Today we focus on Sri Lanka’s cultural highlights. We visit (and climb) the Sigiriya Lion Rock and then visit the Dambulla Cave Temple.

Next we explore our surroundings. We take a relaxed walk through the spice plantations and visit Nalanda Gedige, an ancient Hindu temple built in the 8th century. We also explore the Bowatenna Resevoir. Today is about warming up our legs before the upcoming challenging hike. We return to the spice plantation for a cooking demonstration and short massage.

After an early breakfast we transfer (30mins) to the small village of Andawala which is the trail head. Before setting of we will say a prayer and receive the blessing of the monks at the Andawala Buddhist Temple. Our hike starts of through tiny village paths and then leading across small paddy farms. We will walk along tiny irrigation streams for the first 2kms before turning off into the forest. We continue our journey through patches of forest interspaced with pepper farms till we reach the village of Hanguranketa. Here we take a short break and refill our bottles before the next stretch. The remaining hike is on tiny jeep paths till we reach the forest bungalow whose surrounding lawns will be our campsite for the night. Around the campfire we can listen to local folk songs with a hot cup of tea in our hands. 

Today we hike through the Knuckles range. Get ready for some breathtaking views. Our journey takes us across small streams and dense forests before we reach our comfortable bungalow for the night.

Today begins with a short transfer to Manigal village. We need to carry our camping gear today as we will setup camp at our destination. Any excess luggage can be transferred to our next campsite. We quickly leave the village on our way to Doowili Ella. It is an undulating day that begins with a few descents. We cross 11 waterfalls on the way with the Doowili Ella being the last. Tonight we setup a basic camp under the waterfall.

We continue our hike through the forests heading to the small village of Meemure. Today’s hike is filled with changing views of open valleys to spooky forest scenes that seem straight out of Game of Thrones. We spend the night at out Meemure Campsite and enjoy a BBQ dinner.

Today we relax and sit back as we transfer to Kandy (2.5hrs). In the evening we can take a stroll to the sacred Temple of the Tooth and enjoy a local cultural show. Kandy is a city that sleeps, that’s why our food walk start at 6PM. We start at the iconic Royal Bar. Try out the local Arrack and bites to set the tone before heading out for some gluttony. Egg rotis, fresh hoppers and the best Kothu are up for grabs. Our charismatic host will regale you with stories about Kandy while you indulge in the many food options on the walk.

We then head to the Tea capital of Nuwara Eliya (3hrs), where we spend the day walking around the Botanical Gardens and the town lake. A visit to a local Tea Factory is a must as well. There are a multitude of different birds to see.

Today we get to explore the Montane grasslands of Horton Falls. We start early with a quick transfer to the park and then hike to World’s End, a precipice with a drop of 1200m! We then continue to our accomodation for the night in Bandarawela (2hrs). 

Today we can either sit back and enjoy the views from our bungalow or choose to walk around the extensive gardens. For the more energetic we can hike to the many stunning view points.

Today we transfer to Udawalwe (2.5hrs), which is famous for its wild elephants (around 400) that live here and during a visit it is not unusual to see a parade of adults and youngsters feeding, bathing and playing in the water. The park is also home to water buffalo, sambar deer, monkeys and you might even be lucky enough to spot a leopard. It’s also a location that boasts numerous species of birds. So with this in mind, we set-off at dawn by 4WD jeep for our open-top safari. With experienced and knowledgeable nature guides with us, you’ll be in expert hands throughout making this an unforgettable experience.

Transfert to Airport (4hrs). Departure.

OR

If you would like to continue your holiday we could transfer you to the relaxing beaches on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, with the option of going whale watching as well.