The Great Turtle Project

  (66 reviews)

Join The Great Turtle Project in Sri Lanka as a volunteer, and help make an impact on the conservation of the country's beautiful sea turtles

Perched along the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, The Great Turtle Project offers a vital lifeline for the country's sea turtle populations. Despite legal protection both from international and local law, turtles continue to face staggering challenges. Approximately only 1 in 1,000 hatchlings survive to adulthood due to predators, habitat loss, and human impact. For this reason, every nest, egg, hatchling, and turtle represents a critical link in the chain of survival for these vulnerable species. 

The Great Turtle Project sits on the stunning shore of Kosgoda Beach, a vital nesting spot for species like olive ridley, green, and hawksbill turtles, all ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. As a volunteer, you'll contribute directly to its two primary goals: increasing turtle survival rates and raising awareness in local communities about the importance of turtle conservation. You'll help bury turtle eggs moved from their nest to the safety of the hatchery, care for the sanctuary's resident turtles by feeding them and cleaning the tanks, and release hatchlings into the sea! You'll also teach local communities, particularly school children, about the importance of sea turtles, their role in the marine ecosystem, and the dangers of plastic pollution.

Join us on this wholesome, family-run turtle volunteer project, where you'll have a hand in boosting hatchling numbers returning to the sea, alongside inspiring future generations to become turtle guardians. With your help, the very turtles you release could return to nest on these shores for decades to come.

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From $939.00

  • Up to 15 Persons
  • All Meals Included
  • 7 - 84 Nights
  • Every Sunday
  • Minimum Age 18 (Or From 6 Years Old With An Adult)
The Great Turtle Project - Project Video - 2023

Speak To A Travel Expert

Lauren Mackinnon

Activities

On this project, you will help to support the daily care and conservation of turtles by taking part in a variety of activities, such as those listed below:

Turtle Care
Turtle Care The sanctuary is home to around 11 long-term resident turtles, including one rare albino turtle. As a volunteer, you'll help feed the turtles and may have the opportunity to help gently clean their shells of any algae or debris that, in the ocean, would otherwise be cleaned off by reef fish and other organisms. You'll also help care for hatchlings collected in the morning, spending some time in the tanks before being released in the early evening to avoid predators.
Turtle Release
Turtle Release A highlight for many volunteers is on the beach at dusk, when you may have the opportunity to release turtle hatchlings into the ocean! An evening release means fewer predators are around, and you'll help further safeguard these little ones by helping to ward off any remaining threats, such as birds or dogs. By doing so, you'll increase the likelihood of the turtles reaching the ocean unharmed before their true journey begins!
Burying Turtle Eggs
Burying Turtle Eggs In order to combat the consumption of turtle eggs in the region, the project team offer a higher rate for any eggs found by fishermen to dissuade them from selling the eggs to restaurants. Volunteers carefully bury these eggs in the sand at the sanctuary, where they will hopefully hatch into healthy baby turtles before being released into the ocean, beginning their journey to adulthood, where they may one day return to the beach to nest themselves.
Tank Cleaning
Tank Cleaning With several long-term resident turtles and holding tanks for the hatchlings, the sanctuary needs to keep these tanks clean to maintain a clean environment for their well-being. Volunteers will help with the regular changing of water pumped in via the sea and use brushes, squeegees and even coconuts to ensure the tanks are spotless before they are refilled.
Construction - The Great Turtle Project
Cleaning & Constructing Hatcheries With turtles nesting and the hatcheries in use every year, volunteers are sometimes needed to extend current hatcheries or construct a new hatchery area. This is not a guaranteed activity, but cleaning the hatcheries will be! Ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the hatcheries are paramount. You may also be involved in changing the hatchery sand; this happens every six months to avoid harmful diseases or bacteria forming.
Beach Clean Up - The Great Turtle Project
Beach Clean-Ups Over the years, pollution, particularly plastic pollution, has caused significant harm not only to sea turtles but also to all marine creatures. So, weekly, you and your group will head off down the beach with rubbish bags in hand and collect marine debris, plastic pollution, and other waste that poses severe threats to adult turtles and hatchlings, reducing the risks of entanglement, ingestion, and nest disturbance. The litter will be disposed of by the local council and recycled where possible.
Sanctuary Tour
Sanctuary Tours The sanctuary offers guided tours of the tanks and hatcheries to educate and inspire the local community about turtle conservation. Small contributions paid by the guests go straight back into the project. As a volunteer, you'll help lead engaging and educational tours, making a difference by spreading awareness and knowledge and motivating the public, especially younger generations, to become turtle guardians.
Teaching English
Teaching English Depending on the time of year you join this project, you may have the opportunity to teach English to local school children or community members who visit the sanctuary. Improved English skills can be a valuable asset for many Sri Lankans, whether they are children or older community members. This community outreach not only helps individuals but also supports the project's mission by uplifting the community and promoting awareness of turtle conservation.

Itinerary

You can join this project for 1 – 12 weeks and the longer you are at the project, the more activities you will get to take part in. Please note itineraries are subject to change and what follows is simply a rough guideline.

Day 1 - The Adventure Begins: Upon arrival, you will be met at Colombo Airport and transferred to the project site. You will have time to settle in before attending an orientation talk, where you will learn more about the project and have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Day 2-14 - Project Days: Each day begins with a short briefing about the day ahead, and from there, you will participate in a combination of activities. The project guide provides an example of a daily schedule, and weekends are free for you to relax or explore more of Sri Lanka's offerings!
Day 15 - Final Day: Today will be your final day, and after saying goodbye to your fellow volunteers and the project team, you will be transferred back to Colombo Airport to catch your flight home or to continue with your independent travel plans.

Durations & Prices

To secure a place on this project, a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your start date.

Flexible Payment Options: If you select a start date more than 3 months in advance, we offer convenient payment plans, allowing you to pay off your balance in instalments.

Select a duration below to see the available start dates and book your place today!

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Accommodation

Accommodation at The Great Turtle Project
Accommodation Pool at The Great Turtle Project Bedroom at The Great Turtle Project Bathroom at The Great Turtle Project

Accommodation

During your time on the project, you will stay in a designated volunteer house next to the turtle sanctuary and beach. You will be assigned a twin or triple-share room, shared on a same-sex basis, except for couples and families who will be accommodated together. Each bedroom is equipped with air conditioning. Additionally, the house has bathrooms with hot showers and Western toilets. You will also have access to a pool in the volunteer house, which you can use during your free time.

Meals at The Great Turtle Project
Meals at The Great Turtle Project Meals at The Great Turtle Project Meals at The Great Turtle Project

Meals & Beverages

While on the project, you will receive three meals daily and bottled water. Breakfast consists of fresh fruit, bread, jams, and eggs, and you will select your lunch from a menu (items include sandwiches, soups, and omelettes). In the evening, your dinner will likely consist of typical Sri Lankan dishes such as curry (fish or chicken), rice, and vegetables, each served in a buffet style. Dietary requirements can be catered for, but please let us know before your arrival.

Project Details

When Is The Best Time To Volunteer?

The best time to volunteer is during turtle season, which runs from November to early June.

Nesting season falls between November and April, and as turtle eggs take seven weeks to hatch, hatching season is typically from January until early June. 

The most popular time of year to volunteer is between January and April, as this is peak hatching season and still nesting season, so these months offer the opportunity to see both nesting and hatching turtles.

If you volunteer outside of nesting or hatching season, activities will focus on caring for the sanctuary's resident turtles. However, if you are looking to participate in turtle releases between August and December, you may want to consider our Costa Rica Turtle Conservation Experience as an alternative.

Getting There

On your project start date, you will need to arrive at Colombo International Airport between 9am and 5pm, where you will be met by a project representative and transferred to the project site (roughly two hours drive away).

Visa Requirements

All visitors to Sri Lanka require a visa to enter the country. Short-stay visas of up to 30 days can be obtained online via the Electronic Travel Authority. These can then be extended by up to three months once in Sri Lanka at the Department of Immigration and Emigration. If you will need to extend your visa, it is advisable to contact the Sri Lankan High Commission in your home country at least one month before travel. Please be aware that your passport must be valid for at least six months from your return date; otherwise, you will not be granted entry.

Fitness & Skills

This project does not involve much in the way of physical labour, but you will often be working in humid conditions. We therefore recommend that you have a basic fitness level if you wish to join this project. No specific skills or experience are required; we only ask that you arrive with a commitment to the project's aims, an ability to work as part of a team, and a positive attitude!

Vaccinations

The vaccinations required will depend on your medical history. We recommend that you consult with your GP or doctor regarding your vaccination needs. In conjunction with this, we also recommend that you check Fit for Travel's website.

Videos

The Great Turtle Project - Project Video - 2023
Discover The Great Turtle Project

Take a look at what The Great Turtle Project has to offer volunteers and how you can contribute to safeguarding turtles on the beautiful shores of Sri Lanka. From collecting eggs, observing hatchlings and releasing turtles into the ocean, you'll make a real difference in conserving five different species of sea turtle.

The Great Turtle Project - Volunteer Reviews - 2023
A Family Volunteering Experience

Hear from Lucy, Sean and Minh who joined The Great Turtle Project looking for an exciting and educational family volunteering experience.

The Great Turtle Project Release Video 23
Releasing Baby Turtles!

Get involved in the protection and release of baby turtles! Watch the hatchlings embark on their treacherous, first-ever journey to the sea. 

The Great Turtle Project - Weekend Activities
West Coast Weekend Adventures!

Unleash your inner explorer! Discover Galle Fort, take a river cruise, visit temples, cinnamon farms, beaches and museums. Kosgoda has it all!

Reviews

Catherine Rayner, 2025
         

Enjoyed this experience so much. Would recommend to anyone wanting to get stuck into hard work and make a difference. As a solo volunteer in my 40's this was a perfect demographic of volunteers old and young and from all walks of life. Everyone had a story to tell and made some great friends. The work was varied from caring for the turtles, releasing babies, giving tours to tourists to carrying rubble and cement as we demolished and remade a turtle tank. The hours are quite long, 8.30am until about 7pm after the sunset release with a lunch break and 2 x tea breaks, but free time from Friday afternoon all weekend to go and explore Sri Lanka. Working with the turtles and learning about the conservation was better than I'd ever have anticipated. I'm looking forward to booking my next experience with The Great Projects and Kate was so helpful answering all my nervous questions before I chose a project and then helping me with information about the trip to Sri Lanka. I've been recommending to anyone who'll listen!

Zaida Hundegger, 2025
         

What a great project! Working with the turtles is great fun. Letting the hatchlings into the sea in the evening is super cute. We were also able to watch a mother turtle laying eggs at night. It's exhausting but extremely rewarding. Dudley and his family are great. His wife is a fantastic cook. You have weekends off, there are so many great things to explore. It was a really great and enriching time. I can recommend it to anyone.

Hazel Robertson, 2025
         

I had a wonderful time in my 3 weeks at The Great Turtle Project. Dudley, his family and the other staff were all very friendly and kind, also helping to arrange trips for our weekends off. I visited Udawalawe National Park, went whale watching and to other nearby towns of Galle Fort, Mirissa, Benthota and Hikkaduwa. Working on the project was a real education and privilege, learning about the turtles and their needs, seeing baby turtles hatch, releasing them into the ocean and interacting with the resident turtles. I also enjoyed giving tours of the project to visitors. Whilst I was there we built an extra hatchery area which was hard work in the hot weather but very rewarding. The food and accommodation was great and air conditioning in the bedrooms was very welcome. It was a great way to sample the local food and also meet many other volunteers from other countries. I also had the opportunity to dress in a traditional sari. I would highly recommend this project for volunteers, it was so rewarding, very educational, a beautiful location and I fell in love with sea turtles. I hope to return one day. A couple of suggestions -... I had a wonderful time in my 3 weeks at The Great Turtle Project. Dudley, his family and the other staff were all very friendly and kind, also helping to arrange trips for our weekends off. I visited Udawalawe National Park, went whale watching and to other nearby towns of Galle Fort, Mirissa, Benthota and Hikkaduwa. Working on the project was a real education and privilege, learning about the turtles and their needs, seeing baby turtles hatch, releasing them into the ocean and interacting with the resident turtles. I also enjoyed giving tours of the project to visitors. Whilst I was there we built an extra hatchery area which was hard work in the hot weather but very rewarding. The food and accommodation was great and air conditioning in the bedrooms was very welcome. It was a great way to sample the local food and also meet many other volunteers from other countries. I also had the opportunity to dress in a traditional sari. I would highly recommend this project for volunteers, it was so rewarding, very educational, a beautiful location and I fell in love with sea turtles. I hope to return one day. A couple of suggestions - the pre-departure information included details about the use of a swimming pool but this was not available when I was there and appeared to be a permanent change. Secondly, the information also stated a requirement for clothes covering shoulders, knees and feet for going into communities to teach English to local children. We did teach local children but it was done at the villa and there was no requirement for these clothes so I did feel I had brought quite a few things that I didn't need, apparently going into the community to teach English hasn't been done since covid. It might be worth updating the information for volunteers. (Show More)


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What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • Three meals per day
  • Airport transfers
  • Bottled water
  • Wi-Fi
  • A conservation donation

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Soft and alcoholic drinks

Speak To A Travel Expert

Lauren Mackinnon Call us on +44 208 885 4987 Submit an Enquiry
From
$1,460.00€834.00£695.00$939.00
  • Up to 15 Persons
  • All Meals Included
  • 7 - 84 Nights
  • Every Sunday
  • Minimum Age 18 (Or From 6 Years Old With An Adult)
Download Project Guide Image Download Project Guide