The concept of eco tourism was developed in the 1980s as a union between the preservation or conservation of natural areas and tourism. Coined by Mexican ecology-economist Hector Ceballos-Lascuria, the term refers to travel that is ecologically and culturally sensitive, combining the understanding of flora, fauna and their ecosystemic interactions with the opportunity to contribute to their wellbeing and on going including their future protection, therefore a true eco-tourist is a person who recognizes the importance of conservation and the link between tourism money and conservation. While exploring nature they are also keen to discover the nature as well as the people who occupy, or who once occupied the land, and to respectfully explore their culture and way of life, and accord dignity to it. They feel obligated to give something back for the privilege of being enriched by either the natural or cultural environment

Eco Tourism In Sri Lanka

For a country with one of the highest population densities in the world, Sri Lanka is also remarkable in that more than 13% of it’s land area is designated for wildlife and nature conservation. The country has something to suite almost any preference, from the red earth and scrub forest of the dry zone to the verdant splendor of the tropical rainforest; from the coastal mangroves alive with bird life to the stunning beauty of the hill country, replete with spectacular waterfalls and mist drenched montane forest. Add to this over 2500 years of recorded history a mosaic of diverse and potent cultures and rich archaeological heritage with no less than seven world Heritage sites one has the ideal ingredients for an enlightening ecological adventure. The sheer variety of topography, ecology and cultural diversity that is found in Sri Lanka sets the Island apart from many other travel destinations that you can choose from, the country can boast of every conceivable landscape other than snow-capped mountains, which makes it one of the world’s bio diversity hotspots. To the botanist, this is indeed a land of plenty. The diversified climate allows for tropical as well as sub tropical trees to thrive, the luxuriant undergrowth and tall majestic trees of the wet-zone tropical forest contrast with the arid scrub land and talipot palms of the dry north. In the hills vegetation varies from almost treeless patanas of Horton Plains to the dark cloud forest. The abundance of bird life makes it an ornithologists paradise.

Of over 400 recorded species, 226 are resident and no less than 26 are endemic to the Island. Fauna include 100 species of mammals, 54 species of amphibians, 200 species of reptiles, 81 species of snakes,200 species of snails. Sri Lanka also boasts of over 100 species of fish, dragonflies and 250 known species of butterflies. Imagine you are in Sinharaja. A sizeable stretch of lowland rain forest. Over half the trees you see that thrive in this habitat are found nowhere else in the world. Examine a tree hollow or a freshwater stream, and you might see land crabs all of which are endemic and the list goes on.

Let us design the most eco friendly holiday, starting from the diverse locations to the many intriguing eco-friendly hotels and lodges you can find, including some of which that have won prestigious International awards such as the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards in 2003 and most recently the winner of the worlds leading eco lodge at the World travel Award in 2008

Some, more rustic than others although offering luxury in a much greater eco context. Typical eco friendly hotels that we use are

Boulder Garden Hotel :- Kalawana (Sinharaja area)
Ranweli Holiday Village :- Waikkal (Negombo area)
Kumbuk River Lodge :- Buttala (Yala area)