Raid Amazones, largest female-only adventure challenge, comes to Sri Lanka

Teams trail running through paddy fields during the 16 km of trail running on Day 1

Final teams arriving after 16 km of trail running on Day 1

Contestants kayaking through Valachchennai fishing harbour during the 16 km kayaking leg on Day 2

A local fisherman cheering the teams on during the 16 km kayaking leg on Day 2

A contestant riding the muddy track en route to Thoppigala during the 47 km cycling leg on Day 3

Contestants getting cheered on by school children during the 23 km bike and run on Day 5 of the Raid Amazones. The organisers and contestants donated valuable stationery to this school

The contestants pushing towards the last finish line of the Raid Amazones after 9 km of trail running on Day 6 

The ladies celebrating finishing the Raid Amazones on Day 6

The world’s largest female-only adventure challenge, the Raid Amazones, successfully completed the first of its two editions to be held in Sri Lanka. 266 women, primarily from France, took part in the event divided in teams of two or three. The concept of the Raid Amazones is to test its female contestants to their limits in a multisport event all the while giving back and discovering its country. 

The challenging nature of the Raid Amazones helped empower and develop a spirit of intense bonding, cooperation and support between all the women taking part. The Raid Amazones was based in Passekudah and took its contestants all around the Eastern Province to locations such as Pulipainchakal, Pethalai and the famous Thoppigala through roads seldom travelled before by mainstream tourists, or locals for that matter. Over the six days, the ladies cycled, ran, and kayaked over 115 km. Each event was planned to test a particular sport or showcase a particular aspect of the region.

The event had 266 female participants divided in teams of two or three. Most teams supported a French, Sri Lankan or any charity of their choice. Through their participation the contestants raised money for their respective charities. The charity supported by the organiser of the Raid Amazones, ZBO, and certain teams was the Sri Lankan charity, Reconstruire et Vivre (R.e.V) who runs three preschools, three computer centres and one language centre around the country. Through their donations to the aforementioned charity, they were able to buy eight computers for the Kalkudah Computer Center they run. The organisers and participants also made valuable donations to local schools and promoted women empowerment in the communities they traversed through the exploits of all the ladies participating. 

In addition, the Raid Amazon came with immense international media coverage for the event via print, television, radio, internet and social media providing excellent exposure for Sri Lanka as a country and tourism destination. This coverage is said create international publicity and awareness for the host destination estimated to be worth around $ 10 million. Showcasing Sri Lanka as a diversified, eco-friendly and compact destination that future travellers should include in their holidays plans. Furthermore, the coverage will help Sri Lanka brand itself as a top adventure tourism destination, a sector which has not yet met its full potential within the country.

The event was organised by French based ZBO and their Sri Lankan partner Connaissance de Ceylan, whose major subsidiary includes Theme Resorts & Spas Ltd. The accommodation partner and host hotel for the event was Amaya Beach Passekudha. The event was supported and approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Defence and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, who is also a generous sponsors of the event. The logistical support and guidance of the three Forces – Navy, Army and Air Force; and the Governor of the Eastern Province have been invaluable for this event.  

Recap of the events

Day 1: Event – 16 km trail running

Location – Start at Uppodi Junction (Eravur), finish in the paddy fields of the village of Veppavadduvan

Description – This event was designed to take the participants of the beaten track deep into the Sri Lankan countryside. The contestants ran through dirt tracks until the last 2 km where they had to make their own path zig zagging through paddy fields to the finish line. 

Day 2: Event - 16 km kayaking

Location – Start in the bay of Passekudah and onto the fishing harbour of Valaichchenai and back to the start for finish. 

Description – For the first time in Sri Lanka, a Kayaking race was organised in the ocean around Sri Lanka. It was perhaps the hardest event of this edition, with certain teams taking up to four and a half hours to complete the event. Kayaking tested the teams’ coordination, communication and technique as they had to navigate through the bay of Passekudah into the bustling port of Valaichchenai. The event showcased the maritime culture of the region as they navigated through the boats coming in and out of the port. 

Day 3: Event – 47 km cycling

Location – Start in Pulipanchakal (near Kiran) and finish in Thoppigala

Description – The longest event on this year’s event, the contestants had to cycle through muddy dirt tracks weaving through villages and paddy fields and onto the jungles of Thoppigala where elephants roam free. The contestants were cheered on by farmers working in their fields and villages alike. 

Day 4: Event – Treasure Hunt 

Location – Beach of Passekudah, the market, port and town of Valaichchenai

Description – The event was designed to test the contestants’ teamwork, communication and ability to think on their feet while pushing contestants to talk to and mix with the locals and learn about the culture and way of life of the region. 

Day 5: Event – 23 km bike and run

Location – Start Soodupahinachenai (near Koralai Pattu West) and finish in Karunkaliyadi.

Description – This event tested the participants’ teamwork and endurance as teams of two or three were given one bike to share between them for the 23 km. The highlight of the event was the checkpoint at a local school, the Vakanery Kokulam Vidyalayam. The participants took their time to stop and donate valuable stationary and interact with the school children that cheered on. The organisers as well made a valuable contribution to the school. 

Day 6: Event – 9 km trail running

Location – Start in the village of Kalmadu, onto village of Pettalai and finish in the bay of Passekudah with a beach run. 

Description – This event took the participants through the villages around the beach of Passekudah and then finally onto the beach for a final beach run and finish in the water. Being the shortest event of the year, it gave participants time to reflect on their time in the country and mingle with the locals that filled the narrow streets to support the girls as they pushed towards the finish line.

Additional events

Cricket – Teams learned to play cricket and then played a match to test their skill and learn the country’s most popular sport.

Archery – The teams all went head to head in an archery competition. 

Survival – The teams all had a survival game where they learned to make fire using bamboo, eat bugs and learnt further survival technics. 

Cookery – The teams also learned to cook up certain local dishes.