Detailed Trekking Itinerary
Day 1
Day 01 - Belihuloya
SCHEDULE
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Arrival to Belihuloya.
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Check in to the hotel / campsite.
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Canoëig at Samalawewa in the afternoon.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel / campsite (HB).
Surrounded by rugged mountain sceneries, the still calm waters of the Samanalawewa reservoir offer an idyllic location for canoëing. 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.
Day 2
Day 02 - Belihuloya
SCHEDULE
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Start the trail from Kinchigune village at 6.00 am.
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Lunch in a suitable location along the trail.
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Dinner and overnight stay at a participatory campsite by a river.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 12 km starting from Kinchigune
DURATION: 5 - 7 hrs
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
The trail starts in the small village of Kinchigune, overlooking the Samanalawewa Reservoir. You will venture through paddy fields and vegetable gardens to a narrow gravel road that takes you to a small village school and local blacksmith's workshop. From there, you will continue to a tarred road, surrounded by typical shrub vegetations (consisting mainly of 'Maliththa' - Woodfordia fruticosa). After a couple of kilometers, you will arrive in a Buddhist Temple. This 350-year-old wooden temple is well worth a visit, and the local monks will happily answer to your questions about it’s history.
The trail will then take you through uninhabited forests to Walawe River and to the rocky lands across it. Apart from some small groups of local gem miners, it is rare to meet any people in this desolate area that is home to many animals and birds - such as sambhur deer, Indian munjak, flying and giant squirrels, changeable hawk eagle, brown fish owl, stork-billed kingfisher, gray hornbill, and various species of lizards and butterflies. Sometimes, even the migratory elephant can be spotted here.
The campsite will be set by the river, where you can have lunch and enjoy a refreshing dip in cool water. The dinner will be cooked by the campfire, in the most beautiful setting under the stars! And your guides, taking care of the lookout duty, will assure you a peaceful sleep throughout the night.
Day 3
Day 03 - Belihuloya – Kinchigune
SCHEDULE
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Early breakfast at the campsite.
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Continue the trail to Duwili Ella.
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Lunch and departure for your next destination.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 8 km ending by Duwili Ella Waterfall
DURATION: 3 - 4 kms
GRADING: Soft / Moderate
After decamping in the morning, the trek will continue in the cool shade of riverine forests to 'Thunkinda' where the river divides into three streams that rejoin after about 300 metres. The 100 kms trail will end by the majestic Duwili Ella, also known as the 'Walawe Ganga Falls'. It plunges a dramatic 25 meters into a large deep pool creating a misty cloud. Hence the name 'Duwili Ella' - in Sinhalese 'Duwili' means 'dust' and 'Ella' is 'waterfall').
These impressive sceneries offer a perfect setting for a delicious lunch, brought fresh from our River Garden Restaurant in Belihuloya. Before the departure, you can enjoy an invigorating river bath too.
