SUMMARY
Difficulty: Wolf
You’re at one with nature and happy to be taking on a proper challenge that has elements of the unknown. 8 hours on feet per day over 2-3 days or 3-5 hours on feet over 4 days.
THE ADVENTURE
Hike, Cycle & Kayak through Knuckles mountain range. The dense forest of the knuckles mountain range is surrounded by 34 mystical mountains that range from 900 to 2,000 metres. You will explore some of the country's most beautiful, lesser trodden trails that give you a different side to Sri Lanka. Cascading waterfalls in every clearing, quaint villages hidden amid the mountains, an abundance of tiered rice fields as well as a varied and colourful wildlife. The range covers 234-square-kilometre and heroes the best of what Sri Lanka has to offer.
The purpose element of the trip is focused on the Knuckles forest, important to Sri Lanka in many respects. It harbours rich floral and faunal diversity; it is occupied by several endangered species and it is an important watershed and catchment area for more than 500 streams. The Knuckles is now designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site and is a protected reserve. The forest department has been mainly focussing on preventing further degradation to the forests. However massive reforestation projects are needed as well to restore and enhance its watershed services, micro-climate regulation and carbon sequestration. On our trip, in a small way, we will try to contribute to the forest departments efforts.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Settle in by the sea
Transfer from Colombo airport to Negombo where you'll settle in a luxury and sustainable hotel by the sea. Kick back and relax after your long flight. We will introduce you to the team and brief you on your adventure ahead.
Accommodation - Hotel (Jetwing Sea)
Activities - Relax! Maybe a massage in the spa?
Day 2 - 50KM Cycle to Algama and transfer to Kandy
Cycle from Negombo to Algama. Start your adventure through rural Sri Lanka. Explore amazing rock formations, watefalls and have an amazing local lunch. After this you will be able to rest your legs in the transfer to Kandy where you'll stay in a small boutique hotel located on a working tea plantation.
Accommodation - Simpsons Forest
Activities - Cycling 50km
Day 3 - Hike and Help
3 hours of hiking. Early rise to transfer to the head of your trail where you'll hike 8KMs, 1159 M elevation to Thangappuwa and work with the local forest commission to replant and protect Sri Lanka's dense habitat. If you're lucky you might even come across the endangered sloth bear. This evening you'll immerse yourself in a special wild camping experience in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Rest your head in exceptionally designed luxury tents positioned ideally amidst the hazy hills, the campsite will allow you to indulge in nature whilst enjoying modern comforts of an ensuite and comfortable bed.
Accommodation - Wild Glamping
Activities - Leisurely lead hike (8km)
Day 4 - Corbet's Gap Hike
Explore more of what the UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer along an 11km hike. Named after the British surveyor Corbet who mapped the area. It is one of the most memorable and magnificent view points in the mountain range.
Accommodation - Knuckles Wild Glamping
Activities - Hike (11km)
Day 5 - Knuckles Peak Hike
Heading to one of the famous knuckles peaks through rural villages, waterfalls and lush vegetation. This is a relatively demanding hike with a duration of 8- 9 hours including your packed lunch stop along the way.
Accommodation - Knuckles Wild Glamping
Activities - Hike 23km
Day 6 - Cycle to Safari
Say goodbye to your wild glamping experience and head on a downhill cycle towards Wasgamuwa safari. You will be cycling for 2-3 hours through even more beautiful scenery, you'll cycle into a remote local village where you can enjoy a traditional Sri lankan lunch. When those legs hit the 'stop' button we'll jump into our transfer and head straight into an afternoon Safari where you'll see the sunset over all of the beautiful plains full of Sri Lankan wildlife.
Accommodation - Lavendish
Activities - Cycling and Safari, 40km mostly downhill
Day 7 - Kayak & Camp
Kayak along the Mahaweli Ganga and pull your kayaks onto the bank where you'll spend the night camping in small dome tents under the stars. Spot elephant tracks and if you're lucky they might come to bath in the river. You'll have 5 - 6 hours using your arms , today we'll give the legs a rest!
Accommodation - Dome Tents
Activities - Kayaking and camping under the stars
Day 8 - Kayak to Mannampitiya bridge
Wake up to breakfast on the banks of the river before setting off on the final leg of your kayak to Mannsmpaitiya Bridge. At the bridge we'll pull the kayaks out of the water and you'll depart from the river in a comfortable transfer for a little snooze. You'll wake up on the banks of a lake where you can feast in a buffet style lunch and take a well earned wash and rest. Time is now yours to kick back by the pool and absorb the trip thus far.
Accommodation - Deer Park, a luxury lodge
Activities - Kayak (20km)
Day 9 - Your last full day
No rush in the morning, slowly rise and we'll gather you to start our jounrney back towards the airport. We're heading to a town called Kegalle, famous for being surrounded by precious stones and gems. Here we'll settle into the beautiful Rosyth Estate. This is a 1926 Colonial planters bungalow set in a 62 acre private tea and rubber estate. Here we'll tell tales of our adventure and enjoy our final celebratory dinner together, the IGO way.
Accommodation - Rosyth Estate
Activities - Chill out with a Lion (beer)
Day 10 - Head to the Airport
Transfer from Kegalle to Colombo. Or perhaps you're not leaving just yet and you want to add on some extra adventure near the coast. Either way we'll make sure you're set to get to your destination.
Airport Transfer approx 2 hours
ACCOMMODATION
Introduction
Sri Lanka has a variety of accommodation to explore your style. We have some really beautiful deluxe safari lodge hotels and fixed glamping in the mountain clouds. There is however a special kind of luxury to wild camping on the banks of a river in your tent, in the middle of the wild with elephants just across the water.
Hotel Jetwing Sea
A sustainable hotel by the sea, nestled upon the edge of the Indian Ocean. Jetwing Sea is a contemporary coastal respite that blends finest of tropical luxury with traditional Sri Lankan hospitality on the buzzing beach strip of Negombo.
Simpsons Forest
The hotel is in the quiet surroundings of a tea and spice plantation more than sixty acres in extent and gets its name from a former English planter who nurtured a forest patch (Simpson’s Forest) bordering the plantation.
Knuckles Forest Reserve
Exceptionally designed luxury tents positioned ideally amidst the hazy hills, the campsite allows guests to indulge in nature whilst enjoying modern comforts.
Lavendish
A lovely hotel close to the forest and river. The ideal Hideout for nature, comfort and relaxation. Located 265KM away from Colombo in the Matale district on 3.5 acres of beautifully landscaped garden overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Ranges and Dunuwila Wewa. Here lays the Lavendish Wild Safari Hotel with all the modern comfort ,you will truly enjoy the best of both worlds.
Dome Tents
Think a regular camping tent but in the most wild and wonderful setting on the banks of the Mahaweli Ganga. Sleeping under the stars and with all of the beautiful animals that reside around this river. This experience is sure to reset your circadian rhythm back to that of mother nature.
Deer Park
Deer Park luxury lodge gives you a truly refreshing and relaxing time amidst nature – it is an oasis of nature with winding paths through immaculately landscaped gardens, water lily studded ponds and a beautifully designed pool surrounded by verdant trees. The hotel is located directly in front of the Giritale Lake, and allows guests to enjoy tranquil moments viewing the calm water and glorious sunsets over the shimmering surface. One of the highlights of the hotel is the exclusive lake front deck with breathtaking views of the vast Giritale Lake, which is the perfect spot to relax on one of our sun decks as you take in your surroundings of natural splendor.
Rosyth Estate
Rosyth Estate, a 1926 colonial planter’s bungalow set in a 62 acre private tea and rubber estate offering outstanding accommodation, exceptional food and extraordinary experiences. The Rosyth Estate House provides guests with the opportunity to experience the beauty and culture of rural Sri Lanka. Explore the estate, visit the local tea factory, chill by the pool or take in the stunning views. Our private house in the hills, run as a boutique hotel is a perfect place to stay.
MEETING POINTS
START
Columbo International Airport
Transfer from Colombo airport to Negombo where you'll settle in a luxury and sustainable hotel by the sea. Kick back and relax after your long flight. We will introduce you to the team and brief you on your adventure ahead.
END
Columbo International Airport
You'll be transferred back to the airport ready to catch any flight that leaves after 19:00.
YOUR HOSTS
Chamila
Chamila’s path to being a guide wasn’t a straight one. He started his career as a banker, but you can’t keep an outdoorsman behind a desk for long.
He quit is corporate job after a few years and soon became the course director for a popular white water rafting and whale watching company. Chamila is an avid wildlife photographer, a trained first aid administrator and a licensed National Tour Guide. As a native of Kandy, he spent most of his childhood meandering through the countryside discovering new trails and hidden waterfalls and knows where to find the best baby jackfruit curry up in the hills.
Chamila is a passionate white water kayaker and abseiler and loves showing guests around the island paradise he calls home. He loves playing the guitar and has been known to serenade guests by the evening campfire after the day’s activities.