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Experience hostel life as a social host in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

Availability

  2026 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Ready for an Adventure? Become a Social Host in Sunny Unawatuna!

    So… are you looking to swap alarm clocks, traffic jams and the daily grind for palm trees, tropical beaches and conversations with travellers from every corner of the world?

    If your answer is “Absolutely!”, then keep reading.

    We’re a small backpacker hostel in beautiful Unawatuna on Sri Lanka’s stunning south coast. We’re not right on the beach (we asked the ocean to move a little closer, but it politely declined 😄), although it’s only a walk away. We’re also just a quick tuk-tuk ride from the famous UNESCO World Heritage city of Galle Fort.

    If you’re the type of person who enjoys meeting new people, sharing stories over a beer, joining spontaneous beach trips, laughing over board games or simply making others feel welcome, then you might be exactly the person we’re looking for.

    What We’re All About

    Our mission is simple:

    “To create an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for every guest who walks through our doors.”

    Over the years we’ve learned something important.

    Guests rarely remember whether the Wi-Fi was fast or whether the pillows were especially fluffy.

    They remember the people.

    The late night conversations.

    The beach trips.

    The group dinners.

    The people they met from countries they’d never even thought about visiting.

    Those are the memories that stay with them.

    That’s why we’ve created our Social Host Programme.

    So… what exactly is a Social Host?

    Here’s the important bit.

    Unlike many Workaway opportunities, our hostel is already fully staffed.

    That means we’re not looking for receptionists.

    We’re not looking for cleaners.

    We’re not looking for bartenders.

    We’re not looking for people to do administrative work.

    Instead, we’re looking for people who genuinely enjoy being around other travellers.

    As a Social Host, your role is wonderfully simple.

    Be yourself.

    Get to know people.

    Join guests heading to the beach.

    Organise a movie night if you feel inspired.

    Play cards.

    Share travel stories.

    Teach someone a game from your country.

    Introduce people who might become lifelong friends.

    Or simply sit on the terrace chatting while the evening rolls in.

    There are no operational duties.

    No reception shifts.

    No cleaning schedules.

    Just some fun activities you will help organise and take part in.

    Our local team already takes care of running the hostel.

    You’re simply here to help create the kind of atmosphere that turns an ordinary hostel into an unforgettable one.

    Who’s in the Hostel Family?

    Our little team consists of two owners, a manager and our wonderful housekeeping staff, who keep everything running behind the scenes.

    Alongside them, we normally host around four or five Social Hosts at any given time, creating a genuinely international community where guests and Social Hosts quickly become part of the same group.

    What We Offer

    As a Social Host you’ll receive complimentary accommodation in one of our shared dormitories.

    You’ll also have access to our shared kitchen if you’d like to cook your own meals.

    Not much of a chef?

    No problem.

    There’s a lovely local restaurant less than five minutes away where you can enjoy authentic Sri Lankan breakfasts, lunches and dinners for less than LKR 1000 a meal.

    The rest of your time is yours.

    Explore the beaches.

    Learn to surf.

    Visit Galle Fort.

    Go diving.

    Take a train along Sri Lanka’s spectacular coastline.

    Or simply spend the afternoon in a hammock chatting with people from around the world.

    How to Stand Out (Hint: We Love a Sense of Humour!)

    If you’d like to become part of our little community, send us a message with the subject line:

    “Hi, I’m looking forward to becoming part of your hostel family!”

    Then forget the “copy and paste” applications.

    Tell us something about yourself.

    What makes you laugh?

    What’s the best travel story you’ve got?

    Do you have a completely useless talent you’re oddly proud of?

    We’re much more interested in getting to know the person than reading a perfect CV.

    What You’ll Get in Return

    If you decide to join us, we hope you’ll leave with far more than just photos of Sri Lanka.

    Our aim is that you’ll leave with friendships that last long after your flight home, unforgettable memories, and a collection of stories you’ll still be telling years from now.

    If that sounds like your kind of adventure…

    We’d love to hear from you.

    See you in sunny Sri Lanka!

    Rajiv
    Hostel Owner

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Hospitality/Tourism
  • Interests

    Interests

    Events & social
    Technology
    Politics / Social justice
    Culture
    Pets
    Sustainability
    Van life
    Self development
    Movies & TV
    Charity work
    Cooking & food
    Gardening
    Languages
    Photography
    Animals
    Writing
    Books
    Art & design
    Architecture
    Beach
    Sailing / Boating
    Fitness
    Yoga / Wellness
    Team sports
    Hiking
    Adventure sports
    Water sports
    Outdoor activities
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Let’s be honest. You probably won’t leave here knowing how to run a hostel. But we hope you’ll leave with something much more valuable.

    One of the greatest things about backpacking is that the world suddenly becomes a much smaller place. On any given evening you might find yourself sharing dinner with someone from Germany, playing cards with someone from Brazil, discussing life with someone from Japan, and planning tomorrow’s beach trip with someone from Australia. Those are the experiences people remember long after they return home. Our hostel brings together travellers from all over the world, creating the kind of international atmosphere that’s difficult to find anywhere else.


    Living in a hostel is completely different from staying in a hotel. You’ll quickly become part of a community where people explore together, recommend hidden beaches to one another, organise spontaneous day trips and often make friendships that continue long after everyone has returned home. When you’re not relaxing at the hostel, you’ll have plenty to explore.
    Beautiful beaches, surfing, diving, whale watching, jungle walks, local markets and incredible Sri Lankan food are all within easy reach. Just 5.5 km away lies the historic city of Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where centuries of Portuguese, Dutch and British history blend with cafés, boutiques and spectacular ocean views.


    One of the most rewarding parts of this experience isn’t something we organise. It’s the people you meet.
    Every traveller arrives with different stories, cultures, traditions and perspectives. Some may teach you a card game you’ve never played. Others might introduce you to food from their country, recommend destinations you’ve never considered visiting, or simply change the way you look at the world through a late night conversation on the terrace. We think that’s one of the greatest forms of cultural exchange there is.


    Of course you’ll probably go home with thousands of pictures of beaches, sunsets and palm trees. But our hope is that you’ll also leave with new friendships, unforgettable memories and stories you’ll still be telling years from now. After all, those are the souvenirs that don’t take up any space in your backpack.

  • Help

    Help

    So… what exactly does a Social Host do?

    The honest answer is that no two days are ever the same,, and that’s exactly how we like it. Unlike a traditional Workaway opportunity, we’re not asking you to work at reception, clean rooms, make beds, carry out administrative tasks or perform any other operational duties. Our local team already takes care of all of that. Instead, your role is simply to become part of the hostel community and organise some fun activities for the guests, as well as take part in them. Your main task is to be creative in curating some fun activities for the guests, and to be a part of the atmosphere

    Some of the best moments in a backpacker hostel are completely unplanned. You might find yourself chatting with someone who’s just arrived from a country you have never been to , joining a group heading to the beach, playing cards on the terrace, sharing travel stories over dinner, or introducing two guests who end up becoming great friends.

    Every Social Host brings something different. Some are naturally outgoing and love organising a board game or movie night. Others prefer smaller conversations over coffee. Both are equally valuable.

    There are three activity nights to make sure our guests have a great time, and we will brief you on those more once you express an interest in joining us.


    Also you are most welcome to engage in your passions Love photography? Enjoy making travel videos? Play guitar? Know a fun card game from your country? Speak five languages? Whatever makes you YOU, feel free to share it with the people around you. Some of the most memorable hostel experiences come from travellers sharing their own interests and cultures with each other.


    If you enjoy photography or social media and happen to take some great photos or videos during your stay, we’d absolutely love it if you shared a few with us.

    Likewise, if you feel inspired to create content about your experience at our hostel, that’s fantastic! . We want anything you share to come from genuine enthusiasm, not because anyone asked you to do it.


    More than anything what we want from you is to come with an open mind, be kind, be respectful, get to know people from different cultures, and help make our hostel the sort of place that travellers remember long after they’ve gone home.

    Everything else tends to happen naturally.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    As a Social Host, you’ll have a comfortable bed in one of our shared dormitories with everything you need for a relaxed stay.

    Your accommodation includes:
    • A comfortable bed with fresh bed linen (so no need to pack your own!)
    • Fresh towels
    • Individual charging sockets for your devices
    • Easy access to shared bathrooms
    • Free Wi-Fi throughout the hostel
    • Access to our shared kitchen if you’d like to prepare your own meals

    Need to do some laundry after a few days at the beach?

    No problem! A local laundry lady regularly collects and returns clothes from the hostel for a very reasonable price, making it an easy and convenient option during your stay. If you prefer, there are also other laundry services available nearby.

    Our aim is simple: we want you to feel less like you’re staying in a hostel and more like you’ve found a temporary home while exploring Sri Lanka.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Most attractions are just a walk or a quick tuk-tuk ride away. And if you’re feeling adventurous, we can set you up with a scooter rental. Helmet on, wind in your face, and the thrill of dodging the occasional monkey paparazzi trying to photobomb your journey..

    Welcome to the real Sri Lankan experience!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 126466427318

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