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Day 01 |
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Arrive in Sri Lanka to be met by a representative of DTSL and transfer Bolgoda, Colombo. |
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Bolgoda Lake is the largest and most beautiful fresh water lake with the highest bio-diversity in the island. The added advantage is that it is situated not more than 20km from the commercial capital Colombo. It is full of mangroves giving rise to a rich diversity in aquatic fauna and flora. |
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By the water's edge of this lake is a luxurious holiday bungalow named The Medagama River Retreat. The calmness and tranquility of the area adds to the charm of the bungalow and its surrounds . The River Retreat with an experienced chef to cater to the taste buds of discerning guests , has three air-conditioned rooms and a spacious garden. The expansive lawn is an ideal play ground for kids of all ages. Furthermore, the Retreat has its own swimming pool & for adventure lovers , its own Mini boat-house where supervised canoe & boat rides can be arranged. |
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Overnight : The Medagama River Retreat |
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Day 02 |
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Early at 7.00 am, leave for the Singharaja tropical rain . You will be driven to the starting point of the trek. Start the trek 5.2 kms from Deniyaya , crossing one of the most known low country tea estates - Ensalwatte Tea Estate. From there you will proceed 6-7 km till you see an escarpment onto your right. Just before entering the you will see a typical small rural house. Once you reach a small stream a bit further on, the real journey begins here as you proceed through the itself ! |
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You will have to climb in the dense along a (sometimes difficult) footpath from an elevation of 391m to 1080m - the highest level of this . Though it is only 14 km trek, it may take up to 03 hours due to the tough terrain. |
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The vehicle will be ready at the other side of the border when you emerge from the and will drive you to the base of Adam's Peak (Ratnapura side). Make the most of the rest time during the journey - a long night of hiking lies ahead of you! |
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With packed supper, snacks and drinks begin the Adam's Peak climb in the evening with experienced local guides |
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Overnight : Adams Peak in Sleeping Bags |
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Day 03 |
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Watch the sunrise from Adam's Peak and then come down to the base, where the vehicle will pick you up and drive you to a Planter's Bungalow in Bogowanthalawa for a late breakfast |
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Relax for the rest of the morning |
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Afternoon, short trail through a Tea Plantation for 02 to 03 hours |
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Overnight : Planter's Bungalow |
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Day 04 |
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After breakfast, drive to the starting point for the Bogowanthalawa / Galpothuthenna trail and continue trekking in the morning from Bogawantalawa to Galpothuthenna. |
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This is a trail of massive diversity - through , jungle, tea plantation and grassland, with ascents, descents and flat terrain, desolate and inhabited areas, changing vegetation types and some of the most spectacular views in Sri Lanka. |
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Beginning in the Bogowanthalawa tea plantation itself, you then start a rapid ascent up through a jungle terrain. When you come out of the jungle, you reach a more open grassland terrain, similar to the landscape of the famous 'Horton Plains' (which is situated only slightly higher up). You are sure to see the footprints of the leopards and sambhar deer that roam there (you may even spot the animals themselves if you are very lucky!). Along the way, you will follow the river, also noticing a number of man-made holes (the result of the gem-mining that goes on in the area). |
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You will then go back into a scrub jungle area where the next part of the trail takes you on a footpath towards the 'Non-Pereil' tea estate. On the way, you will cross the Belihuloya river - an ideal place to take a break for lunch and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. |
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On coming out of the 'jungle tunnel', you can see for miles beyond, including the 'Samanalawewa' reservoir and the dam itself. You will pass the tea pickers' houses, vegetable plots, a small nursery school before reaching the 'Non Pareil' tea plantation itself. Heading down through the tea plantation, you will get to a more sparse and rocky area, you will continue on through patches where you can see bear monkeys and a wide variety of birds. This part of the descent is rather steep - the panoramic views are incredible! The last part of the trail leads down through a dense pine tree plantation and finishes up at the small village of 'Galpothuthenna'. You will be met by the vehicle at Galpothuthenna and driven to the River Garden Resort, Belihuloya |
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Overnight : River House Garden |
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Day 05 |
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After breakfast, start the Kinchigune / Hulan Ella Falls trail. Start the trail from the Eco Lodge at the small village of Kinchigune, overlooking the famous Samanalawewa Reservoir. |
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The trail goes through paddy fields, past vegetable plots, patches and even a Buddhist temple. Beyond the temple, it goes through a very small village into a completely uninhabited area, characterised by intermittent patches of and savanna, eventually leading to the Walawe River. The river marks the 8km point of the trail, but to continue on we cross it at 'Mulgammankada' and hike through the Riverine , alongside and down the river. During this next part of the trail, one will not come across any human habitation, and apart from an occasional small group or two of gem miners, who come to this desolate area and camp out here to mine for gems, one will not meet other humans on the way. After another 2km walk, we come to a beautiful rocky area where there is a waterfall of about 40 ft in height. This waterfall is called 'Hulan Ella' or the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (West)'. The beautiful, serene, and ever-changing next to the river and waterfall is home to an abundance of varying flora and fauna. The flora and fauna in this area consists of the occasional migratory Elephant, Sambhur Deer, Indian Munjak, Flying and Giant Squirrels, many birds (Changeable Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Stork Billed kingfisher, Gray Hornbill etc.), Lizards (3 endemic), Geckos, Skinks, Snakes, Amphibians, Snails, Butterflies and Fishes. |
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This will be camping on a "participatory basis" where guests will assist the staff in setting up the Camp and in the cooking. |
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Overnight : Camp at Hulan Ella |
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Day 06 |
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Breakfast at the Camp and decamp. Continue trekking from Hulan Ella to Duviliella & then proceed in a vehicle to Belihuloya again. |
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HULAN ELLA / DUVILI ELLA FALLS TREK - A trek through through the , passing a place where the river divides in to three and flows down as three streams for about 300 metres before rejoining. Always remaining in the cool shade of the Riverine , we reach our final destination in time for lunch. At the end of 10km walk from 'Hulan Ella' we come to the 'pièce de resistance' - the majestic, breathtaking and awesome 'Duwili Ella Falls'. This waterfall is also called the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (East)'. It plunges a dramatic 80 ft from a level rocky ground into a large deep pool at the base. The falling of the water creates a cloud of spray, resembling a cloud of dust (hence the name 'Duwili Ella' - in Sinhalese, 'Duwili' means 'dust' and 'Ella' is 'waterfall') |
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After lunch at the Duvili Ella Falls there is a short climb up some steps where you will be met by your vehicle and driven to Yala via Hambegamuwa passing through typical Srilanakan village's, taking narrow by roads. |
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Overnight : Yala Village |
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Day 07 |
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After breakfast, embark on a full day Safari of Yala National Park which lies 24 km northeast of Tissamaharama and 290km from Colombo on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka and spans Southern and Uva provinces. The park consists of 97,878ha. The altitude is 90m from sea level. The vegetation in this park comprises secondary , possibly a few hundred years old at the most. It is predominantly semi-arid thorny-scrub, interspersed with pockets of fairly dense . Small patches of mangrove vegetation occur along the costal lagoons. Yala is renowned for the variety of its wildlife and its fine coastline and associated coral reefs. A large number of important cultural ruins bear testimony to earlier civilizations and indicate that, much of the area was populated and well developed. |
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Overnight : Mahoora Luxury or standard camp |
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Day 08 |
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After breafast leave Buttala finishing breakfast. |
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Arrive for lunch at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge (TTJL). After lunch and a short break, a Nature trail around the premises. Guided jungle walks from TTJL mostly take place morning (dep. abt. 9.30 am) and afternoon (dep. abt. 3.30 pm) avoiding the hot midday sun and heat. Tailor made trips can be made to meet special interest requirements of clients. Birders might prefer early morning walks. |
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The jungle surrounding the lodge features 400 year old ebony trees and magnificent bird life, fauna and flora - including elephant, spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer, wild boar, giant squirrel and monkey (mostly macaque and grey langur). Aside from the elephant, animal sightings may not be easy in the as wildlife is fearful of people. But the trackers will show clients their ability to read the signs of the jungle. There may be footprints of sloth bear and leopard. |
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Overnight : Tree Tops Jungle Lodge |
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Day 09 |
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After breakfast a nature trail in the morning. |
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MORNING TRAIL - Mid morning set off for a 2 hours trek through virgin tall dryzone up into to the mysterious Arahat Kanda (Hills of Enlightenment) dotted with numerous caves from the Buddhist civilisation flourishing here more than two millenniums ago. These mountains were once the home of ancient Kings and Buddhist monks. |
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The hike through virgin jungle is strenuous but you are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, jungle, irrigation tanks and paddy fields. Return to the lodge for a big glass of fresh lime juice. |
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After lunch & a short trek, leave for the 2nd trail at 3.30pm. |
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AFTERNOON TREK - Set off on a trek (2 hours) through scrub jungle to a vast, ancient irrigation tank (lake) called the Weliara wewa, frequented by wildlife. En route, you'll see a diverse range of fauna and flora and a variety of bird life. The lake was constructed more than 2000 years ago by the Buddhist King Saddha Tissa. |
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At the lake rest, relax, and enjoy the wonders of nature here at the back of beyond. The lake is home to the Marsh crocodile and wild elephants frequently come to drink from this waterhole. To see wild elephants you'll need to wait patiently and very silently. Arrive back at the lodge by about 6 pm in time for a cool bath at the well. |
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Overnight : Tree Tops Jungle Lodge |
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Day 10 |
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After breakfast leave Buttala to Dambana where you will be met at the Dambana junction and escorted to the camp for a typical and delightful Sri Lankan lunch. |
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DAMBANA is a remote jungle village of indigenous people, situated about 300km from Colombo. The population of these indigenous 'Veddha' people now consists of only about 350 families, a number significantly reduced from a once thriving community. The 'Veddha' are so influenced by the imposing dominant culture that they risk losing their traditions and what has been their livelihood for centuries. However, they remain determined that their way of life will continue into future generations. The Chief himself told us on a recent visit to the village that his main worry is that he may not be able prevent the 'Veddha' traditions from dying out during his own lifetime. Visitors to this fascinating village have the opportunity to meet and chat with the people who live there, learn about their traditions, and gain a unique insight into their way of life. Your visit will also be of a direct financial benefit to the community because, as well as paying them a rent for the campsite and a fee for their involvement in the programme, Sri lankan Adventures also uses local produce and labour whenever possible. |
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After lunch and a little leisure time, the visit to the Veddah village and a meeting with the Chief - Wanniyaleththo is arranged followed by the famous "Kiri Koraha" dance, which they perform to invoke blessings from the gods. |
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Return to the Camp located next to the 'Delikadeliwewa' tank in very close proximity to the Dambana village itself. During your stay, the 'Veddha' people will visit the camp in their traditional costume in order to perform some traditional dances. The camp is also close to one of their former hunting grounds so guests can have the chance to participate in a mock hunt. |
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Overnight : Dambana Mahoora Luxury or standard camp |
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Day 11 |
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After breakfast proceed to Kandy via Knuckles. Cycling from Riverston to Rathota in Knuckles. |
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The KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN RANGE (so-called because its appearance resembles a set of knuckles in a closed fist) has been declared a conservation area, and is now known as the KNUCKLES NATIONAL HERITAGE AND WILDERNESS AREA. The region stretches an impressive 155 sq km that contains five major formations, a wide variety of rare and endemic flora and fauna and some breathtaking mountain scenery. It is a real paradise for those who love to hike or mountain bike, offering numerous trails that journey across clear rivers, through dense s, past flowing waterfalls and lush tea plantations, and alongside terraced paddy fields and colourful Kandyan home gardens. The chance to visit traditional small mountain villages in the area gives an interesting insight into the close-knit atmosphere that such a local community fosters and provides a welcome departure from fast-paced modern day life. |
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Evening at leisure |
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Overnight : Chaaya Citadel |
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Day 12 |
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Full day in Kandy or optional City Tour. |
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Overnight : Chaaya Citadel |
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Day 13 |
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After an early breakfast or packed breakfast proceed to Kitulgala for White water rafting at which will commence at 10 am. This thrilling adventure on the white water sections of Kelani River is suitable for amateurs as well as professionals alike. During the run you will experience the thrill of shooting rapids and euphoria of making it through. The river's clear water is born in the heart of the peak wilderness reserve and tumbles through a rocky gorge just above Kithulgala. |
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After Lunch at the rafting centre visit on cycles the Belilina Cave which is situated 2000 feet above sea level in scenic surroundings .The excavations have helped to uncover many fossils more than 32,000 years old. |
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Overnight : Rafters Retreat |
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Day 14 |
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After an early breakfast proceed to Ratnapura. Finishing the orientation, the canoeing starts around 10.00am. |
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KALUGANAGA RIVER RUN - This section is comparatively easy and do not require any special canoeing skills. Along the route you will be able to see many vegetation types / changing landscapes. Just passing populated "Ratnapura" town area, riverbank environment becomes more scenic and quite with lonely sand collectors' houses surrounded by thick vegetation and palm trees! During most of the ride only noises you are going to hear are the birds' calls and the sound that will make by your paddle until you reach Kiriella. |
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Overnight : Kiriella Mahoora standard camp |
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Day 15 |
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After breakfast leave the camp site and Continue canoeing to Kalutara. |
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From this point, the adventure starts to buildup and you may need some previous canoeing experience to negotiate this section of the river. River bends will make the water flow rough and your canoe also will be bit shaky and unsteady. |
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Arrive in Kalutara |
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Overnight : Kani Lanka |
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Day 16 |
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Transfer to Airport for departure |
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