Only 600€ per week!
Sri Lanka Experience
Central to South - Sri Lanka
Get to visit and experience the grandeur of the vastly distinctive regions of this exotic country!
As part of this unique experience you will visit 3 vastly distinctive regions and explore their exotic, unique and exciting culture. By selecting this program, you will be able to witness the regional and cultural diversity across Sri Lanka. Starting from the Hill capital of Sri Lanka – Kandy, you will travel up to one of the most beautiful beaches in the country located in the South.
Program
Living
Central to South
Sri Lanka
Program Description
Spend 4 weeks travelling around enjoying many attractions, experiences, beautiful views etc. that Sri Lanka has to offer. These four weeks of the Sri Lankan experience have been designed to give you the best of the best of Sri Lanka. On this program, you will have diverse program options which you can choose from. There is the introduction which is a mandatory program and this will introduce you to Sri Lankan culture, traditions, food and many more. During your second and third weeks, you have the freedom to choose between a trekking week or body and mind week, or elephant experience program. During your fourth week, you again have two options to choose between a beach week or a week working at our turtle conservation program in Ambalangoda.
Aims & Objectives
The aim of this program is to give you an exposure to the authentic Sri Lankan culture. Through different projects and activities, you will get to truly immerse yourself in the culture, customs and lifestyle and much more.
Schedule
Week 1
Monday
- Welcome and introduction to Programs and collection of documents
- Language Lesson followed by Lunch. Attend a cultural lesson and go on a Kandy City tour
- Cultural Show
Tuesday
- Visit to Spice and Ayurvedic garden, Tea factory, and the Gem Museum
- Boat ride at the Kandy Lake
Wednesday
- Sri Lankan cooking lesson, self defence lesson and Buddhism (meditation) lesson
Thursday
- Early morning visit to the Temple of the tooth, visit to a Batik factory and the wood carving factory
Friday
- Visit to a temple in a small forest and visit to a Hindu Temple
- Indian Lunch in the city and get an Ayurvedic massage
Week 2
Monday to Friday
- During this week, you could choose between participating in Trekking/ Elephant Experience or Body & Mind week.
If you choose trekking:
- Short introduction into the week’s activities. Proceed to Sigiriya Rock for a nature walk.
- A beautiful walk through the local villages to visit three historic (more than 700 years old) loop temples in Kandy.
- Visit to the first tea plantation in Sri Lanka
- Hike to the Riverstone mountain
- Travel to the Ambuluwawa Hills to do a trek, return to the our house in the evening
- A trip to the Royal Botanical gardens.
If you choose Body and Mind:
- Early Morning Yoga on some days
- Breakfast
- Meditation
- Varying massages
- Meditation – Walking meditation
- Lunch and a relaxed afternoon
If you choose Elephant Experience:
Morning comes early at this working elephant camp, and the animals need to be fed and bathed before the day visitors start pouring in. Bath time is in the river, and it’s a pure joy for elephants.
The mahouts are a fun-loving lot, and they’ll see to it that you have as much fun as the elephants do. Your duties will vary during the afternoon. Sometimes, you will have the opportunity to help children with their studies on request or to go for an excursion.
However, some of the typical activities you will be doing throughout the day may include,
- Feeding the elephants
- Cleaning the elephants
- Cleaning the elephant enclosures
Week 3
Monday to Friday
Beach week: Explore Ambalangoda through its most important temples, visit sleeping Buddha statue, and also Ambalangoda oldest temple.
- Go on a River Safari, see Sri Lanka’s jungle flora and fauna at its closest and relax at the beach or organize a new activity.
- Be a part of the Turtle Conservation project by working along with other participants at the turtle centre. This includes working at the project from 9:30 and help with the feeding and cleaning of the turtles or cleaning the water tanks and centre. You will enjoy a break time from 12:00 to 14:00 and be back at the turtle centre from 14:00 until 15:30 when all activities finish for the day.
- Visit the famous city of Galle, the Tsunami Museum, Natural Silk Factory.
- On the last day of the Beach Week Program you will visit the Moonstone mine where you will be shown the process of cutting and shaping precious stones, go to a waterfall walk where youwill be able to swim and spend time admiring it as well as having tea and snacks nearby.
Week 4
Monday to Friday
Participate in a week of turtle conservation.
The activities change according to the beach weather conditions and to the number of participants but the time spent with this marvelous creatures is the main aim of our participants involvement.
This program requires hard working and willing to support in the cleaning of the turtles, the tanks and the turtle conservation centre. It is vital to have a clean and hygienic centre for these animals. Typical activities during the week will include,
- Feeding the turtles (every other day)
- Cleaning the tanks
- Cleaning the turtles
- Cleaning the beach
- Helping with the weekly release of over 100 new born turtles into the ocean (Please note that this may change depending on the season and the weather).
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Note: Weekends are free to relax.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: On Signup
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
- Participants below the age of 18 should have parental consent.
- Participants above the age of 65 should have medical clearance.
Additional Equipment
- Shoes suitable for hiking.
Location
A route from the Central province of Sri Lanka to the Southern part of the country, passing many historical sites. The focal point of the journey would be Kandy.
About the Accommodation
You will be accommodated in one of our centers which are located 2-4 kilometers away from Kandy center. Furthermore, there is a refrigerator which you are welcome to use to store food and beverages.
Food Arrangements
You will be provided with three meals a day on weekdays and two meals per day on weekends. The meals are a mix of Western and Sri Lankan food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can also eat out at any of the local restaurants.
Facilities
Along the route – but not at all times – there are ATMs and small local stores. Please make sure you have enough money with you before starting the trip.
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
You’ll be on a busy schedule.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Quick Facts
Name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Population: 20 million
Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo
Language: Sinhalese, Tamil
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Time zone: UTC +5:30
Country Information
Sri Lanka’s over 2000 years of history and culture can still be seen in every corner of its cities and the details of its ever-beautiful ancient temples. With eight UNESCO World Heritage sites and its short distances between the main sights, Sri Lanka is a country that, despite often being overlooked in itineraries, has left travelers filled with awe.
Visit the sacred home of the world’s oldest living tree in Anuradhapura, wander around the colonial architecture of Colombo, get sun-kissed at the untouched beaches that enclose the territory, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, head to the hills for a cooler temperature and get surrounded by lush natural vegetation, visit two thousand year-old temples or get overawed at the sight of hundreds of elephants in Minneriya.
While traveling through Sri Lanka you will experience adventures from the highest and chilliest mountains like the famous Adam’s Peak – a stairway mountain considered sacred in three different religions, through the elephant shelters, to the most peaceful beaches up north near Trincomalee and their tiny- one floor- hostels facing the calm sea.
Climate
Sri Lanka is one of the best destinations to visit year-round as the rainy seasons hit the island in opposite locations at different times of the year. That being said, Sri Lanka is a country that can be visited if you know where to go in search for the best weather.
Southwest
The southwest monsoon hits between May and September and the dry season occurs from December to March.
North and coastal regions
The monsoon season happens between October and January while the dry seasons takes places between May and September.
Culture
Sri Lanka is known for its distinct cuisine, indigenous holistic medicines, cricket practices and prestigious export of tea, cinnamon and gemstones. Moreover, the country boasts of a rich artistic tradition which includes music, dance and the visual arts.
Sri Lanka has been shaped by many aspects. The first and most obvious being the heritage of Theravada Buddhism passed on from India. Furthermore, the colonial period left a big mark in the country’s traditions and culture, with British elements being featured in every corner as well as Dutch and Portuguese elements.
Sri Lanka, better known as the “nation of smiling people”, is a paradisiac island that Napoleon described as a world-like biodiversity in a tiny piece of land on the Indian ocean. Multicultural, multi-religious and multi-coloured country, formerly named Ceylon, is known for its delicious black tea, it’s heartwarming inhabitants and its history-filled corners.
The festival of Duruthu celebrates the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. During Duruthu, thousands of people attend colorful parades, which consist of three processions on the nights before the full moon. The processions consist of fireball performers, drummers, dancers, decorated elephants and the most important – a gigantic tusker treading a white carpet.
On April 13th or 14th Avurudda celebrates the Sinhalese New Year. According to Sinhalese astrology, the new year begins when the sun changes from Meena Rashi (Pisces) to Mesha Rashi (Aries).
During June the Poson Festival takes place on the full moon day of June and celebrates the arrival of Buddhism, which occurred when Arahat Mahinda, the son of the emperor of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism.
During October or November, Diwali the Festival of Lights is celebrated. Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival that signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hope over despair, and good over evil. It is celebrated with millions of lights shining over houses, temples, and buildings. Diwali is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November, on the darkest, new moon night of Karitika.
In Sri Lanka, it is tradition to take an oil bath in the morning, wear new clothes, exchange presents and sweets and visit the Koil, a Hindu Temple. In the evenings, oil lamps are lit to invite the blessings from the goddess of wealth.
Transportation
Plane
Flying between major locations in Sri Lanka such as Galle, Colombo, Nuwara Eliya and others is possible with Aero Lanka and Srilankan Airlines. Moreover, Srilankan Airlines runs small seaplanes, which give you a great aerial view of the island.
Bus
Buses are a option to get around Sri Lanka, albeit quite uncomfortable. For instance, for less than a Euro you can get almost halfway around the island in a bus without air conditioning. Luxury buses with air conditioning also exist at a higher price which are still very inexpensive.
Train
Sri Lanka boasts of an extensive railway system that will get you almost anywhere around the country. Moreover, Sri Lanka is known for its picturesque scenery that can be best viewed in a train journey. In fact, there are observation carts in most trains for tourists that will allow you to better take in the beauty of your surroundings.
In most cases, getting around by train is the cheapest option. There are three classes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. In most Intercity and Express trains, however, only 1st and 2nd are offered. Do keep in mind that trains from one popular destination to another (i.e. Colombo – Kandy or Galle – Colombo) often get overbooked, so it is best to reserve a seat much in advance.
