Secrets of Sri Lanka holiday

Planet

Running safari drives in the quieter Wilpattu National Park provides support for conservation as well as an environmentally conscious experience for both you and the unique animals we witness. The likes of Yala National Park allow 200 vehicles per half day, whereas Wilpattu allows just 30 – 40. Going hand-in-hand with this, our local partner provides training to the drivers so they understand their role to preserve the environment.

Our local leaders provide glass water bottles instead of plastic and encourage refilling and reusing these. A large water container is carried in the back of your vehicle to discourage buying of single-use plastic water bottles. The environment is what makes your experience, and maintenance of this will have a long-term positive impact on Sri Lanka.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

One of the reasons we prefer to use local tour leaders is so they can give a real insight into the culture and history of their home country by sharing their own stories and experiences. In addition we are supporting them financially through employment, as well as the other members of staff of our in-country partners.

Visiting small, independent and locally-owned restaurants is an integral part of our itinerary, and this means money goes into the local economy and community. In addition, this provides an authentic Sri Lankan meal experience.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.