From Surfboard to Sanctuary: The Story of a Jungle Lodge

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Sri Lanka surrounded by coconut trees, tea plants, cinnamon trees, banana and jackfruit trees, mango, avocado, coffee, and pepper, SOLA Ahangama sanctuary is worth a look.

Just three minutes from the beach and one of the south coast’s best surf breaks, SOLA is a boutique jungle lodge with eight spacious rooms set inside a 12,500-square-metre former plantation.

 A large open-air pavilion houses the restaurant and bar, and an infinity pool offers a place to cool off after a day of surfing or exploring nearby attractions.

High-speed fibre internet is also available throughout the property, catering to remote workers and digital nomads who want to stay connected without giving up the jungle setting.

A Sanctuary Built Around Nature

SOLA’s co-founder, Dustin Figge, describes the guiding idea behind the property simply:

“Our design philosophy was centered around one core idea: let nature lead.”

That philosophy shows up everywhere — in the rounded edges and curved pathways, the open-air bathrooms, and the skylights positioned for stargazing at night.

Rather than clearing the land to fit a blueprint, the design follows the natural contours of the site.

The land itself is part of the story. A former plantation, it’s home to over 150 coconut trees, 1,500 tea plants, and 750 cinnamon trees, alongside bananas, jackfruit, mango, avocado, coffee, and pepper.

Wildlife is a constant presence too, with peacocks, purple-faced langur monkeys, butterflies, and a wide range of birds sharing the grounds with guests.

From First Visit to Second Home

Figge first arrived in Sri Lanka in 2016 and, like many visitors, found it hard to leave. “The warmth of the people, the rhythm of the ocean, the incredible food, and the laid-back atmosphere pulled me in,” he says.

He kept returning over the years, surfboard in hand, drawn by a need to slow down, reflect, and recharge. A visit in 2022 turned out to be the trip that changed everything.

“I returned once again. But this time, I didn’t just leave with memories — I returned with 12,500 square metres of untouched jungle land, just minutes from the waves,” Figge says.

Over the following three years, Figge and his team built SOLA from the ground up — a nature escape where luxury meets simplicity, and where design and wild landscape exist side by side.

Local craftsmen built almost the entire property by hand, with minimal machinery, shaping every structure with what Figge calls “hands, heart, and vision.”

More Than a Hotel

For Figge, SOLA isn’t just a business — it’s a second home. It’s where he goes to recharge, reconnect, and be present with family and friends, and that same intention runs through the guest experience: a place built for slowing down and making memories, not just passing through.

Open to the World

After three years in the making, SOLA is now open to guests. Whether you’re a surfer chasing waves, a digital nomad in need of fast Wi-Fi and fresh air, a family looking for an easy escape, or simply someone seeking stillness, SOLA welcomes you into its corner of the Sri Lankan jungle.

Learn more or book your stay: www.solasrilanka.com