Ruuk Village · Sri Lanka · For beginners
Zero to Hero: Kitesurfing, Sri Lanka Learn to kitesurf in one week
Kalpitiya, on Sri Lanka's northwest coast, is where most of the country's kitesurfing happens, thanks to a flat, shallow lagoon that suits complete beginners. Zero to Hero is Ruuk Village's 8-day package that takes a first-timer from kite control to riding independently.
from €740 per person, two sharing
Booked separately, the same week costs about €851 per person.
Can you really learn to kitesurf in one week?
Yes. Most of our guests ride their first metres on their own within one week. Your 12 hours of lessons are spread over four days in flat, waist deep water, with never more than two students per instructor. Then you have three days with your own gear to practise. If a lesson day has no wind, the lesson simply moves into those days.
What is included
Included for everyone
- 7 nights in the Wadiya Cabana, our fisherman's hut by the lagoon
- Full board: tropical fruit, rice and curry lunch, special dinners, tea, coffee and water all day
- 12 hours of IKO lessons, max 2 students per instructor
- 3 days of full kite gear after your course
- The boat to the teaching zone, every day
- SUP and bicycles, when available
Travelling as two? You also get
- Airport pickup and drop off in our old school surfer van
Not included: impact vest (€10 per day), third party insurance (we recommend the VDWS Safety Tool), seafood grill and BBQ dinners.
Your week
Focused time on the water, with space in between to rest, reflect and reconnect.
Feel the wind
Wind and safety, kite control, and your first body drags in the lagoon.
On the board
Water starts and your first short rides, in flat and shallow water.
Your own rhythm
Your own gear and first independent rides on the lagoon, at your pace.
Day 8: sunrise on the lagoon, a last breakfast, and the drive back to the airport.
Build your stay
Choose what fits you. The price updates as you go.
1. When do you travel?
Valid when you book at least 90 days before arrival and pay the 30% deposit. Not available from December 15 to January 31.
2. Who is coming?
You get your own cabana and your own instructor. Private lessons are faster, so 10 hours take you as far as 12 hours in a group.
4. Getting here
Included for two: airport pickup and drop off in our old school surfer van.
Pickup and drop off together cost €149 instead of €164.
We are not a resort
We are a quiet, human scale project that fits a certain kind of traveller.
You will feel at home if
- You want time and space to breathe between sessions
- You enjoy nature, simple comfort and local food
- You like a small kite school and an uncrowded lagoon
- You love rice and curry cooked over open fire
- You would like to arrive as a guest and leave as a friend
Probably not for you if
- You wish to stay anonymous
- You need AC, TV, nightlife and crowds
- You want a polished resort with a pool bar
- You don't enjoy being this close to nature
- You don't enjoy walking through sand or water
[Your existing 60 second Fit Test goes here]
Questions before you book
What if there is no wind?
Your lessons move into the rental days. This is why the course ends with three free days. In the main seasons, days without wind are rare.
When is the best time to come?
Mid December to February is our main season, with steady wind and warm days. June to September is our second season, with strong summer wind and our best prices. See the wind season for details.
My partner does not kite. Can they come?
Of course. They share your cabana and spend the days their own way: yoga, dolphins, a Wilpattu safari, or a book in the hammock. Ask us for the companion price.
I travel alone. Will I be in a group?
Usually not. Solo guests get their own instructor. Private lessons are faster, so 10 private hours take you as far as 12 hours in a group.
Is there an early booking discount?
Yes. Book at least 90 days before arrival and pay the 30% deposit, and you save €50 per person. It is not available from December 15 to January 31.
How do I book?
Send us your dates through Plan Your Trip. We reply within 24 hours with a personal plan. A 30% deposit confirms your booking, and you can change your dates once for free, up to 30 days before arrival.
One week. A new skill. A slower you.
Tell us your dates. We will send you a personal plan, not a sales pitch.
