Detailed Canoeing Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 - Ratnapura - Kiriella

SCHEDULE

Meet and greet your guides near Saman Dewalaya in Ratnapura.
Safety briefing and departure at 10:00 am.
Canoëing to Kiriella.
Packed lunch along the way.
Arrival at the campsite in Kiriella
Dinner and overnight stay at the campsite (HB).

CANOËING DISTANCE: 16 km

DURATION: 3-4 hrs (depending on the water level and wind conditions)

GRADING: Moderate

Your journey will start from Saman Dewalaya in Ratnapura, the City of Gems, with an easy 16 km section. Passing densely populated town area, you will enter the peaceful and serene countryside in a low valley. Sometimes on the riverbanks, you will little houses surrounded by thick vegetation and palm trees. Here, in the calm waters, the calls of the birds and the sound of your paddle are the only noises you will hear.

Located right next to the river in Kiriella, the Eco Team Canoëing Campsite is an ideal place to enjoy a refreshing river bath after a day of canoeing. And we do camping in style! Forget about sleeping in cramped tents and sitting on the ground for mealtimes. Our site is set up prior to your arrival, with everything from the kitchen sink, chairs and tables, toilets, showers and cold beer being transported in. In the evening you can enjoy a hearty barbecue meal in a magical setting - the whole area is lit up with traditional flame torches and a roaring campfire. So sit back, relax and let our experienced staff cater to your every need.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival at Manampitiya Bridge

You will begin your 4 day expedition by first arriving at the Manampitiya bridge. There you will meet your Eco Team river guide and begin your rafting or canoeing tour along the Mahaweli River while our staff will follow you either by boat or vehicle carrying your camping equipment and clothing. After a few hours of canoeing, you will enjoy a packed lunch in a suitable spot; a river bank and continue forward. You will end your day with an overnight stay at a participatory campsite* in the banks of the Mahaweli River close to the Somawathi National Park and retreat back to your tents after a delicious dinner.

Day 2 & 3 - River expedition down the Mahaweli River

After an early breakfast on both days, you will begin continuing your rafting or canoeing expedition. You will be passing Somawathiya National Park, which lies in a deltaic floodplain of the Mahaweli River that has a tributary that forks into two branches. We will be taking the branch which is the Mahaweli River that flows north into Koddiyar Bay. The other branch is the Verugal Oya that flows north east into the sea. On both days you will stop for lunch again at a suitable place down your river expedition and end the day with dinner and an overnight stay at a participatory campsite in the banks of the Mahaweli River.

Day 4 - Ending your expedition at Koddiyar Bar

After an early breakfast on your fourth and final day, you will continue your final stretch of the rafting expedition and end it at the Koddiyar Bay in Trincomalee. Your transfer vehicle will be ready at the ending point of the expedition for your departure to your next destination.

Important notes

This river expedition is not for the faint hearted, but for individuals with a reasonable physical fitness level.

During the expedition, due to the changing landscape, in some areas you would have to use your best skills to conquer the rapids which are graded from 1 to 2, whilst in some stretches you will have to carry your own canoe/kayak or raft as you will encounter sandy patches that do not have enough depth for you to sit and paddle.

*Participatory campsite – After your water expeditions, you will have to be willing to work with the supporting staff to put up your own tents, help prepare meals and clean utensils with the staff and pack up to get ready for the following day’s stretch.

All participants will be given a safety briefing, and canoeing equipment including oars, life jackets and helmets. It is encouraged to bring your own towel and a change of clothing.

Our guides will lead the way and all participants are expected to follow their instructions for their own safety. As Eco Team we adhere to a high level of environmental and responsible travel practices. We urge our valued participants to adhere to our environmental and safety policies too.

Canoe trip along "Kalu Gaga" - Half Day option

Part 1: Ratnapura - Kurugammodara

CANOËING DISTANCE: 15 km

DURATION: 2 hrs (depending on the water level)

GRADING: Soft

Your journey will start from Saman Dewalaya in Ratnapura, the City of Gems, with an easy 15 km section through calm waters in a low valley. This section doesn’t require any special canoeing skills. When leaving the Ratnapura town area behind, you will enter quite and peaceful sceneries with a few little houses surrounded by thick vegetation and palm trees! Here, the only noises you will here are the calls of the birds and the sound of paddling.

At the end of this section, in Kurummagodara, a typical Sri Lankan lunch is awaiting your arrival.

Part 2: Kurugammodara - Ellagawa

CANOËING DISTANCE: 18 km

DURATION: 3 hrs (depending on the water level)

GRADING: Moderate

From here the adventure starts building up as the river bends make the water flow stronger. Your canoe will get a bit unsteady too, and therefore some previous canoeing experience is required in this section of the river.

Your real challenge will be the very last kilometer when arriving in Ellagawa. Here, the river flows very fast, and the strong rapid and swirls will test your canoeing skills and concentration.

Detailed Canoeing Itinerary

Day 1
Day 2

Day 1

Day 1 - Belihuloya

SCHEDULE

Meet and greet at the River Garden Resort in Belihuoya at 10:00 am.
Nature trail to the Kinchigune village.
Packed lunch in a suitable location along the way.
Canoeing in the Samanalawewa Reservoir in the afternoon.
BBQ dinner and overnight stay at the campsite in River Garden Resort / Kinchigune (HB).

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.

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.

Detailed Canoeing / Kayaking Itinerary

Day 1
Day 2

Day 1

Day 1 - Ratnapura - Wagawatta

SCHEDULE

Meet and greet your guides near Saman Dewalaya in Ratnapura.
Safety briefing and departure at 10:00 am.
Canoëing to Wagawatta.
Packed lunch along the way.
Arrival at the campsite in Wagawatta.
Dinner and overnight stay at the campsite (HB).

CANOËING DISTANCE: 52 km

DURATION: 7-8 hrs (depending on the water level and wind)

GRADING: Soft / Moderate

Your journey will start from Saman Dewalaya in Ratnapura, the City of Gems, with an easy 15 km section through calm waters in a low valley after which the river will start curving. You will then continue another 18 km, and once arrive in Ellagawa, you will reach the more adventurous part where the river is flowing faster, creating waves and swirls.

Soon after Ellagawa bridge, you will have a lunch break in a scenic location on the river bank. After the meal, your journey will continue 19 km to Wagawatta village. In this section, the water flows at 4km/hr, which makes it easy to navigate.

Located right next to the river in Wagawatta, the Eco Team Canoëing Campsite is an ideal place to enjoy a refreshing river bath after a day of canoeing. And we do camping in style! Forget about sleeping in cramped tents and sitting on the ground for mealtimes. Our site is set up prior to your arrival, with everything from the kitchen sink, chairs and tables, toilets, showers and cold beer being transported in. In the evening you can enjoy a hearty barbecue meal in a magical setting - the whole area is lit up with traditional flame torches and a roaring campfire. So sit back, relax and let our experienced staff cater to your every need.