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BBC Top Gear Coincides with Lanka Challenge 10 Year Anniversary
18 February 2019: Responsible travel company Large Minority celebrates 10 years of high-octane fun in their flagship destination Sri Lanka with 10% early bird discounts and 10% donations to local charities. Adventure lovers from all over the globe can now hit Top Gear on the madcap Lanka Challenge in either April or September of 2019, or book bespoke trips outside of these dates if they simply feel like following in the tiny tyre marks recently burned by one of their favourite ‘Friends’.
Experiencing similar sights as Matt Le Blanc does in BBC Top Gear (Season 26, Episode 2; air date 24th February 2019), participants will discover precisely why Lonely Planet ranked Sri Lanka Top Country for Travel in 2019. Teams of two or three nestle snugly in the country’s signature transport, on a ten day, 1000 km tuk tuk challenge. Participants are encouraged to ‘pimp their rides’, wear fancy dress and bring their favourite music which they can pump from a specially adapted boom box in their unique transport.
Regardless of the route choice participants can expect to encounter a world of welcoming locals, beautiful beaches, tea plantations, mountains and cities, and tonnes of wildlife including wild elephants, monkeys, crocodiles and the elusive jaguar. Just like Matt’s jaunt for BBC Top Gear, all trips depart the bustle of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo and take in the mountains of Kandy before splitting off to into remote tracks of the ‘off the beaten’ variety.
While not for the faint of heart, the Lanka Challenge is achievable for all ages and fitness levels. Plus, there is a crack logistics team who are never more than ten minutes away from each tuk tuk at all times. Breakdowns are comically regular but are always back on the road in no time, usually with the help of friendly and inquisitive locals.
Large Minority’s co-founder, Julian Carnall said: “Challengers have plenty of time to ask the relentlessly smiling locals “how you doin’?” as they negotiate the hectic fun of the Sri Lankan road system. The Lanka Challenge is not a race, points are awarded for challenges met, NOT the first to the finish line. Camaraderie is the name of the game.”
Charity plays a big part in all of Large Minority’s trips and in 2019 10% of each entry cost is earmarked for carefully considered and vetted initiatives including schools, orphanages and environmental concerns. Prior to arrival, participants are actively encouraged to secure sponsorship which they can apply to the charity of their choice, or indeed they often choose to apply monies raised to the charities they encounter during the trip.
Accommodations on the Lanka Challenge range from luxury beachside hotels to glamping around a waterhole frequented by elephants.
GBP 1420 per person (team of 3) Flights not included.
The next Lanka Challenge is scheduled for 19-28 April 2019. Costs include:
Lanka Challenge Northern Route
April 19-28 2019
Departing Colombo, the Northern Route takes in the less travelled North West coast, visiting Jaffna and then Sigiriya (ancient rock temple).
Lanka Challenge Southern Route
September 6-15 2019
Departing Colombo, the Southern Route explores the beautiful tea regions, surfers paradise in Arugambay and then the golden beaches and turtle sanctuaries of Sri Lanka’s South West coast.
Media Contacts:
Michelle McCarthy: shout@rowdybird.com +44(0)7580200912
About Large Minority
Large Minority provides adventure holidays in Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, Philippines and the Amazon Rainforest. A responsible travel company, a percentage of each trip goes to support local communities. Whatever the destination, Large Minority adventure trip challenges which sees small teams (usually of two or three people) complete tasks that have them interacting with the locals and getting out of their comfort zones.