Experience the life and style of this paradise island! Join in our conservation efforts and help in our community projects. Taste the local cuisine. Learn to speak in Sri Lankan language. Visit tea plantations and see how the world’s best tea is made. Visit magnificent temples and learn traditional batik painting. Explore the culture and heritage in the beautiful highland of Kandy! And help conserve the precious wildlife and support the communities and take back an unforgettable experience.
Camp Sri Lanka
Kandy - Sri Lanka
Program
Living
Kandy
Sri Lanka
Program Description
In this program, you may choose between three options; contribute and participate in Community Engagement, Renovate and restore an ancient temple or Work as an assistant teacher for little kids in the beautiful highland of Kandy!
You will have the opportunity to teach enthusiastic children of different age groups who are filled with high level of energy. You can help them with basic pronunciation, rhymes, numbers and puzzles which will impact them in the long run. The conservation projects involve assisting at our Turtle Conservation Project or at the Wildlife Rescue Center.
To top it all off, you will catch a glimpse of the real beauty and culture of Sri Lanka while engaging in a fun packed activities throughout the program!
Program Schedule
Week 1: Introduction, Orientation and Cultural Immersion
Week 2: Community Engagement or Wildlife Rescue Project
Week 3: Turtle Conservation and Beach
What’s included?
1. Free Airport pick up and transfers via public transport.
2. Certificate of participation and training upon completion of program
3. Shared Accommodation at the Centre
4. Breakfast on all days
5. Coordinator Support on all days
Not Included
1. Departures/ drop offs
2. Medical Insurance
3. Local sim cards
4. Extra expenses including all expenses relating to airline travel
5. Extra food and / all drinks
6. Lunch and Dinner
7. Optional/Weekend activities or activities outside the Program
Aims & Objectives
By joining this program, the participants will have an opportunity to make a real contribution to the local community and assist the conservation programs in Sri Lanka while giving the participants the experience of the local culture, nature and the community in its original forms.
Schedule
Week 1
Day 1: Monday
The Participants will meet their coordinator at 9.00 am in the morning for an induction and information session. Information will be given about their stay in Kandy, paperwork will be completed, house rules will be explained and tips about local culture will be provided, etc. Participants will then head off for a fun filled day, with a language class and a cultural show. In the evening they will attend a language class where they will learn about the local language.
Day 2: Tuesday
The Participants will meet their coordinator in the morning at 9 am after breakfast and the Spice and Ayurvedic gardens, Tea factory and a Gem Museum. The group will also visit a Hindu temple before returning to the centre.
Day 3: Wednesday
Post breakfast, participants will learn some Sri Lankan cooking. In the evening, the group will also visit a Buddhist temple to learn their practices and rituals
Day 4: Thursday
After breakfast, the participants will visit a Sri-Lankan family that practices Batik Painting. The group will travel to their home and learn Batik Painting as well. It is a traditional art form that uses wax and colours to create a stunning finished product on cloth
Day 5: Friday
The participants will visit a forest range and a temple. The group will have some spare time to explore Kandy during the latter portion of the day if they wish to.
Day 6: Saturday
Saturday is your free day. You may wish to go out and explore.
Please note: Free day activities & transport not included
Day 7: Sunday
Sunday is your free day. You may wish to go out and explore.
Please note: Free day activities & transport not included
Week 2
Day 8-12: Monday to Friday
On Monday morning, the participants will be briefed on the two projects available for them to choose: Community Project in Kandy or Wildlife Rescue Project in Dambulla. Depending on the selected project, they will leave for the project after breakfast.
Community Project – Kandy
Schedule:
8.00 am – Breakfast
9.00 am – Participate in the Teaching Project Or Renovation Project
3.30 pm – Finish the program for the day and return to the accommodation.
OR
Wildlife Rescue Project – Dambulla
Schedule:
8.00 am – Breakfast
9.00 am – Participate in the Wildlife Rescue Project
- Constructing enclosures to look after injured wild animals on request
- Cleaning the enclosures of the injured animals
- Feeding the wild animals
- Rescuing wild animals on request
4.00 pm – Finish the program for the day and return to the accommodation.
Day 13: Saturday
Saturday is your free day. You may wish to go out and explore.
Please note: Free day activities & transport not included
Day 14: Sunday
Transfer to Beach center on Sunday.
Week 3
Day 15-16: Monday to Tuesday
Turtle Conservation Project
The participants will be briefed on the project. This program requires willingness to assist in activities like cleaning of the turtles, the tanks and the turtle conservation centre. It is vital to have a clean and hygienic centre for these animals. After breakfast, you will participate in the Turtle Conservation Project where you will join with feeding the turtles (every other day), cleaning the tanks, cleaning the turtles, beach cleaning activities depending on the requirements.
Evenings will be free for you to relax on the beach.
Day 17-18: Wednesday to Thursday
These two days are for you to relax on the beach and enjoy the tropical sunshine. You can explore the neighbourhood, the culture and experience life and style of the southern part of Sri Lanka.
Day 19: Friday
Today, you will visit the Galle City, one of the UNESCO world heritage cultural cities as well as Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist destinations. In Galle you will visit Olden Dutch Fort and do sightseeing Colonial style houses and other Dutch architectural buildings.
Day 20: Saturday
Bidding farewell!
Day 21: Sunday
Departures:
To be arranged by the participants themselves. Airport drop off can be provided by at an extra cost.
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
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
All participants must be over 18 years of age unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All participants will need to undergo compulsory training before undertaking certain activities. Training will be ongoing as new tasks arise.
All placements must be confirmed at least 4 weeks before starting date, after this, period placement will be confirmed on a case by case basis only and extra charges may apply.
Certificates will be issued for the completion of this training and program participation only after placements have been successfully completed.
Participants should apply for Tourist visas, as the program is tourism oriented.
Bookings must be made at least 4 weeks before program starting date to confirm placements. After this, placements will be granted on a case by case basis only and with an additional surcharge.
Additional Equipment
Sturdy walking shoes
Thongs/sandals
Rain coat
Hat & sunscreen
Towel & toiletries
Swimming gear/beach towel
Water bottle
Flashlight
Camera
Backpack – no suitcases
Long pants and shirt/ clothes that can get dirty during project week
Location
Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination. About 115 km from Colombo at 465 meters above sea level. Famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples the city could be called the cultural capital of the island. This bustling market town is rich in cultural diversity and has plenty to offer to the tourists from songs dances and handicrafts to ancient temples and adventure activities. Kandy was a royal capital and the last stronghold of the Kandyan kings against foreign powers, holding out against them for about 300 years. The two main Buddhist Chapters are based here and formed the last center of independent Buddhist thought during colonial times.
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
Our house is located 2 kilometers away from the city center, where you can find anything you might need.
The nearest ATM and supermarket are a 15-minute walk away from our accommodation.
Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
- Welcome, introduction to Sri Lanka and projects, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
- Sinhalese Language Lesson
- Cultural Lesson
- Kandy City Tour
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
The places to visit during your weekends or on your project holidays are the Royal Botanical Gardens, Knuckles mountain range, Udawatta Kele sanctuary, Hortons plains national park and the railway museum.
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.
