Highlands of Sri Lanka

Flights usually depart London in the evening.
**

Day 2

The group flight arrives at Colombo's Katunake Airport and we transfer to our
hotel at Dambulla (160km, 4hrs drive). Those not flying with the group can
meet us at the hotel or the airport in time for the transfer.
*Pelwehera Village Resort or similar*

Day 3

After breakfast we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, one of the
most impressive sights in Sri Lanka. There are colourful and very well
preserved paintings and statues of Buddha inside the caves, which date back
to the 1st century BC. We then have a short, gentle, warm up walk which takes
us through villages and rice paddies and on towards Sigiriya, where we have
lunch. In the afternoon we visit the imposing 5th century rock fortress,
which rises 180m from the plains overlooking the surrounding countryside
giving far-reaching views. Used as a safe haven from invaders, 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 200m and pass an
overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native 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
breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The descent is much easier
and we have a final 35 minute drive back to our hotel in Dambulla.

Approximate walking distance 6km. Alt. gain 395m, Alt. loss 395m
*Pelwehera Village Resort or similar*

Day 4

The next two days takes us across the famous Knuckles Mountain Range. We
start early with a three hour drive to the start of our walk, from where we
begin with an easy descent past rice paddies and through the villages of
Pitawala Patana and Etanwala. Descending to the river we cross a small bridge
and start to climb up through more farmland. Finally emerging at the top of
an escarpment we are rewarded with great views of the surrounding
countryside. An easy trail takes us along the top of the escarpment to
Manigala Top at 1115m, 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.
Today is the longest walk and is approx. 7 hours walking, 15KM, Alt gain
900m, alt loss 100mAlt. gain 240m, Alt. loss 450m
(Please note – occasionally due to high water levels we use an alternative
campsite. The alternative campsite is about 40 minutes’ drive from
Illikumbura).
*Camping at Knuckles with Eco Team or similar*

Day 5

We begin with a short half hour drive to the Narangamuwa Temple at
Ranamuregama. We then pass rice paddies and coconut groves before entering 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 all around us. Emerging from the forest in the village of
Meemure, make sure to look back for a spectacular view of the peaks of
Lakegala. Passing farms growing pepper and other spices, we come to a
small tea shop where we have lunch. After lunch, we take a truck or
rickshaws for a bumpy 90-minute ride to Corbetts Gap, a famous viewpoint.
Our bus will meet us here for the 1.5hr drive to our hotel at Orutota
overlooking the Victoria Reservoir.

*Oruthota Chalets or similar*

Day 6

A relaxing morning to enjoy the garden and pool at the hotel. Mid-morning we
have a short 18km drive to Kandy and have the afternoon to explore. The town
is located around a small lake and we can walk round to hopefully spot
several varieties of water birds and large water monitors. Later we visit the
Temple of the Tooth, which houses Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic -
The Tooth of Buddha, which was taken from the funeral pyre in India in 543 BC
and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. There are
literally hundreds of worshippers who visit the temple each day and in
July/August the most spectacular ceremony takes place.
*Hotel Hilltop or Royal Kandyan or similar*

Day 7-8

This morning we drive to Dickoya (3 hours), where we stay for two nights in
simple colonial tea planters bungalows, with wonderful view of the
Castlereagh Reservoir. On a clear day we can see the outline of Adams Peak in
the distance.
In the pilgrim season (December-May) we have the day to relax or you can take
a short walk around the lake (approx. 6km). We leave around midnight for the
walk up Adams Peak (approx. 14km). This will take around 4 hours and we
should reach the top, with the many pilgrims at sunrise. In the off season
(May – November) we spend Day 6 (Day 7 Ex London) at Dickoya and can walk
around the lake and on Day 7 (Day 8 Ex London) we will climb Adams Peak
during daylight hours.
Total accent 1211m, decent, the same.
(Day 6: B) (Day 7: B,L)
*Castlereagh Summer House or similar*

Day 9

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 at 1890m and has a very British feel. 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.
*Windsor Hotel or similar*

Day 10

Today we drive to Horton Plains, a large plateau over 2,000m above sea level,
overlooked by the second and third highest peaks in Sri Lanka. The scenery is
beautiful and is 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 1050m to the plains below. We then
catch the train from the highest railway station in the country; within two
hours we’ve dropped from 1889m to 1097m. The train travels through the
cloud forest into the tea plantations, the views are spectacular; we
disembark at Ella.
*Hotel Country Comfort or similar*

Day 11

We drive to Kithalaella and climb up to a rocky area to enjoy stunning views
of the waterfalls. Continuing on to Ella Gap, we have dramatic views of the
coastal plain nearly 1,000m below. Almost the whole of the southern part of
the island is in view and on a particularly clear day the shimmering silver
of the ocean is visible (approx. 12km walk). We return in the late afternoon
to our hotel in Ella.
*Hotel Country Comfort or similar*

Day 12

We now head south out of the hills to Tissamaharama down the plains stopping
en route to visit the spectacular Ravana Waterfalls as well as the Kataragama
Temple. This is a pilgrimage place for both Hindus and Buddhists, who come to
worship here in the early mornings and evenings. Colourful and noisy, the
temple is always busy. Tissamaharama will be our base for visiting Yala
National Park. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for
many years, but recently the park has become well known for leopard. The
park, which is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and fresh water
lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard per square
kilometre in the world. We will have a game drive in the afternoon. (Please
note that the sanctuary may be closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October
allowing the park authorities to check the animals. In this instance we will
go to an alternative area close by, usually the Udawalawe National Park).
*Chandrika Hotel or similar*

Day 13

This morning we drive to the beautiful Tissamaharama Lake where we walk for
approximately 3.5 hours (approx. 5km). This is an opportunity to see the day
to day life of the local people as well as a range of birdlife. In the late
afternoon we drive for approximately 4 hours to the coast.
*Insight Resort or similar*

Day 14

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 from November to April you can go whale watching off
Dondra Head. This is one of the best places in the world for seeing Blue and
Sperm whales.
*Insight Resort or similar*

Day 15

We set off today and drive along the coastal road to the historic port of
Galle, which dates back to the 17th century, and 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 amongst beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway
to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon (the drives takes around
2-3 hours, plus stops).

*Hotel Mirage or similar*

Day 16

If you are travelling on the group flight we will have a morning transfer to
the airport for the daytime flight to London. The arrangements for those not
flying with the group ends after breakfast.
**