Discover Om Ceylon
Retreat: Verb, noun -
To step back, to withdraw
Step back from your everyday hustle and join us for a week of outstanding food, yoga, self love and rejuvenation in the luxury of Meda Gedara Villa.
Come to Om Ceylon …… To move - to stretch - to taste - to explore - to chant - to meditate - to connect - to heal - to release - to forgive - to remember - to think - to feel - to learn to just be …….. and to grow into the very best version of yourself.
We are very excited to announce our collaboration with Jay Halford as Executive Chef who will be combining unbelievable flavours and textures and creating menus to dream about.
The yoga and wellness program will be lead by Chaminda K-P, Meda Gedara's resident yogi and Grace McGeehan our London based restorative yogi who will be returning once again to Om Ceylon to guide us through the evening practices. The combination will be beautifully complimentary.
Should you wish to explore the area then hostess Fiona McLeod will guide us to climb to the top of huge rocks for sunrise meditation, gaze in wonder at the paintings in the local temple, ride bikes through the paddy fields or punt through the waterways of Kalametiya bird sanctuary, these are some of the optional adventures planned for the week.
Your daily routine will run similarly, but with variations.
Each day there will be the option of rising at around 7am and enjoying some tea, coffee, juice or water, and walking down the beach to ground yourself where you are, allowing you to appreciate the tumbling jungle and prepare for the day.
At 8am, those who would like to practise yoga can meet on their mats in the shala, peacefully absorbing the crashing waves and birdsong. Chaminda will guide you through an energising morning session, with deep breathing and deep believing at the foundation of his practice. He may start with a morning chant and specific breath work.
Following his sessions and the very welcome Savasana, king coconuts will be delivered to the your mat for gentle nourishment.
In your own time and when you’re ready, brunch will be taken on the verandah. Brunch will consist of our traditional Meda Gedara Sri Lankan breakfast, including roti, hoppers, sambal and eggs, and will also feature a Jay Halford daily special.
Following brunch, the time is yours to wind down, lie in a hammock, play backgammon or head off exploring. Fiona has picked out her favourite mini missions in the local area for you to go and explore if you wish; these are detailed here.
Jay will be holding cooking demonstrations and classes some afternoons, giving you hints and tips to create your own healthy snacks and juices.
Late afternoon, Grace will meet us in the shala for a restorative session of slow vinyasa flow, yin and deep breathing. This is intended to deepen the stretches, lengthen the muscles and calm the mind. Some sessions will end with meditation.
At the end of each day there will be a fabulous Jay Halford three course dinner. Marvel at the food, enjoy thoughtful conversation and explore interesting connections.
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Saturday - Arrival Day
For those coming directly to Om Ceylon and would like to take the complimentary transfer from the airport to the villa, you’ll be met at Colombo airport and transferred to Meda Gedara in an air conditioned coach.
On arrival at Meda Gedara, our wonderful team will greet you with cool towels and king coconuts. As you come in through the huge temple front doors, you’ll be flooded with the energy and aura of the place. You’ll be shown to your rooms and can then enjoy exploring the property, wandering down to the beach and meeting fellow guests before we reconvene for dinner and embark on Chef Jay Halford’s culinary journey. After dinner, fall into bed and sleep peacefully.
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Sunday
Start your day with an Energising Morning practice with Chaminda, with fresh king coconuts delivered for nourishment after savasana.
Afternoon Adventure: Wewurukannala Buduraja Maha Viharaya Temple Visit. Transport: £5 each
Jump into Tuk Tuks and trundle a few kilometres down the road to the local temple in Dikwella, an incredible 18th-century temple or ‘sacred city’. They are proud to have the largest seated Buddha in Sri Lanka. There are incredible ornate statues, carvings and murals of the Buddha's life; but there are also a few surprises in store for you as you explore - expect the unexpected this afternoon!
When you’re ready, we can hop back into your Tuk Tuk and return to the villa. Enjoy some relaxing down time before your evening shala session; an evening restorative yoga practise with Grace, followed by another beautiful dinner by Jay Halford.
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Monday
Start your day with an Energising Morning practice with Chaminda, with fresh king coconuts delivered for nourishment after savasana.
Afternoon Adventure: Hirikeyiya Bay. Transport: £5 each
Tucked away down a narrow track on the other side of Dikwella is an enchanting little bay called Hiriketiya. It’s a local surfing Mecca and a honey pot for people watching! ‘Hiri’ is a heavenly horseshoe of calm waters and sunbathing at one end, with huge waves and surfing at the other.
It’s a great place to visit whether you want to go swimming in the sea, have a spontaneous surfing lesson, visit some of the cafes or home spun shops… or just sit back and watch the world go by.
When you’re ready, return to the villa for some relaxing down time before the evening shala session.
Dinner by Jay Halford
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Tuesday
Sunrise Adventure: Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary. Transport/Entry: £35 each
Today's adventure comes in the morning. We’ll rise before dawn and travel to Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, where we will take rafts and punt across the tranquil waters. We’ll then disembark and climb to the top of the huge rock with its spectacular views across the bird sanctuary and the ocean beyond. Grace will guide us through a meditation session at the top, enabling us to feel the power of the sunrise. When we’re ready we’ll continue our journey around the sanctuary before returning to the villa in time for brunch.
Cooking Demonstration:
For those who want to learn, Jay will be teaching you some of his skills on spice combinations and creating the creamiest of cashew nut curries - without cream!
Once you have learnt new recipes to take home with you, the evening shala session with Grace will take place, before another beautiful dinner by Jay Halford.
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Wednesday
Start your day with an Energising Morning practice with Chaminda, with fresh king coconuts delivered for nourishment after savasana.
Afternoon Adventure: Bike Ride. Hire: c.£55 (price tbc)
On Wednesday, a fantastic day of exploring on bikes is available. We’ll pedal from the local town of Tangalle, winding through the back roads past paddy fields and tea plantations, through villages where kids play cricket in the street and aromatic smells waft out from the colourful houses.
Our eventual destination is the incredible Mulkirigala Rock Temple - a huge temple built into the rock that rises 200m out of the ground, decorated with incredible paintings, sleeping Buddhas and religious offerings. The phenomenal view from the top is worth the hike.
At the summit, when you feel on top of the world, Grace will lead a short meditation practice. We will then return by minibus to the villa.
After all the exertion, there will be no afternoon shala session today.
In the evening, we will have a very special Jay Halford BBQ dinner on the beach and an ‘Intentions’ ceremony around the beach bonfire.
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Thursday
Start your day with an Energising Morning practice with Chaminda, with fresh king coconuts delivered for nourishment after savasana.
After all the adventures of the past few days, Thursday afternoon is purely for relaxation at the villa.
Cooking Demonstration:
Jay will be hosting another cooking demonstration for those wanting to further their culinary knowledge.
Following a relaxing afternoon, Grace will lead an evening shala restorative yoga session, followed by dinner from Jay Halford.
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Friday
Start your day with an Energising Morning practice with Chaminda, with fresh king coconuts delivered for nourishment after savasana.
Afternoon Adventure: Tallala Bay & Natural Pools. Transport: £10 each
For those who want to explore more, we can jump in Tuk Tuks and head to the untouched beauty of Tallala Bay, only 10 minutes away. We can walk the beach, watch locals playing cricket or climb up the steps clinging to the hillside to reach the Treehouse Restaurant for a cooling drink.
On our return, we have the option to stop off and swim in the natural salt water tidal pools. These are carved into the rocks, filling with salt water as the waves bring in the tide.
Once back at Meda Gedara, Grace will host her final yoga session, which will be followed by a Jay Halford inspired Sri Lankan feast within our gardens.
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Saturday
Wakey wakey! Get out of bed and head for home, feeling flipping fabulous and full of blissful wellness, inspired by new food tastes and with a headful of amazing memories to treasure forever.
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..But What About The Food!!
Each day Jay has masterminded our outstanding new menus, showcasing his flavours and texture combinations which will leave you excited for every next mouthful.
What’s Included
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Flights are not included.
However, we offer a shared group transfer which will meet UL 504 from London Heathrow on the arrival days and UL 503 to London Heathrow on your departure day
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7 nights accommodation in your chosen bedroom
Daily Chef special brunch, sugar-free high tea
Three Course Dinner
Chef cooking demonstrations and lessons
See the weeks menu here
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Two Yoga & Wellness sessions daily, comprising of kundalini, hatha, vinyasa, yin, slow flow and yoga nidra
Guided meditations, mantra meditations and pranayama
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You’ll have the opportunity to explore the area in planned daily excursions at an additional cost
Fiona will be leading you on your mini adventures, see what you’ll get up to here