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29th Mar 2025 - 6th Apr 2025
9 days/Sri Lanka /Moderate
Join us as we celebrate Different Travel’s 20th Anniversary with a trip to the country where it all began – Sri Lanka!
This four-day trek gives you an insight into the very best of what this island nation has to offer as you explore it’s natural beauty and biological diversity while pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.
Join us as we trek in the Knuckles mountains, visit the famous Sigiriya Rock and the sacred city of Kandy. We are also delighted to be able to include a section of the Pekoe trail (a relatively new, long trek route through Sri Lanka’s central highlands) which makes for more varied trekking.
You will end the trip with a couple of relaxing days on the beach at Negombo.
This tour is classified as ‘moderate’ for someone already at a good general level of fitness, due to the hot, wet and humid climate, carrying your own backpack each day (your backpack could weigh 6-7kg), the hilly, uneven and rough jungle terrain and basic accommodation and bathroom facilities.
Also called the Knuckles Massif, the Knuckles Mountain Range is situated at a height of over 3,000ft above sea level. The Knuckle Forest reserve has many streams feeding the downstream rivers and is considered a vital water catchment.
The vegetation is mainly semi evergreen with large trees, the upper slopes containing evergreen rain forest and the upper levels with cloud forests.
The trip can be undertaken by anyone with a good level of fitness, who is healthy and determined.
Adequate preparation, planning and training is important because the fitter you are the more you will enjoy this experience. An ideal candidate would be a hill walker, an open-minded person with a sense of adventure or someone who would like to take part in a life-changing fundraising experience in the beautiful landscape.
You must be at least 18 years old to participate on this trek unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old, but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
You will be accompanied by first aid trained English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of hiking, culture and nature in the region. You will also be accompanied by a team of local support staff and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.
You must arrive in Sri Lanka and prepared for this challenge. You should start training when you sign up to this trek to ensure the best chance of success and enjoyment on the challenge.
Hill walking while carrying a heavy backpack should form a major part of your training as this will most closely replicate the actual trek and is the best way to prepare your body for the numerous ascents and descents involved.
The climate in Sri Lanka is hot, humid and wet all year round. It cannot be stressed enough that the distinction between ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ seasons is not marked, and while weather patterns and rainfall is unpredictable it will generally be hot and wet for most of the trip. Temperatures historically reach up to 30°C during the day and drop to around 23°C at night although it may feel cooler at higher altitudes. The humidity is high, usually at least 78% every day.
The terrain varies greatly on this trek, from overgrown jungle paths to good open tracks and smaller paths. You can expect uneven and often slippery ground underfoot. There will be a number of steep ascents and long descents so you must arrive in Sri Lanka fit and prepared. The paths can be muddy and slippery after rain.
You will be staying in hotels throughout this trip. Rooms are allocated on a twin-share basis with en-suite facilities.
The hotels are en-suite with flushing western-style toilets.
If you need to use the toilet during the trek day you must inform the guides you are stopping and find a private area off the trail. You must never leave used toilet paper on the ground; this must be packed up into a nappy bag or sanitary disposal bag and carried to your overnight accommodation to be disposed of properly.
Sri Lankan food is traditionally spicy with lots of chilli, ginger and coconut. Meals are cooked by your trek team and will comprise of various simple local dishes, usually served with rice. Plates, mugs, cutlery and other equipment are provided for you and dietary requirements can be catered for if we are notified in advance.
London – Colombo
Fly to Colombo on an overnight flight, arriving the next day.
Colombo – Dambulla
Upon arriving in Colombo we will transfer Dambula (approx. 4 hours) where we will meet the local team and prepare for the activities to come over the next few days before a welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Dambulla
After a hearty breakfast we set off on our first day of trekking, through local farmland, forests and the beautiful dry-zone lakes to reach the awe-inspiring site of Sigiriya Rock Fortress. After a short break for refreshments, we continue to climb to the summit and explore the ruined palace of King Kassapa. We then return to Dambulla by vehicle for our second night at the hotel.
Trekking: Approx. 12.5kms/5.5hrs
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Dambulla – Knuckles
We leave this morning for Narangamuwa, a small village located on the northeastern side of the Knuckles Range (journey time approx 2hrs). After meeting our local guide we begin our trek through the dry-zone to reach Meemure Village, where the views of the surrounding mountains are stunning. After a rest we depart by vehicle to reach our overnight lodge. (journey time 45 mins).
Trekking: Approx. 13kms/6 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Knuckles – Kandy
Another morning of trekking in the beautiful Knuckles Range, through forests, rice terraces and tea plantations. After lunch we meet the vehicle and transfer to Kandy (approx 2.5 hours drive).
Trekking: Approx. 10.5kms / 5hrs
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
The Pekoe Trail
It’s a tough but rewarding day today as we explore part of the Pekoe Trail, a famous 300km hiking trail spanning the island’s central highlands. This section is 18kms long, and one of the most challenging sections with an ascent of 700m, and descent of 900m. After completing the trek we pay
a visit to a tea plantation and factory, to learn about the process of making pure Ceylon tea. We return to Kandy for a second night, with a chance to explore the town this evening.
Trekking: Approx. 18kms / 5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Kandy – Negombo
After breakfast we set off for Negombo, a beach resort close to Colombo (approx 3 hrs drive). Here you can celebrate your achievements of the week with a couple of relaxing days on the beach or you are free to explore the local area.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Negombo
A day at leisure followed by a farewell dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Negombo – Colombo – UK
We will transfer to the airport for our return flight back to the UK. You may arrive back the next day.
Meals: Breakfast
N.B. This itinerary may change due to unusual weather, the ability of the group, wildlife movements and so on. We will do our best to keep to the itinerary but we cannot be held responsible for changes that occur outside of our control. In all circumstances your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of the group’s health and safety.  Â
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Please contact us at accounts@different-travel.com for details on how to pay your deposit or trip costs by instalments.
If you’ve a question about this challenge that you can’t find the answer to within the given information then complete this quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
