it's like
Soul & Surf grew out of a clifftop guesthouse in Varkala, Kerala, set up by Ed and Sofie Templeton. If you knew it from there, here's the news: the founders closed the Varkala home on April 30, 2026, after 15 years, when their lease terms became unworkable. They write that it's over "for now," without any firm plan to return.
The company carries on in two places. In Sri Lanka, it runs Soul & Surf Cove, a small beachfront hotel in Ahangama on the south coast. It sits in a quiet waterfront cove away from the main road, with nine sea-facing rooms, a café called Canteen, a bar and a restaurant. There's a break right out front and a reef break past the lagoon, and you can walk to other spots.
In Portugal, the retreat is a whitewashed farmhouse in Almádena, a short walk from the village of Burgau in the Western Algarve. It has a pool, a yoga shala and long outdoor tables for shared meals, with the calmer south coast coves and the wilder west coast both within reach. The team says openly that the property is still a work in progress.
The programs
Sri Lanka runs as week-long retreats from Saturday to Saturday. A typical day starts with an early surf lesson, then yoga, breakfast and lunch at Canteen, and an afternoon you can fill with a one-to-one yoga session, a massage, a free surf or nothing much at all. Evenings bring sunset drinks and dinner. There's also a surf coaching workshop with video analysis. Some drinks, meals and massages cost extra, so check what's included before you book.
Portugal offers 3, 4 or 7 night stays from April to November. The program combines surf coaching, yoga, meditation and breathwork with three healthy meals a day, plus massage and surf workshops. Soul & Surf also runs a separate surf school in the Algarve and occasional pop-up trips elsewhere.
Who it suits (and who it doesn't)
It's a good fit if you want a social week with a clear structure: surf in the morning, yoga, good food and people to talk to at dinner. Both bases welcome non-surfers, couples, friends, solo travelers and families, though in Portugal kids' yoga is up to the teacher and some surfing has age limits.
In Sri Lanka, sheltered beaches suit beginners while the reefs and points are for experienced surfers. If you want total solitude or a strict wellness program, this isn't really that. And if you had your heart set on the Kerala clifftop, it's gone. The founders point to Wave Garden, opened by former team members nearby, as an option in Varkala.
Getting there
For Sri Lanka, fly into Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. Ahangama is about two and a half hours by road, and the team can arrange a taxi. The drier, busier season runs roughly November to May, and the wetter season May to November.
For Portugal, Faro airport is about an hour away by taxi, shuttle or hire car. Lisbon is roughly three hours' drive. Lagos is about 15 minutes from the farmhouse.
Frequently asked questions
Is Soul & Surf in Kerala still open?
No. The Varkala retreat closed on April 30, 2026. The company now runs retreats in Sri Lanka and Portugal.
Do I need to know how to surf?
No. Both bases take complete beginners alongside more experienced surfers, and non-surfers can join for the yoga and the setting.
How long are the retreats?
Sri Lanka runs week-long stays from Saturday to Saturday. Portugal offers 3, 4 or 7 nights.
When is the Portugal retreat open?
From April to November. Sri Lanka is listed as open all year.
Is it good for solo travelers?
Yes. Shared meals and a set daily rhythm make it easy to meet people, and the company describes both bases as welcoming to people coming alone. Plan your stay on the Soul & Surf website.
