On arrival, your private chauffeur guide will transfer you to the hotel in Habarana.
After an early breakfast, climb the Sigiriya Rock. Built over 1500 years ago, this beautiful citadel stands 200 meters high in the middle of a verdant jungle and was an important stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. It can be viewed from miles around and is definitely one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and famous sites. You’ll be able to view the world famous paintings of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ which stand in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. Afterwards, we will drive to Wasgamuwa for a two nights stay, en route visiting a spice & herbal garden where you can enjoy an educational tour on the medicinal values of spices and herbs in Sri Lankan Ayurveda.
This day again will be an early start. We will drive to the starting point of the Knuckles range trek. The trek will commence from the village of Rathkinda situated at the base of the elephant shaped rock “ Manigala”. The villagers whose descendents were banished from the ancient kingdom of Kandy have traditionally used the shadow of the elephant shaped rock to read the time of the day. In local language “Mani” means time and “gala” means rock. Whilst trekking through the footpaths of the village of Rathkinda we can observe the serene life style of the villagers whilst going about their day‐to‐day activities of farming & animal husbandry. We will leave the village and walk past terraced paddy fields and enter the forest canopy of the valley to the sounds of rushing streams to view the bio diversity of the vegetation, colorful wildflowers, birds & butterflies which are uniquely endemic to the knuckles area. We will then leave the valley and climb 500 meters up Manigala through montane pygmy forest stunted by strong winds. Whilst walking on the flat area of Manigala, which resembles the back of an elephant, we will take a break for a picnic lunch to enjoy the panoramic view of the knuckles range and the village of Rathkinda. We will then descend Manigala and have a river bath in the “ Thelgamu‐Oya” river. Total length of trek is eleven kilometers.
After an early breakfast, you will drive to Wasgamuwa National park for a advent jeep safari. The Wasgamuwa National Park is one of the largest national parks in Sri Lanka and has a lot to offer in terms of its diverse advent. The center of the attraction is herds of Elephants up to 150. The best time to enjoy the sight of large herds is during November to May. In the rest of the year the elephants tend to migrate to nearby Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks. Other advent includes Purple faced langur monkeys, wild boar, sambar and spotted deer, buffalo and rarely sighted leopards and sloth bears. Among the reptiles are water monitor, mugger crocodile, estuarine crocodile and python (Python Molurus). After this advent experience, you will drive to the last kingdom of Sri Lanka‐ Kandy. On arrival you have the choice of visiting the most famous temple in Sri Lanka ‐ The temple of the tooth, or to enjoy a cultural dance show.
This day can be listed as the most adventurous day of the tour. The first stop will be in Kitulgala for a 7km long white water rafting in Kelani River. It was here that the Academy Award‐winning movie ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ was filmed. Afterwards, you will drive to the small town of Dalhousie to be close to Adam’s Peak for the climb uphill starting close to midnight. Sri Pada, or Adam’s Peak, is sacred to all four main religious groups in Sri Lanka – the Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and the Christians. The giant footprint at the top is variously claimed as an imprint either of Lord Buddha, God Shiva, Adam, or St. Thomas‐ the Christian Apostle who preached in south India. A popular pilgrimage this 2,234m‐high mountain is climbed by thousands of devotees and a steady trickle of travelers from December to April. The climb is best attempted at night and if you’re lucky and up early the vista can reward one of the finest sunrises in Asia as well as an awe‐inspiring view from the top. For many a trip up Adam’s peak is a moving highlight of a stay in Sri Lanka. During pilgrimage season strip lights and rudimentary refreshment stalls light the way and fire your resolve/quench your thirst all the way to the summit.
During the early hours of today (after sunrise) you will begin the climb downhill. Afterwards you will go back to Dalhousie and spend rest of the day in leisure.
After breakfast, you will commence the drive to the southern coast of Sri Lanka, to the small town of Ahangama, where you will enjoy your beach stay until time for departure on day 10.
Spend the day in leisure by the beach. Various water sports can be pre‐arranged on request.
Drop off at airport for departure.
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