Compare Walking Trails of Sri Lanka by Exodus Travels vs Sri Lanka Tip to Tip by Road Bike by SpiceRoads Cycling
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 15 days | 12 days |
| Price From | $ 3,300 | $ 3,700 |
| Price Per Day | $ 220 | $ 308 |
| Highlights |
|
N/A
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
N/A |
| Flights & Transport | No | No |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | All breakfasts, five lunches and one dinner are included. We suggest allowing about 7,000 rupees (US$23) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka and your leader will provide recommendations for where to eat locally however, the options may not always be suited to larger groups. Some locations you stay may have limited local restaurant choice, in which case meals will be at the hotel. Hotel meals are generally buffets; the majority offer an à la carte menu, but service can be slow. Where suitable, your tour leader will be happy to arrange a shuttle transfer into the local town or, if you prefer to be more independent, take a tuk tuk or taxi. Your leader can help recommend some good places to eat. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply rice and curry. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, sambols (condiments), and a handful of tiny poppadum – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food. Mineral water is provided by our local operator in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow. | N/A |
| Description |
When the typical tourist route takes in dazzling beaches, fragrant spice gardens, emerald tea hills, safari wildlife and a glut of Unesco-listed landmarks, it’s no wonder few leave the well-worn path in Sri Lanka. But go beyond the classic circuit and you’ll discover a wealth of beauty and intrigue that you don’t need to share with anyone else. This two-week walking adventure combines the can’t-miss highlights, including the Sigiriya rock fortress, sacred Adam’s Peak and the wildlife of Yala National Park, with the lesser-visited trails of the Knuckles Mountain Range, where we pass rice paddies and villages virtually undiscovered by the tourist hordes. Journey off the tourist track to discover a lesser-seen side to the teardrop island |
Sri Lanka is an often overlooked holiday destination – mostly due to the recently ended civil war – but it is now a vibrant and safe island to explore with a commendable collection of ancient and natural sights and amazing beaches. For much of the past three decades, large areas of the north were off limits, but this final frontier is now open, and Sri Lanka is now ready for you to explore its hidden treasures from the northern most tip down to the southernmost point. |
Day 1 Start Dambulla
The group flight arrives at Colombo's Katunayake Airport and we transfer to our hotel at Dambulla (100mi/160km, four hours' drive). Those not flying with the group can meet us at the hotel or the airport in time for the transfer. Please be aware, if you are meeting the group at the airport for a transfer you might need to purchase a ticket outside to enter the arrivals hall. We make our way to the hotel in Dambulla (100mi/160km, four hours’ drive). Accommodation: Pelwehera Village Resort (or similar)
Day 2 Visit Dambulla Caves, village walk towards Sigiriya; afternoon visit to Lion Rock fortress
After breakfast, we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, one of the most impressive sights in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, well-preserved paintings and statues of Buddha inside, dating to the first century BCE. We then have a short, gentle, warm-up walk through villages and rice paddies and on towards Sigiriya, where we have lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the imposing fifth-century rock fortress, which rises 590ft (180m) from the plains overlooking the countryside with far-reaching views. The route to the top is up a series of steep steps and gangways. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, we ascend 655ft (200m) and pass an overhanging rock, under which superb portraits of indigenous maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the walls. Crowning the flat-topped summit are extensive remains of the King's Summer Palace from where there are breath-taking views of the countryside. The descent is much easier and we have a final 35-minute drive back to our hotel in Dambulla. Accommodation: Pelwehera Village Resort (or similar)
Day 3 Drive to Illukkumbura; walk the Manigala Trail in the Knuckles Mountain Range
The next two days takes us across the Knuckles Mountain Range. We start early with a three-hour drive to the start of our walk, where we begin with an easy descent past paddies and through the villages of Pitawala Patana and Etanwala. Descending to the river, we cross a small bridge and climb up through more farmland. Finally, emerging at the top of an escarpment, we are rewarded with great views of the countryside. An easy trail takes us along the escarpment to Manigala Top at 3,660ft (1,115m), the high point of today. Next, we descend to the Mahalakotuwa village area, which leads to the main road and then it’s a 20-minute walk to our campsite by the river where we can bathe in the cool, refreshing water. Accommodation: Camping at Knuckles with Eco Team (or similar) (Occasionally, we use an alternative campsite due to high water levels, which is about 40 minutes’ drive from Illikumbura).
Day 4 Walk through forests to Meemure; transfer to Orutota
We begin with a half-hour drive to the Narangamuwa Temple at Ranamuregama. Starting our walk, we pass paddies and coconut groves before we enter a heavily forested area. The trail climbs gently for an hour and then levels out before undulating though this lush forest. The only sound we can hear is the birdsong around us. Emerging from the forest in the village of Meemure, make sure to look back for a spectacular view of the Lakegala peaks. Passing farms growing pepper and other spices, we come to a small tea shop where we have lunch. After, we take a truck or rickshaws for a bumpy 90-minute ride to Corbett’s Gap, a much-loved viewpoint. Our bus meets us here for the 1hr 30min drive to our hotel at Orutota overlooking the Victoria Reservoir. Accommodation: Oruthota Chalets (or similar)
Day 5 To Kandy; visit the Temple of the Tooth
We enjoy a relaxing morning in the hotel garden and pool. Mid-morning, we have an 11mi (18km) drive to Kandy and the afternoon to explore. The town is located around a small lake and we can walk round to look for water birds and large water monitors. Later, we visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka, the Tooth of Buddha, which was taken from the funeral pyre in India in 543 BCE and found its way to Sri Lanka in the fourth century. Hundreds of worshippers visit the temple each day and in July/August the most spectacular ceremony takes place. Accommodation: Hotel Suisse (or similar)
Day 6 - 7 Ascend Adam’s Peak
This morning, we drive to Dickoya (three hours), where we stay for two nights in a simple summer house with a wonderful view of the Castlereagh Reservoir. On a clear day, we can see the outline of Adam’s Peak in the distance. In the pilgrim season (December to May), we have the day to relax or you can take a walk around the lake (approximately 3.7mi/6km). We leave around midnight for the walk up Adam’s Peak (approximately 8.7mi/14km). This will take around four hours and we should reach the top with the many pilgrims at sunrise. In the off season (May to November), we spend the first day at Dickoya and can walk around the lake and we climb Adam’s Peak during daylight hours on the following day. (Day 6: B) (Day 7: B,L) Accommodation: Summer House Hatton (or similar)
Day 8 Drive to Nuwara Eliya; optional walk to explore the town
This morning, we have a wonderful drive through tea plantation districts to Nuwara Eliya. This was the favourite hill station during the British era, situated in the cool highland air. Known locally as Little England, it is dotted with British-style houses, hotels and a racecourse. There will be an optional walk into the hills around the town and also time to explore the bazaar. Accommodation: Windsor Hotel (or similar)
Day 9 Early morning to Horton Plains; walk to World's End viewpoint; to Ella by train
Today we drive to Horton Plains, a large plateau more than 6,560ft (2,000m) above sea level, overlooked by the second and third highest peaks in Sri Lanka. The scenery is beautiful and best explored on foot. We trek through the rolling grasslands, seeing forest and unusual wildlife, such as the sambar deer and purple-faced monkey, all the way to World's End, one of the most stunning sights in Sri Lanka. Here the ground drops 3,445ft (1,050m) to the plains below. We then catch the train from the highest railway station in the country; within two hours we go from 6,197ft (1,889m) to 3,599ft (1,097m). The train travels through the cloud forest into the tea plantations, the views are spectacular; we disembark at Ella. Accommodation: Hotel Country Comfort (or similar)
Day 10 Morning trek to Ella Rock; Free afternoon
This morning, we set out to ascend the iconic Ella Rock, the highest point in Ella standing 3,743ft (1,140m). The round trip to Ella Rock takes about four to five hours. Starting off gently with flat trail where you walk through farm land, passing by locals as they get on with their day to day life. The second phase is a gradual ascent to reach the top. You look out over the Ella gap, a deep valley connecting the city of Ella with the low country. The afternoon is free to explore the vibrant and busy Ella town. Accommodation: Hotel Country Comfort (or similar)
Day 11 Drive to Yala National Park; afternoon game drive
We now head south of the hills to Tissamaharama down the plains. On the way, we stop at Ella Gap where the most of the southern part of the island is in view and the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible on a clear day . We continue on our journey visiting the spectacular Ravana waterfalls, which is 82ft (25m) tall and one of the widest waterfalls in the country. We also stop at the Buduruwagala Temple, where we see seven statues of Buddha carved out of a rock that dates to the 10th century. Tissamaharama is our base for visiting Yala National Park – its open terrain was well known for elephants for many years, but recently the park has become better known as a place to spot leopards. The park, which is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and freshwater lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard in the world. We have a game drive in the afternoon. (Please note, the sanctuary may be closed for four to six weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. In this instance, we visit a nearby alternative, usually Udawalawe National Park). Accommodation: Chaarya Resort (or similar)
Day 12 Walk around Yodakandiya Lake; transfer to the coast.
This morning, we drive to the beautiful Yodakandiya Lake in Tissamaharama where we walk for approximately 3hr 30min (approximately 3mi/5km). This is an opportunity to see the day-to-day life of the local people plus a range of birdlife. In the late afternoon, we drive for approximately four hours to the coast and your beach front hotel. Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)
Day 13 Free day to relax on the beach or optional activities including whale watching (November to April)
We have a free day to relax on the beach or by the pool. There are also numerous optional activities including a boat ride through mangrove swamps to a cinnamon plantation or you can go whale watching off Dondra Head from November to April. This is one of the best places in the world for seeing blue and sperm whales. Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)
Day 14 To Galle; transfer to Colombo
We drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates to the 17th century and is now a Unesco World Heritage site. On the way, we stop at a small folk museum inspired by the local writer Martin Wickramasinghe. The museum is a typical house from the Koggala region and is set among beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon (the drive takes around two to three hours plus stops). Accommodation: Hotel Cinnamon Red (or similar)
Day 15 End Colombo
Today is the end of your journey. If you are travelling on the group flight we will have a morning transfer to the airport for the daytime international flight. The arrangements for those not flying with the group ends after breakfast. If you would like to continue the adventure with our post-trip extension to the Maldives or a beach stay in Ahangama, speak to your sales representative.
Day 1
Meet at the hotel for a trip briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 2
We start riding from the hotel inland along minor roads at a relaxed pace, experiencing rural Sri Lanka that most tourists seldom see. After lunch, we transfer to Jaffna, stopping to stretch our legs at Killinochi, the former headquarters of the LTTE, or Tamil Tigers.
Day 3
We ride through Jaffna with its small fishing port, passing the old Star Fort built in 1618. Crossing to Kyats Island, we head north. At Casuarina Beach at the northern tip of the island, we dip our rear tires and maybe ourselves in the Indian Ocean, a symbolic start to our journey south.
Day 4
Cycling south to Ponneryn, we cross another causeway, and our road sees little traffic now but saw some major battles during the conflict era. We stop for lunch at Iluppaikkadavai, where the road first greets the sea. We end our ride at a 700-year-old Baobab tree, brought by Arabian traders, on Mannar Island.
Day 5
We head back to the mainland riding inland through Giants Tank, a wetland habitat reserve. We reach our hotel for lunch and rest before heading out for an exploration of the ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Day 6
We start with a relaxed ride on a route dotted with temples and stupas. We turn off the main road towards Ritigala, a nature reserve. We end the morning ride at our hotel. In the late afternoon, we climb up Sigiriya Rock, a 5th century citadel.
Day 7
We cycle on quiet country roads past Kandalama Lake to Dambulla, the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. We transfer to Melsiripura and then cycle through the spice growing region. We pass through Matale to start climbing up the Wattegama valley with terraced paddy fields and jungle covered hills.
Day 8
A rest day in picturesque Kandy -- an important Sinhalese religious centre. Explore the town’s old shops, antique and gem specialists, or the bustling market. A must do is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Day 9
The route will be hilly from here as we ride through the heart of tea country. We follow the Mahaweli River and cycle up to Hatton, one of the country's early tea plantation districts.
Day 10
More climbing, with a few rough sections of tarmac, up through tea estates. The last 30 km is on a good, straight flat road and ends close to Uda Walawe National Park.
Day 11
There is an option of an early morning safari in Uda Walawe park. Late morning, we start our last day cycling along scenic green paddy fields to Dondra Lighthouse, the most southerly point of the island. Here we again dip our tires in the ocean, marking the end of our tip to tip ride!
Day 12
Transfer to your Colombo hotel or extend your stay in Galle.
