Eco Team 4WD tour - AN "ALL IN ONE" 4-WD TOUR |
PROGRAMME |
: 4 WD Expedition. |
DURATION |
: 4 Nights / 5 Days. |
PERIOD |
: Valid till April 2008 |
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| Highlights of the Tour |
- Day 1. Galle to Udawalawe. An easy to moderate drive from the Historic "Fortress
Town" to the "Jungle Park"
- Day 2. Udawalawe to Belihul Oya - an easy drive covering few interesting locations.
- Day 3. Easily the climax of the Tour. Belihul Oya-Horton Plains-Maskeliya stretch is
amazingly beautiful, very interesting and tough drive requiring all your skills.
- Day 4. Start off along the beautiful drive from Maskeliya and end up at the Sacred City of the "Temple of the Tooth" Kandy.
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Day 1 - Galle - Udawalawe (FB) |
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| An early start is best as a long Drive is ahead
Guests start on the 4WD to Udawalawe National Park. |
 GALLE, the largest town in the region is full of history, which goes back to the ancient times. Since the ancient times the Port of Galle has been has been popular among the international traders and has been the most important Port in the country. It has been so till the development of the Colombo Port in late 19th century and is still frequented by many ships and yachts. The most important attraction in Galle is the Fort, which is a World Heritage Site. This 36ha Fort built by the Dutch built in 1663 is well preserved and encloses a complete city except for town. It has a large number of houses, several Schools, Religious institutions, Law Courts, Government Offices, an Army Camp, Hotels, small Shops, Boutiques etc. A walk atop these Fort walls around the Fort at dusk could be a very pleasant experience. Galle is a pleasant old city, which is developing very slowly. |
4WD ROUTE FROM GALLE TO UDAWALAWE
It is a narrow, tarred but sandy road up to the main road, after which the drive is along a very straight stretch called in Sinhala by the people as "kelin hethekma" (straight mile) before you turn off. The short stretch after the turn off this road we will be driving mostly through tea plantations. A little later we will notice the sudden change of the environment with much less population and somewhat deserted roads. We are now driving through village life and will go through many paddy fields. This trend will continue giving you a variety of paddy fields, tea plantations, oil palm plantations and intermittent forest patches. Of course, you will be driving up and down many hills through a moderately difficult area and past many small towns giving you an opportunity to get an idea of what these small towns are like. |
UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK
 UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK is located approximately 200 km south-east of Colombo city. The 30,821 hectare dry zone National Park has an annual rainfall of 1,524 mm and an average temperature of 29.40C. It is most famous for the many elephants living there (about 500 in total). During a visit, it is not unusual to see whole herds adults and young, feeding and bathing or playing in the water! In addition to this main attraction, the park is home to many Water Buffalo, Water Monitors, Lizards, Sambur, Spotted Deer, Monkeys and the occasional Leopard, as well as being an exciting location for bird enthusiasts. A 4WD open-topped safari is the only way to see all the wonders this protected reserve has to offer, and our experienced and knowledgeable nature guides will make this an unforgettable experience.
The ECO TEAM SAFARI CAMP is situated about 16 km inside the park next to the Walawe River (which feeds the nearby Udawalawe Reservoir). Forget any ideas about cramped tents and sitting on the ground for meals – this is camping in style! The camp is set up prior to your arrival, transporting in comfortable tents, a fully equipped kitchen, chairs and tables, hammocks, flushable toilets, showers and even cold beer. On your return from the afternoon safari, you will be welcomed with a hearty barbecue meal in a magical setting – the whole area is lit up with traditional flame torches and a roaring campfire. So sit back, relax and let our experienced staff cater to your every need. |
SCHEDULE
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Pickup from the hotel in the morning from Galle.
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Start the drive to the Udawalawe National Park.
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Lunch will be provided on the way.
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Arrival at Udawalawe National Park for evening tea & a safari inside the park.
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Dinner & Overnight stay at Udawalawe National Park.
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Accommodation:-
- Economy – luxury Camping
- Standard – luxury Camping
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Deluxe – super luxury Camping
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Day 2 - Udawalawe, Wavulpone, Kuragala, Duvili Ella, Belihul Oya (FB) |
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| 4WD starting from Udawalawe to Belihul Oya, via Waulapane, Kooragala and Duvili Ella. |
4WD ROUTE FROM UDAWALAWE TO WAVULAPONE
Starting off from the camp with a Safari Drive "chasing elephants", we come to the gate and drive for about ten kilometers and come to the main road. Drive along the newly paved and widened main road for about fifteen kilometers before you turn off and head along an uphill road through a lush green area towards the famous Wavulpone Cave for about 10km and a further 1-1/2km along very narrow and rough stretch of trail to reach the village school of Wavulpone where, the road ends. |
WAULAPONE CAVE
 This cave is an isolated cavern set against the eastern slopes of the Rakwana Range. It contains a large number of stalactites and stalagmites and is estimated to be approximately 500 million years old. We will walk into the 100m high cave to discover this prehistoric world. While there are few fossils visible in the caverns wall, the main building process is still continuing. The stream, which runs through this cave, occupies about half the ground space inside cave and meets, a beautiful 85foot waterfall that, falls on to it from close to the top of the cave, at the center, giving you a mysterious and a thrilling experience. You may encounter few water monitors, Amphibians and thousands of Bats in this fully dark cave. |
4WD - WAVULAPONE – KURAGALA – DUVILI ELLA
The drive up to Kuragala in the Kalthota mountain range, after the initial part through a little hilly area, would be for sometime along the dry lowland. |
KURAGALA
Kalthota mountain range is a small range situated between the southern low country and the central hill country. This small mountain range ends abruptly at one point offering a fascinatingly beautiful panoramic view, one of the best in the country. Haputhale is a place that offers you a clear and beautiful view of the vast area of the Southern Part of the country including this Kalthota mountain range. Kuragala –the end of the Kalthota range- offers you this same fascinating view and more from a very much closer range on one side and on the other side, it offers and equally fascinating view of the Haputhale and surrounding mountain ranges. |
DUVILI ELLA 
situated not very far from Kuragala is another beautiful place to be visited. After a few kilometers we turn on to the approach road to Duvili Ella. This narrow gravel road which is asphalted intermittently will initially go past a few houses and then through a desolate area before reaching the Vehicle Park. But before reaching this beautiful and charming waterfall you have go down 362 steps. Mind you! You will have to climb all the 362 on the way back. You view this waterfall from in front of it and from the same level as its top, as it falls into a large pit and flows through a narrow opening on a side. |
4WD – DUVILI ELLA – BELIHUL OYA
The road conditions from this point to Belihul Oya would be good. After driving through an uninhabited forest for several kilometers you will be passing by and below the 100M high and 600m long Dam of the Samanalawewa Reservoir. |
BELIHUL OYA
This is a climatically transitional area, which links the dry and wet zones at an altitude of less than 1500m. As a result, the vegetation it consists is of moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical savanna forests, dry patana grasslands and montane temperate forests. The vegetation in this environment has made this location an exciting one for the serious as well as the casual nature lover. The average temperature in the area is about 28.3 degrees Celsius and the mean annual rainfall is between 1,875 and 2,500mm. |
SAMANALAWEWA RESRVOIR
The Samanalawewa reservoir is named after the Sinhalese word ‘samanala’, meaning ‘butterfly’, hinting not only at the terrific number of butterflies in the area but also the actual shape of the reservoir. The word ‘wewa’ literally means ‘ tank’ (another term often used to describe reservoirs). As the ultimate destination for the Belihul Oya River, its calm waters are an ideal site for swimming, canoeing and other water sports. The surrounding mountains add to the idyllic setting of the reservoir. |
SCHEDULE
- Leaving the park after breakfast to Wavulapone cave.
- Lunch will be provided after the cave visit.
- Then continue the drive via Kuragala & Duvili Ella to Belihul Oya.
- Dinner & Overnight stay at Belihul Oya.
- Accommodation:-
- Economy - luxury Camping
- Standard – Cottages or similar
- Deluxe – Eco Lodge or similar.
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Day 3 - Belihul Oya, Horton Plains, Agrapathana, Dikoya, Maskeliya (FB) |
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| 4WD starting from Belihul Oya to Maskeliya via Horton Plains, Agrapathana & Dikoya. |
4WD – BELIHUL OYA – HORTON PLAINS
 Prepare yourselves for a good, interesting and challenging drive through beautiful, fascinating and enchanting territory. The real drive starts after an initial section of few kilometers along the main road. Soon after you turn off the main road the ruggedness of the road becomes evident. Five kilometers into this road we will be driving past the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka – the Bambarakanda Waterfall. Beyond this point, the road would be rugged, winding and climbing steeply making the drive very interesting and challenging. It is the steepness of the climb, the narrowness of the road and the presence of many hairpin bends that has prompted the English planters during the Colonial days to call this stretch the “Satan’s Steps”. You will be starting, after sometime, to feel the coolness of the environment and the crispness of the air.
A little later we will emerge on the highest plateau of the country. This area, identified in ancient times by our Kings as a great water source and as an ideal retreat and later discovered again during colonial days, is now a National Park. After a short drive from the emerging point, you will come to the entrance to this famous and important National Park – “Maha Eliya” as called by the people and “Horton Plains” as identified later by the British. |
HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK  is undoubtedly one of the world’s best nature reserves. It is characterized by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, covered in upper montane forest and wet patana grassland. bbIn general, the forests are seen on the hilltops or upper slopes, and the grasslands in the valleys and lower slopes, eventually giving way to wetland habitats. Spanning approximately 10,000 hectares the park is also home to a wide variety of flora (57 species, 29 endemic to Sri Lanka) and 24 species of mammals such as Sambur Deer, Giant Squirrel, Wild boar, Wild hare, Porcupine and Leopard. For bird enthusiasts, there are 87 species (14 of which are endemic), including many migratory birds. The Plains also feature many interesting attractions such as ‘Baker’s Falls’, ‘Chimney Pool’ and the famous ‘World’s End’ (a 3700 ft sheer drop that offers fabulous views of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant southern coastline). |
4WD – HORTON PLAINS – AGRAPATHANA – DIKOYA - MASKELIYA
Finishing the tour of the park you will start your drive to Maskeliya via Agrapathana and Dickoya. This will be mainly a drive through the Tea Country. Driving through vast lush green carpets of tea and along narrow winding estate roads climbing up and down would certainly be great fun. View of far away mountain ranges, of distant tea estates dotted with white tea factories will further enhance you fun and enjoyment. Look ahead! Look at the bevy of tea plucking damsels in the estate where you are in. But, be careful, make sure to slow down before you look for, they will surely take your eye away from the road; there may be a sharp bend, a steep escarpment or some road block ahead. As you come closer to Dickoya, and Maskeliya the incredibly beautiful view of the reservoirs Castlereagh and Moussakele down below, will without a doubt, take your breath and eye away. Please select a couple of good shady spots to enjoy this beauty, so that, you will not end up in the reservoirs. |
SCHEDULE
- Leaving Belihul Oya to Maskeliya.
- Packed lunch will be provided at a suitable location.
- Continue the drive after lunch.
- Dinner & Overnight stay at Maskeliya
- Accommodation:-
- Bungalow for all 3 categories. (Economy / Standard / Deluxe)
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Day 4 - Maskeliya,Nawalapitiya, Kandy (FB) |
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| 4WD starting from Maskeliya to Kandy via Nawalapitiya. |
4WD – MASKELIYA – NAWALAPITIYA - KANDY
Leaving behind the comfort of the bungalow, you start your drive for the day of which, about twenty percent would be again through tea estates. From Nawalapitiya up to Kandy, the drive would be easy along good roads running through small towns, villages and paddy fields. |
| KANDY was the last stronghold of the Buddhist political power against colonial powers. It is also the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Its architectural monuments date mainly from the 19th century, when Sri Wikrama Rajashinha went on a building spree, the cost of which hastened the downfall and eventual surrender to the British forces.
DALADA MALIGAWA
 The Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Malgawa dates from the 16th century, though most of the present buildings were built in the 19th century. Entering the shrine over a moonstone step, you pass a stone depicting the Indian goddess Lakshmi and a wall with frescoes illustrating the Buddhist conception of hell. The upper stories house the Tooth Relic secured behind the gilded iron bars. Behind the Tooth Relic sanctuary is a hall with a number of golden Buddha Statues and modern paintings, showing Buddha’s life and the arrival of Buddhism in the land. We end our tour just before the evening drumming begins, which precedes the ceremonious opening of the window for the public viewing of the Casket with the Tooth. |
SCHEDULE
- Proceed from Maskeliya Bungalow to Kandy via Nawalapitiya.
- Lunch will be provided at a suitable location.
- Continue the drive after lunch.
- Dinner & Overnight stay at Kandy.
- Accommodation:-
- Economy – Gem Inn or similar
- Standard – Suisse Hotel or similar
- Deluxe – Earls Regency Hotel or similar.
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Day 4 - Maskeliya – Nawalapitiya - Kandy (FB) |
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SCHEDULE
- After breakfast at the hotel departure to your next destination.
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- End of Tour - |
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| Our Rates - Please contact us |
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No of Pax |
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05 Pax |
Value (Rate per person US$) |
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| Standard (Rate per person US$) |
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| Deluxe (Rate per person US$) |
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| Cost Includes: |
- Transport in an air conditioned vehicle with a driver / guide
- Accommodation at the Hotels / camps with meals. (Half Board on Day 1 & FB on all other days , inclusive of Breakfast on day 10 )
- Packed lunch as specified in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees to Dambulla Temple , Sigiriya Rock Fortress , Polonnaruwa historical city , Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy , Peradeniya Botanical Gardens , Kandyan Cultural show Yala National Park & Jeep Safaris as specified
- Fee to “Veddha “ people
- Cost of the cycling trails as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Cycles for clients – USD 10 Per day will be reduced if own bikes are brought by clients for tour
- Cycling guide & his accommodation fee
- Water & snacks for the tour
- Back up vehicles for trails – 4 Pax & above
- Stand by cycles for an eventuality.
- All government taxes & service charges.
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| Cost does not include: |
- Peak period supplements at hotels. .
- Expenses of a personal nature.
- Tips and Porterage at hotels.
- Any other services not specified above.
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| Payment policy: Full payment with confirmation. |
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| Cancellation Policy: |
- 90 Days or more - 250 US $ Administrative fee
- 60 to 89 Days - 15 % of the tour cost will be charged
- 30 to 59 Days - 25 % of the tour cost will be charged
- 14 Days to 29 Days - 50 % of the tour cost will be charged.
- 8 Days to 13 Days - 75 % of the tour cost will be charged.
- Less than 7 days no refund.
Eco Team should receive the cancellation in writing. Tour start day is not considered for computation of the period. |
The above mentioned descriptions and programmes have been compiled after long, arduous, exploratory, and expensive work and hence is the property of Eco Team (Pvt) Ltd. Making use of these programmes/descriptions for any public or commercial programmes requires the permission of the said company. |
Naturally our ready made programmes will come cheaper than the tailor make programmes. How ever we are flexible enough to do minor changes to the ready made itineraries, with out any charge.? Please write to us
Do you own programme – Visit the location and activity pages on our site and you will come across mini tours in all of those pages. By combining them you can design your own tour. We will complete it by adding on the hotels and other cultural locations you may require.
Your tour will be handled by an experienced travel consultant who will provide a personalized service.
On certain occasions our standard programmes could be cheaper than a tailor made programme for a specific client. But rest assured that we are flexible enough to effect minor changes to a standard programme as required by you, our valuable clients & offer same at no extra cost. Please contact us at reachme@srilankaecotourism.com we will do the needful.
You also have the facility of designing your own programmes by visiting our location and activity pages on the website and accessing the mini tours segment in those pages & selecting an appropriate combination. Our experienced travel consultants will then add the finishing touches to the programme & provide a costing based on same. |
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