Important Information
Start Date
All year round
Duration
14 Days
Group Size
46 Students
Min. Age
16 years old
Overview
BROADEN HORIZONS
Our volunteer and travel experience in Sri Lanka is exclusively designed for school groups - blending education, adventure, and volunteering into a fourteen-day experience. Our trip will combine a first week of guided group travel around the country followed by a second week of high impact volunteering. The entire experience is guided in-country by our UK management team and all students receive 24hr support!
Students will have the choice of 3 volunteering programmes: Marine & Wildlife Conservation, English Development and Sports Development. During the week of volunteering, students will stay as a group at the Travelteer House in dorm style rooms with all meals provided.
Volunteering projects
Students can select one of 3 volunteer programmes to choose from on their week of volunteering. View these volunteer programmes on the next slides. No matter which programme students choose they are all based in the same accommodation and simply will go off to their chosen programme during the day. Each programme has a morning and afternoon project each day. All the volunteer programmes provide high impact volunteer projects that will make a real impact in the community.
Marine & Wildlife Conservation
The Marine & Wildlife Conservation programme works closely with the Sri Lankan Environmental Department and local NGOs. We have created a long-term strategy to regenerate key areas of rainforest and increase sea turtle numbers in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Our projects will have students fully immersed in environmental conservation - whether it be helping with the restoration of sea turtle numbers, replanting indigenous trees, or tackling plastic pollution. Projects include: Turtle Sanctuary, Rainforest Replantation & Beach Clean-ups
English Development
The English Development programme works with partnered schools to create sustainable projects providing brighter futures for children in the local community through teaching and classroom renovations. This project gives UK School students the chance to teach 3 to 5-year-olds at pre-schools. Working in groups, volunteers will assist our English Development team in planning and delivering English lessons at partnered schools - this gives the children a fantastic head-start for the next step of their education. We will also arrange cultural exchange with the Sri Lankan students, so the UK students can learn about their culture. Our project aims to make lessons more interactive through conversation and the provision of new classroom equipment via volunteer fundraising. Projects include: Pre-Schools, After School Clubs & Classroom Renovations
Sports Development
Travelteer implements the Sport Development programme at the grassroots level - our aim being to unlock the potential of disadvantaged children through providing skilled volunteer coaches and funding for equipment and facilities. The programme provides hands-on experience for volunteers to plan and coach sport sessions in a developing country. Our various projects focus on inclusivity and skill learning to promote health and wellbeing! Projects include: PE Lessons, After School Clubs & Playing Field Renovation
Full itinerary
Day 1 – Airport arrival in Colombo
Flight to Sri Lanka & Relax by the Pool
Students will fly into Bandaranaike International Airport in Sri Lanka’s lively capital of Colombo. Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, the group will be taken to a beach resort close to the capital of Colombo - the perfect place for students to rest up after a long flight, go swimming and relax.
The Travelteer team will conduct an in-country induction and briefing session so that all students are perfectly prepped to begin the tour the following day.
Day 2 – Sigiriya
Climb Sigiriya Rock
First stop on our Tour is the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock. It's time for students to lace up their walking boots as we'll be trekking to the top, we will learn about the Rocks rich history along the way through guides and its ancient paintings! When at the top there is an astonishing 360-degree view of the skyline. Considered by many as the '8th Wonder of The World', the fortress stands 200 metres over the surrounding landscape and offers breath-taking views over lush terrain.
Day 3 – Trincomalee
Pigeon Island, Hindu Temple & Wild Deer Feeding
Next up on the tour is a trip to the Northeast of the country. The white sand beaches of Sri Lanka's East Coast is untouched paradise. We take a speedboat over to Pigeon Island, which is a protected marine park and home to the best coral reef in all of Sri Lanka. Students will be taken across to the to snorkel with sea turtles and countless varieties of tropical marine life, you may even be lucky enough to spot a juvenile black tip reef shark (don't worry they're harmless!).
After a morning spent snorkelling and relaxing on the island, we make our way back to mainland. Here we will stop off in the local town to feed the masses of wild deer that live in the park. Then we make our way up the side of a cliff to find an ancient Hindu Temple. You can watch rituals take place and see all the fishermen praying from their boats below, before they head off fishing.
Day 4 - Kandy
Temple of The Tooth, Royal Botanical Gardens & Spice Gardens
Our tour group then heads south to one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world - The 'Temple of The Tooth' in the ancient cultural capital of Kandy. Here you can explore this magnificent temple and discover why its one of the most important temples in Asia. If you are lucky, you may even be able to spot Buddhas tooth!
Under the supervision of Travelteer coordinator, students will explore Kandy's Royal Botanical Gardens and dazzling markets before touring the famous temple at sunset. Students will also enjoy a cultural show, showcasing spectacular dance, acrobatics, costumes, and music!
Before we check in to the hotel for the night, we will visit a Spice Garden and learn about herbal remedies used in ayurvedic medicine. This is an ancient form of medicine which dates back 3,000 years, originally coming from India.
Day 5 - Nuwara Eliya & Ella
Ella Rock, Ravana Waterfalls, Tea Plantations & Train Journey
As the sun rises on day 5, the tour sets off to Nuwara Eliya, once called 'Little England'. Here students will have a guided tour of a tea plantations. Students will be able to purchase fresh tea to take back to the UK and enjoy some free samples.
Next, we jump on the train on the world renowned Nuwara Eliya to Ella train journey. The train winds its way through the heart of Sri Lanka's Hill Country and drops the group off in the midst of Ella's dramatic landscapes. This has been rated one of the world’s most scenic train journeys.
When we arrive in Ella we will hike up the iconic Ella Rock! This is typically a 2-3 hour climb with lots of places to stop off and admire the views on the way. On the way back we stop off and have a quick swim in Ravana Waterfalls. The fresh cold water is so refreshing after the long hot hike!
Day 6 - Udawalawe Jeep Safari
Private Jeep Safari
We leave Ella and make our way further South to one of Sri Lanka’s key tourist hot spots! Students will experience a full day private Jeep safari through Sri Lanka's Udawalawe National Park - a stronghold for wild Asian Elephants, buffalo, crocodiles and more. The biodiversity within this park is renowned and offers the chance to see many endangered species up close. Our safari includes local guides and trackers to deliver the perfect savannah experience!
Day 7 - Surfing the South Coast
Surf Lesson, Beach Time & Shopping
Moving on from the lowland savannahs we hit Sri Lanka's South Coast to go surfing! Weligama beach has the perfect waves for beginners and no previous surfing experience is required. Our tour includes qualified surf coaches that will get students surfing their first waves and feeling comfortable in the warm, tropical water of the Indian Ocean.
We can spend the rest if the day relaxing on the beach and playing beach games. In the evening we will head into the local town for some food and shopping.
Day 8 - Galle Fort
Jungle Beach, Peace Pagoda Visit, Galle Fort and Travelteer House Check-in
We finish the South Coast section of our tour with a morning at Jungle Beach, a secret beach hidden away in the jungle. We then visit the Peace Pagoda, a unique Buddhist temple with a 360-degree view for extensive views of the ocean and surrounding landscape.
The last stop on our Coast 2 Coast Tour is the historic Galle Fort. Originally built by the Portuguese and then fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century, the fort is quite a contrast with the rest of Sri Lanka and offers students the chance to explore boutique arts & crafts shops as well as a number of beautiful western style cafes.
We finally head to the sleepy surfer town of Hikkaduwa - home to our volunteering projects and volunteer accommodation. The Travelteer team will help you get settled at Travelteer House and conduct an orientation on the local area.
Day 9 - 13 - Volunteering in Hikkaduwa
Volunteer: Marine & Wildlife Conservation, English or Sports Development
For the second part of the trip each student selects their programme of choice from the three options below. Throughout the volunteering week, all students will stay at Travelteer accommodation and get hands-on with our high impact projects in the local area. The students will take part in two programmes per day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. In the evenings Travelteer arranges socials down at the beach and trips to see the local sites.
Choose your programme:
Marine & Wildlife Conservation: Become a conservationist and volunteer in our Sea Turtle Sanctuary! Other projects include rainforest replantation & beach cleans.
English Development: Assist our team in delivering fun and interactive lessons at partnered schools! Lessons focus on English Development but can also include Art, Drama and more.
Sports Development: Assist in coaching sport sessions that cover a variety of disciplines including football, rugby, cricket, volleyball and more.
Day 14 – Retuning back to Colombo & Flying home
The trip comes to an end after finishing the volunteering in Hikkaduwa. We then make our way through the country back to Colombo and get our flight home.
What's Included
Food
Visa
Insurance
Accommodation
Volunteer Pack
24 Hours Support
Airport Transfer
Private Transport
International Flights
What's Not Included
Criminal Background Check
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