Arrival and departure point: Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo
Location: Galle, Sri Lanka
Room: Host family or hostel
Food: Local food 3 times a day
Program fee: US $1399 for 4 weeks (including 6 days of travel)

Our Summer Volunteer and Travel Program in Sri Lanka combines enriching volunteer service projects with remarkable opportunities to explore breathtaking Sri Lankan sights. In this summer special program, volunteers visit the most popular tourist destinations and discover the hidden riches of this memorable country through the guidance of our native in-country coordinator. Stimulating work will provide a look at the unique challenges and issues facing rural villagers, allowing each summer program to experience the real Sri Lanka, not as a tourist but as one who understands its ways.

Asia Horizon's Summer Volunteer & Travel Program is designed to give hope and guidance to orphaned children, to teach English and participate in construction project. During the volunteer portion, volunteers will spend time engaging in one of those various supportive activities. Following your enriching volunteer experience, our staff will arrange for you to visit some of Sri Lanka’s most acclaimed and captivating natural and man-made wonders.

One-week Language Orientation and Cultural Immersion in Galle

Spend your first one week in Galle: The city affected by Tsunami disaster needs your help, this is also the city where the summer camp is located. Join the orientation lectures and learn about the culture, religions and have a good understanding about the country and the people. Learn to speak Sinhalese (greetings and words of daily uses) by participating in Sri Lankan language and cultural classes. Experience the dazzling tourist bazaar in Galle. And explore numerous temples, monasteries, and the sites of cultural importance in the heart of the city.

Become part of the peaceful daily life of rural Sri Lanka during an enriching home stay with a welcoming host family. You will join your host family members as they cook typical foods and help as they work on their farm. Explore your new home by joining its cultural programs and exploring nearby wonders. Discover the fascinating past, beautiful natural scenery, and delightful people of rural Sri Lanka—not as a typical tourist but as a member of daily village life.

Activities: Orientation lectures, language classes, tour around numerous sites of historic and cultural importance.

Day 01: Arrival: Airport pickup and hotel transfer

Day 2: Orientation covering a general introduction of the program. Additional topics include local culture, religion, safety, host family, and other issues related to the program.

Day 3: Language class begins (3-4 hours)

Day 4: Language class continues (3-4 hours)

Day6: Visit an elephant orphanage. Most of Sri Lanka’s elephant orphanages are located in lush green forests. Volunteers will visit nearby sanctuaries and enjoy some of the most popular tourist attractions in the country.

Day 5: Language class continues (3-4 hours)

Day 7: Closing language session and final evaluation

Two-week volunteering program in the varieties of projects

Day 8-21: Volunteers will explore the natural beauty of Sri Lanka while helping its adults and children along a path to a better, more prosperous life. Our educational and unique language and travel program allows you to explore one of the most beautiful paradises in the world while giving your energy and compassion to Sri Lanka’s least fortunate people Prepare yourself to experience the life of Sri Lanka, a unique opportunity in your life to live just like a Sri Lanka. Embrace and be welcomed by your host family. Our Sri Lanka volunteers can choose to work in projects like teaching English to students/Buddhist monks, work in an orphanage/elephant orphanage, conservation work, mini-expeditions, etc.

Day 22: No work, preparation for the excursion trip

Explore Sri Lanka for 6 days (including 2 days travel)

Day 23: Sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa. The second capital city of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa was built during the 11th and 12th centuries, and today is considered a World Heritage Site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya, containing splendid statues of the Buddha: "Upright," "Sedentary," and "Recumbent" postures carved out of rock. You will enjoy the Audience Hall (the former pavilion), the Lotus Baht, King Parakramabahu's statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya Lake (the largest man-made reservoir), built by King Parakramabahu the Great. There are various monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage (tooth-relic temple), the Gal Pota (The Stone Book), and the Kiri Veered (the white stone dagoba), etc.

Day 24: Begin your second day with a visit to the city of Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and a World Heritage Site too. The name of Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence where many legends, traditions, and folktales are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala King Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798.

Day 25: Leave for Nuwara Eliyaand en route visit a tea estate and a factory. Nuwara Eliya, "the Little England" of Sri Lanka, is set against a beautiful backdrop of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. Considered one of the coldest areas on the island, it is really like an English spring day with dropping temperatures at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence with houses like country cottages or Queen Ann-style mansions.

Day 26: Visit an elephant orphanage. Most of the elephant orphanages in Sri Lanka are located in lush green forests. Volunteers will visit a nearby sanctuary and see some of the most popular tourist attractions of Sri Lanka.

Day 27: Travel bact to hostel/hotel

Day 28: Final evaluation and farewell

Program Fee: US $1399 for 4 weeks (including 6 days of travel)

Allocation of your program fee

• Airport pickup and hotel transfer
• Orientation at Sri Lanka Office
• Food and accommodations (3 meals a day)
• One-way transfer to project
• Thoroughly researched and personalized projects
• Fund Raising Ideas
• Placement visits, and reception
• Project support costs
• Certificate of performance/appreciation
• 24/7 Services of our local staffs
• 24/7 emergency support

Program Fee Excludes

• Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee
• Daily transportation (between project and host family – If required)
• Return/transfer to airport, airport taxes
• Any personal expenses
• Mineral water and soft drinks
• Gifts to project staffs and host family
• Laundry, Telephone, Immunization
  

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation after acceptance and prior to placement confirmation – the deposit is forfeited
• Cancellation after confirmation of placement – 50% of the program fee is forfeited
• No Show or Early Departure from Program – If you notify Asia Horizon of a requested cancellation of a Project on or after the start of the Project Period, no refund whatsoever will be made to you under any conditions or for any reasons100% of the program fee is forfeited.

Note:
 A full moon denotes no work in Sri Lanka.
 Project itinerary is subject to change to meet local conditions
 Work schedules vary depending on the project site.