What is included?

All accommodation is included during your stay. Accommodation will be comfortable, clean and is single gender, either twin or dorm style, with adequate bathroom and toilet facilities, including running water. Single supplements are provided at an extra charge.

Three good meals on weekdays, and on weekends only brunch and dinner. Food will be mainly vegetarian with some meat dishes on alternate days.

A full program with the assistance of a coordinator as per the schedule, but we always stress that schedules may have to be altered, sometimes at short notice, due to many factors.

Throughout your stay, you will have the support and guidance of our local program coordinators, they will provide you with competent assistance and help with anything that you may need. We will also provide you with a 24-hour emergency telephone number so that you can always reach a member of our team on, in the event of an emergency.

What is not included?

• Air Flights- You will need to arrange flights to arrive ahead of your program start date and inform us at least 2 weeks before your arrival date. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by a representative and transferred to either a hotel (in the event your flight arrives very late in the evening or night) or to the program site by comfortable public transportation.
• If you choose to eat outside the house, this will be at your own expense.
• A private room needs to be booked in advance and if available has an extra charge.
• If you decide to change programs, there may be an extra charge.
• The centres do not have washing machines therefore you will need to wash clothes by hand. In some locations laundry services are available, at an extra charge.
• Insurance is not included. Please make your own arrangements prior to leaving your home country, comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory on IVI programs.
• Drop offs have to be taken care by the participants.
• All Activities on weekend and accommodation when you are not staying at the house.

How old do I have to be?

This depends on which option you choose. For instance, we run school exchange programs for younger children but generally an age of 16 years and older is advised (with parental consent if under 18. However, we do have even younger children stay with us who accompany their parents on the projects, please check with us first before booking. There is no upper age limit, we are finding our programs are becoming increasingly popular with many mature guests, some of retirement age and a good number a lot older.

Can I come on my own or do I have to come as part of a group?

You are welcome to come with a group, with a friend, with family or own your own. If you are coming on your own don’t worry you will make lots of great friends while you are with us.

What should I bring?

• A smile and a positive attitude are the most important things
• Travel light. Most things can be bought here for much cheaper prices than back home. If you bring sufficient clothes for a few days, it is generally easy and cheap to find a laundry service.
• Whilst there are distinct wet and dry seasons it is advisable to have some light rainwear with you regardless of the time of year, a rain poncho or umbrella will come in handy, but once again, both can be purchased inexpensively here.
• Upland areas in and around Kandy can be cooler, perhaps down to 20 degrees Celsius after the sun sets. You may want to bring a jumper.
• Comfortable sandals are a must, and should be easy to take off as most Sri Lankans do not wear shoes indoors.
• Protective measures against mosquitoes, you might consider a net for your bed but that can be purchased here.
• Mobile phone (it is easy to buy a local SIM-card for your mobile phone)
• Something from your country, just small gifts, (posters, music, postcards, map, video, food) to introduce you to your hosts and the other participants.
• Medicines you may require. Also you can bring a simple first aid kit.
• Toilet paper (not provided in our centres or homes as we do not use it)
• A sleeping bag: just in case required.
• A torch.
• A photo or video camera (essential for good memories!)
• Sun lotion and hat
• Swimming costume / bathing trunks
• It is also advisable that you have photocopies of your passport/ visa and insurance and tickets.

What should I wear? Is there a dress code?

Although your dress code depends on which project you choose and what time of year it is, you should bear in mind some basic points. It is best to observe how local people dress and copy them, they will take this as a great complement and a sign of respect for their culture. The locals do tend to dress more conservatively than most westerners and the safest choice of clothes to bring is “smart casual.”

Whenever you go into a temple ladies MUST cover their shoulders and knees, and basically the more that is covered the better. Carrying a large scarf to cover shoulders and arms and a sarong for the legs, is a good idea. For men it is also best to cover as much as possible in a religious site.

Consider bringing some formal wear, and here we are not talking about tuxedos, evening dresses and tiaras. What we are recommending is a minimum of a decent pair of trousers and smart shirt for the guys and a smart / casual dress or trouser combination for the girls. Something which you will notice early in your visit is that family ties are strong in Sri Lanka and also families are very extended. There are a number of ceremonies to mark the passage from birth to puberty, marriage, childbirth and death, and each family could very well have a number of such occasions each year.

As you will have the opportunity to meet and work closely with local people, there is a possibility you will receive an invite to one or more of these ceremonies, and just in case it happens to you, come prepared.

Do you have Internet Access?

No, we do not have Wi-Fi in our centres in Sri Lanka. However, you can easily get a sim card for yourself with internet, to connect with your near and dear ones. Also, there are many restaurants and coffee shops in Kandy with Wi-Fi which is only a few minutes by tuk-tuk or 40 minutes’ walk if you are feeling energetic!

Do you have mosquito nets in the house?

No, this is something you will need to bring with you.

How will I keep in contact with my friends and family?

There are lots of international phone boxes around and we will also show you where the post office is and advise you about sending packages overseas if you wish to do so. As for your mobile phone, we can help you buy a local SIM card or even buy a new mobile phone (as using a mobile phone from outside of the country can become very expensive or may not work). This can make it easier to keep in touch with other volunteers, or for calling a taxi.

What we expect from you?

Our programs are designed for proactive individuals, and groups who will undoubtedly obtain the greatest rewards for their efforts. The more you put in, the more you get out. Smile and be patient. Remember that working in this part of the world is very different to your home country, Sri Lankans view time from a much more flexible perspective than most westerners and regard our obsession with making appointments and punctuality rather quaint.

For this and a number of other reasons the scheduling and activities of our programs are subject to change, but this is part of what makes overseas traveling the interesting adventure and incredible learning experience that it is.

It will make your stay with us far more pleasant for yourself, and everyone around you, if you can try and leave at home any western obsession with punctuality you may have, life is lived at a slower, more relaxed pace here which means events may not start on time or people arrive when planned.

Do not become annoyed, let politeness and calmness be your mantra, it is better to take a deep breath, you will be amazed that things do tend to work out, be it not quite as planned, but more often for the better!

Do I need a visa?

Yes, a visa is required for all foreign nationals entering Sri Lanka who must apply online (except Singaporean and Maldivian nationals) through the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (www.eta.gov.lk) and pay the requisite application fee, which varies depending upon your nationality.

It is vitally important that you obtain your visa prior to travelling as it is no longer possible for foreign nationals to obtain 30-day visas on arrival at the airport in Sri Lanka. If your passport is due to expire within 6 months of your arrival in Sri Lanka, you will also need to renew your passport beforehand.

Can I stay longer?

You will probably want to, and we will do our very best to help, but it may not be easy as it will depend upon the availability of accommodation and places on your chosen project. There is also your visa to consider, which can be extended by applying to the Department of Immigration & Emigration (www.immigration.gov.lk). The extension is issued at the discretion of the authorities who must be satisfied you have sufficient funds and hold an onward or return ticket for travel before the visa expires.

Obviously, the more notice you can give us if you wish to change or extend your trip the better. However, for the reasons stated, we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate any changes to your original booking.

Are there any health concerns I need to be aware of?

It is recommended that you visit your GP, personal physician, or a travel health clinic 4-8 weeks before your departure to Sri Lanka. Recommended vaccinations often include hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and polio, but please check with your own GP. Sri Lanka is not a high-risk area for malaria and the tablets can be considered controversial, we recommend that you do some research and make your own decision on this. Dengue fever is another mosquito borne illness to be aware of.

You might want to bring a prescription of Keflex, or another type of oral antibiotic that can help with stomach ailments. Even though the places you eat will be clean and hygienic, there is always a chance of upset stomachs, often depending upon how delicate your constitution, but the problem normally passes quickly with suitable medication.

What is the weather like?

Sri Lanka has a dry and a wet season made slightly complicated by having two monsoons. If we just consider the southwest, which has the heaviest rainfall of up to 4000mm each year, the Yala monsoon brings torrential rain storms from May to September, with an inter- monsoonal period in October and November, which leaves a dry season from December to April.

That’s the official answer, if only life were that simple, certainly it is not as far as the weather is concerned. During your visit you will see crystal clear blue skies during the rainy season and unbelievable downpours and floods during the dry season, you should be prepared for anything!

The good news is that heavy downpours rarely last all day, and a great number occur at night. Upland areas of Sri Lanka are cooler with yearly average temperatures around 16-20ºC (60-68ºF), and coastal areas a little warmer with averages around 27ºC (80ºF).

During March to June the coast has slightly higher temperatures up to 33ºC / 92ºF, and cooler temperatures in November to January around 24ºC / 75ºF. The sea temperature is an exceptionally comfortable 27ºC (80ºF) year-round, perfect for swimming, or if you can’t swim, perfect for floating.

How do I get around?

If you’re here for a relatively short time, and only staying in Kandy, you can easily get around by walking everywhere, this is one of the charms of Kandy. If you’re not keen on walking everywhere our advice is to use a tuk-tuk.

Any advice on exchanging money and using credit cards?

The first thing to do before you leave home is to tell your bank and credit card company the dates that you will be in Sri Lanka, if you do not their fraud protection may well cut off your cards the first time they are used in Asia.

When you arrive at the airport, it is as good a place as any to obtain local currency with bureaus where you can exchange cash or travellers cheques and you should find the rates are all fairly compatible. During your stay, if you do find someone offering a too good to be true rate, it is most probably just that, too good to be true. Be very careful, you are most likely in grave danger of getting ripped off.

ATM’s are everywhere that take Cirrus and Plus but be care is also needed here as this may not be the cheapest way to exchange your home currency into local, do your homework before you leave and find out the bank charges. As for credit cards, Visa and Master Card are taken almost everywhere across Asia but American Express may be a bit more difficult, except in the more up market hotels and restaurants.

Is Sri Lanka safe?

Our simple answer to this is “yes” but with the added caution that you should not let the holiday mood let you drop your guard too much, you need to always exercise caution. Let’s answer the question on 3 levels, terrorism, theft and general threats to your personal safety and lastly just general hassle from beggars and other hustlers.

Terrorism first. Since the civil war ended in 2009 life has slipped back to normality, but having said that, you do need to obviously exercise caution, especially if you are staying in an international hotel, or other areas where tourists are more numerous. However, if you are reading this you are probably much less likely to frequent such places, choosing instead the road less travelled in more serene surroundings. Our opinion is that such places, in the very heart of Sri Lanka and its people, has possibly less threat of terrorism than many places in your home country.

Secondly, the danger of thefts and threats to your personal safety. Once again, in comparison to your home country, when in Sri Lanka walking the streets, shopping or generally just enjoying the sights, you will find the Sri Lankans one of the most friendliest and trustworthy people in the world, and you will find little violent crime, especially in Kandy. Very sadly violent crime, thefts in general and scams tend to be imported by foreigners.

Also in beach areas and other tourist hot spots you need to take precautions against pickpockets, and of course be vigilant even when away from these places. Without wishing to labour the point, thefts of this sort tend to be “imported” and not the way the Sri Lankans treat their guests.

Lastly, beggars and hustlers on the streets should be regarded as just one of the downsides of travelling in a developing country. Just remember that whilst some will be genuine, a very large proportion are not and are likely to be part of an illegal scam. The same is often the case of those cute little street kids selling leather wristbands and other trinkets, they are often part of a gang and receive next to nothing for their efforts from whoever runs the gang.

Never walk alone by yourself at night, especially if you are a lady. Do not carry excessive amounts of cash around with you and never flash your money around, without question you will be noticed and one careless moment could ruin your holiday.

Can I get drunk at the centres, guest houses or at the host family house?

We do not allow drinking alcohol inside our centres and ask you to respect that. However, we do want people to be able to relax and unwind or be able to get ready for a night out, so light drinking of alcohol outside centre buildings within the confines of the centre is allowed. Please speak to your centre staff as some centres have restrictions on times and locations. These restrictions also apply for smoking.

Can I smoke cannabis?

The categorical answer to this is NO. All drugs (unless prescription) are illegal, anyone caught with drugs or “doing” drugs in anyway will be asked to leave the centre on the spot and without refund.

Please, please, do not in any way even consider bringing drugs into Sri Lanka or purchasing them when you are here, you will get involved in a world that is far from safe and ultimately very unpleasant. If you are caught, you will have the dubious pleasure of a very extended stay, not the holiday extension you would wish for, joining other foreigners languishing in hot, unsanitary Sri Lankan jails.

How do I haggle?

A question you are probably not asking now sitting in your home country, but you will when you are here and go shopping as haggling, or bargaining over the price, is a way of life with vendors here. Having said that, if you are buying small amounts of let’s say fruit, and the price is reasonable, you may just decide to pay and be done with it.

However, if you are buying something a little more expensive, perhaps clothes, the first point is NEVER pay the price the vendor asks for. You are spoiling his fun if you don’t haggle and, in the end, if you pay the first asking price, they will think you are just a stupid foreigner with too much money.

Secondly, try and have some idea of what the price should be, stay relaxed, don’t get aggressive and just enjoy the experience and as a rough rule of thumb, whatever they ask, half it and bargain from there.

Thirdly, always be ready to walk away if the price does not suit you, most of the time the vendor will call you back and reduce his price. Lastly, haggling does not take place in the more up market shopping malls, you are probably wasting your time trying.

Buying fruit – There are a number of fruits you may not have had or even seen before, and if so you must try them. Durian would be one of the favourites. Having said that people have a love hate relationship with durian in view of its rather strong smell, in fact some regard it as the “smelly cheese” of the fruit world. In view of its noticeable smell, you will see many signs saying, “No Durians,”. Have the seller open it for you as it’s not easy for a novice durian eater!

Jackfruit is another you must try when here, but once again, it is not easy to open and it can also be a difficult fruit to handle, weighing up to 50 kilos. Probably best to buy a smaller portion unless you really get hooked on fresh jackfruit! There are so many more to try, passionfruit, mangoes, guava, and mangosteens. The fruit you will eat at breakfast is often taken straight from the tree.

Any other information I should be aware of?

• All Participants must arrive on Sunday.
• If participants are arriving on Saturday (before midnight) they will be charged for the extra night, even if they arrive to Kandy Sunday morning, since we need to clear the accommodation by Saturday for their arrival and participants must pay the amount directly to us on arrival to avoid confusions and mistakes on invoices.
• Airport pick up is only free during the weekend. If arriving on a weekday there is an extra charge which you will pay directly to the pickup person.
• Volunteer accommodation is covered from Sunday (day prior to starting date, Monday), till Saturday noon (day after end date, Friday). Therefore, if participants need to stay an extra night, they will be charged an extra fee per night.
• We are not responsible for your safety on any personal trips you take alone on weekends, etc.
• Please ensure all your details are correct and if any flight changes occur, please inform us immediately. If not, we are not responsible regarding pick-up.
• Participants who contact us once in-country and who are arriving overland must contact us at least by Friday to arrange their pickup accordingly.
• If participants arrive past starting date, we will not be responsible for the days missed by them.