Day 03 to Day 04

Day 3 

Approximate Distance  - 85 KM

Approximate Duration  - 3.5 hours

Road Type - Curvy and uphill

Road Conditions - Moderate with less traffic

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Start the journey From Kitulgala to Nuwara Eliya via Nawalapitiya & Talawakelle by tuk-tuk.

• Experience Tea Plucking & visit a Tea Factory enroute.

• Stop at Devon & St.Clair's waterfalls to experience the breathtaking views.

• Check in at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

• Explore the vicinity on your own.

• Return to the hotel: dinner and overnight stay

Day 4 

Approximate Distance  - 140 KM

Approximate Duration  - 4.5 hours

Road Type - Curvy, uphill & downhill 

Road Conditions - Moderate with traffic

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Start the journey From Nuwara Eliya to Ella via Bandarawela by tuk-tuk.

• Visit local vegetable slots in Welimada.

• Visit Nine Arch Bridge in Demodara.

• Continue to Udawalawe from Ella, driven by your designated driver.

• Check in at your campsite.

• Go for an evening jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park.

• Enjoy a hearty BBQ dinner and overnight stay at your tented safari camp in Udawalawe.

Day 05 to Day 06

Day 5 

CSR Activity at a remote village school in Udawalawe.

(Proposal will be given based on budget)

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the campsite.

• Day spent at CSR Project at the school.

• Relax in the evening.

• Dinner and overnight stay at your tented safari camp in Udawalawe.

Day 6 

Approximate Distance  - 140 KM

Approximate Duration  - 5 hours

Road Type - Flat

Road Conditions - Moderate with less traffic

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the campsite.

• Start the journey From Udawalawe to Unawatuna by tuk-tuk.

• Stop at a pottery village and try making your own creation.

• Continue journey to Matara. 

• Your designated driver will drive you from Matara to Unawatuna.

• Check in at your hotel.

• Relax in the evening by the beach.

• Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Unawatuna.

Day 07 to Day 08

Day 7 

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Half a day cycling tour in Galle and its suburbs including a local cuisine lunch.

• Relax in the evening by the beach.

• Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Unawatuna.

Day 8 

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Transfer to Airport by coach based on the flight schedule.

Day 04 to Day 06

Day 04 - Trek from Ihala Galagama to Kumbalgama with overnight camping.

After finishing breakfast at the campsite, you will begin your trek to Kumbalgama through Belihuloya and Kinchigune. The Ihalagalagama – Kumbalgama trail will begin with a trek through Belihuloya, a famous hill country destination and a village in Kinchigune. Passing an Eco Lodge in Kinchigune, we will venture through paddy fields and vegetable plots before reaching a small gravel road. Shortly, we will pass a small village school down this gravel rod which only has two teachers and sixteen pupils! In the school garden, one can find scattered particles of pig iron, which is ample evidence of the early period of steel industry. Further up, you will reach a small ‘kammala’ in other words a blacksmith’s workshop owned by Piyasena, who runs this business to support his family, who he like many others have been displaced by the reservoir.

It is by this Kumbalgama village where we will end our fourth day’s hike and stop for lunch (if we already haven’t eaten by now that is!) and also set up camp for the night. We will work together to light up a campfire and cook food as a community and share it amongst us.

Day 05 - Trek from Kumbalgama to Kaltota via Ahaspokuna and vehicle transfer to Udawalawe for overnight camping.

Post breakfast at our campsite, we will begin out trek from Kumblgama to Kaltota. This trail will initially take you through a gravel road which then leads to a tarred road from Kumbalgala to the Samanawewa Dam. We will proceed along this road for about 2 kilometers and pass typical signs of vegetation belonging to the intermediate climatic zone which mainly consists of shrubs called ‘Maliththa’ also known as Woodfordia fruticose which is a rare medicinal plant. We will then arrive at a Buddhist temple which has a shrine room built inside another shrine room that is about 8 feet in length and breadth built on a wooden frame with a wooden door that is nearly 350 years old. We will stop to rest at the temple, and explore the temple and converse with the monks with our staff acting as translators.

Once we commence the trek, we will proceed through another small village into a completely uninhabited area characterized by irregular patches of forests and savanna, eventually leading you into the Walawe River which will make the 8 kilometer point of our trail. In order to continue, we must cross it at Mulgammankada and hike through the riverine forest running alongside and down the river. During this part of the trek, you will not come across any other human inhabitation apart from the handful of gem miners who camp out here to mine gems. Upon reaching Kaltota, you will be picked up by a jeep which will transfer you to the Udawalawe Big Game Campsite to end your day’s trek.

Day 06 - Departure to your next destination.

Your final day of the trek, will be spent going on a jeep safari at the Udawalawe National Park, which is located in the boundary of Sri Lanka’s wet and dry zones. With approximately 400 elephants residing within an area of 31,000 hectares, the park is one of the best places in the world to see wild elephants and it is not unusual to see large herds gathering to feed and bath by waterholes.

In addition to its main attraction of elephants, the Udawalawe National Park is also home to many buffaloes, water monitor lizards, sambar deer and monkeys. Bird enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to experience a winged paradise with not only the variety but also the quantity of birds at the park.

Udawalawe with its fascinating wildlife, history and culture provides an array of historical sites that are also natural wonders which is guaranteed to satisfy even the most seasoned traveler.

Day 02

Day 02

After breakfast at the hotel, you will leave for Horton Plains where you will begin your trek to Kirigalpotta Peak. With an elevation of 2388 meters above sea level, the Kirigalpotta Peak is the second highest peak in the country and is located within the territory of the Horton Plains National Park. Even though it is located within Horton Plains, it is a less visited site as many tourists mostly visit World’s End and Baker’s Falls during their visits. The Kirigalpotta trails begins at the entrance of the Horton Plains National Park and lies approximately 6 kilometers from the entrance. Reaching the Kirigalpotta summit is a bit tricky as the adventure lies in a hardly used path and you must ascend and descend a couple of smaller mountains before you even reach the base of Kirigalpotta! Once you begin your trek, you will pass along plain as well as forest patches, short climbs and even numerous streams along your pathway making this a very challenging climb. During the rainy season this stretch can become very muddy and your foot many even plunge into the earth so we advise you to follow the usual footpath to avoid any accidents. Along the way you will also walk through a dense undergrowth of ‘Nelu’ a seasonal flower bearing plant and also through tunnels created by dwarf bamboo trees. The rich biodiversity of Horton Plains National Park makes the entire trail a highlight and what’s more you will be rewarded with a 360 degree panoramic view of the local exotic surroundings once you are at the summit of the plain! Afterwards you will trek back to the entrance gate of Horton Plains and be driven to the guest house in Ohiya where you will have the opportunity to freshen up after a long day, enjoy a sumptuous dinner and a cozy night!

Day 03

Day 03

After enjoying breakfast at your homestay/guest house in Ohiya, you will be driven to Udaveriya Junction down the Horton Plains Road where you will begin your trek from the Udaveriya Junction upto Kalupahana through the Devil’s Staircase. The first important landmark of the trail is the Udaveriya Tea Factory, which has been abandoned for many years now. The hairpin bends along this trail known as the Devil’s Staircase due to the formation of the road, however since this is a trekking trail, the experience would not be that devilish as it sounds, but rather a scenic trail! The real devilish experience could be actually felt when on a 4WD ride, however this trek affords magnificent views of the nearby mountains, tea estates & valleys below making you forget the rest. Continuing up the trail, your next encounter is in Yahalatenna, a remote village in the West Haputale Division of Udaveria Estate where you will have the opportunity to meet the village community and have the opportunity to admire their lifestyle which is a truly unique experience as the local community comprises of both Sinhalese & Tamils with beautifully varying skin tones. A major portion of the community engages in the tea industry while few are into farming vegetables in the village farming slots making this their daily lifestyle. Afterwards you will be passing Yahalatenna, where the next lank mark is the V-cut that is a narrow escape between two close ranging mountains. Afterwards you will come to view the Bambarakanda waterfall; the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka which you will incidentally seen on this trail and we will stop for a dip in the water depending on the time. After a trek of another 6 kilometers on the gravel road, you will reach the Kalupahana Junction on Colombo - Wellawaya main road, where you will be picked up be vehicle and driven to your campsite in Kinchigune Village overlooking Samanalawewa Reservoir. Here you will have the opportunity to rest and clean yourself followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 04

Day 04

After breakfast at the campsite, you will be transferred via vehicle to the Kumbalgama Village where you will begin your trek to Duwili Ella. The trek will begin on a gravel road at the Kumbalgama Temple which then leads to a tarred road from Kumbalgama to the Samanalawewa Dam. After proceeding along this road for about 2 kilometers, where you will walk past typical vegetation of the intermediate climatic zone that mostly consisting of a shrub called Maliththa; a rare medicinal plant. Then you will arrive at a Buddhist Temple and stop to explore. Inside the shrine room of this temple is another small shrine room, about eight feet in length and breadth, built on a wooden frame with a wooden floor which is about 350 years old. We can also speak to the monks while our staff will translate the conversations for you. Trekking beyond the temple, we will next go through a small village and walk into a completely uninhabited area that characterized by intermittent patches of forest and savanna, eventually leading us to the Walawe River that will then mark the 8 kilometer point of the trail. We will continue by crossing it at 'Mulgammankada' and hike through the riverine forest, alongside and down the river. During this next part of the trail, wewill not come across any human habitation 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. After another 2 kilometer walk, we will come to a beautiful rocky area with a waterfall of about 40 feet in height known as 'Hulang Ella' or the 'West Walawe Ganga Falls' with a beautiful, serene, and ever-changing forest next to the river and waterfall that is home to an abundance of varying flora and fauna.

Passing the waterfall, we continue through the forest for about 1 kilometer before passing a place called 'Pitakendiriya' and then go another 3 kilometers to get to 'Thunkinda' where the river divides into three and flows down as three streams for about 300 meters before rejoining. Throughout this part of the trail, we remain in the cool shade of the Riverine Forest, reaching our final destination by late morning. At the end of today's 10km walk from 'Hulang Ella' we come to the 'pièce de resistance' – the majestic and breathtaking 'Duwili Ella Falls'. Also known as the 'East Walawe Ganga Falls which plunges into a dramatic 80 feet from 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'. Upon reaching Duwili Ella, you will meet our safari jeep arranged to have you transferred to our Udawalawe Big Game Campsite which is your day’s final stop.

Day 05

Day 05

On your final day you will embark on a jeep safari at the Udawalawe National Park with a packed breakfast to have on your way. Udawalawe is located in the boundary of the country’s wet and dry zones and is also incidentally one of the best places in the world to watch elephants. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the park’s 31,000 hectares it is not an unusual sight to see a majestic herd of elephants gathering by a waterhole to feed and or bathe. In addition to the main attraction of elephants, Udawalawe is also home to many other wildlife species such as the water buffalo, water monitor lizard, sambhar deer and monkeys. Udawalawe also offers the bird enthusiasts their own winged paradise with not only a variety but also a large quantity of bird species that can be watched in the park. Udawalawe with its natural beauty, fascinating wildlife, history and culture offers an array of historic sites and natural wonders guaranteed to satisfy even the most seasoned traveler after a taste of Sri Lanka’s exotic life. With your tour of Udawalawe coming to an end, you will check out of the campsite and depart for your next destination.

Day 2

Day 2 - Ride from Negombo to Narammala and vehicle transfer to Kurunegala

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Ride from Negombo to Narammala
• Drive from Narammala to Kurunegala
• Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Cycling distance –  approximately 55km from Negombo to Narammala

Time –  approximately 5 hours

Grading – soft and moderate

Following a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred north to the ‘star-up point’ of the cycling tour. From there onwards, you will begin your cycling adventure on a soft graded track leading up to Narammala; a multi ethnic town predominantly of Sinhalese and Muslims in the Kurunegala district surrounded by paddy fields and coconut estates – a true beauty for the eyes. This town also holds the world’s first and only betel research lab and institute. While being noted for its rising temperature in the town, Narammala is the perfect location to begin your cycling expedition as it offers an eye catching scenery and very hospitable townsfolk. You will be paying a visit to a clay roof tile manufacturing factory in Sandalankawa and learn that it operates as a labor intensive industry. There onward you will be transported a further 20km to Kurunegala via a vehicle.

Day 3

Day 3 - Ride from Kurunegala to Kekirawa via Avukana

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Ride to Kekirawa via Avukana
• Visit to Avukana Buddha Statue
• Option jeep safari in Kalawewa National Park
• Dinner and overnight stay at a guest house

Cycling distance – approximately 102km from Negombo to Kekirawa

Time – approximately 6 hours

Grading – Moderate & Hard

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our journey to Avukana through Hiriyala and Polpithigama. After turning through the busy A6 road to B300, you will be greeted by the scenic beauty of rural Sri Lanka paired with the northern railway line which lies along the road for a couple of stretches enabling you to diversify the experience of the trail. The paddy fields of the roadside and remote villages will give you more insight on the daily lives of the villagers as it takes you through the tarmac road. Upon reaching Avukana, we will first visit the Avukana Buddha statue which stands at more than 40 feet and has been carved out of a large granite rock face dating back to the 5th century AD. Afterwards, we will ride to Kala Wewa, a tank constructed by King Datusena during the 5th century AD. Once you reach Ipalogama, you will need to follow through to Kekirawa road which is 6km away to reach for your day’s retreat.

Day 4

Day 4 - Cycling from Kekirawa to Horowpathana via Ritigala and vehicle transfer to Trincomalee

Schedule:

• Breakfast at the guest house
• Ride from Kekirawa to Horowpathana via Ritigala
• Vehicle transfer from Horowpathana to Trincomalee
• Check-in at hotel
• Dinner and overnight stay at hotel

Cycling distance – approximately 90 km from Kekirawa to Horowpathana

Time – approximately 5 hours

Grading – Moderate to Hard

On the 4th day, after breakfast at the guest house, we will begin our day paddling to Ritigala Forest Monastery, an archeological site and a strict nature reserve which dates back to the 1st century BC. After visiting the monastery and viewing the valuable ruins, we will continue cycling to Yakalla through rural villages in the dry zone. After completing 32km, through Ritigala and the many rural villages, we will reach Yakalla and continue for another 23km along the B 33 road. At Konwewa, you will take a turn and experience a completely different lifestyle lead by the dry zone farmers on this stretch, unlike your previous experiences. You’d be able to view many differently sized tanks maintained to cater to the agricultural requirements as well as the communities living in the dry zone. You’d have the opportunity to visit a local village house and experience their heartiest local hospitality of a freshly prepared local snack paired with a herbal drink which will surely be the highlight of your day. Afterwards get into a village tank and have a dip to maintain your body temperature after a ride through these dry lands. After completing 30km along the countryside through Katupotha, we will reach Horowpathana and from there onwards you will be transferred to Trincomalee via a vehicle calling this a great end for a beautiful trek across this versatile island.