Itinerary

​Day 1 (Sunday) Arrive at Colombo airport (airport code CMB) and after clearing customs and immigration, you’ll be met by our friendly local team.  Flights to Sri Lanka often arrive late at night, but don’t worry we meet all Sunday flights – depending your time of arrival, you may go first to a small hotel near the airport for a few hours and once all other members of the group have arrived we’ll be off to Kandy, a journey of around 3 hours.    Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a fantastic place to spend time – located up in the hill-country, Kandy has a deep history and a cultural richness.  You’ll love it here ! 
 
Day 2-6 Intro Week (Monday-Friday) During intro week you will experience various activities, exploring Kandy and its beautiful surrounding areas, and get acquainted with the traditions, culture and people of Sri Lanka.   Intro week is packed full of exciting adventures and excursions, and the schedule will look something like this:
 
  • Monday – orientation, basic language lesson, Kandy city tour and welcome dinner with cultural show.
  • Tuesday – visit a tea factory, a spice and Ayurvedic garden and go boating on the lake
  • Wednesday – Sri Lankan cooking class
  • Thursday – Visit the Temple of The Tooth and see how traditional batiks and wood carvings are made
  • Friday – hike to the White Buddha statue, visit a Hindu Temple and get an Ayurvedic massage !
 
Days 7 & 8 (Saturday to Sunday) Spend your free time as you please, your weekends are yours to enjoy and explore.  
Day 9-13 (Monday-Friday) It’s turtle time !!  Set your alarm early as we have a 4am start (ouch!) to take the train out of Kandy – the good news is you’ll be at the beach by mid morning ready for some Indian Ocean action!  

The mission of the project is to conserve turtles and this is achieved in a number of ways - by directly taking care of injured turtles, by enhancing awareness among fishermen and the communities and by increasing the number of turtles in the ocean by releasing hatchlings to the sea.  Volunteer duties change according to the season, the weather and the number of participants on hand, but a typical week will include feeding the turtles, cleaning the tanks, the beach and the turtles (hygiene is essential) and assisting with the release of dozens of new born hatchlings.  Local project coordinators are with you every step of the way, and you’ll learn heaps about the marine environment as they share their expertise and experience with you.

Your last day (Saturday)  Oh no …… no matter how long you’re here for, one of these days it will be time to say goodbye to your newfound friends.  The return airport transfer is not included, but is straightforward to arrange locally. 
Accommodation Volunteers share a bunk-style room with three to five others, and the shared bathroom has hot water and western-style toilets.  Rooms are fan-cooled and there is a fridge for your use.  The beach is a stone’s throw, and a short walk take’s you into town where you’ll find ATMs, a supermarket and other facilities you might need.
 
Meals Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your program cost (on weekends a brunch is served last morning)