Sri Lanka: Cultural Introduction Week

Introduction

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is a beautiful island nation in the Indian Ocean which boasts 3,000 years of documented history and traces of human settlements dating 125,000 years. Sri Lanka is a worthwhile destination to explore with its rich history and culture and eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Many religions, ethnic groups and languages interweave to make it a diverse and multicultural country. Buddhism and the British, Dutch and Portuguese colonial periods have influenced greatly the local culture and traditions including the music, dance and visual arts. Sri Lanka is famous for its culture but also for its cuisine and traditional medicine, the delightful black tea, gemstones and cricket. A breathtaking country with gorgeous beaches and clear-water seas, luscious mountains and thousand years old temples, Sri Lanka is called the “nation of smiling people”.

Kandy, where the Introduction week takes place, is the last royal capital of Sri Lanka and is a major tourist destination. Located 115 km away from Colombo, Kandy is famous for the Temple of the Tooth and many other temples which earn it the title of cultural capital of the island. As a bustling market town rich in cultural diversity, Kandy has a lot to offer from ancient temples through dances and handicrafts to adventurous activities.

In Kandy, you can explore the culture and people of Sri Lanka through an introduction to its ancient traditions, language, music, food, temples and monasteries. Get acquainted with Buddhism and Buddhist temples, learn the basics of the local language and experience a traditional Ayurvedic massage, practice yoga and delight your taste buds with Sri Lankan cuisine. You will also witness an ancient Kandyan dance performance with its enchanting rhythm and elaborate costumes.

Learn about Sri Lanka’s geographical and cultural diversity through a life-changing experience!

Itinerary

Your week will start with an introduction to the programs and some accompanying documents. In the morning, you will attend a language lesson followed by lunch. In the afternoon, you will have a cultural lesson and embark on a tour of the city. The evening will offer a cultural show.

On Tuesday you will visit a spice and ayurvedic garden and a tea factory as well as a gem museum. The Kandy Lake will await you for a boat ride.

Wednesday will be dedicated to a Sri Lankan cooking lesson, a self-defense lesson and a Buddhism lesson.

Watching the sunrise on an early morning visit to the Temple of the Tooth will enchant you on Thursday. Later in the day, you will visit the British cemetery and the Batik factory as well as a wood factory.

Friday is dedicated to a visit to the White Buddha statue and Hindu Temple in the morning and an Ayurvedic massage in the afternoon with an Indian lunch in the city in between.

Travel & Accommodation

Accommodation is provided at the volunteer centre located 2 km from the centre of Kandy town. Here you will share rooms with 4 to 5 other people on a single-gender basis. All rooms are equipped with a private toilet.

There are hot showers and shared bathrooms. Linens are provided; however, you need to bring your own towels. Safety lockers are at your disposal to store your belongings and there is a fridge if you would like to keep food and beverages. The dining and lounge areas await you to hang out with the other participants or you can head to the beautiful garden by the river to relax. If you need an ATM or something from the supermarket, you can reach them within a 15 minute walk. Please note the centre does not have WiFi.

You will be provided with three meals per day on weekdays and two at the weekend. The cuisine is a mix of Western and Sri Lankan dishes including lots of rice and vegetables. The local restaurants are also a convenient option for eating out.

Upon arrival at Bandaranayake International Airport in Colombo you will be met by a project representative and transferred to the volunteer centre in Kandy. The journey to the centre takes approximately three hours. Please note you will need to arrive on the weekend before the start of your program.

Requirements

• Minimum age 18.
• Passion and enthusiasm to get to know Sri Lanka, lots of energy and creativity!
• Minimum 1 week commitment
• Hiking shoes
• Respectable clothes for visiting temples.
• Necessary vaccinations.
• Necessary flight & visas.
• Full travel & medical insurance. Please see our info pages for more information and to get a quote.

Costs

£350 GBP per week

* Check the latest currency conversions with xe.com
** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
*** Placements are confirmed with a 1 week deposit

What’s Included:

Project Fee includes food, accommodation, airport pickup, orientation, in-country support and project activities.

Private rooms are available for an additional £100 per week.

What’s not included:

Flights, insurance, visas (if applicable) and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support.

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there’s a great deal to plan and organise for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and experience of our Project Coordinators.

We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organised with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.