Transport

MOTORCYCLES: Your travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover you when riding a motorcycle. We do not include or offer motorcycle activities on any of our trips in Sri Lanka. TAXIS: Use the taxi services from within the arrivals terminal at the airport or taxi services arranged through your booking agent. If you have a local SIM : card, ride-sharing services, such as Uber, are available in major cities. Private vehicle , Jeep , Taxi , Kayak , Mountain Bike

Others

Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit Minneriya National Park Knuckles Mountain Range - Village Walk Knuckles Mountain Range guided trek Knuckles Mini World’s End Guided Trek Hatton Tea Country Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling Kandy - Scenic train ride from Kandy to Hatton Golden Valley of Ceylon Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling Galle - Galle Fort Walking tour Gin River Kayaking Colombo - City walking tour

Accommodation

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS: Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. AIR CONDITIONING: All hotels on this trip have fans, but not all will have air conditioning. This trip includes 2 nights of camping (days 3 & 4) in the Knuckles Mountain Range. Facilities are basic but clean, and the tent will be put up for you. Hotel (7 nights), Camping with basic facilities (2 nights)

Meals

9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Negombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Negombo

Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the beachside town of Negombo with a welcome meeting at 5.30 pm. Known for its centuries-old fishing industry, Negombo is a historic port city close to Sri Lanka’s international airport. If you arrive early, maybe watch the fishing boats head out to sea, stroll along the beach to see the daily catch drying in the sun or indulge in a seafood feast. The surrounding countryside, with its network of canals, is a fascinating slice of Sri Lankan rural life and is best explored by bicycle.
Day 2 Day 2: Sigiriya
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Sigiriya

Leave bright and early this morning and travel to Dambulla – home to the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. After checking into your accommodation, make the short drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya for your first activity – a hike up the 1200 steps of the famed Lion Rock. This ancient carved-rock fortress rises dramatically above the surrounding plains, elevating Sigiriya high into the air. On the way you’ll visit the water and boulder gardens, frescoes and the mirror wall. The next section of the climb takes about half an hour along steep walkways and steps all the way up to the rocky plateau, which soars 200 m above the jungle. From here, the views over the surrounding area and the nearby Pidurangala Rock are jaw-dropping. Make your way back down and head back to Dambulla for a relaxing evening.
Day 3 Day 3: Minneriya National Park & Knuckles Mountain Range
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Minneriya National Park & Knuckles Mountain Range

Today you’ll head out on a relaxed jeep safari for about 3 hours through the nearby Minneriya National Park. The park is home to a mix of evergreen forest and scrublands – look out for sambar deer, leopards and elephants roaming the wild. After the safari, travel by private vehicle to the Knuckles Mountain Range – your home for the next two nights. Named after its striking visual likeness to human knuckles, this UNESCO World Heritage site features 34 mountains that range from 900 to 2000 m. Surrounded by dense forest, waterfalls and terraced rice fields, they are home to some of Sri Lanka’s best hiking trails. Tonight, get closer to nature as you set up camp next to the pristine waters and natural rock pools of the Thelgamu Oya stream. To keep you fresh for tomorrow’s hike your activity is limited to an evening walk around the village before relaxing by the riverside with a group dinner.
Day 4 Day 4: Knuckles Mountain Range Hiking
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Knuckles Mountain Range Hiking

Today you’ll head out early for a full-day guided hike along the Manigala Trek through the Knuckles region. Start hiking after breakfast and wind your way through emerald forests and hillsides, past cliffs and alongside fast-flowing rivers. Maybe stop to explore a few of the villages along the way, which are surrounded by sweeping rice terraces. Have lunch by the river and continue up the stone and dirt trail all the way up to the imposing Manigala Rock, for the panoramic views of the peaks and valley below. After taking in the views, make your way back down to camp to enjoy a hearty dinner after a long but rewarding day of hiking.
Day 5 Day 5: Kandy & Knuckles/Mini World’S End Hiking
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Kandy & Knuckles/Mini World’S End Hiking

Begin the day with a moderate hike through the forest to Knuckles’ renowned Mini World’s End – an observation point overlooking the Thelgamuwa Valley and a sheer drop of 1192 m (4000 ft) to the forest floor below. The panoramic views over the misty valley and distant mountain peaks are truly spectacular, you’ll want your camera today! After the hike, you’ll drive to Kandy, passing the gorgeous scenery along the way. Lying in the hills of the Kandy plateau, this city previously served as the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries – maybe visit the golden roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Housed inside, the relic of the tooth of the Buddha has played an important role in local politics due to the belief that whoever holds the relic holds governance of the country. Kandy’s temple and its status as the last city of the Sri Lankan Kings have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 6 Day 6: Hatton & Tea Country Cycling
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Hatton & Tea Country Cycling

Start your day with a scenic train journey to Hatton. When you arrive, cycle from the train station to the small village of Norton Bridge, passing vast tea estates and scenic, tree-lined hills along the way. Check in to your hotel and if you’re still feeling energetic, maybe opt to hike up to Adam’s Peak. The peak is often visited by pilgrims who climb a candle-lit trail in the evening, passing shrines and food stalls along the way. Or you can simply put your feet up with a nice cup of Ceylon tea – the afternoon is yours.
Day 7 Day 7: Tea Country Cycling & Mirissa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Tea Country Cycling & Mirissa

After breakfast, it’s back on your mountain bike for a mostly downhill ride through the heart of tea country. Pedal from Hatton through Bogawantalawa – home to premium Ceylon Tea – to Balangoda. Cycle through the sculpted green hills of ‘the Golden Valley of Ceylon’. Your ride will be broken up with snack breaks and a lunch stop, providing plenty of fuel (and photo opportunities) for your ride. Then, transfer to the delightful coastal town of Mirissa. This town is part fishing village, part beachside resort and is the perfect place to sit back and relax by the beach after a few active days. For those looking to keep their heart rate up, you can visit nearby Weligama – the ideal place to hit the waves at one of the local surf or bodyboarding schools.
Day 8 Day 8: Gin River Kayaking & Galle
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Gin River Kayaking & Galle

Start your day with a short drive to the small town of Unanwitiya – your starting point for an exciting day of kayaking down the Gin River. After instruction from your expert guides, you’ll cruise down the clear waters as it winds its way downstream. Paddle past dense forests, sandbanks, tea plantations and rice paddy fields while keeping an eye out for monitor lizards, birds and the occasional troop of monkeys. After kayaking, head to the boathouse for a delicious local lunch and then head to UNESCO World Heritage city of Galle. Once the main port for local cinnamon trade, this city features a maze of streets with mansions, ancient churches, a lighthouse and the imposing 17th-century fort. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean, this is surely one of the most dramatic structures in all of Sri Lanka. Start your exploration of Galle Fort on a walking tour along the ramparts and winding streets of the Fort and end it with an included dinner before heading back to Mirissa for a well earned rest.
Day 9 Day 9: Colombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Colombo

Depart Mirissa after breakfast and transfer to Colombo. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then take a leader-led walk past the bustling Petta Bazaar, Independence Square, Parliament, and the National Museum. Your walk finishes with a shopping opportunity at the Barefoot fairtrade store. Here, you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. Tonight, there’s an optional group dinner to celebrate your journey – if you opt in, you’ll go on a fun food crawl along the city’s many market stalls.
Day 10 Day 10: Colombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Colombo

There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You’re free to leave at any time after check out. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

10 days tour

Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Day 1: Negombo

Day 2: Sigiriya

Day 3: Minneriya National Park & Knuckles Mountain Range

Day 4: Knuckles Mountain Range Hiking

Day 5: Kandy & Knuckles/Mini World’S End Hiking

Day 6: Hatton & Tea Country Cycling

Day 7: Tea Country Cycling & Mirissa

Day 8: Gin River Kayaking & Galle

Day 9: Colombo

Day 10: Colombo

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