This
‘Sri Lanka Nature Trek’ is specially designed
for ramblers, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. We’ve
hunted down hotels situated in the most picturesque locations
and created an itinerary that takes to see some of the island’s
most memorable natural sites, including peaceful jungles in
the cultural triangle, the impressive Hunas Giriyas mountains,
the pristine tea-growing highlands, Yala’s rolling plains
and the virgin rainforests of Sinharaja. Of course, we are
able to tinker with this itinerary if wish and add an extra
night here and there or include different hotels.
Holiday highlights:
• Hotels set in beautiful countryside
• Aukana’s giant Buddhist rock statue
• Sigiriya’s rock fortress and water gardens
• Ancient hillside monasteries
• Watching wild elephants in Minneriya
• Trekking in Hunas Giriya mountains
• Horton Plains and the World’s End
• Gushing waterfalls in Ella and Haputale
• Wild leopards in Yala National Park
• Tangalle’s beaches and giant sea turtles
• Trek in virgin rainforest
Day 1:
Arrive in Sri Lanka,
to be met at the airport by Red Dot. Transfer by airconditioned
car to Ranweli Village Hotel, an eco-friendly about 30 mins
drive from the airport. A short ferry ride across a scenic river
glides you to the hotel situated in a peninsula surrounded by
two rivers, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean.
Accommodation profile:Ranweli
is situated in a coastal wetland estuary, amid mangroves, about
10 miles north of the beach resort of Negombo. This isolated
wooden environment is reached by a short paddle-ferry trip which
glides you to a peninsular surrounded by two rivers, a lagoon
and the Indian Ocean. Its ecological commitment has been officially
recognised by the World Tourist Organisation. Its 72 chalet-style
bungalows and 12 family rooms blend sensitively with the natural
environment.
Day 2:
After an early breakfast leave for the
Cultural Triangle. Stop en route stop at Aukana to stand in
awe of the 12-metre high Buddha stature hewn by hand out of
a single rock. Check into Habarana Lodge, a conveniently located
four-star hotel set in an idyllic woodland location neighbouring
lake. The wonderful location is shared with a rich variety of
wildlife. After lunch, once the sun has cooled, the climb up
the Sigiriya rock, with its remains of the royal palace of king,
Kassyapa (473 -491AD), is immensely rewarding. The walk through
the old royal water gardens and the climb up the rock will take
about 2-3 hours in total.
Accommodation profile: Habarana
Lodge is blessed with a tranquil and picturesque 25-acre woodland
location, next to a beautiful lake. The large gardens provide
habitat to a rich birdlife (138 species have been identified)
and troops of grey monkeys. The 150 comfortable and spacious
cottages all have small sitting areas and verandas, encouraging
you just to laze there during the day, and are surprisingly
secluded. The hotel has a reputation for producing some of the
best buffets in the island, including a very good selection
of Sri Lankan food.
Day 3:
After an early breakfast leave for Ritigala,
a walk on hilly terrain. Remains of an ancient monastery can
be seen on the hillside, as well as several drip-ledge caves
with pre-Christian inscriptions. This valuable archaeological
site is scheduled to be listed as a World Heritage monument.
Picnic lunch optional at the site. Ritigala is a refuge area
for many threatened species. You could see spot-winged thrush,
jungle fowl, grey hornbill, and mammals including sloth bears,
elephant and lizards. Ritigala is a wet-zone forest found in
the dry zone and 110 documented trees are found here. Also visit
Namal Uyana and Pink Quartz Mountain. In the afternoon return
to Habarana Lodge to relax. The total walking in the day will
be about 5km.
Day 4:
Wake up early, preferably before dawn armed with picnic breakfasts,
for a morning safari at Minneriya National Park, an important
wetland park feeding thousands of hectares of paddy fields and
supporting many aquatic birds and about 300 wild elephants.
After exploring the park in a private jeep, travel south towards
the central highlands and your next hotel, the Hunas Falls Hotel.
Rest in the afternoon.
Accommodation profile: Hunas Falls
Hotel enjoys one of the most scenic hotel settings in Sri Lanka,
high in the hills near Elkaduwa, about an hour and a quarter
north west of Kandy, the hill-country capital. It will appeal
to guests seeking seclusion in a peaceful mountain retreat.
It is particularly appealing for those nature lovers journeying
between the cultural triangle and Kandy.
Day 5:
A six-hour trek to and from Hunas Falls Hotel to the peak of
the Hunas Giriya range, 4642ft above sea level, provides one
of the finest walking experiences in Sri Lanka. You will walk
along an estate road, crossed by several waterways, through
scattered villages, tea estates, forest plantations and grasslands.
The summit of Hunas Giriya is 4642 feet and, above 4,000 feet,
as the tea estates recede, the steep-sided slopes are covered
by forest. Picnic lunch optional. A shorter 8km trek can also
be arranged, if preferred, to Simpson’s Forest. Return
to the Hotel (Hunas Falls) for your overnight stay. Waterproofs
and walking shoes are advisable.
Day 6:
Today you head for Nuwara Eliya, a former British hill station
that has retained its popularity as a hill-country retreat.
But first visit the Royal Botanical gardens at Peradeniya. Once
the pleasure gardens of the Kandyan Queens, the 150 acres of
garden are replete with interesting trees and plants set out
in captivating style. The 80km drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
winds deeper into the hill country, through a succession of
tea estates. Check into the Tea Factory Hotel.
Accommodation profile:
The Tea Factory lies, alone and unique, on the slopes of the
tea plantations at Kandapola, high above the hill-country town
of Nuwara Eliya. the largest and most popular town in the highlands.
It was once exactly as it claims - a tea factory built in the
1930s by British planters. The gentle howl of the night-time
breezes is likely to lull the most troubled mind to sleep. There
is no more luxurious way to explore Sri Lanka's history of tea
making.
Day 7:
An early start to Horton plains is advisable
for you to see more of the nature. Drive up to Horton plains
to start the 8km trek. Trek through the jungle and, with our
expert advice, sample edible jungle berries. This stark yet
scenic landscape includes wild orchids, scarlet rhododendron,
stunted trees with 'old man's beard' moss, dwarf marsh bamboo,
stobilanthes, which bloom once every ten years, tree ferns,
and many rare and endemic species of butterflies. Birds include
jungle fowl, babblers, magpies, the Ceylon hill muniya, bull-blue
flycatcher, pied bush chat, and the Sri Lanka whistling thrush.
This national park is the only one in Sri Lanka where walking
is allowed. You may see sambur deer (more than 3000 live on
Horton Plains), and monkeys, squirrels, wild cats and wild boar.
Sample the famous view at 'World's End' where the escarpment
drops 3000 ft. to the 'Nagrak' tea estate and take a look at
Bakers Waterfall. After lunch, the more energetic may wish to
conquer Totapola, the third highest mountain in Sri Lanka (7746
ft.), which adds about 6km to the 8km Horton Plains trek Then
take the jeep back to Nuwara Eliya and the Tea Factory.
Day 8 & 9:
After breakfast leave for Haputale, a small village in the southern
highlands perched on a ridge with magnificent sweeping views.
Travel via Ella where you can visit the Rawana Ella Falls and
the Rawana Ella Cave, in which legend tells us in the Ranamaya
story that the demon king of Sri Lanka, Ravana, imprisoned Rama’s
wife Sita. Check-in to Kelbourne Cottages in the late afternoon
for a two night stay. If you are feeling active the following
day then consider visiting Diyaluma Falls where you can bath
in some peaceful rock pools.
Accommodation profile: On a ridge
close to Haputale, blessed by one of the most breathtaking vistas
that Sri Lanka - can offer stands the Kelbourne Cottages. On
a clear day, majestic views south and east can stretch for more
than 50 miles. The cottages date from the turn of the 19th/20th
century and each comes with cosy furnishings, books and magazines,
and tv, as well as chef to prepare meals at any time of day.
Here is a chance to unwind in the hill country at its most serene.
Day 10:
After a restful time at Kelbourne Cottages
savouring the wonderful views, leave first thing in the morning
for Yala, the national park at Sri Lanka's southeast tip. En-route
visit Buduruvagala to see Sri Lanka's tallest rock-cut Buddha
statue, 51 ft. in height, and other Mahayana Buddhist statues
dating back to the 8th-century AD. Close to Buduruvagala you
could visit the Handapangala Tank, a watering hole for Yala
elephants in the summer months (you may consider organising
a picnic lunch with the hotel before your departure). IN the
afternoon check into Yala Village.
Accommodation profile: Yala Village opened
in 2003 as a much-needed deluxe addition to the sprinkling of
hotels serving visitors to Sri Lanka’s finest game park.
It blends subtly into scrub forest, close to Yala game park,
overlooking the historic Yala lighthouse. Forty well-appointed
chalets, which come in three different sizes (single, twin and
quad) enjoy a scenic location, stretching from a lagoon to the
border of Palatupana-Kirinda beach, which boasts some of Sri
Lanka’s finest unspoilt sand dunes. Animals may wander
through the village unhindered.
Day
11:
To gain the full benefit of Yala National Park, we recommend
you to rouse yourself for a departure by jeep around 5.45am.
Yala, nearly 400 sq. miles, was declared as a game park in 1938.
Look for herds of elephants, sloth bear, crocodiles, wild boar,
wild buffalo, peacocks, jackals, monkeys, porcupines, leopards
and varieties of deer, as well as numerous bird species. Rest
at the hotel during the afternoon.
Day 12 & 13:
Transfer along Sri Lanka’s
south coast to Tangalle, a fishing town with one long unspoilt
beach that is popular as a breeding ground for giant sea turtles.
Check into Eva Lanka, a luxurious Italian-run hotel set atop
a headland with a beautiful beach below. Spend two days relaxing.
Accommodation profile: Eva Lanka
Hotel is situated on a quiet, untouched bay. Italian owned,
the hotel has been spaciously and stylishly developed on the
hill running down to the bay, produced a relaxed, private and
laid back atmosphere. The terracotta coloured cottages are laid
out on three separate levels, all with easy access to Romanic
bathing pools. The small white-sanded beach has a castaway feel,
with a single friendly beach bar offering refreshments.
Day 14:
Rise early to head for the Sinharaja rain forest, a large reserve
of virgin rainforest that contains a vast wealth of biodiversity
and is home to endemic birds and flora. Birds include the red-faced
malkoha, Sri Lanka blue magpie, chestnut-backed owlet, and the
green-billed coucal. You can walk in the forest along well-maintained
tracks and then stay overnight at the Blue Magpie Lodge.
Accommodation profile:The
Blue Magpie Lodge is a basic property, but one blessed with
a truly stunning natural location. Surrounded by lush forest,
Blue Magpie, a short drive to the Sinharaja park entrance, has
12 simple rooms with en suite bathrooms, all with hot water
but no modern frills – this is a place for nature lovers
not cable TV addicts. The property has a friendly management
team and the food is delicious.
Day 15: After
an early breakfast, leave for Colombo, the capital, and the
Ceylon Continental Hotel, a chance to end the tour in five-star
comfort. In the afternoon, there is an optional city tour, or
you may wish to make your own exploration of the city's finest
museums or retail outlets.
Accommodation profile:The five-star
Ceylon Continental occupies a prime position at the quieter
end of Galle Face Green, alongside the Indian Ocean and within
walking distance of Colombo’s main commercial area. Colombo’s
first five-star, it has more of a relaxed and intimate feel
than some of its grander rivals and was fully refurbished in
2001/2
Cost:
Available on request
Package price includes:
- 15 night’s BB accommodation on twin-sharing
basis
- Airconditioned car and English-speaking driver for tour and
transfers
- Entrance fees: Aukana, Ritigala, Sigiriya Rock, Botanic Gardens,
Buduruvagala
- Entrance and jeep hire for Horton Plains, Yala and Sinharaja
- Local treking guides in Ritigala, Hunas Giriya, Horton Plains
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