Useful Information for Construction & Renovation: Sri Lanka

Come with an open mind and realistic expectations. Life on a volunteer project is simpler and slower than at home: shared rooms, basic facilities, heat and humidity, and a culture with its own customs. Everyone feels a little out of place at first, and that is normal.

Before you travel, read the programme information we send you. When you arrive, the local team introduces you to the project, the house rules and local customs, and they are there to talk to if you feel homesick or unsure. Most volunteers find the first few days are the hardest, and the rest flies by.

We accept participants aged from 16 and above. Participants under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. There is no upper age limit however, we recommend participants to check with the program options that are available.

We should always be healthy and maintain our fitness. However, it depends on the project you choose and you should always be ready to work.

Nothing formal. Pack modest, practical clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. On teaching and kindergarten projects, wear neat, casual clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. On construction and conservation projects, wear hard-wearing clothes and closed shoes you do not mind ruining, plus a hat and light long sleeves for the sun. Vest tops and short shorts are not allowed while you are working.

Away from the project, dress with respect for local customs, especially in villages and at religious sites. Your coordinator will tell you about any local rules when you arrive.

Your arrival transfer is included. You will be met at the airport and taken to your accommodation, so there is nothing to arrange for the journey in.

The departure transfer at the end, from your accommodation back to the airport, is not included. You can add it as an optional extra in your account, or make your own way.

Once you have booked your flights, log in to your account and add them under Flight Details so we know when you are landing.

Of course! We encourage everyone to talk over our social networks. You can find a list of them at the bottom of this page. If you’ve joined a tour, we will send you an invite to a dedicated Facebook group made for your tour a few weeks before it starts. Your tour guide and a tour manager will also be in the group to answer any questions you may have. You can also join the General Discussion Board on Facebook!

We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all! While our target age is 20-45, what matters most is mindset. If you’re looking for a backpacking-style experience, with hostel-style stays, local transport, and optional evening activities - you’re welcome to join us.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof of your policy to your group leader upon arrival (on your phone or printed). You can get a quote and purchase your travel insurance here.

Not at all. Plenty of travellers arrive a few days early to get over the flight, and you just need to be at the starting point on day 1.

Tell us your plans and we can usually arrange extra nights before your start date, including your pick-up from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), or send you directions if you would rather book your own place nearby.

You may do, depending on your health, your vaccination history and where else you are travelling. Book an appointment with your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you go and tell them your plans, so there is time for any course of jabs.

TravelHealthPro, run by the UK's National Travel Health Network and Centre, has up-to-date advice for Sri Lanka, including whether you need proof of any vaccination to enter. Our article on vaccines for Sri Lanka covers the basics too.

Yes, many travellers, both male and female, travel alone throughout Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Most group members on our trips will be solo travellers and we absolutely love it. Upon arrival, we will pick you up from the airport, you will meet your travel mates and the adventure begins.

We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.

We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.

Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.

Call your group leader using the number sent in your welcome email. They will assist you.

We are a licensed tour operator based in Bangkok (TAT Licence No. 11/12642), and our team plans and supports every trip we sell.

• You book directly with us, with no agency in between, so prices are clear and there are no hidden charges.
• Our group tours are for like-minded travellers, mostly in their twenties and thirties.
• You travel with local guides and coordinators who know the country inside out.
• We also offer volunteer programmes without admin fees, and private tours at honest, transparent rates.

Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so there is always a dry side of the island. December to March is the classic season for the south and west coasts and the hill country, with sunny beach days and clearer views from the tea country. The southwest monsoon brings rain to those areas from around May to September, when the east coast is at its best, and October to November can be wet island-wide.

Showers rarely last all day. See our Sri Lanka weather guide for month-by-month detail.

Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). Rupees are hard to get before you travel, so most people withdraw them from an ATM at the airport or in town. Cards are accepted in most hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets, but you will need cash for tuk tuks, markets, street food and small shops.

Keep an eye on ATMs for anything attached to the card slot, and let your bank know you are travelling so your card is not blocked.

Tipping is not compulsory, but it is appreciated and many people in tourism rely on it. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill; where they do not, leaving around 10% for good service is generous. Small tips for porters and hotel staff are welcome.

Drivers and guides are usually tipped at the end of the trip, and we can suggest an amount if you are unsure.

Your phone will work, but roaming can be expensive, so most travellers get a tourist SIM or an eSIM. SIMs from Dialog and SLT-Mobitel are sold at desks in the arrivals hall at the airport; bring your passport. Data is cheap and 4G covers most of the country.

Most hotels and guesthouses have Wi-Fi, though it can be slow in rural areas and up in the hills.

Sri Lanka is a friendly, welcoming country and most visits are trouble-free. The main risks are everyday ones: bag snatching and pickpocketing in busy areas, card fraud at ATMs, erratic driving, and strong rip currents on some beaches at certain times of year, so always ask locally before you swim. Women sometimes report unwanted comments in crowded places.

Read the FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka before you go, and see our guide to travelling safely in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka takes this seriously, and disrespecting Buddhist images is an offence that can lead to arrest. Never pose for a photo with your back to a Buddha statue, and do not touch or climb on statues. Visible Buddha tattoos have led to visitors being refused entry or deported, so keep any covered.

At temples, take off your shoes and hat, cover your shoulders and knees, and do not point your feet at monks or Buddha images. Your guide will tell you anything specific to each site.

Sinhala and Tamil are the national languages, and English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and anywhere used to visitors, so you will get by easily. A couple of Sinhala words go a long way: "ayubowan" is hello (literally "may you live long") and "istuti" is thank you.