Leaving our mark on the world while we explore it is a noble cause! Going abroad to exotic locations means you must get accustomed to their way of life. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And when visiting anywhere, you should try to help them as much as possible. Wonders are achievable when we pool together and work towards a common cause! Sri Lanka remains a beautiful and exotic country where you can make a difference with each visit! Let’s dive right into this incredible Asian country!
1. Peak on Pidurangala!
Sri Lanka has a diverse ecosystem throughout the entire country! Experiencing different parts of its culture and mystical beliefs it’s best done by exploring all aspects. Pidurangala is an unfathomable beautiful hand-carved rock castle. Build upon the identically named cliff! How the castle got made before modern tools is a mystery. One you can explore with each step. Sri Lanka has numerous hiking trails, and you can volunteer with hiking trail maintenance.
On this particular walk, which takes about an hour, you will reach the stone fortress and its summit. From it, you can gaze upon Sigiriya rock, a rock-shaped formation in the distance. Nestled inside lush tropical jungles, lakes and sunrise, you will soon fall in love with Sri Lanka. Here you can begin your spiritual journey and reflect on your inner self.
2. The Kalpitiya Peninsula
Wildlife preservation and an unforgettable experience? Both are possible in Sri Lanka, and you can start with the Kalpitiya Peninsula and a four-week conservation experience. The nature of Sri Lanka has to remain pristine, untouched and wild for as long as possible, and you can be part of that noble goal. Your adventure begins in the town of Colombo, from which you go north and land in this hidden gem of a bay! Soothing winds caress your soul and offer a chance to go kite surfing!
To view this entire area from the air and on the back of your palm is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! If that’s not your thing, you can go and relax on any of the sandy beaches. Helping with clean-up and maintenance is how you can leave a positive impact on the community. You can support eco-friendly and registered local enterprises by booking a dolphin-friendly watching tour. Any of these three activities will remain with you for a lifetime.
3. Help the Haputale mountains
If you would like to sample world-class tea, booking a tour of the plantations of Hapatule is the way to go. Friendly and warm villages are everywhere and you will receive a friendly welcome anywhere. Sri Lankans are famous for hospitality, but you can also give something back. By joining registered and experienced volunteer overseas organisations, you can do kindergarten and English classes in any of the local villages.
While you are nestled in the jungle, you are surrounded by eager children, tea plantations and icy-cold mountain streams. Imagine waking up every day to the sound of nature, birds, streams and local instruments, only to be greeted with scores of enthusiastic children. While you are sipping your incredible, locally grown tea, which you can see right in front of you, there’s a big chance you will decide to stay. Many have begun their Sri Lankan adventure like that, and you can follow in their footsteps.
4. Surf in Arugam Bay
Sri Lanka enjoys all the benefits of the Indonesian archipelago, but with more accent towards the tamer side. Arugam Bay is known as the surfer’s mecca, and you can also enjoy the waves and do some good for the local marine life. Sri Lankan turtle preservation always needs helping hands, so why not try that? Relaxing on the beach, getting a tan and doing some helpful volunteer work is a different kind of vacation, but in a positive way.
Turtles are fragile and endangered once they hatch, so they need all the help they can get! You can educate the local visitors, locals and fishermen on the importance of turtles in the local ecosystem. There is plenty of fun on the waves, but important aspects lie below them. Broadening your horizons and viewing nature as a whole, will also be a great life lesson.
5. Help Sri Lanka temples
Anuradhapura is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a good reason. Inside this temple complex, you will hear about and get to see the relic of Buddha’s tooth. You also must not miss the Jetavanarama, a wonder of the world, only matched by the pyramids. A man-made achievement that numbers over eighty million (you read that right) bricks laid to form this incredible structure.
Sri Lankan temples of all kinds need help to be preserved and maintained for future generations, where your hands can do miracles! While you aim to preserve them, a fragment of spirituality is sure to find a way into your soul. A life-changing experience is possible, within the sacred temples of Sri Lanka!
Nothing soothes the soul and expands the mind like travelling! Seeing the wonders of the world, and becoming part of them is possible with volunteer tourism. We all live on the same planet, and it’s only natural to help one another.
