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Tour Details

Highlands of Sri Lanka

Journey off the tourist track to discover a lesser-seen side to the teardrop island

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Tour Code : TGY

The journey is provided by

Destinations : Sri Lanka

Tour Starts : Dambulla

Tour Ends : Colombo

Group Size : 4 - 16

Ages : 16+

Activity :

15 days from

NOK 29 510

Overview

Journey off the tourist track to discover a lesser-seen side to the teardrop island

When the typical tourist route takes in dazzling beaches, fragrant spice gardens, emerald tea hills, safari wildlife and a glut of Unesco-listed landmarks, it’s no wonder few leave the well-worn path in Sri Lanka. But go beyond the classic circuit and you’ll discover a wealth of beauty and intrigue that you don’t need to share with anyone else. This two-week walking adventure combines the can’t-miss highlights, including the Sigiriya rock fortress, sacred Adam’s Peak and the wildlife of Yala National Park, with the lesser-visited trails of the Knuckles Mountain Range, where we pass rice paddies and villages virtually undiscovered by the tourist hordes.

Highlights

Walk through paddies and tea plantations
Explore trails rarely taken by tourists
Visit the beautiful lakeside town of Kandy
Enjoy sunrise on Adam's Peak (seasonal)
Search for leopards in Yala National Park

Key Information

13 nights in hotels, one night full-service camping
Eight full- and half-day walks
Full porterage throughout
Maximum altitude: 7,360ft (2,243m); average: 2,955ft (900m)
Maldives and Galle extensions available

Included

All breakfasts, five lunches and one dinner included
All accommodation (see below)
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout

Not included

Travel insurance
Single supplements are available on request (not available for three nights)
Visas or vaccinations

Itinerary

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Day 1: Start Dambulla
We make our way to the hotel in Dambulla (100mi/160km, four hours’ drive), either meeting the group at the airport or meeting at the hotel. Please be aware, if you are meeting the group at the airport for a transfer you might need to purchase a ticket outside to enter the arrivals hall. Accommodation: Pelwehera Village Resort (or similar)
Day 2: Visit Dambulla Caves, village walk towards Sigiriya; afternoon visit to Lion Rock fortress
After breakfast, we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, one of the most impressive sights in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, well-preserved paintings and statues of Buddha inside, dating to the first century BCE. We then have a short, gentle, warm-up walk through villages and rice paddies and on towards Sigiriya, where we have lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the imposing fifth-century rock fortress, which rises 590ft (180m) from the plains overlooking the countryside with far-reaching views. The route to the top is up a series of steep steps and gangways. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, we ascend 655ft (200m) and pass an overhanging rock, under which superb portraits of indigenous maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the walls. Crowning the flat-topped summit are extensive remains of the King's Summer Palace from where there are breath-taking views of the countryside. The descent is much easier and we have a final 35-minute drive back to our hotel in Dambulla. Accommodation: Pelwehera Village Resort (or similar)
Day 3: Drive to Illukkumbura; walk the Manigala Trail in the Knuckles Mountain Range
The next two days takes us across the Knuckles Mountain Range. We start early with a three-hour drive to the start of our walk, where we begin with an easy descent past paddies and through the villages of Pitawala Patana and Etanwala. Descending to the river, we cross a small bridge and climb up through more farmland. Finally, emerging at the top of an escarpment, we are rewarded with great views of the countryside. An easy trail takes us along the escarpment to Manigala Top at 3,660ft (1,115m), the high point of today. Next, we descend to the Mahalakotuwa village area, which leads to the main road and then it’s a 20-minute walk to our campsite by the river where we can bathe in the cool, refreshing water. Accommodation: Camping at Knuckles with Eco Team (or similar) (Occasionally, we use an alternative campsite due to high water levels, which is about 40 minutes’ drive from Illikumbura).
Day 4: Walk through forests to Meemure; transfer to Orutota
We begin with a half-hour drive to the Narangamuwa Temple at Ranamuregama. Starting our walk, we pass paddies and coconut groves before we enter a heavily forested area. The trail climbs gently for an hour and then levels out before undulating though this lush forest. The only sound we can hear is the birdsong around us. Emerging from the forest in the village of Meemure, make sure to look back for a spectacular view of the Lakegala peaks. Passing farms growing pepper and other spices, we come to a small tea shop where we have lunch. After, we take a truck or rickshaws for a bumpy 90-minute ride to Corbett’s Gap, a much-loved viewpoint. Our bus meets us here for the 1hr 30min drive to our hotel at Orutota overlooking the Victoria Reservoir. Accommodation: Oruthota Chalets (or similar)
Day 5: To Kandy; visit the Temple of the Tooth
We enjoy a relaxing morning in the hotel garden and pool. Mid-morning, we have an 11mi (18km) drive to Kandy and the afternoon to explore. The town is located around a small lake and we can walk round to look for water birds and large water monitors. Later, we visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka, the Tooth of Buddha, which was taken from the funeral pyre in India in 543 BCE and found its way to Sri Lanka in the fourth century. Hundreds of worshippers visit the temple each day and in July/August the most spectacular ceremony takes place. Accommodation: Hotel Suisse (or similar)
Day 6 - 7: Ascend Adam’s Peak
This morning, we drive to Dickoya (three hours), where we stay for two nights in a simple summer house with a wonderful view of the Castlereagh Reservoir. On a clear day, we can see the outline of Adam’s Peak in the distance. In the pilgrim season (December to May), we have the day to relax or you can take a walk around the lake (approximately 3.7mi/6km). We leave around midnight for the walk up Adam’s Peak (approximately 8.7mi/14km). This will take around four hours and we should reach the top with the many pilgrims at sunrise. In the off season (May to November), we spend the first day at Dickoya and can walk around the lake and we climb Adam’s Peak during daylight hours on the following day. (Day 6: B) (Day 7: B,L) Accommodation: Summer House Hatton (or similar)
Day 8: Drive to Nuwara Eliya; optional walk to explore the town
This morning, we have a wonderful drive through tea plantation districts to Nuwara Eliya. This was the favourite hill station during the British era, situated in the cool highland air. Known locally as Little England, it is dotted with British-style houses, hotels and a racecourse. There will be an optional walk into the hills around the town and also time to explore the bazaar. Accommodation: Windsor Hotel (or similar)
Day 9: Early morning to Horton Plains; walk to World's End viewpoint; to Ella by train
Today we drive to Horton Plains, a large plateau more than 6,560ft (2,000m) above sea level, overlooked by the second and third highest peaks in Sri Lanka. The scenery is beautiful and best explored on foot. We trek through the rolling grasslands, seeing forest and unusual wildlife, such as the sambar deer and purple-faced monkey, all the way to World's End, one of the most stunning sights in Sri Lanka. Here the ground drops 3,445ft (1,050m) to the plains below. We then catch the train from the highest railway station in the country; within two hours we go from 6,197ft (1,889m) to 3,599ft (1,097m). The train travels through the cloud forest into the tea plantations, the views are spectacular; we disembark at Ella. Accommodation: Hotel Country Comfort (or similar)
Day 10: Daywalk around Ella; Ella Gap
We drive to Kithalaella and climb up to a rocky area to enjoy waterfall views. Continuing to Ella Gap, we have dramatic views of the coastal plain nearly 3,280ft (1,000m) below. Almost the whole of the southern part of the island is in view and the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible on particularly clear days. We return in the late afternoon to our hotel in Ella. Accommodation: Hotel Country Comfort (or similar)
Day 11: Drive to Yala National Park; afternoon game drive
We now head south out of the hills to Tissamaharama down the plains stopping en route to visit the spectacular Ravana Waterfalls as well as the Kataragama Temple. This is a pilgrimage place for both Hindus and Buddhists, who come to worship here in the early mornings and evenings. Colourful and noisy, the temple is always busy. Tissamaharama will be our base for visiting Yala National Park. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has become well known for leopards. The park, which is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and freshwater lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard in the world. We have a game drive in the afternoon. (Please note, the sanctuary may be closed for four to six weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. In this instance, we visit a nearby alternative, usually Udawalawe National Park). Accommodation: Chaarya Resort (or similar)
Day 12: Visit Kataragama Temple and walk around Tissamaharama Lake; transfer to the coast
This morning, we drive to the beautiful Tissamaharama Lake, where we walk for approximately 3hr 30min (approximately 3mi/5km). This is an opportunity to see the day-to-day life of the local people plus a range of birdlife. In the late afternoon, we drive for approximately four hours to the coast. Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)
Day 13: Free day to relax on the beach or optional activities including whale watching (November to April)
We have a free day to relax on the beach or by the pool. There are also numerous optional activities including a boat ride through mangrove swamps to a cinnamon plantation or you can go whale watching off Dondra Head from November to April. This is one of the best places in the world for seeing blue and sperm whales. Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)
Day 14: To Galle; transfer to Colombo
We drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates to the 17th century and is now a Unesco World Heritage site. On the way, we stop at a small folk museum inspired by the local writer Martin Wickramasinghe. The museum is a typical house from the Koggala region and is set among beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon (the drive takes around two to three hours plus stops). Accommodation: Hotel Cinnamon Red (or similar)
Day 15: End Colombo
Today is the end of your journey. If you are travelling on the group flight we will have a morning transfer to the airport for the daytime international flight. The arrangements for those not flying with the group ends after breakfast. If you would like to continue the adventure with our post-trip extension to the Maldives or a beach stay in Ahangama, speak to your sales representative.

Photos

Important Information

The trip destination

13 nights in hotels, one night full-service camping
Eight full- and half-day walks
Full porterage throughout
Maximum altitude: 7,360ft (2,243m); average: 2,955ft (900m)
Maldives and Galle extensions available

Food

All breakfasts, five lunches and one dinner are included. We suggest allowing about 7,000 rupees (US$20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply rice and curry. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, sambols (condiments), and a handful of tiny poppadum – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food. Mineral water is provided by our local operator in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow.

Weather

Generally, you should expect rain at some time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day and night-time temperatures are very hot and humid with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30C (86F). It can be humid while walking. The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills where daytime temperatures are 15C-25C (59F-77F) and night temperatures will be cooler (about 10C/50F minimum) and a warmish fleece will be needed.

Is this trip for you?

This trek has been graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with some day walks and some half-day walks.

There will be a backup vehicle, making all the walking optional (except for the treks through the forest areas). Some days there will be options of easier and more challenging walks. Most of the walks are between four and six hours with one seven-hour walk. The trails are fairly well made and used by locals. If it rains, some trails can get slippery and there can often be leeches. It can be very hot and humid on the lower walks, particularly where there is little shade available so make sure you have a hat and plenty of water with you.

The drives to the start of the walks and from the end of the walks to the hotels are sometimes on narrow winding roads. Most of the accommodation is comfortable with two nights spent in simple hotels and one night spent in a fixed camp.

April Departures, Sinhala and Tamil New Year:

A unique celebration to the people of Sri Lanka, this important New Year national festival, known as Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil, is not celebrated by any other nation. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities are observed by both Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus across Sri Lanka for two days on the 12 - 13 April 2024 and 13 - 14 April 2025 . If you are travelling in Sri Lanka over these dates you can expect to see religious ceremonies, family activities, traditional foods, colourful decorations and a general feeling of good will toward neighbours and friends. Parties can gon into the night and it can be quite loud during this period. Your Leader will be happy to show you some of the activities where your itinerary allows. Please note, during the New Year public holiday, most shops, monuments and attractions will be closed however, your Leader will modify the itinerary as required to ensure minimal disruption.

Prices / Dates

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AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	Single room supplement	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 21 Apr 2024 / Sun, 05 May 2024	NOK 29 510	On request	NOK 5 355	Available
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 / Sun, 24 Nov 2024	NOK 29 510	On request	NOK 5 355	Available
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 / Wed, 01 Jan 2025	NOK 30 195	On request	NOK 5 355	Available

AVAILABLE DATES	PRICE (1 ADULT)	PRICE (1 CHILDREN)	SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT	TRAVEL STATUS
Sun, 21 Apr 2024 / Sun, 05 May 2024	NOK 29 510	On request	NOK 5 355	On request
Sun, 10 Nov 2024 / Sun, 24 Nov 2024	NOK 29 510	On request	NOK 5 355	On request
Wed, 18 Dec 2024 / Wed, 01 Jan 2025	NOK 30 195	On request	NOK 5 355	On request

We will get back to you with an offer on the requested trip / package within 48 hours. All offers are non-binding and are usually valid for 7 days. Please note that reserved services can be canceled within these 7 days and that price may change until a final order is received.

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