Project Sri Lanka

Introduction to the Sri Lanka expedition

 Sri Lanka flag

Sri Lanka is an island off the southern tip of India. Geographers have compared its outline to a teardrop falling from the tip of India or to the shape of a pearl. It is a country with a huge variety of landscapes ranging from flat coastal areas of idyllic beaches, wildlife-rich lowland jungles to hilly areas in the centre of the island swathed in tea plantations.

As it is close to the Equator the seasons are not well defined and there is no winter. However there are monsoon rains between May and July in the southwest so rainfall is unpredictable although, from a trekking perspective, views can still be spectacular.

Sri Lanka image gallery
Sri Lanka map
Expedition summary for Sri Lanka
  Location: Sri Lanka, south of India, Central Asia
Duration: 21 to 28 days
Ideal for: Teams looking to give something back to the community.
Highlights: Making a real difference to school and community facilties, enjoying time on the beach and in the hill-side communities.
 

Sri Lanka's population are largely Buddhist Sinhalese with 18% Hindu Tamils. The main language is Sinhala. However, in more touristy areas, much English is spoken. Sri Lanka is a culturally rich destination, colourful religious festivals occur virtually all year round and the expedition is almost certain to coincide with at least one.

Many schools in Sri Lanka have extremely basic facilities and there is plenty of scope for World Challenge teams to really make a difference to schools and communities during their 3 week expedition. Project Sri Lanka will give teams of Australian school students the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka and to work on projects in a wide range of schools in the hill country around Kandy and along the South coast.

Some possible expedition objectives are given below, please note these may alter between now and your expedition. The Expedition Programme Manager for Sri Lanka will agree a suitable expedition itinerary for you, to best match the abilities and aspirations of your team.

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka expeditions Sri Lanka expedition

Project phase
The projects will be based either in the south of the country along the coastal region between Galle and Tangalla or in the hill country close to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. The project phase will last approximately 12 days and is the main focus of the Sri Lanka expeditions. The project work will involve manual labour, such as renovating playgrounds or painting schools, and lots of social interaction, with work such as teaching English classes and running sporting events. The project phase offers Challengers a wonderful opportunity to mix with the extremely friendly local people and to learn a lot about Sri Lankan culture.

Trekking options
There are limited opportunities for long treks, however there are many day walk options in the stunning hill country located in central Sri Lanka. These include Adam's Peak; the summit is a pilgrimage route to see an imprint of what is locally to be believed to be Buddha's footprint, Horton Plains with the famous ‘World’s End’ view point or the hills around Ella which are swathed with tea plantations.

Rest and Relaxation
Depending on where teams have spent their project phase, the R & R phase may be best focused along the coast enjoying some of the numerous beaches, or in the hill country. Options include visiting Kandy and the temple housing Buddha's tooth, taking a jeep safari through one of the National Parks, visiting tea plantations or the Elephant Orphanage.

Find out more
T +61 (0) 395 317 780 - Australia
T 0800 456 134 - New Zealand
T (852) 8170 3646 - Hong Kong 
E support@worldchallenge.com.au