Eco-Adventure Tour of Sri Lanka

Leave Colombo and start your Lankan adventure. You’ll quickly discover that Sri Lanka is an island with lush greenery, with some beautiful landscapes from flat land with picturesque paddy fields to rolling green hills.

First, stop at the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela a foster home for the young elephants found estranged in the wild. It is important that one arrives here at the correct time to witness the feeding of the babies by bottle and try a hand at it and the older ones get there share of the surrounding leaves and branches. Afterwards they are paraded to the nearby river, which could also be witnessed.

Next, enjoy a scenic drive to Habarana and in the late afternoon you will take a short drive to the foot of the gigantic monolith known as Sgiriya. This would be one of your highlights of the tour – the climb to the top of the Sigiriya Rock. This rock was used in the 5th Century A.D by a renegade king as his hideaway castle and pleasure garden. Just as you enter the first stage of the site known as the Water Garden, you would get an idea of the different areas of this one-time fortress. You could only imagine the Shangrila-type atmosphere that once would have prevailed in this compound with fountains shooting up sprouts of water high up to the sky. Halfway on your climb to the top, you will witness a multitude of bare-breasted maidens depicted as frescoes on the side of the rock wall, bearing witness to the amount of consorts that this king would have had at his disposal. The 2 ½ hour trek to the top on back would not be too strenuous and if you reach the summit at the time the sun sets over the horizon, you will be treated to one of the most spectacular sights that one could experience in the whole of the island.

As dusk sets you will return to Habarana or your overnight stay.

Overnight in Habarana

After having you breakfast at the hotel, you will be taken in your tour vehicle to a starting point, where you will be picked up in bullock carts and transported to a nearby lakeside bund. The carts are pulled by two bulls and the carry will a maximum of 6 persons to ensure that the animals are able to pull the load without much effort or strain.

Next you will embark on an exciting canoe ride on a beautiful lake filled with lotus flowers and the canoe rider will take pains to make hats from the lotus leaves and offer them to his passengers. You will have the opportunity to observe a variety of water birds and at the end of the ride you will disembark directly to an island where a farmers' Chena cultivation can be experienced first hand.

You will be able to witness several demonstrations in coking of local cuisine and the weaving of coconut branches for the thatching of roofs. Finally, you will be able to taste a sumptuous meal cooked straight from the hearth before returning to the starting point where you will now embark in a 4WD jeep to witness what would be a gathering of the largest mammals on land – Elephants.

One could observe their behavior (with interest) at very close proximity when they come for their daily bath at the gigantic lake. During the months from August to October one could observer them in their largest numbers which make it the largest elephant gathering anywhere apart from Africa. Apart from Elephants, you will also get to see a variety of other mammal and reptile species such as buffalo, civet cats, deer, crocodiles and other bird species at the waterfront.

Then you will return to Habarana you will return for your overnight stay.  

Today, you will leave Habarana to your next destination Kandy. However, on the way you will make a small detour and travel up the secondary hill country of the island known as the Knuckles Mountain Range. You will reach the mountain side via the Riverstone gap providing some spectacular views of the surrounding hills and valleys.

As an activity, you will trek up to the mini world's end along the Pitiwala grass plain (half hour trek). This viewing point offers spectacular views of the eastern plains and on a very clear day one could see the Indian Ocean in the far distant horizon. You will be treated to a sumptuous lunch at a colonial bungalow overlooking the scenic panorama of the eastern hills and valleys of the Knuckles range. This bungalow was once the holiday bungalow of a Sri Lankan prime minister.

You will then backtrack down the hills you came and join the main road leading to Kandy. However, before you proceed to Kandy you will have the opportunity to  visit one of the herbal/spice gardens along the way and get an insight to the herbs and spices of Sri Lanka and their medicinal and culinary values respectively.

Overnight in Kandy.

Today after packing a picnic lunch, you will enjoy browsing and leisurely strolling at the Royal Botanical Gardens. A 147 acres of delightful flora from across the globe, one would be awe-inspired at the various collections of bamboos, palms, orchids and various other exotic tress, plants and flowers grown in abundance at this botanical gardens.  A quick look into the local market of Kandy for shopping and for those interested in browsing the exotic gems of the land – then Kandy is the place. Walking: light.

For those who prefer more adventurous activity, we can arrange an exhilarating cycling ride across the moderate hills of Kandy with an experienced cycling guide. (Bicycles will be provided). 

In the evening, you will have the opportunity to witness a colorful cultural show with dancers, drummers and fire eaters and then visit the most important Buddhist place of worship in the city – the temple of the Tooth of the Buddha.

Overnight in Kandy

In the morning experience a panoramic train ride across the hill country and join the tour vehicle at another railway station where you will be transferred to the exciting small tourist hamlet called Kitulgala.

The specialty of this destination will be a rollercoaster like white-water rafting activity, which the more adventurous will have the chance to experience in the later afternoon.

If you start on the rafting excursion around 3 pm then you could finish it by 5.30 pm and return to the resort for rest, dinner and overnight.

Activity: moderate.

In the morning you could enjoy a brief excursion to see the nearby Belilena cave of prehistoric importance while enjoying the beautiful scenery and observe the local birds along the way. Then you return to hotel for lunch and rest and prepare yourself for the long an arduous climb in the night to Adam’s Peak.

Since the best and the most worthwhile time to climb the mountain is during the night you need to set off from Kitugala in the evening around 4 pm and reach the foot of Adam’s Peak (Dalhousie) around 6 pm where you will check-in to a small lodge and refresh and rest till just after midnight. The goal is to witness the fabulous sunrise which takes place between 5.45 and 6.15 am. Nallithanni – the closest Access route to climb Adam’s Peak from Kitulagala. One should ideally be at the foot of the mountain (Nallithanni) just past midnight or the fitter ones – around 2 am in order to begin the arduous 08 km climb to the misty mountaintop. Hopefully after witnessing a glorious sunrise (weather permiting) you will descend the same way back and reach the foot (Nallithanni) around 9am.

After resting and recuperating at the same guest house at Delhousie with a bit of breakfast to fill up your hunger, you will proceed on to Nuwara Eliya in the tour vehicle and reach your destination for lunch providing you more opportunity to rest and catch up on lost sleep. However, if you will you are up to it you can explore the cool climes of Nuwara Eliya and understand why this city is known as "Little England".

Climbing: Moderate to hard.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya

In the early morning (at break of dawn), you will set off with a packed breakfast to the Horton Plain (the highest plateau in the island) to do another invigorating trek coupled with the highlight of seeing the panorama which is on offer at World’s End (weather and clear skies permitting). The idea is to arrive at World’s End early morning (around 7.30 to 8 am) before the mist sets in towards the afternoon.

The trek through the plains will offer you a wide variety of flora and fauna native to the very distinct climate hardly found in other parts of the country. Elks and Sambhur are some of the few animals you would encounter in the plains. Afterwards you will proceed to Ella via another road witnessing the Beautiful panoramic views along the way. 

You will have more opportunity to rest at Ella in the late afternoon and experience some late evening excitement at the mini tourist hub of Ella with some live or DJ music.

Walking/Climbing: light.

Overnight in campsite at Kuda Oya

You will have the whole day ay your disposal to explore the fun and adventure that Ella offers its visitors. The less adventurous could try our the more popular trek to Little Adam’s Peak, which is a miniature version of Adam’s Peak requiring a climbing time of just a little more than half an hour (recommend witnessing the fabulous sunrise from the top). The more adventurous and fitter could climb the Ellas rock which is more arduous. This you could couple with exploring the famous Ravana Cave which could be amalgamated to this trek.  

Don't forget to have a peek at a train crossing over the famous nine-arch bridge and take a selfie with the Ravana falls in your background, which your guide will try to fit into the day's activities. 

Overnight in Ella

You could leisurely depart late in the morning to your next destination – Yala where you will first check-in at a hotel and then undertake your first Jeep safari in the afternoon till around 5.30pm before the park closes.  This evening safari lasting about 3 ½ hours will provide you an introduction to the park and if lucky spot that elusive leopard (which is always the highlight of the safari.

Afterwards you will return to the hotel.

Overnight in Yala

The best time to spot a leopard is in the early morning hours where they are found languishing on the rocky outcrops. You will take with you a packed breakfast and spend the time till mid-day to try and spot as much flora and fauna as possible including the variety of birds found in the park which could be more prominently observed in the early morning hours.

Afterwards you will return to the hotel, have lunch and checkout and depart to Mirissa along the southern coastal line.

Overnight in Mirissa

In the morning with a packed breakfast again you will embark on your sea journey in a vessel to spot the largest mammal on earth – the blue whale. Journeys could take as long as 7 hours depending on sightings and could tend to become a bit boring but once a whale is spotted then the excitement will begin.

After the excursion you will leave Mirissa to your beach holiday destination. En route visiting the Galle Dutch Fort and stroll along the circular rampart wall and many avenues of the fort till you experience the rich cultural city within the city of Galle. Then you will leave to Hikkaduwa which is your beach destination Walking: light.

Overnight in Hikkaduwa.

Enjoy the beach stay at Hikkaduwa coupled with seasonal snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. The ancient ship wreck – the Conch – just off the coast of Hikkaduwa is a diver’s paradise which is there to be explored with ease of access.

A small excursion to the northern town of Kosgoda will give you the opportunity to visit a turtle hatchery and see the process of breeding the hatchlings and preparing them to travel to the wide open ocean.

You will have 2 whole days to explore and enjoy Hikkaduwa or leisurely relax at the beach enjoying the sun, sand and sea with minimal activity.

Finally, your exciting and enjoyable 2 weeks in the isle of Serendipity has come to an end and it is time to bid farewell and return back to your home. You will take with you, memories in your mind and digital devices to share with your friends and recommend to visit this paradise island to your friends back home.

Depending on your flight departure time, you will set off from Hikkdauwa via the Southern expressway to the airport (transfer time of approx. 2 ½ hours).