Cinnamon Nature Trails expands to Colombo with five urban ecotourism experiences

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts - Colombo Hotels Area Vice President Kamal Munasinghe with Cinnamon Nature Trails team

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts - Colombo Hotels Area Vice President Kamal Munasinghe

Cinnamon Nature Trails Vice President Chitral Jayatilake

Colombo Hotels Cinnamon Ranger Gayan Wijethunga

By Divya Thotawatte

With a mission to highlight the true essence of Colombo as a destination, Cinnamon Nature Trails recently unveiled curated experiences revealing the city’s natural diversity and beauty to guests and travellers while championing sustainable tourism.

Cinnamon Nature Trails, which is the wildlife and nature-based tourism arm of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, is well-experienced in customising holidays and creating curated experiences in the wilds around Sri Lanka. Their expansion to Colombo is marked by five urban ecotourism experiences signifying a milestone in redefining Colombo’s identity from a transit point to a vibrant exploration nature hub.

Cinnamon Trails Vice President Chitral Jayatilake said, “We are truly grateful to bring our expertise in enriching the Colombo experience for tourists. You have to create unique experiences in any city, let alone the capital city of the country if we want to grow our tourism. Through our carefully crafted excursions, we aim to redefine urban adventure and invite travellers closer to our natural habitats in and around Colombo.”

The project flaunts and promotes the rich natural beauty and fortunes of the country, and with regard to the current state of developing the country’s image and brand to build its economy, this initiative by the Cinnamon Nature Trails was timely. That was why the focus should not merely be on creating experiences, but on curated experiences that promote the country through the eyes of enthusiasts and nature lovers, he explained.

Cinnamon Ranger and Head Naturalist of the project Gayan Wijethunga said, “Experiencing our environment and culture is the most important for tourists. That is often why they come here, instead of spending their holidays in their usual environments. The more unique these experiences that we provide are to them, the more they will hold those experiences in their memory. We have unique ecosystems in Sri Lanka and creating unique ecotourism experiences in relation to them is part of our operation.”

The five urban ecotourism experiences offered by Cinnamon Nature Trails include:

‘Zookeeper for the Day’ which is an exclusive experience that transcends the ordinary visit where guests can engage closely with the zoo’s residents and gain invaluable insights into their daily lives. ‘Birding in the Wetlands’ is an opportunity for guests to explore the rich avian diversity thriving in the nearby waterways and marshlands, just moments away from Colombo city’s hustle and bustle.

‘Tree Walk in the Heart of the City’ is an opportunity for guests to embark on a tranquil stroll amidst nature’s abundance, uncovering hidden gems within the gardens of a prominent cathedral, boasting a remarkable collection of rare and valuable trees and located a mere stone’s throw away from the urban milieu. ‘Spiritual Colombo’ is a chance for guests to immerse themselves in the serenity of iconic religious sites nestled amidst Colombo city’s core, reflecting Sri Lanka’s diverse religious tapestry. Guests could find solace and tranquillity in the sacred surroundings of these places of worship amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.

With the ‘Street Photography’, guests can step into the vibrant heart of a bustling Asian metropolis, where they can witness and capture the vibrant lives of a million souls in their most raw and authentic forms.

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts Area Vice President Kamal Munasinghe said, “This is a project that we have been working on for the past year and we are excited to launch this because most times when people come to Colombo, they ask what you can do in the city. These activities and destinations can be experienced in a couple of hours, and show guests how vibrant, diverse and close to nature the city is. With tourism on the rise and international travellers craving for new experiences, these curated experiences will not only elevate guest stays but will also support in positioning Colombo as a destination that has so much more to offer for a traveller – and through the eyes of our in-house team of naturalists.”

Regardless of whether the guests are business travellers, leisure travellers or visitors for a destination wedding, experiencing the locale of the city was important. Colombo has many activities and marvels that guests could witness and experience while they also fulfil the purposes of their visits. It was to showcase these hidden gems of Sri Lanka to the world, spotlighting its nature and culture as must-have experiences.

Cinnamon Nature Trails brings years of experience in the field, collaborating with prestigious production organisations such as BBC Natural History Productions, Nat Geo Wild, and most recently with BBC Studios for

BBC Planet Earth 3 for wildlife documentaries.

Pix by Ruwan Walpola