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Hidden Trails of the Hill Country – 6 Days (Private Tour)

6 Days
[wte_itinerary_downloader]
  • Medium
  • Private Departure
  • All site entrance fees and park fees are included
  • Year around
  • Included
  • Guides speaking other languages are available for an additional fee
  • Siripagama
  • Belihuloya
  • Yes. Up to 45 Days
  • Through all the day
  • Only 10% to confirm
  • Yes
  • Car/ Van with A/C
  • Available subject to the coverage

Overview

This awesome trekking tour takes you to some of the most magnificent trekking spots in Sri Lanka, where you will get 6 days to experience nature and trekking adventure in Big Island. It may be a memorable experience in your life. First, you will have to reach the 2,240-meter high peak; Adam’s Peak - the island's fourth highest - at dawn to witness a glorious sunrise and the mountain's shadow, cast by the rising sun onto the clouds below. Legend has it that the footprint was originally carved in the rock, which is now covered by an oversized reproduction set in cement,  made by the Buddha on his third visit to the island.  You can explore inhabited areas through Bogawantalawa-Galpothuyaya Trail, Exploring Kinchigune Village, Kinchigune – Duwili Ella trail with a stop in the jungle for overnight stay with minimal facilities. This would be a remarkable experience where you will have to support your local trekkers to pitch your tents and cook your jungle style dinner and breakfast.

Our team of trekkers are well experienced in trekking with adequate skills to manage the entire trail.

Highlights at a glance

  • Trek to Adam's Peak, Witness the glorious sunrise
  • Descend to the Foot hills & exploring the tea country
  • Then off to hike Bogawantalawa to Galpothuthenna.
  • Explore the remote village in Belihuloya.
  • Trekking in the dry zone forests with jungle camping
  • Trekking towards Duwili Ella for cascading beauty in the jungle

Itinerary

  • Day
    1

    Meet our team and start climbing 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.

    (If you travel between the full moon days of May & December, night climbs are not encouraged due to minimal illumination, hence this would be done as a day trek)

    TREKKING DISTANCE: 8 km (from Siripagama to the Summit of Adam’s Peak)
    DURATION: 6 hours
    GRADING: Hard / Moderate

  • Day
    2

    Witness the glorious Sunrise at Adam’s Peak

    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

  • Day
    3

    Hiking from Bogawantalawa to Belihuloya

    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 DITANCE: 18 km (from Bogawantalawa to Galpothuthenna)
    DURATION: 8 - 10 hours
    GRADING: Hard / Moderate

  • Day
    4

    Explore the Belihuloya Village

    Kinchigune is an ancient village which is almost totally submerged in the waters of the Samanalawewa Reservoir which came to being in 1980s. The people of this village have been engaged in the steel industry in addition to agriculture since the early days. The 6 km nature trail begins at the River Garden Resort, and runs alongside the riverine forest of Belihuloya through paddy fields, across rivers and past local village houses with their extensive vegetable plots. It is an ideal opportunity to learn a bit about the local agricultural systems and simple way of life in the countryside. Along the way, you will  witness several types of beautiful birds and butterflies and some charming little waterfalls. The trail ends where the Belihuloya river meets the Samanalawewa reservoir.

    Surrounded by rugged mountain sceneries, the still calm waters of the Samanalawewa offer an idyllic location for canoëing. Whether you want to go for a relaxed little paddle for a couple of hours, venture out to the mouth of the Belihuloya River or spend an entire day exploring the perimeter of the reservoir, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience. A well-experienced guide will provide you with the right technics, safety instructions and modern life jacket.

    TREKKING DISTANCE: 6 km (from River Garden Resort to Kinchigune) DURATION:  3 hrs GRADING: Soft / Moderate

  • Day
    5

    Jungle Trek in the Dry Zone Forest with overnight camping in the jungle

    The trail starts from 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 to 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.

    The campsite will be set by the river, where you can have lunch and enjoy a refreshing dip in cool water. The dinner will be cooked by the campfire, in the most beautiful setting under the stars! And your guides, taking care of the lookout duty, will assure you a peaceful sleep throughout the night.

    TREKKING DISTANCE: 13 km starting from Kinchigune
    DURATION:  7 - 8 hrs
    GRADING: Moderate / Hard

  • Day
    6

    Trek to Duwili Ella Falls, Departure

    After decamping in the morning, the trek will continue in the cool shade of riverine forests to 'Thunkinda' where the river divides into three streams that rejoin after about 300 metres. The 100 kms trail will end by the majestic Duwili Ella, also known as the 'Walawe Ganga Falls'. It plunges a dramatic 25 meters into a large deep pool creating a misty cloud. Hence the name 'Duwili Ella' - in Sinhalese 'Duwili' means 'dust' and 'Ella' is 'waterfall').

    These impressive sceneries offer a perfect setting for a delicious lunch, brought fresh from our River Garden Restaurant in Belihuloya. Before the departure to your next destination, you may enjoy an invigorating river bath too.

    TREKKING DISTANCE: 5 km ending by Duwili Ella Waterfall
    DURATION:  3 - 4 hrs
    GRADING: Moderate / Hard

Includes

  • Accommodation for 3 nights (1 night in Nallathanniya & 2 Nights in Belihuloya)
  • Transportation when and where it required in a Jeep
  • Adam's Peak Hike (night hike) from Siripagama to the peak and descend to Nallathanniya with local guides, snacks & coffee during the hike
  • Duwili Ella Trail with participatory camping enroute with well experienced local guides
  • Well Experienced local guides for all trekking trails in the itinerary.
  • Management of the trekking Trails including coordination with the relevant local authorities
  • Water and refreshment during the trekking trails.
  • Government taxation.
  • 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

  • The transportation upto Siripagama on Day 01 and transportation beyond Duwili Ella on Day 06 are not included in the cost (could be arranged at a supplement)
  • 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.)

FAQs

What happens after I confirm the tour?

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!

Will I receive a schedule with exact timings for my tour?

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.

Am I allowed to do any extra stops or visits?

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.

Am I allowed to do any changes to my itinerary during the tour?

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.

Will I need a visa?

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.

Are credit cards widely accepted?

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.

Experiential Journeys: Pioneering Wildlife and Experiential Travel Founded in 2000 by visionary entrepreneur Anuruddha Bandara, Experiential Journeys has grown into the leading specialist in Wildlife Tourism and Experiential Travel across Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives. With five specialised accommodation brands in Sri Lanka, we offer the country's most unique Tented Accommodations and Lodges. Our shift from mass-produced packages to personalised tour solutions reflects our deep understanding of evolving global travel trends. Committed to responsible tourism, we focus on community benefits, conservation, minimal carbon emissions, and preserving local culture. Celebrating 24 years of innovation, we proudly collaborate with over 140 national and international partners, continuing to make a positive impact worldwide.

+94 702228222
20/63, Fairfield Garden, Colombo 08, Sri Lanka (10800)

info@exjourneys.com

See it online https://www.srilankaecotourism.com/trip/hidden-trails-of-the-hill-country-6-days-trekking-adventure/