Sri Lanka cycling vacation, off the beaten track

Planet

Activity:
By using our own power to cycle around, we have a minimal impact on the environment. We do believe in leaving no more than footprints and actively try to reduce our impact through attention to waste and energy reduction. However, having said this we do try to leave behind a positive impression through engaging with locals, visiting small cafes and restaurants and buying locally produces crafts and produce. We visit culturally important sites like the 2nd century Buddhist temple at Dambulla, the rock fortress at Sirigiya and the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy and our entry fees make a vital contribution to their upkeep, whilst also celebrating Sri Lankan history.

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

People

Accommodation and Meals:
All of the hotels we stay in are dedicated to hiring local staff and using freshly sourced produce wherever possible. This helps to benefit the surrounding community by providing employment opportunities and income alternatives where they may be otherwise hard to come by. We also try to select accommodation which has strong environmental policies. For example, Hotel Sigiriya uses scheduled light switching, recycling and waste regulations, water saving cisterns etc. Where meals are not provided, we suggest that clients spread their commerce to small local businesses and try some authentic food. Whilst staying in the guest house, there will be a chance to try a homemade meal cooked in a clay pot over a wood fired stove and to see the spice gardens where some of the ingredients came from.

Charity:
We financially co-sponsored a local Tsunami relief project, which enabled 25 families to be rehoused and for two schools to be equipped with toilets, running water and outdoor swings. In collaboration with a German operator and the village temple, we have helped towards 10 large water tanks and an eye clinic in a remote village with a donation of 200 pairs of glasses. We also assisted a principal agent of Unicef in development of day care and education of school children of the estate sector labourers in the hill country.

Local Craft and Culture:
There are plenty of opportunities to engages with local culture on the several visits to towns, villages and historically important sites and events. There are many places to buy handcrafted souvenirs along the way (e.g. Polonnaruwa & Sigiriya) but the markets are often a favorite of the clients for their vibrancy and authenticity. At the Kandy markets and the Moorish town of Matale, there are large spice markets. We also visit a tea factory and an exotic fruit and vegetable trading center, where clients can learn a bit about daily agricultural life for some locals and also support the community by buying things here.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.