You’re getting more and more excited about your Ayurvedic retreat, your flight is booked and, as you look at your suitcase, the question arises: what should you actually take for a traditional Panchakarma retreat in Sri Lanka? Let’s look at what you absolutely must take and what you can safely leave at home.
Packing list for your Ayurvedic retreat in Sri Lanka: what you should definitely pack in your suitcase
Lightweight clothing made from natural fibres for the tropical climate
In Sri Lanka, you can expect a tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius. Loose-fitting clothing is comfortable to wear. Fabrics made from pure cotton or linen allow your skin to breathe. By the way, you wear a sarong for your treatments.
This is a traditional wrap skirt, which we’ll have ready for you in your room. Women wrap the sarong across their chest like a sleeveless dress, while men tie the sewn-together piece of fabric – typical of Sri Lanka – around their hips.
A light scarf to protect against draughts and Vata imbalances
When you fly home from Sri Lanka, you’ll really notice the contrast between the tropical heat and air-conditioned rooms.
The cold in the air-conditioned aeroplane or in the vehicle taking you to the airport will irritate your Vata dosha. Make sure you have a light scarf in your hand luggage and cover your head with it. That way, you’ll be on the safe side.
As the restaurant and terraces at Sandaru Lanka are situated on a raised plateau, there’s always a pleasant breeze there. Depending on the season and the weather, it’s advisable to protect your sensitive neck or ears from draughts in the evening.
Appropriate clothing for visiting temples in Sri Lanka
You show respect for the culture and customs of the people of Sri Lanka by not dressing too revealingly. When exploring sacred sites, visiting temples or meeting monks, it is considered good manners and a sign of respect to cover your shoulders and knees.
Even outside the resort, the locals appreciate appropriate clothing. Very skimpy bikinis on the beach and topless swimming or sunbathing are taboo.
The right footwear: Why you need two pairs of flip-flops
You can slip easily into your flip-flops and stroll back and forth in a relaxed, summery way between your room, the restaurant, the beach or the treatment rooms.
We recommend that you bring two pairs of flip-flops with you. Use one pair for general wear on our premises. Use the second pair for the Ayurveda Centre.
Although your therapist will dry your feet after treatments, they may still be a little oily or, after a foot bath, have taken on the colour of the herbs – and may stain your flip-flops.
Swimwear for the pool and beach
If you wish to swim in our pool, please pack a swimsuit, bikini, a cover-up or swimming trunks in your suitcase. Please note: during the Ayurvedic treatment programme, swimming is not recommended on detox days – for example, after a colonic irrigation or oil enema. It is also best to avoid direct exposure to the sun on these days.
Underwear for Ayurvedic treatments
You’ll wear briefs during the treatments. The therapists will massage herbal oils or powders into your skin. These oils or powders will also stick to your underwear, which cannot be cleaned afterwards. So please avoid wearing expensive lace lingerie. Bring along some old, unwanted briefs for the treatments, which you can then bin without a second thought. Alternatively, disposable paper underwear, available from well-stocked chemists, is a suitable option.
Head covering for the forehead oil treatment
Most guests receive a forehead oil treatment during their Panchakarma course. During this Shirodhara treatment, warm oil flows over your forehead. You usually keep the oil on your head and in your hair for several days. Immediately after the forehead oil treatments, your therapist will put a protective turban on you, as your head is now more sensitive to draughts.
Many guests feel more comfortable wearing their own familiar cotton cloth, which they bring from home. They either wrap it as a second layer over the first cloth or use only their own turban. Ever guest has their own preference. It’s best to choose an older cloth that you can dispose of with a clear conscience after your Ayurvedic treatment. Whether and how often you receive a forehead oil treatment depends on the length of your stay with us. Our Ayurvedic doctor will tailor your treatment plan specifically to your needs.
A tongue scraper for your morning routine
In Ayurveda, the tongue is regarded as an extension of the gastrointestinal tract. If you remove the coating from your tongue first thing in the morning, you rid your body of waste products, aid detoxification and, as an added bonus, sharpen your sense of taste.
Pen and notebook or diary for your mental processes
A Panchakarma treatment not only stirs things up physically, but often brings deeply buried emotions, sudden flashes of insight or intense dreams to the surface.
Use the periods of rest to jot down your thoughts by hand and process them. Journaling, keeping a diary or intuitive writing helps you to consciously process, at your own pace, the inner processes triggered by your Ayurvedic treatment.
Reusable cup for your flight
By packing a reusable cup in your hand luggage, you can start your plastic-free or low-plastic journey right from the start. The flight attendant will be happy to fill your reusable cup with water – or even hot water – during the flight. Use your own cup instead of creating even more plastic waste every time drinks are served.
Cash such as euros, Swiss francs or US dollars
It’s a good idea to carry some cash in your hand luggage for tips and small purchases in the local area. Our tip: don’t exchange your money directly at the airport. We’ll take you to a local currency exchange bureauor exchange the money for you there at a much better rate than you’d get in the airport arrivals hall. Our therapists, bellboys and service staff do a good and dedicated job. They appreciate this financial token of appreciation. Tips make life easier for them and their families in Sri Lanka.
Dietary supplements
Do you regularly take vitamins, minerals or other supplements? Please pack them and show them to our Ayurvedic doctor during your initial consultation.
Following a detailed pulse diagnosis, he will decide on an individual basis which supplements will best complement your Ayurvedic treatment at Sandaru Lanka, and which ones you should temporarily stop taking while on your treatment.
Medical records: Medical reports and laboratory results
Please bring along your latest medical reports, blood test results or other examination results and scans. The doctor will take these into account when drawing up your treatment plan and will tailor your treatment precisely to your health needs.
Good books
Your Ayurvedic retreat is also a time to rest, reflect and read. Many of our guests use their Ayurvedic break with us as an opportunity for a digital detox and prefer to pick up a book. Take some time to read. Give your mind some peace and nourish it with uplifting literature that is good for your soul. You’ll find a selection of books in each of our rooms. These include books that guests have finished reading and left behind for others.
… and the right mindset for your Ayurvedic treatment
A Panchakarma treatment purifies you both physically and mentally. It brings you relief and strengthens you – and may, at times, be challenging. Your Ayurvedic treatment sets in motion a process that takes time and deserves your patience.
You are not alone. Our Ayurvedic doctor, the lady doctor and the entire team of therapists will support you with expertise and empathy. Open yourself up to the detoxification procedures and Ayurvedic treatments using valuable medicinal herbal oils, herbal remedies or pastes. Be prepared to be mindful of yourself at every stage of your Ayurvedic treatment. In this way, you will get to know yourself and your body anew, step by step.
What you can safely leave at home for your Ayurvedic treatment
Make-up and heavy cosmetic products
Let your skin breathe. During the Ayurvedic treatment, your pores open up. Your skin is your largest organ and an important detoxification organ, which is now working flat out to flush out toxins. Every layer of make-up blocks this cleansing process. Enjoy the feeling of pure, oiled and well-circulated skin and let your inner radiance shine through. Your natural beauty takes centre stage during an Ayurvedic treatment. But the most important thing is that you feel comfortable in your own skin.
Nail varnish
We recommend: Avoid wearing nail varnish on your hands and feet. Herbs and active ingredients are absorbed into your body through your nails and the tissue surrounding them. That is why your Ayurvedic treatment programme includes treatments with herbal oils, and hand or foot baths.
It’s best to give your hands and feet a break from any nail varnish a few days before your Ayurvedic retreat at Sandaru Lanka. This allows the nails to regenerate, and our Ayurvedic doctor can assess, during the initial consultation, what your fingernails and toenails reveal about your physical constitution.
Mosquito repellent
In the tropics, mosquitoes and the occasional short, warm rain shower are simply part of life. We recommend citronella from the Ayurveda pharmacy. This is a biodegradable, natural mosquito repellent that won’t burden your skin with chemicals during your Ayurveda treatment. All our rooms are fitted with mosquito nets, so you’re protected from mosquito bites at night. Something to look forward to: when you return to your room after dinner, your bed will be made up for you. Simply slip under the mosquito net and drift off to sleep.
Umbrella
Should it start to rain, you’ll find an umbrella in your room. This will ensure you stay dry on your way to the restaurant or your treatments.
Thermos flasks
Drinking warm water and teas regularly is a key part of the treatment programme. However, you don’t need to make room for them in your luggage. There are several thermos flasks waiting for you in your room: the pink bottles contain warm water. On some days, black bottles filled with herbal teas – or ‘herbal medicine’ – will be provided for you.
Valuable jewellery and accessories
Please remove any rings, necklaces and bracelets before your massage. They can get in the way of our therapists’ fluid movements. We recommend bringing just one or two of your favourite pieces with you for the evening. A relaxed, casual dress code also applies in the restaurant. The most important thing is that you feel completely at ease.
Stylish evening wear and too many outfits
You don’t need a new outfit every day.
During an Ayurvedic retreat, the rule is: less is more. At Sandaru Lanka, we take a very relaxed approach to the dress code.
This means that during the day, you’ll wear your sarong on your way to treatments and often afterwards during your rest period. And it’s perfectly fine to wear the same clothes more than once. We work with a local laundry service. There’s a laundry basket in your room: we’ll have any clothes you put in there washed for you. For a small fee, you’ll get your clothes back freshly washed four to five days later. Some guests wash the odd item by hand. That’s perfectly fine too.
Shampoo and soap
We provide shampoo bars and body scrub bars in every bathroom. So you don’t need to bring your own products – unless you feel more comfortable using your usual toiletries.
Rigid expectations
iLeave your preconceptions at home and be open to whatever comes your way. An Ayurvedic treatment programme in Sandaru Lanka has a medical focus. This means you’ll begin your traditional Panchakarma treatment with a pulse diagnosis and undergo a programme of therapy that our doctor will tailor specifically to you. This includes cleansing procedures that purify and detoxify your body, helping you to achieve a healthy balance. You’ll rest, enjoy light meals, and receive herbal medicine and acupuncture. Importantly, our doctor adjusts the treatment plan daily to suit your condition. People react differently to the treatments. It can also happen that you experience emotional crises or feel listless and tired. That’s all part of the process. You can find out more about this in our blog post ‘Panchakarma treatment: What you won’t find in glossy brochures’.
Ready for your Ayurveda retreat? Do you have any questions about your packing list or a Panchakarma course in Sri Lanka? Drop us a line.