Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Trekking, Bicycling
Destinations
Sri Lanka

On this nine-day excursion, you’ll have the chance to explore the most beautiful and secluded treasures buried deep in the heart of Sri Lanka. Trek through the lush rainforest and hike across plains densely populated with rich flora and fauna, including rare wild animals. Cycle through tea terraces and round mountain passes, stopping to swim in crystal clear mountain streams and waterfall pools. Spend your nights camped beneath the stars or tucked away in cozy lodges, deep in the rugged wilderness of this incredible island nation. 

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Intrepid Hiking: One of the best stretches of the trek through Sri Lanka's wild countryside is from Horton Plains to World's End, named for the sheer 3,700-foot drop to the valley below.
  • Bike Through Tea Plantations: The hair-raising hairpin bends of "Satan's Steps" are not for the fainthearted, but travelers will be rewarded for your efforts with a cooling dip at the lagoon under Bambarakanda Waterfall.
  • Game Drives: Safari rides through Udawalawe National Park and Sinharaja Forest Reserve take travelers to meet wild elephants, buffalo, leopards, deer, and colorful bird species.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Negombo

Arriving at the Colombo International Airport, you'll transfer to Negombo, which is around 30 minutes away. Here, you can relax and spend the rest of your day at leisure (or enjoy a city tour of Negombo if time permits), so that you're ready and rested for your hiking-biking adventure.

Day 2

Knuckles Mountain Range

After taking a leisurely breakfast, you'll drive towards the Knuckles Mountain Range, which is a 70-minute drive from Negombo. As its name describes, the Knuckles of central Sri Lanka are a series of folds and peaks that appear to resemble a clenched fist when viewed from certain angles. The range is home to some of the toughest, but most rewarding, hiking trails in the country, plus the Knuckles are an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hotel Options
About

Wild Glamping Knuckles is perched in the hills of the Knuckles Mountain Range, comprised of 10 luxury tented accommodations designed to immerse guests in nature while providing the conveniences of modern comforts. Tents are spacious and fitted with private bathrooms and wooden furniture, appointed with twin beds.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Knuckles
Knuckles

Day 3

Knuckles Mountain Range

Today, you'll hike through the Knuckles on a trail that suits your preferences and abilities. The 12-kilometer High Knuckles Trail is a challenging climb to the summit of the first two knuckles (8-9 hours), the 14-kilometer Waterfall Trek winds through verdant forest to tumbling cascades (4-5 hours), while the viewpoints along the scenic 11-kilometer Corbetts Gap Trek are some of the most soughtafter panoramas in the region (3-4 hours) - to name but a few ideas. 

Day 4

Nuwara Eliya

Today your driver will meet you at camp and you’ll enjoy the leisurely drive to the pretty highland town of Nuwara Eliya, which takes around five hours. This picturesque spot is strewn with colonial tea estates and elegant architecture, surrounded by rolling green tea terraces as far as the eye can see. Tonight, indulge in a comfortable night in a cozy hotel.

Hotel Options
About

The former residence of Sir Edward Barnes, Governor of Sri Lanka from 1830 to 1850, the Grand Hotel is a Tudor-style mansion set amidst boxwood and fir trees overlooking the calm waters of Lake Gregory. Hunting and fishing trophies decorate the walls, infusing the property with the tranquility of times past.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya

Day 5

Belihuloya

After breakfast, begin your trek across the beautiful Horton Plains, located an hour's drive from Nuwara Eliya, keeping a watchful eye out for the abundant wildlife that roams here, including wild boar, deer, and many species of birds. Then, soak in the stunning views from your hike’s destination: World’s End, a sheer 3,700-foot drop with a scenic valley view below. After a short hike back, enjoy your packed lunch at the entrance of Horton Plains before hopping on your bike to ride through green tea plantations followed by the steep hairpin bends of "Satans Steps." Take a break at the towering Bambarakanda Waterfall and cool off in the lagoon before hitting the road once again, bound for Belihuloya. (This cycling route takes around four hours to complete.)

Hotel Options
About

A 20-minute journey to the remote Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp must be taken on foot, accompanied by camp staff, as a stay here is truly an escape into the wilderness. The intimate camp is comprised of just three spacious suite-tents, offering an arrival deck with a lounge area, a sleeping tent bedroom, a washbasin lounge with beanbags, a bathroom tent with a flushing toilet, and an indoor shower with hot water.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 6

Belihuloya

Today, you have the option to enjoy the camp and its surrounds. There are bushwalking excursions led by naturalists and third-generation Bushmen, a "Wilderness Spa & Lounge" to relax in, and authentic village experiences to choose from.

Day 7

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll drive two hours to Udawalawe National Park. At the gates of the park, your 4x4 will meet you to transport you through the natural wonders, from towering mountain peaks, to wild elephant, deer, buffalo, leopards, and exotic birds. After your safari adventure, you'll continue on to Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which is approximately four hours away by car.

Hotel Options
About

Leading the way in sustainable tourism for Sri Lanka, the Rainforest Eco Lodge sits on the edge of the country’s only natural World Heritage Site, the Sinharaja Rainforest. Guests can immerse themselves in the nature and mystic history of this glorious ecosystem, named for the legendary Lion Kings from whom the Sinhalese are supposedly descended.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Day 8

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Rise bright and early, ready to plunge into the primeval rainforest of Sinharaja. Enjoy your picnic breakfast here in the jungle: named for the legendary lion king from whom Sri Lankans are supposedly descended, Sinharaja is a sacred natural area, shrouded in mystery and legend. Stop off for lunch at another scenic picnic spot before making your way back to the lodge for the evening.

Day 9

Departure

After breakfast at the lodge, it’s time to depart from your unforgettable tour of the natural treasures of Sri Lanka and head home or to your next exciting destination. The drive back to Colombo takes around 3.5 hours, where you can catch your onward flight.

Suggested Hotel For Days 2–3

Wild Glamping Knuckles

Wild Glamping Knuckles

Wild Glamping Knuckles is perched in the hills of the Knuckles Mountain Range, comprised of 10 luxury tented accommodations designed to immerse guests in nature while providing the conveniences of modern comforts. Tents are spacious and fitted with private bathrooms and wooden furniture, appointed with twin beds. For dining, guests can enjoy authentic Sri Lankan cuisine in an open-air dining tent with views of the surrounding highlands. Wild Glamping Knuckles is approximately five hours by car from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport and two hours from Kandy.

Suggested Hotel For Day 4

Grand Hotel

Grand Hotel

The former residence of Sir Edward Barnes, Governor of Sri Lanka from 1830 to 1850, the Grand Hotel is a Tudor-style mansion set amidst boxwood and fir trees overlooking the calm waters of Lake Gregory. Hunting and fishing trophies decorate the walls, infusing the property with the tranquility of times past. The hotel has 156 elegantly furnished rooms including three presidential suites and three deluxe suites that overlook the property's magnificent, award-winning gardens filled with beautifully laid out flower beds. Rooms in the new golf wing overlook the golf course and present a soothing view of the rolling greens, and junior suites are equipped with fireplaces and well-appointed bathrooms. The main restaurant, Barnes Hall, is located on the ground floor of the hotel and overlooks the gardens, and offers a wide choice in both Western and Eastern cuisines. There is also a coffee shop, an Indian restaurant, supper club and three bars on the grounds. Other amenities include three lounges, a small shopping arcade, fitness center and sauna, spa, wood-paneled bar and billiard room with three tables. There is no Internet access at the hotel.

Suggested Hotel For Days 5–6

Ahaspokuna

Ahaspokuna

A 20-minute journey to the remote Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp must be taken on foot, accompanied by camp staff, as a stay here is truly an escape into the wilderness. The intimate camp is comprised of just three spacious suite-tents, offering an arrival deck with a lounge area, a sleeping tent bedroom, a washbasin lounge with beanbags, a bathroom tent with a flushing toilet, and an indoor shower with hot water. Meals are taken in the dining tent and there's a bathtub facility that overlooks the grasslands, as well as a daybed that can serve as a sleeping space if you prefer to doze under the stars. Ahaspokuna Bushwalks Camp is around 2-3 hours from Udawalwe and Yala National park, 3-4 hours from Tangalle or Galle, and 2-2.5 hours from the nearest fixed-wing airport.

Suggested Hotel For Days 7–8

Rainforest Eco Lodge

Rainforest Eco Lodge

Leading the way in sustainable tourism for Sri Lanka, the Rainforest Eco Lodge sits on the edge of the country’s only natural World Heritage Site, the Sinharaja Rainforest. Guests can immerse themselves in the nature and mystic history of this glorious ecosystem, named for the legendary Lion Kings from whom the Sinhalese are supposedly descended. Consisting of 16 chalets, each built from reclaimed shipping containers based on the principles of ‘reduce, re-use and recycle’, the lodge combines responsible tourism with creativity and design, without compromising on luxury and comfort. Set in tea gardens, with stunning views of the rainforest, each room boasts its own private deck and en suite facilities. The restaurant at the lodge specializes in scrumptious cuisine prepared freshly, using organic ingredients. And of course, the expert staff can organize natural adventures for guests, including bird watching and jungle trekking.

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With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

A Luxurious Comeback for Sri Lanka

Author
Remote Lands
The tiny island of Sri Lanka has endured a lot, both in the past and in recent memory. Torn apart by civil war and a devastating tsunami, this strong and determined little country has fought its way through the hard times and come out on the other side not only with its beauty and culture intact, but also with its eyes on bigger rewards.
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