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A combination of walking and exploring the delights of this diverse island
The group flight arrives at Colombo's Katunayake Airport and we transfer to our hotel at Dambulla (160km, 4hrs drive). Those not flying with the group can meet us at the hotel or the airport in time for the transfer. 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. Pelwehera Village Resort or similar
After breakfast we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, one of the most impressive sights in Sri Lanka. There are colourful and very well preserved paintings and statues of Buddha inside the caves, which date back to the 1st century BC. We then have a short, gentle, warm up walk which takes us through villages and rice paddies and on towards Sigiriya, where we have lunch. In the afternoon we visit the imposing 5th century rock fortress, which rises 180m from the plains overlooking the surrounding countryside giving far-reaching views. Used as a safe haven from invaders, 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 200m and pass an overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native 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 breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The descent is much easier and we have a final 35 minute drive back to our hotel in Dambulla.Approximate walking distance 6km. Alt. gain 395m, Alt. loss 395mPelwehera Village Resort or similar
Distance in Km: 6
Distance in Miles: 3
The next two days takes us across the famous Knuckles Mountain Range. We start early with a three hour drive to the start of our walk, from where we begin with an easy descent past rice paddies and through the villages of Pitawala Patana and Etanwala. Descending to the river we cross a small bridge and start to climb up through more farmland. Finally emerging at the top of an escarpment we are rewarded with great views of the surrounding countryside. An easy trail takes us along the top of the escarpment to Manigala Top at 1115m, 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. Today is the longest walk and is approx. 7 hours walking, 15KM, Alt gain 900m, alt loss 100mAlt. gain 240m, Alt. loss 450m (Please note – occasionally due to high water levels we use an alternative campsite. The alternative campsite is about 40 minutes’ drive from Illikumbura).Camping at Knuckles with Eco Team or similar
Distance in Km: 15
Distance in Miles: 9
We begin with a short half hour drive to the Narangamuwa Temple at Ranamuregama. We then pass rice paddies and coconut groves before entering 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 all around us. Emerging from the forest in the village of Meemure, make sure to look back for a spectacular view of the peaks of Lakegala. Passing farms growing pepper and other spices, we come to a small tea shop where we have lunch. After lunch, we take a truck or rickshaws for a bumpy 90-minute ride to Corbetts Gap, a famous viewpoint. Our bus will meet us here for the 1.5hr drive to our hotel at Orutota overlooking the Victoria Reservoir.Oruthota Chalets or similar
Distance in Km: 14
Distance in Miles: 8.7
Activity Hours: 5
Altitude Gain: 240
Altitude Loss: 450
A relaxing morning to enjoy the garden and pool at the hotel. Mid-morning we have a short 18km drive to Kandy and have the afternoon to explore. The town is located around a small lake and we can walk round to hopefully spot several varieties of water birds and large water monitors. Later we visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic - The Tooth of Buddha, which was taken from the funeral pyre in India in 543 BC and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. There are literally hundreds of worshippers who visit the temple each day and in July/August the most spectacular ceremony takes place.Royal Kandyan Hotel or similar
This morning we drive to Dickoya (3 hours), where we stay for two nights in simple summer house, with wonderful view of the Castlereagh Reservoir. On a clear day we can see the outline of Adams Peak in the distance. In the pilgrim season (December-May) we have the day to relax or you can take a short walk around the lake (approx. 6km). We leave around midnight for the walk up Adams Peak (approx. 14km). This will take around 4 hours and we should reach the top, with the many pilgrims at sunrise. In the off season (May – November) we spend Day 6 (Day 7 Ex London) at Dickoya and can walk around the lake and on Day 7 (Day 8 Ex London) we will climb Adams Peak during daylight hours. Total accent 1211m, decent, the same. (Day 6: B) (Day 7: B,L)Summer House Hatton or similar
Distance in Km: 14
Distance in Miles: 8
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 at 1890m and has a very British feel. 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.Windsor Hotel or similar
Today we drive to Horton Plains, a large plateau over 2,000m above sea level, overlooked by the second and third highest peaks in Sri Lanka. The scenery is beautiful and is 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 1050m to the plains below. We then catch the train from the highest railway station in the country; within two hours we’ve dropped from 1889m to 1097m. The train travels through the cloud forest into the tea plantations, the views are spectacular; we disembark at Ella.November 2021 update: Please note that due to current covid restrictions we will be driving to Ella rather than take the train.Hotel Country Comfort or similar
Distance in Km: 9
Distance in Miles: 5
We drive to Kithalaella and climb up to a rocky area to enjoy stunning views of the waterfalls. Continuing on to Ella Gap, we have dramatic views of the coastal plain nearly 1,000m below. Almost the whole of the southern part of the island is in view and on a particularly clear day the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible (approx. 12km walk). We return in the late afternoon to our hotel in Ella.Hotel Country Comfort or similar
Distance in Km: 12
Distance in Miles: 7
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 leopard. The park, which is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and fresh water lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard per square kilometre in the world. We will have a game drive in the afternoon. (Please note that the sanctuary may be closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. In this instance we will go to an alternative area close by, usually the Udawalawe National Park).Chandrika Hotel or similar
This morning we drive to the beautiful Tissamaharama Lake where we walk for approximately 3.5 hours (approx. 5km). This is an opportunity to see the day to day life of the local people as well as a range of birdlife. In the late afternoon we drive for approximately 4 hours to the coast.Insight Resort or similar
Distance in Km: 5
Distance in Miles: 3
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 from November to April you can go whale watching off Dondra Head. This is one of the best places in the world for seeing Blue and Sperm whales.Insight Resort or similar
We set off today and drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates back to the 17th century, and 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 amongst beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon (the drives takes around 2-3 hours, plus stops).Hotel Mirage or similar
If you are travelling on the group flight we will have a morning transfer to the airport for the daytime flight to London. The arrangements for those not flying with the group ends after breakfast.
13 nights hotels, all en suite, 1 night full-service camping8 full and
half-day walksFull porterage throughoutMaximum altitude 2243m/average
altitude 900m
All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 1 dinner is included.We suggest allowing about
GBP10-15 (approx. . USD16-24) per day for all other meals and drinks. 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,’ and a handful of tiny poppadum’s – 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 that in Sri Lanka the
availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example
wheat or dairy-free. 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.Drinking water is
provided in large containers where available so you need only bring a
re-usable bottle to top up along the way.
13 nights hotels, all en suite, 1 night full-service camping8 full and
half-day walksFull porterage throughoutMaximum altitude 2243m/average
altitude 900m
This trek is graded 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 4 and 6
hours, with one longer 7 hour walk. The trails are fairly well made and used
by locals. If it rains some of the trails can get slippery and there can be
leeches. It can be hot and humid on the lower walks.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.You may
find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference:
http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf
Hotels & CampingYou will stay 13 nights in hotels all of which have en suite facilities; all
hotels have twin bedded rooms with attached bathrooms. There will also be 1
night of full service camping. The tents have two camp beds with bedding.
There is a toilet tent with sit down toilet and a shower tent. A cook team
will prepare meals which are usually served outside. Wi-Fi is available at
the majority of places, either in the rooms or the communal areas.Single
supplements are available on request (not available for 3 nights).Please
note, paying the single supplement may not mean that you receive a double or
twin room for sole use. The room you are allocated may differ from hotel to
hotel, and on some nights a smaller room for ‘one person’ may well be
allocated.
Our Sri Lankan team of leaders have proved very popular with their incredible
knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is
no better way to experience Sri Lankan culture than letting a local leader
show you around their country.
All breakfasts, 5 lunches and 1 dinner is included.We suggest allowing about
GBP10-15 (approx. . USD16-24) per day for all other meals and drinks. 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,’ and a handful of tiny poppadum’s – 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 that in Sri Lanka the
availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent, for example
wheat or dairy-free. 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.Drinking water is
provided in large containers where available so you need only bring a
re-usable bottle to top up along the way.
We use an air-conditioned minibus but depending on the size there may be two.
The back up vehicles will drop us at the start of the walks and meet us again
at th end, transporting all our luggage. In Yala National Park we use smaller
jeeps. On the train to Ella, seats cannot be reserved in advance, so we just
sit where we can on the day.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 16 daysThe group flight from London
is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the
itinerary.Flights from LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of Sri
Lankan Airlines (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules
change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or
your agent to confirm up-to-date timings. Please note timings may change at a
later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure.Travelling land only: 15 days starting in Dambulla and ending
in ColomboYour trip normally starts at our accommodation in Dambulla in the
afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point
are provided in the Final Joining Instructions - sent approximately two weeks
before departure. Accommodation check-in times are normally from around 12
noon.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.If you require airport transfers, you may (by
prior arrangement only) be able to join the group transfer. Transfers are
arranged to coincide with the arrival time of the group flight ‐ please
check the group flight details 2 weeks before departure. If you do not take
this transfer, or miss it, you must make your own way to the joining point at
your own expense.
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons or monsoons.
The SW monsoon brings rain to that area of the island between May and August.
The NE monsoon takes place from October to January and only really affects
the north and east coastal regions.
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 30ºC. It can be humid
whilst walking. The temperatures drop as we go higher into the hills where
daytime temperatures are between 15º - 25º C and night time temperatures
will be cooler (about 10º C minimum) and a warmish fleece will be needed.
Sunhat, Sun cream, Sunglasses Water bottle Light casual clothing for trekking
and for evenings (light cotton or quick wicking clothing is best for the
walking due to the high humidity) Warm sweater/fleece for evenings Trekking
sandals Lightweight walking boots Lightweight thin walking socks with
wicking properties Light waterproof jacket Umbrella Swimming costume Hand
washing gel, wet wipes Torch - a red light doesn't attract bugs as a white
light doesInsect repellent Leech socks Walking/trekking pole(s) Daypack
(approx 10 – 15 litre)Especially when visiting temples men and women's
clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee. Women especially
should always dress conservatively to avoid unwanted attention and not to
cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers, short skirts and short shorts
are not recommended.We recommend that your main luggage consists of one soft
kitbag. This will be carried in the back-up vehicle. You will need a small
daypack for your daily requirements.Drinking WaterPlastic bottles are a big
issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they
often end up in landfill sites or get burnt, both processes are harmful to
the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. Drinking water
is provided in large containers where available so you need only bring a
re-usable bottle to top up along the way. This provides an alternative to
individual single-use plastic bottles in our aim to reduce the amount of
plastic used.
If you are prone to travel sickness then you may want to bring some anti-sick
treatment with you for the boat and/or some road journeys. Binoculars for
wildlife spotting.
All entrance fees and activities described above are included. It is
recommended that you allow at least £5 per day (approx. US$7) for personal
expenditure such as stamps, postcards and drinks. There are some souvenir
shops in Kandy.Optional Excursions (approximate costs, depending on group
sizes)Whale Watching – please note if you choose to enjoy this excursion
on your free day we strongly advise booking a private charter boat through
your leader. The more members of the group who wish to join the charter the
more cost effective it will be. We do not recommend the larger, commercial
boats, they may be cheaper but they do not always respect the welfare of the
animals or operate in an environmentally responsible way. We have also had
reports of overcrowding on the boats. Please ask your leader for further
details on how to book a private charter. Whale watching is only possible
between November – April.The whale watching trip by private boat should
cost between £40 and £80 (approx. US$50-100) per person depending on the
number of participants.
Tipping is a way of life in Sri Lanka and we suggest you allow about £3
(approx. US$4) per day for this. With the permission of the group, your tour
leader may collect a kitty to cover tips for hotel staff, toilet attendants
and porters etc. Tipping of the leader, driver and driver's helper is at your
discretion but we suggest around £2-3 (US$3-4) per person per day.
Travel insuranceSingle supplements are available on request (not available
for 3 nights).Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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