Detailed Itinerary
Day 01
Day 01
You will begin your tour by arriving in Nuwara Eliya and meeting our Eco Team representatives where you will be given an introductory briefing of the program. Thereafter you will proceed to climb Pidurutalagala also known as Mount Pedro; the highest mountain Sri Lanka standing tall at 2524 meters. The mountain lies close to Nuwara Eliya town on the North Eastern side that is approximately 7.5 kilometers away from the city center. Mount Pedro is not only a dramatic mountain, but also a forest reserve which is rich in bio diversity as unlike other mountains, Pidurutalagala’s whole surface is covered in greenery. The journey up the mountain should be done only by vehicle as walking to the peak is not allowed due to security reasons as there as a few telecommunication and broadcasting towers in the peak hence visitors must complete a few security procedures in order to obtain permission. Afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel to refresh yourself followed by dinner and a nightcap.
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.
