Overview
This is a Hard Adventure Expedition including 9 days of trekking including a night trek. The trekking adventure starts with the path by which the great traveler Ibn Batuta used to climb Adam’s Peak on his journey from the Southern coast(Galle) to the North Western coast (Puttalam).
All trekking trails except Adam’s Peak trail are exclusive and unexposed. Some of the tails run through the jungle enabling guests to feel the tranquility of nature. The trails from day 2 up to day 7 will lie on the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary and the treks on day 08 lie in the jungles bordering the northern part of Yala National Park. Jeep safaris in the Yala national park with some of Sri lanka’s finest naturalists, will enable you to observe Sri lankan leopards, sloth bears and asian elephants, besides so many other wondrous animals including nocturnal species in this national park.
Our team of trekkers are well experienced in trekking with adequate skills to manage the entire trail.
Highlights at a glance
- Explore the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site of Sinharaja Rainforest.
- Trekking to Adam's Peak, Witness the glorious sunrise.
- Soft Half day trekking through some beautiful tea estates.
- Then off to hike Bogawantalawa to Galpothuthenna.
- Explore the remote village in Belihuloya.
- Trekking in the dry zone forests; from Kumbalgama to Duwili Ella.
- Stay at Tented Safari Camps bordering the National Parks in Sri Lanka & candlelight dinners under the stars.
- Explore the world’s best park for Leopards, Yala National Park, with multiple safaris.
- Colombo City exploration and great shopping experience prior to your departure.
Itinerary
The start of your trekking holiday in Sri Lanka, just ease into it. Depending on what time you arrive, it really is up to you to decide what you would like to do on your brief stop here. Drive through the city’s commercial center known as the “Fort”, where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside modern office structures. Explore the vibrant markets and bazaars in Pettah, and discover the National Museum with its fine collection of antiques and art of Sri Lanka. Or indulge in shopping and tasting Sri Lankan delicacies.
Fairway Colombo
After the checkout at Colombo Hotel, you will head to Sinharaja Forest reserve, and then in the afternoon do a half day trek in Sinharaja Rainforest. From the calls of birds and the rumbling noise of the Gin Ganga River to the fresh air filtered by its ancient trees, the colorful species of frogs and the bright flowers, Sinharaja leaves you in awe of nature and how species have evolved to suit the environment. Sinharaja rainforest has been designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a Biodiversity Hotspot by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is said that in Sinharaja one square mile may have higher biodiversity than the entire North American continent. Birding in Sinharaja is particularly interesting since it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka!
TREKKING DISTANCE: Approx. 7 km (Sinharaja Rain forest – Mulawella trail and back)
DURATION: 3 – 4 hrs
GRADING: Soft / Moderate
The Blue Magpie Lodge
After enjoying your breakfast, we will transfer to Siripgama to climb Adam’s peak. Upon your arrival and Siripgama, you will meet your trekking guides who will take you through the wilderness in the next couple of days. After orientation & briefing to the Programme, you will enjoy a light Sri Lankan dinner and participate in the blessings ceremony in the Temple and start the Climb around 11.00 pm and reach the summit before sunrise.
An earlier start time will be required during the pilgrimage season from December to May, as the climbing duration increases due to the sheer number of pilgrims heading up the mountain. After exploring the temple at the peak, you will have a short wait for sunrise.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 8 km (from Siripagama to the Summit of Adam’s Peak)
DURATION: 6 hours
GRADING: Hard / Moderate
At dawn you can experience a spectacular sunrise and watch the light leap from peak to peak on the mountains around you. You can begin your descent soon after and head back to your hotel to refresh and tuck into a hearty breakfast. After a well deserved rest and a hearty Sri Lankan lunch, you will head out on an easy half-day trek. This trek will take you through some beautiful tea estates in Hatton and at the end of it, you will go on a tour of a tea factory, where you will find out how tea goes from being a leaf on a bush, to a warm cup of golden goodness!
TREKKING DISTANCE: 5 km (from the Summit of Adam’s Peak to Delhousie)
DURATION: 3 hours
GRADING: Moderate
Slightly Chilled Hotel
It’s another early morning start for you, and this time you will be heading to Bogawantalawa to begin the hike. The drive will take you to the start of the trail where your hiking guide will conduct a briefing on the trail, what to expect on the hike and the safety arrangements. There will be a few breaks during the 8 to 10 hour trek for you to rest, admire the scenery, capture photos, and of course, enjoy your breakfast and lunch. The descent towards the end is rather steep, but it comes with amazing views of the surrounding areas. The trail ends at Galpothuthenna, where a vehicle will be waiting to take you to your campsite in Belihuloya overlooking the Samanalawewa Reservoir.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 18 km (from Bogawantalawa to Galpothuthenna)
DURATION: 8 – 10 hours
GRADING: Hard / Moderate
Kinchigune Camp Site
The trail starts in the small village of Kinchigune, overlooking the Samanalawewa Reservoir. You will venture through paddy fields and vegetable gardens to a narrow gravel road that takes you to a small village school and local blacksmith’s workshop. From there, you will continue to a tarred road, surrounded by typical shrub vegetations (consisting mainly of ‘Maliththa’ – Woodfordia fruticosa). After a couple of kilometers, you will arrive in a Buddhist Temple. This 350-year-old wooden temple is well worth a visit, and the local monks will happily answer your questions about it’s history.
The trail will then take you through uninhabited forests to Walawe River and to the rocky lands across it. Apart from some small groups of local gem miners, it is rare to meet any people in this desolate area that is home to many animals and birds – such as sambhur deer, Indian munjak, flying and giant squirrels, changeable hawk eagle, brown fish owl, stork-billed kingfisher, gray hornbill, and various species of lizards and butterflies. Sometimes, even the migratory elephant can be spotted here.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 12 km starting from Kinchigune
DURATION: 5 – 7 hrs
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
Kinchigune Camp Site
Your early morning start will take place at the 350-year-old Kumbalgama wooden temple. After a chat with the monks and receiving their blessings, your trek will begin with the usual briefing by your guide. You will follow the Walawe river for parts of your journey, pass through varied landscapes and encounter plenty of animals and birds. Your trek will end at the spectacular Duwili Ella falls, where you will enjoy a river bath and a sumptuous lunch. A vehicle will pick you up from this point and take you the rest of the way to Yala National Park. At night you will be treated to an alfresco candle light dinner experience under the stars at your campsite.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 18 km ((from Kumbalgama to Duwili Ella))
DURATION: 8 – 10 hours
GRADING: Hard / Moderate
Leave for an early morning jeep safari in Yala National Park with packed breakfast. Yala national park situated in the southeast region of the country, covers almost 1000 square kilometers and is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, along with Wilpattu, it is one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. Leopards are the stars here, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants as well as to the spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal and mongoose. The birdlife is fantastic too. Over 215 species of birds have been recorded in Yala, with six being endemic to Sri Lanka.
Then we will drive to Colombo and check in at your hotel upon your arrival and set off for a city and shopping experience in Colombo to expose yourself to the urban life in Colombo.
Fairway Colombo
After breakfast and check out, it is time for us to safely transfer you and your family to the airport, well in time for an unhassled check in and safe journey back home or your onward destination. The short drive to the Bandaranaike International Airport will be under 45 minutes.
Includes / Excludes
Includes
- Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels/ campsites/ guest houses on double sharing basis
- Half Board Basis on all the hotels/Campsite except Slightly Chilled Hotel on Full Board Basis.
- Meet & Greet Service at the Airport.
- All required transfers during the tour including Airport transfers.
- Trekking Trails
- Well Experience Local Trekking Guides for all treks
- Snacks & Water during the treks
- Management of all trekking trails including back up & First Aid services
- Jeep Safari in Yala National Park in a private jeep with park entry fees included
- All Government Taxes and service charges
Excludes
- Any International or Domestic flights.
- Any Visa fee or ETA fee. (Electronic Travel Authorisation)
- Any additional beverage or food.
- Early Check-in or Late Checkout Charges at Hotels.
- Any tips to the staff.
- Any expense of personal requirements telephone, laundry, hotel extra bills etc.)
- Any additional expenses, other than mentioned in the inclusions list above.
- Any expenditure of personal nature like table drinks, laundry, tip, telephone calls, soft/ hard drinks, still/video camera fee (if any) etc.
- Tipping to the local Driver Guide.
When it comes to the accommodation, all the reservations are subject to availability at the time of confirmation, and as soon as we have received the payment, our Tour Operations Team will take in charge of your tour and proceed with the reservations. In case a hotel mentioned in your itinerary has no availability, we will find you an alternative. No changes will be done without your approval!
We will make a rough day-by-day schedule for your tour, but won’t set you exact timings for each and every activity – unless there is a an activity which start at a specific time. Since you will be traveling by private vehicle, with a knowledgeable driver-guide, we want you to have your part in decision making. With the help from him, you may tune the schedule to your rhythm.
Along the destinations included in your itinerary, you are free to take as many stops as you want to. When it comes to additional visits and destinations that are located out of the original route, the extra kilometers will be taken in consideration. For your journey, we will calculate a total mileage that is sufficient for the whole tour and mentioned in your itinerary. If this limit is exceeded, we will charge a supplement according the extra mileage.
We’ll do our best to accommodate the programme in your needs and wishes, if something urgent occurs during your tour. In a situation that requires changing the accommodation, the cancellation policies of the hotels concerned are to be taken on account.
Since the 1st of January 2012, all travelers must be in possession of a visa when arriving in Sri Lanka. Citizens from Singapore and The Maldives are the only exempt. Visitors can apply for the official Electronic Travel Authorization (visa) via www.eta.gov.lk, or upon arrival at the airport. There is a small fee to pay, and you must have at least six months left on your passport at the time of travel to obtain one.
MasterCard and Visa are widely used and accepted by many local shops, restaurants and hotels, but it’s always better to double check. Other major cards such as AmEx and DinersClub are accepted often also.
The Important Stuff
Sri Lanka is a nation where religion and culture occupy an important place in the day-to-day lives of the local people. It is important to be aware of the customs and practices that are particular to the location you are visiting, so here are a few general tips to keep in mind during your travels. Your chauffeur will assist you with more detailed information.
- If you plan on visiting any temples, ancient or current, you should wear clothing that covers your body from your shoulders down to your knees. Head coverings such as caps or helmets should be removed and shoes must be taken off at the entrance. White coloured clothing is generally a good choice to go with here.
- Some religious places do not allow photography or videography without prior permission and some may not allow it at all. Refer to signage or ask your chauffeur guide about the policy or protocol. Don’t try to photograph or take videos without permission.
- If you have any tattoos associated with Buddhism, Hinduism or Islamism, it’s best that you cover them completely in public places.
- Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, workplaces and on public transport.
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