Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 - Thalkote Wewa
SCHEDULE
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Arrival in Sigiriya around 9.30 am and meet with our representative.
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6 kms village trail to the Thalkote Wewa.
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Upon arrival, a typical Sri Lankan lunch will be served in a village house.
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Have a bath in a lake or go for a walk by the vicinity in the afternoon.
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BBQ dinner and overnight stay in a traditional tree house.
The 6 km village trail will take you through jungle patches, chaina cultivations and paddy fields to Thalkote Wewa. Here, you will have a chance to experience the rural way of life and the ancient traditions.
Thalkote Wewa is an ancient tank that provides to many villagers in the area with a lifeline of water to cultivate their crops - paddy, onions and different vegetables.
Chaina cultivation, on the other hand, refers to so called slash-and-burn farming. It is a primitive agricultural method where farmers slash and burn small jungle patches for short term crops that mainly depend on rain water and don’t require major field preparations. Farmers usually rotate between 2 to 3 land plots.
In Thalkote Wewa, we will offer you a unique opportunity to spend a magical night in a tree house, surrounded by wilderness. Local farmers use these semi-permanent structures to keep on an eye on their crops that are an easy target for wild elephants and other animals. They communicate with each others by hooting, and in no time they will wake you up if they spot an intruder in the vicinity. Throughout the night, the farmers take turns on lookout duty, keep the campfire burning and sing folk poems to stay awake.
Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 - Belihuloya
SCHEDULE
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Arrival in Belihuloya.
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Typical Sri Lankan lunch at the River Garden Resort.
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Village trail to Kinchigune.
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Relaxing river bath at the end of the trail.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the Eco Lodge.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 6 km (from River Garden Resort to Kinchigune)
DURATION: 3 hrs
GRADING: Soft / Moderate
Kinchigune is an ancient village which is almost totally submerged in the waters of the Samanalawewa Reservoir which came to being in 1980s. The people of this village have been engaged in the steel industry in addition to agriculture since the early days. The nature trail begins at the River Garden Resort, and runs alongside the riverine forest of Belihuloya through paddy fields, across rivers and past local village houses with their extensive vegetable plots. Here, you will have an ideal opportunity to learn a bit about the local agricultural systems and simple way of life in the countryside. Along the way, you will witness several types of beautiful birds and butterflies, and charming little waterfalls. The trail ends where the Belihuloya river meets the Samanalawewa reservoir.
KINCHIGUNE ECO LODGE has fabulous views of the surrounding mountains and the Samanalawewa reservoir. This more than 100-year-old village house has been restored using traditional architectural methods such as cadjan (weaved coconut palm leaf) to cover the clay tiled roof. It still has its mud walls, mud spread floor, kithul poles in windows and it is furnished with the traditional chairs and beds. Set in a shady garden interspersed with a variety of herbs and trees, guests will have a chance to pick jackfruits and learn to cook it the traditional Sri Lankan way!
The Eco Lodge has a single room and a Double room [which could be converted to a triple] providing enough space even for a family ! Additional bedding could be requested in the main living area. The bathroom with toilet is attached to the lodge and it has a wash basin and a shower with hot water hot water.
Day 2
Day 2 - Belihuloya
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the Eco Lodge.
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Canoëing at Samanalawewa.
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Departure.
Surrounded by rugged mountain sceneries, the still calm waters of the Samanalawewa reservoir offer an idyllic location for canoëing. The reservoir’s name is derived from the Sinhalese word ‘samanala’ that means ‘butterfly’ and refers to the terrific number of butterflies of this area, and also to the shape of the reservoir. Whether you want to go for a relaxed little paddle for a couple of hours, venture out to the mouth of the Belihuloya River or spend an entire day exploring the perimeter of the reservoir, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience. A well-experienced guide will provide you with the right technics, safety instructions and modern life jacket.
