Sri Lanka culture and wildlife boutique vacation

Planet

Where possible we choose accommodations that follow sustainable methods such as renewable energy, waste and water reduction and have environmental considerations. Such as Gal Oya Lodge is a unique Sri Lanka ecolodge spread across 20 acres of private jungle. The eco-lodge uses sustainable and local materials wherever possible and solar power some of which is used for heating their water. They have a zero plastic policy at the lodge and educate staff on how to reduce waste outside of work and in their wider communities.

Your accommodation in Galle has many environmental initiatives inn place including, documenting waste collection and disposal monthly to reduce landfills. Compost projects and recycling cooking oil into biofuel. They grow most of their own vegetables and buy fresh seafood from local fisherman, aiming for zero food miles. To eliminate single-use plastics, guests are given refillable water bottles in their rooms, plastic straws aren’t available and all packaging is plastic-free. They also provide for all guests responsible travel tips including information on water energy and the environment, local customs, buying local.
Environmental efforts from the hotel…
Planted 300 trees
25,000kg waste saved from landfills
£70k raised for care initiatives
1,300 beneficiaries

To reduce our dependency on plastics we discourage the use of plastic water bottles unless specifically requested by guests. We encourage guests to help us conserve water by reusing towels and bedsheets should they choose to do so. For our part in the UK, we are a small, independent family run business with our office in our home, so avoid commuting fuel consumption. And our main vehicle is a hybrid car. We are actively reducing the waste we produce. All printer cartridges and paper is recycled, we recycle and where possible reuse plastic, and use composting methods for waste.

People

The ground agents we work with have the same passion as ourselves, to transform the travel industry by way of supporting the locals for the experiences they offer to vacationmakers, making their vacation that much more authentic and memorable. This ensures that income goes directly into the communities and families where they can, and that the history and heritage of the country are shared and preserved for future generations.

Sigiriya is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site with one of the best-preserved examples of ancient architecture in the world. It is a major archaeological site with a history that extends from prehistoric times, with rock shelters and caves with wall paintings indicating that the area was occupied by Buddhist monks nearly five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic Period. Today, conservation efforts are in place to preserve the history. There’s an option to gain a greater understanding into the local heritage whilst in Sigiriya with a village walk followed by a cookery demo and local lunch, meeting the people that live and work in the area.

The resorts and accommodation we select are also aligned to these principles in providing social responsibility and sustainable practices, especially in regards to the communities they are active in.
Such as Gal Oya Lodge has established a relationship with its community and has communications with the local school children, where its naturalists give talks and educate them on wildlife conservation efforts. The lodge also is in contact with local farmers for produce to support and provide business for the local economy.

Another example is the accommodation in Tangalle being part of funding a startup school, Santhosa School, with money from guests’ stay being donated directly to the school. Funds are primarily spent on running costs; staff, utilities, maintenance and teaching materials. There are usually 40 to 50 pupils enrolled at the school in any one academic year. Children from local villages of all abilities are welcomed and the emphasis is on a well-rounded start to education giving opportunity they might otherwise have had for children from local poor communities who cannot receive this type of start in life.

As well as supporting local communities, our accommodation selections aim to preserve and represent their rich cultural heritage to give our guests a genuine experience of the destinations they visit, whilst also respecting to the communities and traditions that exist there. During your stay at Gal Oya Lodge you can include a walk with our Vedda neighbours, one of the last remaining communities of the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of Sri Lanka. They have inhabited the island for hundreds of years, living off the land and being at one with nature. The village chief is invited to take you on a walk through the jungles of his ancestors, explaining their ancient hunting grounds, cave dwellings, and how hunter-gatherers sustained themselves in the ancient jungles of Gal Oya.