Mirissa
A boat out to look for whales and dolphins. An early start, and what we see is up to the sea.
Upward Experiences presents
Begin
Again
8 days|Sri Lanka|14 people
27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, on the southern coast near Tangalle.
A week that's yours. Eight slow days on Sri Lanka's southern coast, in the company of people you haven't met yet.
Room to think. Salt air, a notebook and nowhere to be.
You arrive in a country you may not know, in a room full of new faces. It's a little uncomfortable, and everyone else feels it too. In the spaces we've run, that shared start is where honest conversations come from.
Then the week slows down. A train along the coast, long dinners, board game nights, a boat out of Mirissa to go looking for whales. Every guided space is an invitation, so if you need a morning to yourself, take it. Between it all, the hours stay open, for a walk on the beach, a page in your notebook, or a long talk with someone new.
Slow days, good company, and the turn of the year
You spend the first five days looking back at the year you've had, reflecting as you travel slowly along Sri Lanka's southern coast. The last three look ahead, to what 2027 might hold for you.*
First half
Looking back, at your own pace.
- OneSun 27 DecThe coastal train to Galle, a welcome circle, and your first pages.
- TwoMon 28 DecWhy this, why now, a nature walk, and a night visit to Rekawa's turtle beach.
- ThreeTue 29 DecRiver of Life, local immersion, and board game night.
- FourWed 30 DecDay tripA boat out of Mirissa to look for whales, a free afternoon, and Connecting the Dots.
- FiveThu 31 DecAn ancient rock temple, a craft you make, and New Year's Eve together.
New Year
Midnight on 31 December. From here, the week turns toward what is next.
- SixFri 1 JanA quiet first morning, Future Self over coffee, and Follow-through.
- SevenSat 2 JanDay tripA free morning, a jeep safari at Udawalawe, and a gratitude circle.
- EightSun 3 JanYour First Step, then Galle Fort with a lunch pack, and home.
*Everything on this agenda is tentative and is being confirmed, including the spaces, activities and local experiences. If anything changes, we'll tell you first, and it will change for something just as good.
Two day trips, and Galle Fort on the way home
Both day trips are within two hours of the villa, so you're back for the evening.
Udawalawe
An afternoon jeep safari in a national park known for its wild elephants.
Galle Fort
Old ramparts, cobbled lanes and a lighthouse on the sea, with a lunch pack, before the drive to the airport.
One house by the sea
A private beachfront villa on the southern coast, just east of Tangalle. It is ours for the week.
- Our own pool, a quiet beach at the end of the garden, and evenings of music, board games and long dinners.
- Air-conditioned bedrooms with balconies and terraces.
- Rekawa's turtle beach ten minutes away, and Kalametiya lagoon close by.
Who's in the room
By day, you run companies, lead teams, build products and carry deadlines. Away from the desk, you're a daughter, a father, a partner, a friend, someone with a dream you haven't said out loud yet.
This group and the week are made of what each of you bring, so come as yourself, and we can't wait to meet the you behind the roles and responsibilities.
Fourteen of you, all drawn to travel, and curious enough to do it with people you haven't met.
Once you're back home
The week ends. The room carries on. What each of you does with it is different: in a year, one of these people might be the first one you call, or it might be a good week by the sea. Either way, you'll have an experience to talk about.
Sounds like you?
You might be who we're looking for
- You're good at what you do, and it's what most people know you for.
- There's more to you than the work, and you're curious to spend time with the rest.
- You've been wanting to travel slowly, in good company.
Your hosts
Saurabh Kumar & Abhishek Tatineni
Between us, we've been to more than 30 countries, and lived in ten. We've run more than 70 leadership and growth spaces over the past decade, in different formats.
This one began with real conversations, a wish to travel slowly together, an itch to see the world now more than ever, and our love of hosting spaces like this. We'll be right there with you, the whole week.
We can't promise you clarity. What we've seen, over and over again, is that when people sit together with their most honest selves, the questions start getting answered.
This is not therapy, and it's not a wellness retreat. No gurus. No compulsory sunrises. Just a well-run week, good food, honest conversations, and room to breathe. You don't have to arrive with answers. Most of us don't.
Before you travel
Do I need a visa?
Everyone needs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying. It is free for Indian passport holders and 39 other nationalities, and approval usually takes a day. We'll help you apply once your seat is confirmed. Your passport needs at least six months of validity from 27 December.
What does it cost?
Early bird is open until 20 October (India time): INR 75,000 / USD 799 per person, sharing a room. After that it is INR 95,000 / USD 999.INR 95,000 / USD 999 per person, sharing a room. That covers the villa, 21 meals, the train, the van, guided spaces, 2 day trips, local experiences and your workbook. Flights and travel insurance are not included.
Can I come on my own?
Yes. Most people will. The first two days are designed so that by board game night on day three, the group feels like people you know.
How do I pay?
We talk first. If we both decide this week is right for you, INR 20,000 / USD 300 confirms your seat. The balance is due by 10 December 2026. We'll send payment details directly, in rupees or dollars.
What the cost covers
The villa, the meals, the travel on the island, activities and spaces. Getting to Colombo is the only part left to you.
Early bird is open until 20 October (India time).
INR95,00095,00075,000
USD999999799
Per person, for all eight days. Sharing a room. Flights not included.
What's included
- Seven nights in a private beachfront villa with a pool.
- 21 meals, most cooked fresh at the villa, with food packs on day trips and activities.
- The coastal train, and a van and driver all week.
- Guided spaces, 2 day trips and local experiences, including park, boat and entry fees.
- Your YearCompass workbook.
- Help with your Sri Lanka ETA. It's free for Indian passport holders and 39 other nationalities.
Not included
- Return flights to Colombo. From India, expect about INR 35,000 to 45,000 over New Year.
- Travel insurance. We strongly recommend it.
- Anything you spend on yourself.
How it works
Before you confirm your seat, we have a conversation, so we both know this experience is right for you. After that, INR 20,000 / USD 300 confirms your seat. It is non-refundable once your seat is confirmed. The balance is due by 10 December 2026. If we ever have to cancel the trip, you get everything back. If you've paid the balance and something comes up, talk to us.