Sri Lanka Adventure

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

Leaving after breakfast we drive to Dankotuwa this morning, from where we begin our morning’s cycle ride along lush forested back roads to Kuliyapitya. Arriving in Kuliyapitya, we then transfer by bus to Kurunegala in time for lunch, after which we continue on to Sigiriya and check into our hotel. Later this afternoon we will drive out to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Dambulla, where a great series of caves hide an incredible collection of temples that date back to the 1st century BC. Containing a large number of Buddha images, as well as sculptures of Hindu Gods, the caves have become a huge pilgrimage site for countless worshippers, and this afternoon we will visit five separate caves, before returning to Sigiriya for the evening.  
Total cycling distance 38km.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

An early transfer this morning takes us to the start of our ascent up the imposing Lion Rock for the climb to the redoubtable Sky Fortress. The ruins of this 5th century fortress (declared a World Heritage Site in 1982) are one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, a stu-pendous sight to behold and a feat of consummate engineering skill. A switchback series of steps (sometimes very steep and somewhat precarious) ascends to the top and half-way up, tucked beneath a sheltering overhang of rock, are the famous Sigiriya Damsels. These frescoes, their ancient colours still glowing, once covered an area of some 140 metres in length and are the only ancient non-religious paintings to have survived into modern times.  On arriving at the summit (200m) we are presented with some magnificent views of the surrounding country, as well as the remains of what is left of the palace of King Kassapa. returning to the base of the fortress, we then cycle to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, following a series of relatively straight and flat back roads that provide us with a moderately easy journey that passes through patches of forest and rural villages. For those that wish it, there is the option to break up part of the 30 km journey to Polunnaruwa by travelling along sections of it by bus.
Total cycling distance 30km.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Polonnaruwa reached the height of its glory in the 12th century and the city is still blessed with a number of its ancient buildings and monuments. This morning we visit the ancient city by bicycle and on foot, taking in the spectacular ruins of its Royal Palace, with its Audience Hall, Bathing Pool and Quadrangle–a wonderfully compact collection of ruins. Close by is the Circular Relic House, a curious round structure with a beautifully pre-served ‘moonstone’ carved at the foot of a flight of steps. Another famous feature of the deserted city is the group of carved images of the Buddha known as Galvihara, a collection of four colossal figures, all hewn out of solid granite. This afternoon there is also an opportunity to pay an optional visit to the nearby Minneriya National Park by jeep, home to sambar deer, leopard and significant herds of elephant, as well as huge populations of migratory birds.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Giritale, travelling via Elahera and Pellegama, to a point where the crossover point between east and west Sri Lanka lies. Known as Riverstone Point, this region is home to the Knuckles Mountain Range and offers us a chance to break the journey with a short hike along a trail that runs through the ranges. Resembling a clenched fist (hence their unusual moniker), the mountains present a remarkable micro-cosm of the country, the striking landscapes and isolated cloud forests providing a haven for a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Our walk will take us around 3 hours, a soft to moderate trek that takes us through a landscape of incredible historic and natural importance. To the south and east lies the Mahaveli Valley, whilst the Matale Valley to the west encircles a collection of peaks that has no equal anywhere else in the country. Returning to our bus, we then complete the journey to Kandy, descending into the Matale Valley to arrive at our hotel late this afternoon. A packed lunch will be provided today, to enjoy en route.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Lying in the mountains, to the northeast of Colombo, Kandy was captured by the British in 1815 and is known more for its cultural and spiritual importance rather than its history. Buddhists from all over the world come to this delightful old highland town specifically to visit the Temple of the Tooth, the Dalada Maligawa, where the costly jewelled shrine of the holy tooth (said to be Buddha’s left canine and measuring in at an impressive 3.5 cm long by 1 cm thick) is kept. This relic was believed to have been brought from India some 1,500 years ago and every year, at the time of the August full moon, it is paraded round the town with great pomp and circumstance. During the ten night festival of Perahera, the tooth (or a facsimile) is borne along on a richly caparisoned elephant, surrounded by saffron-robed monks and Kandyan dancers. With a free day in the city, there will an opportunity to visit the temple today. Kandy itself is also a living monument to its tra-ditional past. The last capital of the Sinhala Kings, it retains much of its old world charm and its streets are a wonderful eclectic mix of noise and bustle, making it an ideal venue for some per-sonal exploration. You could also take a wander through the lush Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, located just outside the city, or perhaps explore something of the city’s handicraft workshops, which have plenty of brassware, batik, lacquer work and other craft items to choose from. Kandyan dancers can also be seen performing every night at one or two locales around town, so those interested in some cultural interaction tonight might like to venture out and enjoy some traditional Sri Lankan dancing.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Our drive this morning takes us via Gampola, Ulapane and Nawalapitiya, as we make our way to Ginigathhena, set amongst the fertile and lush western highlands. Set amidst a dramatic landscape of towering cliffs and wild water, the Kelani Ganga provides some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. The jungle around here were used as the back-drop for the 1957 film Bridge on the River Kwai and the grade 2-3 rapids provide us with the perfect combination of scenery and excitement, as we spend raft down to our accommodation in Kitulgala.  We cover a 7km section of the river through 8 rapids. It will usually take approximately 1.5hr hours to cover the section but this depends on water levels, in high water it can take just under a hour to cover the distance. Taking lunch en route, we should arrive at our overnight lodge late this afternoon and, after a chance to freshen up, if time allows this evening there will be a chance to join an optional trek across the river and through the jungle to a hidden waterfall.

Overnight Lodge (H+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Driving west this morning we head next for the Udawalawe basin and the impressive setting of the Samanala Wewa Reservoir. Located at the confluence of the Walawe River and the Belihul Oya, the reservoir and its vast hydroelectric dam lies amongst the fertile landscapes to the southeast of Colombo. We will be staying a tented camp (fixed walk-in tents with beds and all bedding provided) besides the still waters of the reservoir, the surrounding mountains providing an exquisite backdrop to the setting. Named after the Sinhalese word for butterfly (a testament to the incredible abundance of butterflies in the area), the shores and forests around Samanala Wewa abound with trails and villages that offer us some perfect destinations for exploring. On arrival we will take a short 7 kilometre hike along a trail which runs besides the waters of the Belihuloya River to our camp for our first night beside the lake. Our second day then offers us a chance to visit some of the villages that lie dotted around the lake, to gain a little experience of village life and enjoy some interaction amongst the community.

Overnight Standard Camping (C+) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we cycle along the village tracks that meander around the landscape close to Weligepola, to the south of Balangoda. A moderate 3 hour tour, the journey covers some 15-20 kilometres and at the end of it we will find our bus waiting for us, to take us on to Tissamaharama, gateway to the Yala National Park. Travelling by way of Ambawila, Thimbolketiya and the Udawalawe National Park, we arrive in the pleasant southern town of Tissamaharama later this afternoon. Lying close to the beautiful and abundant landscapes of Yala National Park, our afternoon arrival provides us with a chance to enjoy a game drive through the park. One of Sri Lanka’s premier reserves, Yala is blessed with a staggering diversity of wildlife, including one of the world’s highest concentrations of leopard and over 215 species of birds.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning there is the chance to take an optional morning game drive. Yala is the second largest park in the country and was one of its first wildlife sanctuaries. Home to an incredible diversity of eco-systems, including monsoon forest, grasslands and marine wetlands, the park is a rich haven for leopard, elephant and sloth bear, all five species of endangered sea turtle, mugger crocodiles and Indian cobras. One of the country’s most important bird areas, it is also a refuge for an astonishing variety of birdlife, including rare black-necked storks, white-bellied sea eagles and Asian paradise-flycatchers. For those not wanting to take a game drive there is time to relax at the hotel or take short walks nearby. In the afternoon we drive to the coastal resort of Unawatuna famed for its beaches and coral reefs.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

The next two days are free to enjoy the laid back ambience and turquoise waters of Sri Lanka’s southern coast. Rich in colonial history and golden beaches, the region offers us a wealth of options to enjoy the most of our time here.There are snorkelling trips available, Ayurvedic massages and the possibility to enjoy a whalewatching trip during the migrating season (December to April). You could also pay a visit to the city of Galle and its historic colonial fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that remains one of the best preserved examples of colonial fortification in the world. The Responsible Tourism Partnership also run two projects in the area which may prove of interest. One is the ‘Trees for Life’ scheme, a conservation effort that has been established in the Hiyare Rain Forest, and the other is the Dickwella Lace Centre, a locally run project that provides income and training for villagers who were badly affected by the 2004 tsunami.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

The tour ends in Unawatuna after breakfast this morning.

Included meals: Breakfast