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Reviews 383
emma
Apr 05,2024jamal is very good and the experience was good
Jacob
Apr 05,2024Overall great experience. Amazing Moroccan people helping the trip aswell
Freya’s IPhone
Apr 04,2024Had such a great time with Travelteer. Everyone was so lovely, the place was beautiful. Would definitely recommend to do it. Our coordinators were brilliant full of great vibes and always there to help with anything (Emile & Macie). 100% would do again!!!
Abbie Cooper
Apr 04,2024Great experience volunteering in Sri Lanka. Emile and Macie were amazing and all staff were lovely. Would definitely recommend!
Tom Toraman
Mar 08,2024This company has provided me the opportunity to explore a new side of the world, learning about the environment, a new culture, and new people. It has honestly changed my life for the better and shown me a side to life I might never would have been able to enjoy otherwise. The staff are so friendly and welcoming and truly made this experience one I would never forget. The coordinators Emile and Macie welcomed me with open arms and were great to be around. Please take the leap of faith and enjoy what Travelteer have to offer!
jordan m
Mar 08,2024I did the marine program and for the amount of money you pay it is not worth it. You don’t actually do any hands on work with the turtles and only clean their tanks, the best part is the beach clean ups as you actually feel like you’re making a difference. The accommodation was alright but there was other people who had to sleep in a room full of mould for weeks before they were moved. The other programs seem great and a lot more hands on so I would recommend doing them instead as if you’re using the marine for work experience with turtles it doesn’t give you any. If this is just a fun holiday for you then it is something I would recommend though. Overall I met so many people that I’ve stayed friends with in the UK and its an experience I’m happy I did, it’s just a shame it’s not what I expected. Sri Lanka is amazing though I will definitely be going back 😊
Aikin
Jan 29,2024Pretty awesome time! Emile and Macie are cool as
The Tiger
Dec 12,2023I have just read Chris's review of the Tuk Tuk Challenge that we completed in November in Sri Lanka and I am copying it as I could not say it any different or better. Thanks Chris for summing the experience up perfectly and thanks to the Travelteer team for an amazing adventure. Embarking on the Sri Lanka Tuk Tuk Challenge, a 400km journey across stunning landscapes and vibrant communities, was an adventure of a lifetime. This incredible challenge, organized in collaboration with CAFT and Travelteer, was not just a journey but a revelation of culture, camaraderie, and challenge. Leading the pack were the two Laurences from Travelteer. Their dedication, genuine care, and tireless efforts ensured every aspect of our journey was flawless. These guys really set the bar high for what an adventure should be like. And Ruchi, the man in charge of our support crew, was nothing short of amazing. His cool demeanor, constant support, and ability to keep everything running smoothly made him an indispensable part of our experience. He wasn’t just part of the crew; he was a cornerstone of the entire adventure. Witnessing firsthand the positive impact that Travelteer is making in Sri Lanka was awe-inspiring. This challenge was more than a road trip; it was a journey with purpose and heart. Would I recommend Travelteer? Without a doubt! For an adventure that’s as exciting as it is impactful, this is the one you need to check out.
Chris Edwards
Nov 25,2023Embarking on the Sri Lanka Tuk Tuk Challenge, a 400km journey across stunning landscapes and vibrant communities, was an adventure of a lifetime. This incredible challenge, organized in collaboration with CAFT and Travelteer, was not just a journey but a revelation of culture, camaraderie, and challenge. Leading the pack were the two Laurences from Travelteer. Their dedication, genuine care, and tireless efforts ensured every aspect of our journey was flawless. These guys really set the bar high for what an adventure should be like. And Ruchi, the man in charge of our support crew, was nothing short of amazing. His cool demeanor, constant support, and ability to keep everything running smoothly made him an indispensable part of our experience. He wasn’t just part of the crew; he was a cornerstone of the entire adventure. Witnessing firsthand the positive impact that Travelteer is making in Sri Lanka was awe-inspiring. This challenge was more than a road trip; it was a journey with purpose and heart. Would I recommend Travelteer? Without a doubt! For an adventure that’s as exciting as it is impactful, this is the one you need to check out.
Chelsea
Nov 24,2023We had the most amazing time participating in Travelteers medical elective in Sri Lanka at the end September for 2 weeks. Volunteering at the hospital and in the local communities was a life changing experience that taught us so much. We were really well supported by the hospital staff on the medical programme and by the Travelteer staff who ensured we didn’t miss opportunities at the hospital e.g brain surgery!! You have to be realistic about the accommodation… it’s not a 5* hotel, it’s basic but it’s clean and for the time you spend there it’s perfectly fine. You do have to pay extra for AC when you get there but this is your choice. The Travelteer staff are amazing people. They work really hard to ensure volunteers feel safe and have a good experience! We had the best time and will have these memories for life. Thank you. Top tip: LOADS of bug spray!!!
Katy
Nov 07,2023I have recently spent 2 weeks on the medical programme with Travelteer. I had a wonderful time full of experiences that will stay with me for a lifetime. Travelteer provided a full and varied timetable that met expectations and beyond. I felt safe throughout my trip and would recommend to everyone interested! Thank you to all of the staff at the Hikkaduwa House and the medical team involved in making it so special .
Molly Bucknall
Nov 01,2023This summer I spent two weeks in Sri Lanka with Travelteer in their marine and wildlife programme. To put it simply: I loved every minute. The staff at the volunteer house and on our actual programmes were fantastic, they did everything in their power to make you feel welcome and like you were part of the team. I didn't know what to expect when I first left for Sri Lanka, unsure if the experience would really be right for me, but as soon as I woke up and saw the view from our accommodation I knew I would be okay. The volunteering is split into a morning session and an afternoon session, with a 3 hour gap for lunch which was a welcome surprise. This meant you could spend a few hours every day at the lake, the beach, at one of the pools (Citrus being my personal favourite), doing some shopping or having a well deserved nap! Although the weather I had when I went unfortunately wasn't the best, the staff still ensured that the tasks that we did were varied, even making sure we could go kayaking since the rainforest was unfortunately not an option. I loved seeing the turtles and slowly watching how much they progressed. The other tasks we had were equally rewarding as we saw the impact the beach cleans and mangrove planting had. The staff also arranged activities at night such as travelling as a group to different bars, having family dinner together on Sundays and having quiz nights in the volunteer house! If you are thinking about signing up, please please do it, you will not regret it.
Emma Buxton
Oct 24,2023The best time in Sri Lanka !! I had the most incredible time on Travelteer's marine and wildlife program! It has always been my dream to work with turtles abroad, and now that dream is complete🥳. During my time there, I had the privilege of feeding turtles, cleaning tanks, and caring for baby turtles to prevent poaching. But that wasn’t it by any means; I also got to participate in various conservation activities such as replanting trees and picking up plastic to protect the environment. One of the highlights was looking after corals, which was absolutely amazing! I can't wait to go back, hopefully to Nepal next summer. This program was a truly beautiful experience, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on our planet!
Em
Oct 18,2023DO NOT GO WITH THIS COMPANY! - read thoroughly before going. I went for the programme in Costa Rica as it had always been my dream and travelteer made the experience awful. I did a 1 week tour first to which all volunteers has issues within the first day. - The majority of meals had to be paid for my us even though we got told they were included, some days we only ate one meal as anything else was "out of budget" which is disgusting, especially considering the budget they gave us was only a few dollars for each meal. -The itinerary kept changing because even though the tour was booked ages in advance, the staff only decided to book activities days before so things sold out, which means what wed paid for was not what we got. arrived at camp 2 days before the tour was meant to end?? so even though we paid for 7 days we had to spend 2 of those nights in camp accommodation? - When in camp we had a meeting as soon as us from the tour arrived to discuss the issues all other volunteers at the camp were having. - Despite the programme being “turtle conservation” hardly any of the time spent was for turtle conservation. The majority of time was spent doing chores e.g. cleaning bedrooms, bathrooms, showers, kitchen, cooking for others at meal times. People complained they only saw a turtle once a week. Travelteer told me there would be so much work with turtles hands on when there was nothing. WE DID NOT PAY TO DO CHORES WE PAID TO DO TURTLE CONSERVATION! - After chores, the majority of the day was free but no activities were ever organised. Sometimes a jungle walk would be organised for example but always cancelled, so everyone in camp had to sit around and do nothing for most of their time at camp. You were not allowed to venture away from camp and explore yourself because of safety. - There were no lights at camp, and it went dark around 5pm. All the beds were separate and a walk to the showers and toilets which had no lights to get to. Considering the camp is based in Corcovado national park this is a major safety issue. - The safety was awful, it was never explained to us. There were never any communicated safety protocols or tips on what to do if anything bad happened, e.g. a puma, jaguar or snakes which were common around camp and venomous. No antivenom was kept nor was there any communication from anyone regarding dangerous wildlife encounters and what to do. - We had to sign a waiver as soon as we got to camp which was never mentioned before travel. This waiver included terms such as: if I become ill or die it is not travelteers responsibility etc - A lot of lies were told to a lot of people before travel. E.g: don’t need to bring much sun cream or pharmaceuticals as there are shops nearby, when the nearest shop is 2 hours away and is 80 dollars in a taxi. Travelteer said your weekends are free when you had to work in camp on Saturdays, but we couldn’t even go anywhere as you couldn’t walk outside the camp plus there was nothing nearby, the pictures on travelteers socials are nothing like the programme. Laurence is the owner of Travelteer and just misleads and lies about the whole programme. - The nearest hospital was 6 hours away by boat, which is another thing that I feel is a necessity to communicate to volunteers before they travel. If anything serious happened its very unlikely someone would’ve made it to hospital. (this explains why the no lights around camp is so dangerous) - We would do “night patrols” on the beach which was a 10-15 minute walk from camp in pitch black. No safety was ever explained. We only got told that poachers and Narcos (drug trafficking) could be on the beach and are dangerous, we saw poachers on the night patrol. Travelteer are very convincing but use another company! so so many people had all these issues when I went, I booked a flight home nearly 2 weeks earlier than planned because I couldn't stay there any longer and I wasn't the only one. I want to add the staff at the camp were separate to Travelteer and did a wonderful job, Isa especially was lovely.
Hannah Nutty
Sep 11,2023I did a University Placement with Travelteer for their sport development team. It was such an amazing opportunity, it allowed me to use my degree and put my knowledge to greater good and help the communities and children in Sri Lanka. I met so many amazing people in Sri Lanka and the team out there are all really friendly and helpful, especially Ruchi. I would recommend the placement to anyone, it is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Darcey Allen
Sep 07,2023I went on a travelteer trip to Sri Lanka and had a great time. My trip was 3 weeks and I didn’t do the tour. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t make many friends etc as I didn’t do the tour but I did! While there I did the medical placement which I loved. All elements were very worthwhile and I learnt so much. Bernie was our coordinator and she was a massive positive in my experience! She really helped me while there, I could ask her a lot and felt very comfortable around her. Overall my experience was excellent and would encourage anyone debating it to go for it.
Esther
Sep 07,2023I have recently returned from Sri Lanka and I wanted to review my experience doing the Medical Elective programme which was run by Bernadette. Firstly I would like to say how good Bernie was at running this project. Any issues that were faced were very quickly resolved to a high standard, and the entire project was overall run very smoothly. The experience I received in the hospital was excellent and was an experience you definitely could not have received back at home. Additionally, the impact our programme is making on the local community is massive, especially in one of the local orphanages. The children doted on Bernie and she made it very easy for me to become very involved with them, and even helped me pick up some Sinhala! I really could not have asked for anyone better to run this programme, and I really hope anyone going out next year gets to experience the programme run by Bernie. She was the reason my experience was so good, and so I will be forever thankful. In Sri Lanka, I also went on the Coast to Coast tour, which was one of the best experiences of my life. This was down to the expertise of my coordinator MJ, who was friendly, fun and professional, making me feel like I was in good hands. I would highly recommend the tour and MJ as a coordinator to anyone!
Grace
Sep 02,2023I had a great month volunteering on the Marine and Wildlife and English development programmes. Our coordinator Camila was so helpful and always made sure we were safe and enjoying ourselves. Thank you!!
Adam Gomme
Aug 30,2023I really enjoyed my experience in Sri Lanka with travelteer. I took part in both the sports and mental health programme led by Bernadette and Vishwa. They were both extremely well ran and featured a wide range of activities that were very much insightful giving me a small glimpse of the issues facing Sri Lankans, while still being entertaining and fun. Everyone I met in my 4 weeks away was friendly and easy to talk to and I feel like I have made a number of friends after this trip . Personally, I have no complaints about my experience and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Daniel Green
Apr 05,2024Jamal is the GOAT Great trip, loved the different activities especially the desert and markets The trip leaders were very nice and make the experience fun