Srilanka : Adventure Tour

Arrival and transfer to Habarana the hub of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. The drive will take you through small villages interspersed with paddy fields, coconut and rubber plantations and forests.

In the evening acclimatise to the tropics and relax after the long flight with a leisurely walk along the hotels nature trail which wends its way along a breathtaking dry zone lake. Your first sunset in Sri Lanka, by a lake is guaranteed to be special…

Overnight The Chaaya Village, Habarana (The Lodge is a unique chalet style hotel set in a 50 acre park bordering a lake. its design is based on the lay out of a traditional Sri Lankan village).

Leave early morning with a packed breakfast for Hiriwaduna (05 minute transfer) for a 03 hour trek through this archetypal Sri Lankan village. The trek begins with an awesome walk along a bund of a Wewa or man made reservoir. The reservoir itself, the surrounding scrub jungle, marshland and village are a hive of early morning activity. The amazing birdlife, butterflies and possible sightings of crocodile only add to the charm of seeing the villagers as they go about their early morning tasks of fishing, or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake.

You wade through a shallow stream and the sense of adventure heightens when you need to get a Chena Cultivation via a somewhat wider tributary which needs to be crossed on an obliging farmer’s catamaran!!

At the Chena cultivation you will stop to enjoy the farmer’s humble hospitality. With the guidance of the farmer and his family, pick some of the fresh vegetables from their plot and join in the preparation of a simple meal prepared in the traditional method using earthenware pots and firewood as fuel. A great opportunity to sample authentic local cuisine.

The journey continues through dense shrub forests, home to many forest birds and other wildlife including monkeys, bear, python and even elephant.

Meet vehicle and return to the hotel in time for lunch

In the afternoon take an optional Elephant Back Safari through the forests and villages of Habarana. A wooden platform large enough to hold four people is secured atop an elephant. From this unique perch clients will enjoy Habarana and the surrounding wilderness as the elephant ambles through.

Overnight The Chaaya Village, Habarana

Leave at approximately 0500 hrs with a packed breakfast for the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The drive passing the Minneriya National Park at dawn, through mist covered plains is invigorating. The experience can only be topped by the sight of a wild elephant ambling along beside the main road!

Drive by the ancient ruined city catching a glimpse of what lies ahead to be discovered later in the day. For now, head off to a secluded cove along the banks of the Parakrama Samudraya ‘Sea of King Parakrama’, one of Sri Lanka’s greatest man made lakes which still is and has been for the past 900 years, the life blood of Polonnaruwa.

Arrive at the lake by approximately 0600 hrs. Watch the sun fight its way over the horizon as dark pools of water appear through the mist that has settled on the water. The cove is used by the local fishing community. It’s great fun to join the women and young children at the edge of the lake as they await the return of the fisherman who’ve gone out at dawn in their homemade catamarans to retrieve the nets which were laid out the evening before. The atmosphere is somber or jubilant depending on the value of the days catch. The adventurous few may assist the women as they disentangle fish from the nets and collect them in large buckets (Watch out for spines as many of these lake fish are equipped with menacing spines around their mouths which can render painful injuries!).

Our adventure only begins when we cast off on a local fisherman’s catamaran. The days work complete, he is more than happy to oblige as he effortlessly guides the catamaran through the water. You are welcome to try your hand at navigating the boat, but you’ll soon realize that it’s not as easy as it looks!

As the catamaran glides soundlessly along the water lookout for White bellied Fish Eagles and Brahmini Kites and a host of other exciting birds. The catamaran soon arrives at a little island in the middle of the lake. The island is largely a rock outcrop with a fringe of scrub along its edge. Prepare yourself for a breathtaking sight as thousands of Ibis and Cormorants materialize from the shrubbery and take to flight disturbed by the approaching catamaran. We dock at the island and make our way up the rock to the summit for breakfast with a 360 degree view of the lake and the forest beyond. As they realize that these intruders mean them no harm, the birds soon return to providing noisy accompaniment to an unforgettable breakfast!

After breakfast return to shore and bid the fisherman and his family farewell. (Lifejackets will be provided to the ride)

NOTE: During the height of the dry season between the months of June – September the water level in the lake drops considerably making the boat ride impossible. Further, during this time the birdlife described above move on to other locations with more water making the excursion much less attractive. Of course we do have certain years when the water level does not drop and it is possible to take the catamaran out all year, but it is not recommended that this excursion is offered to groups traveling between June – September. During these months the departure from Habarana can be delayed till 0600 hrs and a picnic breakfast will be arranged at a scenic location in Polonnaruwa prior to visiting the ruined city. Proceed to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa to explore the ruined palace and temple complex.

 Polonnaruwa rose to fame as the capital after the decline of Anuradhapura. Its period of greatness was from the 10th - 12th centuries AD. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, veritable inland seas the most famous of which is the Prakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbor. The monuments of this medieval city are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past.

Leave after an early breakfast for Sigiriya and climb the Rock Fortress.

Proceed to the hill capital Kandy stopping en route at a spice garden for a short trek to see spices growing in their natural habitat.

Proceed to Kandy

P.M Sightseeing of the hill capital Kandy including a visit to the much revered Temple of the Tooth Relic,

Overnight The Citadel, Kandy (This is a good resort ideally located by the Mahaweli River).

Leave early morning for our campsite located in the pristine Knuckles Range of mountains…. some of Sri Lanka’s most rugged and forbidding yet spectacularly beautiful terrain The camp is located high on a mountain slope over looking the Knuckles Valley. (02 ½ hour transfer)

After settling in at the campsite, begin a trek to Corbet’s Gap – named after the Englishman who discovered it, is a vast split in the range of Kandyan hills, through which on a clear day an amazing view is possible. You could see as far as the Indian Ocean on the east and west coast of Sri Lanka. Continue trekking through beautiful countryside passing rice terraces amazingly cut in to the steep hillside, wild cardamom groves and forest. Return to the campsite. Days trek will be approximately 05 hours.

Overnight Campsite Knuckles (To ensure very low impact in this pristine region we do not operate a permanent campsite and the facilities provided are very basic. Two person insect and waterproof tents and simple, but wholesome hot meals (Dinner and Breakfast) at the “Nomad’ site are provided by camp crew)

After breakfast begin trek descending into the Knuckles Valley. The days trek will take you to a small village, which is only accessible by foot. The trek through scrub jungle and forests will take you to the little farming village of Meemure, deep in the Knuckles Valley. The trek is on rough trails and a few streams need to be forded en route.

Break at the little village shop for a cup of hot tea, sweetened with “juggery”, made of coconut sap.

After a short break explore the village – See and appreciate the simplicity of life enjoyed by its people. Swim in the cool mountain water of a stream which rushes by the village.

Return to campsite Overnight Campsite Knuckles

Return to Kandy.

More sightseeing of Kandy including a visit to the bazaar area, Arts and Craft workshops and a Batik manufacturer to see skilled villagers at this time consuming cottage industry.

In the afternoon take a walk through the bustling Kandy town, a perfect way to take in the kandyan citadel and to experience the crimson sunset by the lake as the sun dips below the ring of mountains which surround the town. Simply stroll by the lake and soak up the atmosphere……

Also witness a Kandyan cultural performance.

Overnight The Citadel, Kandy

Leave for Kitulagala the film location of David Lean’s masterpiece “The Bridge On The River Kwai”. Today Kitulgala is an excellent area for adventure activities.

Option 01 – 01 to 02 hour, White Water Rafting excursion on the Kelani River. This short but exhilarating excursion is ‘Level 03’ and is suitable for most people between the ages of 08 and 60.

Option 02 – Trek through the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve. Cross a suspension bridge and enter the forest. Proceed through the dense forest cover emerging for short spells to walk along the bank of the Kelani River. Appreciate the rainforest like foliage and amazing birdlife and butterflies…

Proceed to Nuwara Eliya driving past the Devon and St.Clare’s Waterfalls. Visit a Tea Factory to witness the process of turning the raw green leaf into the familiar black-brown finished product.

Overnight The St Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya or similar

Leave for The Horton Plains for a 02 – 03 hour walk to “Worlds End” and the breathtaking “Bakers Falls” Sri Lanka's highest plateau 7200 ft above sea level in the central mountain country. This ‘Fen” is a very scenic region with an astounding variety of scenery from mountains to grasslands, from marshes to trout streams. Sri Lanka's best flavored high grown teas are grown in the surrounding areas. Spectacular view from 'Worlds End' where the plateau plunges a thousand feet in a straight sheer drop. Cool and bracing climate, excellent for trout fishing and very good hiking country. Distinctive flora (many English field flowers grow on the plains) colourful butterflies and many rare highland birds.

Proceed to Bandarawela.

Evening at leisure to explore this exciting hill station

Overnight Orient Hotel, Bandarawela

Proceed to Yala for your leopard experience.

Yala – Sri Lanka’s best known national park is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. More than three times larger than Undawelewe at 97,800 hectares, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s national parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometer. This park is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and fresh water lagoons. The areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide.

 Overnight Yala Village (This is a chalet-style hotel located at the border of the Yala National Park. As the national park has no boundary, guests can literally enjoy the wildlife of the park from the sanctuary of their rooms).

Option 01

Leave early morning with a packed breakfast for “ Debara Wewa”, a man-made reservoir which is now the cornerstone of the village community as well as an ecosystem rich in biodiversity. The fist part of the walk will take you past village homes, each of which is a hive of activity with most of the family at work at crafting pots and lamps etc from clay which is collected at the lake.

Proceed along the bund of the lake where you join the local community and the wildlife as they wake up and go about their early morning activities – be it fishing, washing of clothes or simply preening and drying one’s feathers after an early morning swim!! If you are lucky you may encounter a monstrous crocodile basking in the early morning sun. The lake is a buzz with birdlife, butterflies and dragonflies….

Stop to have breakfast at a shady spot with a serene view of paddy fields on one side and the lake on the other.

Continue trekking through the village to meet the vehicle and transfer to hotel. (This option can be taken year round)

Option 02

Leave after an early breakfast for Palatupana, a quite beach located 35 minutes away from the hotel. Here you will join the local fishermen as they draw in their “Maadal” or large net, which were laid early that morning. The arid air is punctuated with the calls of Hela, Hellai as the men tug on the net as the surf breaks on the sand. They then slacken their hold as the waves roll out again dragging the net with it. The chanting helps maintain rhythm and is a means of reminding them that they are sharing the labour of hauling in the fish.

Once the net has been pulled in and the catch sorted your support is sure be appreciated by the fishermen, who will insist that you take away your share of the catch. You can politely decline or accept and have the hotel chef BBQ it for you when you get back! (This option can only be taken between the months of October – April, as the seas around Yala are too rough for fishing during the rest of the year).

Option 03

Leave early morning with a packed breakfast to explore the hotel’s Nature Trail. This early morning trek through the wilds of Yala provides an exhilarating close-up of the area’s wildlife. The path of the trek wends its way through the scrub forest that surrounds the hotel and is home to many species of wildlife including elephant, bear, spotted deer, wild boar and jackal. The trek reaches its climax with breakfast at the summit of a rock, which is surrounded by a view that is quite simply stunning—azure seas and the endless green of the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary. Afternoon jeep safari of The Yala National Park for your leopard experience…. Overnight Yala Village

Optional jeep safari to Yala National Park.

Transfer to Bentota stopping en route in Galle to explore the Old Dutch Fort.

Evening at leisure

Overnight at Bentota Beach Hotel

At leisure to enjoy the sun and the sand….

Overnight at Bentota Hotel