spot guide

Asia -Sri Lanka

Mannar

Kitesurfing In Sri Lanka's Most Remote Waters: Our Experience Staying At Vayu Resort In Mannar

Updated: October 5, 2018

Looking at a map of Sri Lanka, the eye falls on a strip in the Northwestern corner. Reaching out to India, the peninsula Off Of Mannar Island offers some of the most remote and intriguing kitesurfing in Sri Lanka. Steady wind and shallow warm water establish Mannar as a great place to take a lesson and learn how to kiteboard. Friendly for beginners, the butter flat water and minimal crowds will also Stoke advanced kitesurfers to push their progress further. Ready to truly take the path less traveled for kiting? Mannar just may be it.

Intrigued by such a remote and unique location, we decided to Adventure To Vayu Resort; Northern Sri Lanka's Only Kiteboard resort Hosted by the same established group that runs the popular Kitesurf Lanka in Kalpitiya. Mannar has winds similar to dreamy Vela Island in Kalpitiya, a place we loved visiting. This knowledge made us all the more excited to adventure to this remote kiteboard spot. This is our experience staying at Vayu and information on the spot to help you prepare to kitesurf in Mannar.

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Once a pearling center, Mannar was particularly affected in the wars of Sri Lanka's past. As wounds heal, it's becoming known more often for its steady strong winds and some of the most uncrowded incredible flat water previously reserved only to your dreams! Known to locals as Adam's Bridge, 16 kilometers of sandbars and small islands section off shallow, warm water areas. With it's remote locale and aquamarine waters, Mannar is certainly one of the world's most exotic locations to kitesurf.

Local Kitesurf information

air temperature

Average During Peak Season: 30 °C

water temperature

Average During Peak Season: 30°C

Launch Site & Location of Vayu Resort

wind speed

Peak Season: 20-25 Knots

Popular Kite Sizes: 8m – 12m

Due to the spot’s location in protected waters and its proximity to international naval outposts, kitesurfers need to be off the water by 18:00.

special considerations

Temperatures here can get cooler than in the south of Sri Lanka, this was the only spot we saw people breaking out the 2 mil shirts and shorty wetsuits. You may consider bringing such gear if you tend to run on the chilly side // Booties may be helpful against sharp shells // Be aware of some very shallow water and lesson only areas; Vayu will explain where these are located upon arrival // Rescue boat staff tend to keep a vigilant eye on everyone, however, be aware that riding far away could make it more difficult to receive a quick rescue // During the winter season, kiting is prohibited on North side of Peninsula due to migrating birds // Watch out for fisherman and nets

ability level

water conditions

Though the launch spot is a lovely walk down the beach, prepare to be spoiled by Vayu Resorts! Their tractor trailer runs several trips down to the water daily. Vayu parks their tractor about a 15 minute walk down the beach from the resort. Of course, if you wanted to give them your gear to take and enjoy a stroll along an amazing bird sanctuary that is an option as well. At the set up spot they will have purified water for you to refill either your reusable water bottle or one of the empty wine bottles they lend out.

Launching & Landing

Vayu staff are very helpful in launching and landing you. There is plenty of space to run out your lines and pump up your kite. Part of the all inclusiveness of the resort includes boat rescue. The beach staff at Vayu are very astute in keeping an eye out for drifting kites. During check in we were informed of the procedures we should take in the water to signal the rescue boat.

Wind direction here shifts for the winter season. May through October the wind blows Southwest. During January and February the direction changes to Northeast. During the Southwest winds, the Northern side of the peninsula has butter flat water conditions, and small but decently forming waves on the Southwestern side. During the Northeast winds, this shifts and the Southern side of the peninsula will have smoother waters great for hydrofoiling. Please note that due to migrating bird populations there is no kiting on the Northern side during January and February.

One of our favorite things to do was one long upwind tack from the launch site on the North side of the peninsula and ride to a break in the land where it is possible to kitesurf over to the Southern side. This works well when the wind is blowing Southwest as once you cross over, it’s one spectacular wave filled downwinder back to the launch site!

Lessons & Rentals

If you are in need of kiteboarding lessons, Vayu has you covered! Mannar is a great place to learn how to kitesurf. The water is warm and shallow, the wind steady and water conditions calm. Vayu has an accredited school with qualified instructors fluent in many languages.

Looking to rent kitesurfing gear in Mannar? Vayu rents out kites, boards, harnesses, and boots with discounts increasing the longer the rental period duration.

Non-Wind Activities

No wind in Mannar? Unlikely, but if you happen to be there around the Poya (Full Moon) or in the off season when such a thing can occur, Vayu provides great fun off the water too! The resort offers free use of their stand up paddleboards, kayaks and bicycles. On grounds, cooking classes can be organized and if you find a couple of people who are not too tired from kitesurfing you may be able to put together a game of volleyball.

During our stay, yoga classes were offered both mornings and evenings for a small fee. Want to establish a more treat yo’ self kind of vibe on your trip? Vayu has qualified masseuse on grounds to give your tired body a reawakening. If none of that gets you stoked, the peninsula is known for being an incredibly diverse bird sanctuary. Particularly during the winter months, many of our winged friends call this area home. Enjoy the view and revel in the peace that is this remote wonderland.

Stay

Getting There

airport, Language & Currency Information

Nearest International Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Negombo, Sri Lanka

Language: Sinhalese and Tamil are the official languages, however basic English is somewhat common especially among those who work in tourism. The employees of Vayu are all very proficient in English. Quite a few Vayu employees are from Europe and are fluent in a variety of languages.

Learning a few phrases such as hello in any local language goes a long way and will surely earn you some smiles.

Sinhalese: Hello-Ayubowan // Thank You-Istuti

Tamil: Hello-Vanakkam // Thank You-Nanri

(We used Ayubowan and Istuti most often during our stay in Sri Lanka.)

Currency: Sri Lankan Rupees (Rs)

Withdraw money in advance, ATM access will be limited.

Vaccines & Visa Information

Visa Information: Visas are available on arrival but require you to wait in an additional line to get approved which could take 10 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the time and day. We chose to do an E-Visa ahead of time. As citizens of the United States we were granted a 30 day visa for $35; we were approved within a couple of days. We simply printed out the confirmation and handed it to the agent upon arrival. Thinking of overstaying your Sri Lankan visa? We heard from multiple people that Sri Lanka takes this very seriously; overstaying a visa here could come with a $100 a day penalty. We were unable to confirm this with officials, but decided not to take any chances ourselves!

Click on the links below for further information.

Recommended Vaccines: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, & Rabies

Rabies

Scroll Over To Find Out Whether Or Not Getting A Rabies Vaccine Is Right For You.

We had a bit of a rabies scare at one point in our trip. We ended up visiting a hospital in Kandy during the wee morning hours only to be laughed out of a consultation room (apparently, cat scratches are not always deserving of a rabies vaccine!). While each case is different, through our little adventure we were informed most rabies vaccines are typically started as a series of shots after a potential transfer of rabies. Check with your medical provider to see what they would recommend. If possible, see if you can get your home providers email information so you can easily contact them abroad!

Japanese Encephalitis

Scroll Over To Read About How We Got Our Vaccines Abroad

We've been told by numerous medical advisors that this is only a concern if you are staying for a duration of greater than 30 days in rural areas. We chose to get the vaccine due to our extended itinerary and visits to rural areas throughout Southeast Asia. These shots were quite expensive in the United States and we decided to get the vaccine in Kandy, Sri Lanka! We had a great experience and were able to save some money. IAMAT is an excellent resource for finding English speaking doctors abroad.

Click Here To Check Out IAMAT

travel to location

Though frequently referred to as kiteboarding in Mannar, this can be a bit confusing as the actual kite spot (and Vayu Resort) is closer to the town of Talaimannar, located about 30 km from Mannar. For the purposes of this article, we will use the more common descriptor “Mannar” when referring to the kite spot. The town of Talaimannar has some small guesthouses and restaurants, however, due to the remote location, we did not visit the small town itself and cannot personally recommend any eating or accommodation options there. There are some small resorts nearby, though none as central to the peninsula which offers the best flat water area. The beach itself is public, so if you are determined to stay elsewhere, it is possible. We appreciated the convenience and simplicity of staying at Vayu Resorts. It’s a worthwhile experience.

For trip preparation, we’ve included 2 different routes with Vayu Reosrts as the end destination; leaving from the Colombo area and leaving from Kalpitiya. Though not mentioned specifically, there is always the option to rent a private car. However, we wouldn’t suggest this if you plan to stay at Vayu Resorts. The car would likely sit unused, as Vayu does a great job of supplying most things you could desire! If you want to check out local attractions such as the baobab trees, the resort can arrange a tuk tuk.

Colombo To Mannar

Private Taxi

This is the fastest and easiest option, which is most welcome after a long-haul flight. Vayu will organize a private car for you. As of September 2018 the price was 140€ from Bandaranaike Airport (CMB).

There are numerous taxis outside of the airport, prices vary as well as car conditions.

Railway

To take the train, you will need to first make your way to Colombo Fort station. There are numerous buses and trains that go from the Negombo/airport area to Colombo Fort. A tuk tuk will likely cost around 2000 Rs. From Colombo Fort there are two trains with service to Talaimannar Pier Station daily.

Train #5452: Departs Colombo Fort 08:50 – Arrives 17:33

Train #5067: Departs Colombo Fort 19:15 – Arrives 03:18

The night train has first class service possible, though to our knowledge, first class tickets must be reserved ahead of time. Second class tickets cost 490 Rs, third class tickets cost 305 Rs.

Bus

Buses run from Colombo to Talaimannar via route #4, night buses run through SLTB service. As of September 2018, two buses leave Colombo daily at 18:00 and 20:00.

Price: 615 Rs / per person

Kalpitiya To Mannar

Private Taxi

Vayu will organize a private car for you leaving from KitesurfingLanka. As of September 2018 the price was 100€ from Kalpitiya.

From Kalpitiya it will be trickier to organize a private taxi. Your guesthouse might be able to help arrange this.

Non-Direct Bus

If you are unable to make the once daily direct bus (we highly recommend trying to do so!) there are non-direct buses that run frequently, but take much longer. To take this route, catch a bus from Kalpitiya to Puttalam. Buses run hourly. In Puttalam, you will need to transfer to a bus headed to Mannar. The money collectors on the bus usually are very helpful. When paying for your ticket on the bus from Kalptiya to Puttalam, we recommend telling the bus driver at this point that you want to go to Mannar. Hopefully they well tell you which stop is best to transfer to the bus to Mannar. Keep in mind this way will take much longer as the route goes around Wilpauttu National Park.

Direct Bus

There is a direct bus from Kalpitiya to Mannar. We had to pinch ourselves once we were on it to believe it was real. It was a bit of an ordeal to discover if there even was such a bus, and we were stoked to find out that there is in fact a direct bus that will take you from Kalpitiya to Mannar. The bus starts in Kalpitiya just outside the police station on Palavi-Kalpitiya Road. The buses are inconsistently marked in English. We spotted some buses during our trip that clearly marked Mannar as the destination, however, don’t count on this. Typically writing will be in Sinhalese. The bus leaves at 07:00, once daily. On Sundays it may leave slightly later, around 07:30.

How to catch the bus to Mannar: Arrive at 06:30 to secure a spot and put baggage away. Most buses in Sri Lanka have ample space to store bags in the back via a small locked door, making it tricky to store a large kitebag if you are not the first person storing something. Sometimes, this will cost you an average of 100 Rs per bag. This depends on the ticket collectors discretion. We took a tuk tuk from our guesthouse in Kalpitiya to the bus station and found the driver’s help to be very beneficial. If you explain to your tuk tuk driver that you are looking for the bus to Mannar, they should be helpful in directing you to the correct bus.

All buses in Sri Lanka have a set rate. Once you pay you will be given a receipt.

Though the journey from Kalpitiya to Mannar on bus is long, our bus took 6.5 hours, it is a beautiful trip. The direct bus cuts through Willpattu National Park. This “shortcut” makes the bus ride a similar duration to taking a private car from Kalpitiya to Mannar, since typically cars go around the park. Keep your eyes pressed for elephants and prepare for your bags to be covered in red dirt. It’s all part of the experience!

Our bus took 6.5 hours, however, this time varies. Expect 5 – 7 hours depending on the day and driver, as well as road conditions and elephants. The bus stops for 20 minutes before entering the park. There is a restroom and shop with food and drinks at this stop. As with all buses in Sri Lanka, direct is a very loose term. Prepare for many stops between Kalpitiya and Mannar.

Price: 330 Rs / per person (including 1 large bag in storage area)

Kalpitiya Police Station (Buses Stop Along This Area)

If you have taken a route that drops you off in Mannar (versus Talaimannar) you can take a bus or a tuk tuk to finish your journey to Vayu. We opted for a tuk tuk, 1500 – 2500 is the typical one way rate. Clarify the price before you depart. Have the address and phone number of Vayu Resort written down as some tuk tuk drivers may not be unfamiliar with Vayu Resort. If possible taking screenshots of map directions or having GPS is very helpful to drivers. We like to load Google Maps when we have WiFi, as most often it will continue to provide GPS information even in airplane mode.

The 30 KM drive should take you around 45 minutes.

Accommodations At Vayu Resort

Vayu Resort offers three different accommodation options; deluxe tents as well as two types of relaxing bungalows. Prices for the bungalows depends on occupancy. We stayed in the deluxe bungalow during our visit. Each elevated wooden bungalow offers up views of distant surf.

Of all our Sri Lankan stays, this was one of our most spacious rooms! We had more than enough space to spread out and organize our gear.

Our favorite part was undoubtedly the amazing outdoor shower. Prepare for the most dreamy showers under the pink clouds of sunset or stellar night sky. It will be an experience to remember. Don’t get too lost in marveling at the stars, water is a precious commodity, especially in such a remote area! As always, traveling with an eco-friendly mindset makes the world a better place.

The Grounds Of Vayu

In between sessions, chill in the main relaxation area. This is also the spot to catch yoga and meditation classes and make use of the grounds WiFi. During our stay, the WiFi was fast and consistent (just like the wind!). The strong WiFI connection is mainly limited to the common area, however, if your room is close enough you may be able to connect in your bungalow or tent! There is also a large flat screen TV available to use, though during our stay most people were intent on making conversation and it was not used.

Vayu is an escape, an incredibly unique getaway light years from any kitesurf holiday experience you have had. Don’t expect high energy parties that last until the wee morning hours. The focus here is on kitesurfing; making the most out of consistently windy days.

Gear Storage

Staying at a kitesurfing friendly spot truly allows for your gear to receive some special love! Vayu has a large bin of fresh water set up upon your return. Rinse off the salt water and enjoy ample space to hang gear up overnight, including lines for string up wet kites!

eat

The schedule at Vayu Resort lives up to it’s slogan of Eat Kite Sleep. There is little thought process required; so wake up, sit back with a cup of tea, check the wind report board and get stoked to spend a day on the water!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner run on a schedule at Vayu. If you are craving some nourishment outside of mealtimes, complementary tea, coffee and water are available around the clock.

Breakfast begins at 07:30. Each breakfast we enjoyed varied but shared some delicious consistences,such as a made to order omelette station, fresh bread and Sri Lanka’s favorite breakfast addition, curd! The food here is more Western than we had at some of our stays at smaller guesthouses in Sri Lanka, though some aspects of the local cuisine are reflected.

In between the meal times, Vayu’s tractor runs a couple of jaunts to transport kiters to the set up area. Stoked after a morning of kiting, Vayu provides nourishment to keep on keepin’ on! Lunch here was perhaps the most varied of the meals, some of our favorites include vegetable curry, an incredibly fresh fruit salad, and deviled fish!

Ahh, enjoy the slight aches and pains, soak in the glorious exhaustion that follows after a day of seven hours on the water. Dinner is a warm welcome to the surely tired body. This meal also frequently varied. There are plenty of vegetable options and typically a meat dish offered with each meal. Dinner was usually followed by a sweet treat.

Word to the wise: don’t take too much time relaxing with your post kite can of Lion Lager. When we visited, some items at dinner went pretty quickly. The staff is excellent at refilling often, but better to be safe than sorry!

stay At Vayu REsort

Ready to book your own adventure kitesurfing in Mannar? The kite spot known as Adam’s Bridge along Mannar Island is a great place to both learn kitesurfing and progress as a rider. It is a unique adventure sure to be one of your most memorable vacations and perhaps mark some of your best days on the water.

Sanjeewa: +94 773770744
Dil: +94 770038467
Leo (French #): +33 783300803

Email Address

vayu@kitesurfingmannar.com

Please note, there is a guarded entrance to the resort. Upon arrival the guard will ask for your booking information. Please make sure you have reservations before making this long journey, as there may be no space available!

Thank you for checking out our Spot Guide for Mannar, Sri Lanka and our write up of our stay at Vayu Resort!

We hope it helps you plan an amazing trip and get stoked to kite in a wonderful and unique place.

Feel free to email us with any thoughts, questions, comments or concerns: