Scaling Up The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka Initiative
Travel is in unprecedented territory.
When we first conceptualized the Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka initiative in 2018 and etched its online presence in mid 2019, we knew it would be a challenge to win over many minds to our concept of low foot-fall tourism. A travel concept, that pays greater respect to diversity-rich human landscapes across our island by minimizing tourism footfall, and a shift towards purpose-driven travel that makes a lasting impact on people and their livelihoods. And then the pandemic happened. More voices joined in to lend credence to the less-is-more kind of approach adopted by Ayu in the Wild since 2012.
The world started appreciating things, not appreciated before. And asking questions that will frame their future decisions.
“What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?
What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow.
A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber.
A year we finally accept the need for change.
Declare change. Work for change. Become the change. A year we finally band together, instead of
pushing each other further apart.
2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather
the most important year of them all.”
- Leslie Dwight
Although these words were published during this tumultuous first week of June 2020 where the Covid-19 pandemic was not the only crisis in focus - we thought it was apt for the change that Ayu in the Wild has long wanted for tourism in Sri Lanka. The change for a sense of purpose. For a more humane look at how travel, driven by profits must change. The time is now.
Our Vision for The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka Initiative
Ayu in the Wild has been committed to conscious travel since 2012 curating emotionally and intellectually engaging experiences in the farthest corners of Sri Lanka. We have seen travelers enthralled by holidays which have a sense of purpose and offer a deeper awareness of a unique culture in a distant land. Where guests leave the island fulfilled that they are supporting a local travel business committed to give back.
Over the next few months we will engage, listen, advocate and innovate - with forward-thinkers on sustainability, with conscious travel movements, conservationists, philanthropists and journalists. We hope that by creating awareness on low footfall travel we can advocate for a more sustainable future for an island that offers huge swathes of nature and a deep rooted heritage. We will continue to raise our voice for a change in Sri Lanka tourism to create a better visitor experience, protect nature, strengthen livelihoods, increase food security and ensure a better life for locals. Destinations that are deep in culture and nature need to handle visitor numbers more judiciously than those which are richer in synthetic experiences. Sri Lanka is a case in point.
The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka Collective is another fold on the page of the initiative. The properties chosen into the Collective were assessed against a defined sustainability trilogy of giving back to the island, the people and the wild. The entire effort of collaborating the Collective and its messaging on sustainability, is self-funded by Ayu in the Wild as part of our advocacy for promoting sustainable luxury travel in Sri Lanka. Ayu in the Wild receives no income from any hotel within the Collective.
Ayu in the Wild’s purpose-driven holidays will continue to be bespoke and curated. We will innovate to keep our footprint light and our community ties strong and we will remain independent in our recommendations of the best hotels for each holiday to Sri Lanka.
Transformational Travel Through The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka Collective
The properties given below are committed to responsible land usage, create economic opportunities for rural communities, protect the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka, and celebrate the island's cultures - the key touch points within our Sustainability Trilogy of protecting the island, the people and the wild. We are proud to showcase their efforts at making a meaningful difference for Sri Lanka’s tourism and have lined up insightful sustainability messages on each property on the Facebook and Instagram pages of Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka - follow for updates.
- LUXURY LODGES OF SRI LANKA -
Santani Wellness Resort and Spa, Kandy
Kalundewa Retreat, Dambulla
Lunuganga Country Estate, Bentota by Teardrop Hotels
Ulagalla Walawwa, Anuradhapura by Uga Escapes
- SRI LANKA UNDER CANVAS -
Tree Tops Jungle Lodge, Buttala
Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp
Under Canvas In Kumana National Park, by Xtreme
Santani Wellness Resort and Spa, Kandy
The art of wellness and human sustainability in a uniquely restorative sanctuary.
This, is curative luxury.
Kalundewa Retreat, Dambulla
A thoughtful agro eco-luxury all-suite boutique escape committed to social and environmental stewardship.
This, is luxury with a heart.
Lunuganga, Bentota by Teardrop Hotels
© Patrick Benny/ Flickr
Tropical modernism at Geoffrey Bawa's Country Estate for the eco-aesthete.
This, is thought-provoking heritage luxury.
Ulagalla Walawwa, Anuradhapura by Uga Escapes
Luxury juxtaposed with traditional elegance in an uninhabited environment.
This, is remote luxury.
Tree Tops Jungle Lodge, Buttala
Experiential luxury of private wilderness living.
Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp
Sri Lanka's first, all-suite, luxury, private bush walks safari camp committed to conservation.
Under Canvas In Kumana National Park, by Xtreme
Preserving the art of under-canvas vintage safaris in a remote wildlife rich habitat.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INDEPENDENT
The Sustainable Travel Sri Lanka initiative is an entirely self-funded effort by Ayu in the Wild Holidays and aims to inspire conscious travelers to find the best sustainable luxury hotels and under-canvas properties for their holidays to Sri Lanka, and to encourage hoteliers to promote tourism that gives back more to the island, the people and the wild. Ayu in the Wild receives no funding from the member hotels of the Collective.
Ayu in the Wild Holidays are specialists in curating sustainable slow travel holidays to Sri Lanka using the knowledge of the widely traveled Sri Lanka owners.