Mirissa
Out at sea for whales and dolphins. The one early start of the week, and worth it.
Upward Experiences presents
Begin
Again
8 days|Sri Lanka|14 seats
27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, on the south coast near Tangalle.
INR95,000
USD999
per person, for all eight days. Flights not included.
Room to think. Salt air, a notebook and nowhere to be.
More of us are asking the same questions right now. Career, direction, pace, whether doing everything right was supposed to feel like this. You're tired, and you know you need to slow down. But there are responsibilities, family, a partner, parents who rely on you, and slowing down never fits anywhere. So here are eight days where it does.
This is for people
- who've done everything right, and still feel unsettled.
- choosing between the safe path and the one that's actually theirs.
- who are tired, responsible, and quietly overwhelmed, and know they need to pause and take a breath.
Close one year. Open the next.
The week is built around the turn of the year. The first five days help you look back and put down what you have been carrying. The last three help you walk into 2027 with a plan you actually believe in. Two day trips, one on either side of New Year, and the rest of the time is slow on purpose.
Closing 2026
- OneSun 27 DecThe coastal train to Galle, a welcome circle, and your first pages.
- TwoMon 28 DecWhy this, why now, a nature walk, and turtle night at Rekawa.
- ThreeTue 29 DecRiver of Life, island music, and stories around the fire.
- FourWed 30 DecDay tripWhales off Mirissa, a slow afternoon, and Connecting the Dots.
- FiveThu 31 DecAn ancient rock temple, a craft you make, and New Year's Eve together.
Opening 2027
- SixFri 1 JanA quiet first morning, Future Self, and Follow-through.
- SevenSat 2 JanDay tripA free morning, a jeep safari at Udawalawe, and a gratitude circle.
- EightSun 3 JanYour First Step, Galle Fort, and home.
Two day trips, and Galle on the way home
Each one is within two hours of the villa, so you come back with energy 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, before the drive to the airport.
One house by the sea
A private beachfront villa on the coast just east of Tangalle, in the far south of the island. It is ours for the week.
- Our own pool, and a quiet stretch of beach at the end of the garden.
- Room for all of us under one roof, with air-conditioned bedrooms, balconies and terraces.
- A cook with us all week, making most of our meals fresh at the villa.
- Rekawa's turtle beach ten minutes away, and the birds of Kalametiya lagoon close by.
- Bonfires, music and long dinners, without anyone else's schedule.
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, mindful conversations, and room to breathe.
You don't have to arrive with answers. Most of us don't.
Your hosts
Saurabh Kumar & Abhishek Tatineni
Between us, we've been to more than 30 countries, and lived in ten. We've run over 70 leadership and growth spaces.
We've done this for over a decade now, in multiple formats. This one comes from real conversations, a shared need to slow down, an itch to travel the world now more than ever, and our love for hosting spaces like this. We'll be right there with you through the whole week.
Before you ask
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.
How much are flights?
From Bengaluru, Delhi and most Indian cities, expect about INR 35,000 to 45,000 return over New Year. Prices climb from November, so earlier is better.
Can I come on my own?
Yes. Most people will. The first two days are designed so that by the bonfire on day three, the group feels like people you know.
How do I pay?
INR 20,000 / USD 300 reserves your seat once we've spoken and confirmed you. The balance is due by 10 December 2026. We'll send payment details directly, in rupees or dollars.
One price, and you don't have to plan a thing
INR95,000*
USD999
per person, for all eight days
What's included
- Seven nights in a private beachfront villa with a pool.
- 21 meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner every full day, plus dinner on arrival and breakfast and lunch on the way home.
- The coastal train, plus a van and driver all week.
- 12 guided sessions, 2 day trips and 7 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.
INR 20,000 / USD 300reserves your seat. It goes toward securing the villa, so it's non-refundable once your seat is confirmed.
By 10 December 2026the balance is due.
14 seatsand one house. We read every application and talk to everyone before confirming.
*Per person, sharing a room. Your price is locked once your seat is confirmed.