2-3 weeks
Sri Lanka Turtle & Environmental Conservation
Volunteer at an incredible marine conservation project
Prices from
£854was £899
deposit
£49
42 people have been looking at this trip recently
Trip Highlights
- Help nurture sick, injured or disabled sea turtles
- Artificial reef creation, tree planting and beach cleans
- Monitor seasonal sea turtle activity
- Stay close to the stunning Unawatuna Beach
- Explore Sri Lanka on your free weekends
Trip Overview
Help protect the ocean, one sea turtle at a time! Make a real positive difference on our volunteer project open to all experience levels. Get involved in an exciting variety of high-impact conservation activities. Discover Sri Lankaās paradise southern coast, from your free weekends by the beach to optional volunteer house activities. Ready to get involved?
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- All your meals: freshly cooked and prepared every day
- All your accommodation: social volunteer house with swimming pool and super close to the beach!
- Airport transfers upon arrival
- Transport to and from the project
- Project training
- Orientation tour around Galle
- Included activities
- Lots of free time to explore Sri Lanka
- 24-hour emergency support
What's Not Included
- Flights
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Optional activities
- Return airport transfer
Why choose this volunteer project?
This project is a life-changing opportunity for those with little to no experience in volunteering. Receive unlimited support from our incredible team as you help to make a real difference in saving the lives of sea turtles, and our oceans. It's perfect for anyone who loves animals, or who wants to make a positive impact on their travels.
Our Sri Lanka beachside volunteer house is also a great place to meet new people. You'll participate in an exciting mix of volunteer activities, with your weekends completely free to explore the local area.
What is volunteering like?
What is volunteering like?
For this project, you will volunteer from Monday to Friday. No prior experience is required; all you need is a positive attitude, a love for animals and enthusiasm to learn from the local teams.
We've included a list below of the typical activities you'll get involved in as a volunteer. Please note that this can be subject to availability and change.
1. Sea turtle conservation
- Help with the care of sea turtles
- Support safe hatchery and monitor nesting
- Assist with feeding, cleaning and facility maintenance
- Participate in safe releases of hatchlings into ocean
- Learn about best conservation practices
- Night patrols to monitor sea turtles (seasonal)
2. Marine conservation
- Help with coral reef restoration projects (seasonal)
- Participate in marine biodiversity awareness campaigns
- Help with regular beach cleans
- Help with river and lagoon cleans (including canoe-based activities)
- Remove plastic and waste from waterways
- Help restore mangrove trees
3. General
- Plant trees and participate in reforestation initiatives
- Make eco-bricks to help reduce plastic pollution
- Segregate waste for recycling
- Engage with local communities to promote eco-friendly practices
Night patrols. If you choose dates between December to April, this is the primary nesting season. Volunteers will spend a few nights on the beach observing and documenting mother sea turtles laying eggs, as well as safeguarding these eggs for a secure relocation.
Why Sri Lanka?
Home to five out of seven sea turtle species, the marine biodiversity inside Sri Lanka's oceans is extraordinary. The aim of the project is to preserve Sri Lanka's natural environments for future generations. Beyond this, Sri Lanka as a destination has so much to offer to travellers - from awe-inspiring temples and tropical beaches to surfing and sensational food!
Free time
The volunteer house offers a variety of optional activities for you to enjoy, including weekly yoga classes, movie nights, and monthly guided bike tours and BBQs. It's right by Unawatuna Beach, and only a 15-minute drive from the main city of Galle, famous for its lighthouse walk and selection of cafes, restaurants and shops.
As a volunteer, your weekends are completely free for you to relax, explore the local area, or plan day and weekend trips around Sri Lanka. Popular free time suggestions include Mirissa and Jungle Beach, or biking, hiking and whale watching.
Please note activities and itineraries are subject to change.
+ 18
On this project, you will stay at one of our gorgeous volunteer houses which are just a five-minute walk to the breathtaking Unawatuna Beach. The accommodation is located in a safe and quiet residential area, and it is only a 15-minute drive into Galle: a stunning coastal city filled with historic buildings, bars, shops and restaurants. The volunteer houses are also quite close to the iconic Mirissa and Jungle Beaches!
Rooms typically have a maximum capacity of six beds, however, most rooms are shared between four travellers. These rooms are single-sex and ensuite. Private upgrades are available at an additional cost; contact a travel advisor for more details.
The main house is split over four floors and has three kitchen areas, three common areas, a dining area, a private outdoor garden and a swimming pool. All of these facilities are available to all guests, regardless of their volunteer house. Hot water and Wifi are included.
Fresh, home-cooked meals are provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals are typically a mix of Sri Lanka cuisine and Western food, such as:
- Sambal
- Bread and fruits
- Rice and curry
- Pasta
- Salads
- Wraps
- Soups
Please let a travel advisor know if you have any dietary requirements, as most can be easily catered for with local ingredients.
Booking Options Payment plans available
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Please note: There are various religious and public holidays during the year and on these days no activities take place. Please contact us for further information.
Online booking is unavailable for this trip
Online booking isn't currently available but if you'd like to enquire please use the form below. Alternatively if you'd like to discuss alternate trips or if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us.Call us on: 01892 527392
Email us at: [email protected]
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Arrival Information:
Arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport on day 1 of your stay. There will be two shared airport transfers available every Saturday. The morning transfer covers flights that arrive between 6am to 10am. The evening transfer covers flights that arrive between 2:30pm to 6:30pm.
If your flight arrives outside of these hours or is not scheduled to arrive on a Saturday, a private transfer can be arranged at an additional cost. Contact a travel advisor for more details.
Departure transfers are not included, however are easy to arrange while in the country.
Age & Eligibility:
This is an open-aged trip for those over the age of 18, suitable for travellers who wish to make a difference as a volunteer. The majority of travellers are aged 18-39. For travellers over the age of 40, please note that private room upgrades may be required in order to participate in this programme.
This programme is suited to passionate, creative, caring and confident people who wish to make a difference and have a rewarding travel experience. You should have a flexible, mature attitude and be open to cultural differences. This trip has a major focus on volunteering and impactful travel; there will be free time for you to explore the local area independently.
This programme does not require you to have any prior experience or qualifications (although any you have is beneficial); youāll receive advice in orientation upon arrival and are provided with guidelines and the daily support of a volunteer co-ordinator at each of the projects.
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