| Day 01 |
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| Arrive in Sri Lanka to be met by a representative of DTSL and transfer Bolgoda, Colombo. |
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| Bolgoda
Lake is the largest and most beautiful fresh water lake with the highest
bio-diversity in the island. The added advantage is that it is situated
not more than 20km from the commercial capital Colombo. It is full of
mangroves giving rise to a rich diversity in aquatic fauna and flora. |
|
| By the water's edge of this
lake is a luxurious holiday bungalow named The Medagama River Retreat.
The calmness and tranquility of the area adds to the charm of the
bungalow and its surrounds . The River Retreat with an experienced chef
to cater to the taste buds of discerning guests , has three
air-conditioned rooms and a spacious garden. The expansive lawn is an
ideal play ground for kids of all ages. Furthermore, the Retreat has its
own swimming pool & for adventure lovers , its own Mini boat-house
where supervised canoe & boat rides can be arranged. |
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| Overnight : The Medagama River Retreat |
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| Day 02 |
|
| Early at
7.00 am, leave for the Singharaja tropical rain . You will be driven to
the starting point of the trek. Start the trek 5.2 kms from Deniyaya ,
crossing one of the most known low country tea estates - Ensalwatte Tea
Estate. From there you will proceed 6-7 km till you see an escarpment
onto your right. Just before entering the you will see a typical small
rural house. Once you reach a small stream a bit further on, the real
journey begins here as you proceed through the itself ! |
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| You will
have to climb in the dense along a (sometimes difficult) footpath from
an elevation of 391m to 1080m - the highest level of this . Though it is
only 14 km trek, it may take up to 03 hours due to the tough terrain. |
|
| The
vehicle will be ready at the other side of the border when you emerge
from the and will drive you to the base of Adam's Peak (Ratnapura
side). Make the most of the rest time during the journey - a long night
of hiking lies ahead of you! |
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| With packed supper, snacks and drinks begin the Adam's Peak climb in the evening with experienced local guides |
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| Overnight : Adams Peak in Sleeping Bags |
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| Day 03 |
|
| Watch the
sunrise from Adam's Peak and then come down to the base, where the
vehicle will pick you up and drive you to a Planter's Bungalow in
Bogowanthalawa for a late breakfast |
|
| Relax for the rest of the morning |
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| Afternoon, short trail through a Tea Plantation for 02 to 03 hours |
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| Overnight : Planter's Bungalow |
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| Day 04 |
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| After
breakfast, drive to the starting point for the Bogowanthalawa /
Galpothuthenna trail and continue trekking in the morning from
Bogawantalawa to Galpothuthenna. |
|
| This is a
trail of massive diversity - through , jungle, tea plantation and
grassland, with ascents, descents and flat terrain, desolate and
inhabited areas, changing vegetation types and some of the most
spectacular views in Sri Lanka. |
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| Beginning
in the Bogowanthalawa tea plantation itself, you then start a rapid
ascent up through a jungle terrain. When you come out of the jungle, you
reach a more open grassland terrain, similar to the landscape of the
famous 'Horton Plains' (which is situated only slightly higher up). You
are sure to see the footprints of the leopards and sambhar deer that
roam there (you may even spot the animals themselves if you are very
lucky!). Along the way, you will follow the river, also noticing a
number of man-made holes (the result of the gem-mining that goes on in
the area). |
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| You will
then go back into a scrub jungle area where the next part of the trail
takes you on a footpath towards the 'Non-Pereil' tea estate. On the way,
you will cross the Belihuloya river - an ideal place to take a break
for lunch and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. |
|
| On coming
out of the 'jungle tunnel', you can see for miles beyond, including the
'Samanalawewa' reservoir and the dam itself. You will pass the tea
pickers' houses, vegetable plots, a small nursery school before reaching
the 'Non Pareil' tea plantation itself. Heading down through the tea
plantation, you will get to a more sparse and rocky area, you will
continue on through patches where you can see bear monkeys and a wide
variety of birds. This part of the descent is rather steep - the
panoramic views are incredible! The last part of the trail leads down
through a dense pine tree plantation and finishes up at the small
village of 'Galpothuthenna'. You will be met by the vehicle at
Galpothuthenna and driven to the River Garden Resort, Belihuloya |
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| Overnight : River House Garden |
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| Day 05 |
|
| After
breakfast, start the Kinchigune / Hulan Ella Falls trail. Start the
trail from the Eco Lodge at the small village of Kinchigune, overlooking
the famous Samanalawewa Reservoir. |
|
| The trail
goes through paddy fields, past vegetable plots, patches and even a
Buddhist temple. Beyond the temple, it goes through a very small village
into a completely uninhabited area, characterised by intermittent
patches of and savanna, eventually leading to the Walawe River. The
river marks the 8km point of the trail, but to continue on we cross it
at 'Mulgammankada' and hike through the Riverine , alongside and down
the river. During this next part of the trail, one will not come across
any human habitation, and apart from an occasional small group or two of
gem miners, who come to this desolate area and camp out here to mine
for gems, one will not meet other humans on the way. After another 2km
walk, we come to a beautiful rocky area where there is a waterfall of
about 40 ft in height. This waterfall is called 'Hulan Ella' or the
'Walawe Ganga Falls (West)'. The beautiful, serene, and ever-changing
next to the river and waterfall is home to an abundance of varying flora
and fauna. The flora and fauna in this area consists of the occasional
migratory Elephant, Sambhur Deer, Indian Munjak, Flying and Giant
Squirrels, many birds (Changeable Hawk Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Stork
Billed kingfisher, Gray Hornbill etc.), Lizards (3 endemic), Geckos,
Skinks, Snakes, Amphibians, Snails, Butterflies and Fishes. |
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| This will be camping on a "participatory basis" where guests will assist the staff in setting up the Camp and in the cooking. |
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| Overnight : Camp at Hulan Ella |
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| Day 06 |
|
| Breakfast
at the Camp and decamp. Continue trekking from Hulan Ella to Duviliella
& then proceed in a vehicle to Belihuloya again. |
|
| HULAN ELLA
/ DUVILI ELLA FALLS TREK - A trek through through the , passing a place
where the river divides in to three and flows down as three streams for
about 300 metres before rejoining. Always remaining in the cool shade
of the Riverine , we reach our final destination in time for lunch. At
the end of 10km walk from 'Hulan Ella' we come to the 'pièce de
resistance' - the majestic, breathtaking and awesome 'Duwili Ella
Falls'. This waterfall is also called the 'Walawe Ganga Falls (East)'.
It plunges a dramatic 80 ft from a level rocky ground into a large deep
pool at the base. The falling of the water creates a cloud of spray,
resembling a cloud of dust (hence the name 'Duwili Ella' - in Sinhalese,
'Duwili' means 'dust' and 'Ella' is 'waterfall') |
|
| After
lunch at the Duvili Ella Falls there is a short climb up some steps
where you will be met by your vehicle and driven to Yala via Hambegamuwa
passing through typical Srilanakan village's, taking narrow by roads. |
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| Overnight : Yala Village |
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|
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| Day 07 |
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| After
breakfast, embark on a full day Safari of Yala National Park which lies
24 km northeast of Tissamaharama and 290km from Colombo on the southeast
coast of Sri Lanka and spans Southern and Uva provinces. The park
consists of 97,878ha. The altitude is 90m from sea level. The vegetation
in this park comprises secondary , possibly a few hundred years old at
the most. It is predominantly semi-arid thorny-scrub, interspersed with
pockets of fairly dense . Small patches of mangrove vegetation occur
along the costal lagoons. Yala is renowned for the variety of its
wildlife and its fine coastline and associated coral reefs. A large
number of important cultural ruins bear testimony to earlier
civilizations and indicate that, much of the area was populated and well
developed. |
|
| Overnight : Mahoora Luxury or standard camp |
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| Day 08 |
|
| After breafast leave Buttala finishing breakfast. |
|
| Arrive for
lunch at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge (TTJL). After lunch and a short break, a
Nature trail around the premises. Guided jungle walks from TTJL mostly
take place morning (dep. abt. 9.30 am) and afternoon (dep. abt. 3.30 pm)
avoiding the hot midday sun and heat. Tailor made trips can be made to
meet special interest requirements of clients. Birders might prefer
early morning walks. |
|
| The jungle
surrounding the lodge features 400 year old ebony trees and magnificent
bird life, fauna and flora - including elephant, spotted deer, sambhur,
barking deer, wild boar, giant squirrel and monkey (mostly macaque and
grey langur). Aside from the elephant, animal sightings may not be easy
in the as wildlife is fearful of people. But the trackers will show
clients their ability to read the signs of the jungle. There may be
footprints of sloth bear and leopard. |
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| Overnight : Tree Tops Jungle Lodge |
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|
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| Day 09 |
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| After breakfast a nature trail in the morning. |
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| MORNING
TRAIL - Mid morning set off for a 2 hours trek through virgin tall
dryzone up into to the mysterious Arahat Kanda (Hills of Enlightenment)
dotted with numerous caves from the Buddhist civilisation flourishing
here more than two millenniums ago. These mountains were once the home
of ancient Kings and Buddhist monks. |
|
| The hike
through virgin jungle is strenuous but you are rewarded with stunning
views of the surrounding countryside, jungle, irrigation tanks and paddy
fields. Return to the lodge for a big glass of fresh lime juice. |
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| After lunch & a short trek, leave for the 2nd trail at 3.30pm. |
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| AFTERNOON
TREK - Set off on a trek (2 hours) through scrub jungle to a vast,
ancient irrigation tank (lake) called the Weliara wewa, frequented by
wildlife. En route, you'll see a diverse range of fauna and flora and a
variety of bird life. The lake was constructed more than 2000 years ago
by the Buddhist King Saddha Tissa. |
|
| At the
lake rest, relax, and enjoy the wonders of nature here at the back of
beyond. The lake is home to the Marsh crocodile and wild elephants
frequently come to drink from this waterhole. To see wild elephants
you'll need to wait patiently and very silently. Arrive back at the
lodge by about 6 pm in time for a cool bath at the well. |
|
| Overnight : Tree Tops Jungle Lodge |
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| Day 10 |
|
| After
breakfast leave Buttala to Dambana where you will be met at the Dambana
junction and escorted to the camp for a typical and delightful Sri
Lankan lunch. |
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| DAMBANA is
a remote jungle village of indigenous people, situated about 300km from
Colombo. The population of these indigenous 'Veddha' people now
consists of only about 350 families, a number significantly reduced from
a once thriving community. The 'Veddha' are so influenced by the
imposing dominant culture that they risk losing their traditions and
what has been their livelihood for centuries. However, they remain
determined that their way of life will continue into future generations.
The Chief himself told us on a recent visit to the village that his
main worry is that he may not be able prevent the 'Veddha' traditions
from dying out during his own lifetime. Visitors to this fascinating
village have the opportunity to meet and chat with the people who live
there, learn about their traditions, and gain a unique insight into
their way of life. Your visit will also be of a direct financial benefit
to the community because, as well as paying them a rent for the
campsite and a fee for their involvement in the programme, Sri lankan
Adventures also uses local produce and labour whenever possible. |
|
| After
lunch and a little leisure time, the visit to the Veddah village and a
meeting with the Chief - Wanniyaleththo is arranged followed by the
famous "Kiri Koraha" dance, which they perform to invoke blessings from
the gods. |
|
| Return to
the Camp located next to the 'Delikadeliwewa' tank in very close
proximity to the Dambana village itself. During your stay, the 'Veddha'
people will visit the camp in their traditional costume in order to
perform some traditional dances. The camp is also close to one of their
former hunting grounds so guests can have the chance to participate in a
mock hunt. |
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| Overnight : Dambana Mahoora Luxury or standard camp |
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| Day 11 |
|
| After breakfast proceed to Kandy via Knuckles. Cycling from Riverston to Rathota in Knuckles. |
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| The
KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN RANGE (so-called because its appearance resembles a
set of knuckles in a closed fist) has been declared a conservation area,
and is now known as the KNUCKLES NATIONAL HERITAGE AND WILDERNESS AREA.
The region stretches an impressive 155 sq km that contains five major
formations, a wide variety of rare and endemic flora and fauna and some
breathtaking mountain scenery. It is a real paradise for those who love
to hike or mountain bike, offering numerous trails that journey across
clear rivers, through dense s, past flowing waterfalls and lush tea
plantations, and alongside terraced paddy fields and colourful Kandyan
home gardens. The chance to visit traditional small mountain villages in
the area gives an interesting insight into the close-knit atmosphere
that such a local community fosters and provides a welcome departure
from fast-paced modern day life. |
|
| Evening at leisure |
|
| Overnight : Chaaya Citadel |
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| Day 12 |
|
| Full day in Kandy or optional City Tour. |
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| Overnight : Chaaya Citadel |
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| Day 13 |
|
| After an
early breakfast or packed breakfast proceed to Kitulgala for White water
rafting at which will commence at 10 am. This thrilling adventure on
the white water sections of Kelani River is suitable for amateurs as
well as professionals alike. During the run you will experience the
thrill of shooting rapids and euphoria of making it through. The river's
clear water is born in the heart of the peak wilderness reserve and
tumbles through a rocky gorge just above Kithulgala. |
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| After
Lunch at the rafting centre visit on cycles the Belilina Cave which is
situated 2000 feet above sea level in scenic surroundings .The
excavations have helped to uncover many fossils more than 32,000 years
old. |
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| Overnight : Rafters Retreat |
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| Day 14 |
|
| After an early breakfast proceed to Ratnapura. Finishing the orientation, the canoeing starts around 10.00am. |
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| KALUGANAGA
RIVER RUN - This section is comparatively easy and do not require any
special canoeing skills. Along the route you will be able to see many
vegetation types / changing landscapes. Just passing populated
"Ratnapura" town area, riverbank environment becomes more scenic and
quite with lonely sand collectors' houses surrounded by thick vegetation
and palm trees! During most of the ride only noises you are going to
hear are the birds' calls and the sound that will make by your paddle
until you reach Kiriella. |
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| Overnight : Kiriella Mahoora standard camp |
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| Day 15 |
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| After breakfast leave the camp site and Continue canoeing to Kalutara. |
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| From
this point, the adventure starts to buildup and you may need some
previous canoeing experience to negotiate this section of the river.
River bends will make the water flow rough and your canoe also will be
bit shaky and unsteady. |
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| Arrive in Kalutara |
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| Overnight : Kani Lanka |
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| Day 16 |
|
| Transfer to Airport for departure |
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