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Hiking in Hill Country

Highlights

  • Explore remote villages, small family farms, jungles and waterfalls
  • Delicious lunch at a remote village
  • Game drive in Wasgamuwa National Park
From £920 pp*
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Adults
12+
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Children
2 -11
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3 Nights

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Guests

Room #
Adults
12+
- +
Children
2 -11
- +
Add room
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What you'll do

Overview

Sri Lanka’s hill country is truly beautiful, with a variety of different ecosystems co-existing in the lush green landscape. From tea plantations, forests and spice plantations. On this trip we will be based at a beautiful colonial bungalow in the hills a perfect spot for wonderful guided hikes and an amazing safari.

Tour Summary:
Day 1 Hike to Riverstone
Day 2 Hike to Manigala Rock
Day 3 Wasgamuwa National Park

On this trip you will experience some of the best countryside that Sri Lanka has to offer, paddy fields, tea plantations and spice farms, forests, local villages and mountains.You will also have  the chance to view some of the wonderful wildlife living here. You’ll be accompanied by your local guide who will show you the routes and the viewpoints known only by the locals and learn about the history, culture, cuisine and daily lives of the Sri Lankans’ living in Hill country.

*From price based on travel for 2 people between 1st Sept 2025 until 9th October 2025. For larger groups or solo travellers please enquire directly to hello@nitgb.com

*Please note*
Accommodation will be reserved at time of booking. Depending on availability there may be changes to similar accommodation.
This is a private itinerary but on some experiences throughout the tour you may join a small group.

Hike to Riverstone

Today out hike will start in the morning after you meet your guide in the remote Gammaduwa village.

Your luggage will be transported to the hotel ad you will set off with your day pack, make sure you have a swimming kit for the opportunity to swim after lunch.

You will start your hike through the beautiful lush landscape, you will climb uphill through pine forests and get onto the narrow trail to the extremely remote Kargastene village. This remote village is completely isolated and supports only a small farming family, from here the scenery completely changes as you hike across grass land for a few kilometres before heading back into the jungle.

Our route crosses small reservoirs and streams before we reach the village of Puwakpitiya where we stop for lunch. You are welcome to help your local host to cook your lunch using locally produced ingredients- learn a little about the way of life here, and pick up a few Sri Lankan cooking tips too. A nearby waterfall is a great place to go for a small swim before the next stretch of your journey through this awe inspiring landscape.

From the village you will climb through the forests to reach Riverstone, the path will take you through dense jungles where elephants roam freely, if you are lucky you may spot them. You will come out of the jungle in front of the famous Mini World’s End, a spectacular observation point located within the Knuckles Mountain Range. It is an escarpment with a sheer drop of 1192 meters, at this point you will be met with magnificent and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

The last stretch is on jeep trails up until the main road towards your accommodation for the night.

Accommodation: Sir John’s Bungalow

Meals: lunch in the village en route and dinner at the hotel.

Manigala Hike

Today from your base at Riverstone you will head towards the famous Manigala Rock. You will start off on the village bus road before turning of onto smaller village back roads, passing through bright green paddy fields.

It is interesting to see paddy grown in terraces, using the step farming or “Helmalu”  which are  necessary in these hilly landscapes. Your climb then takes you through the forests which are criss crossed by small streams before you begin your climb to the peak of Manigala Rock, from the top you will see the views over the mighty Knuckles range. After spending some time on the peak you will begin your hike down back to our comfortable bungalow for a well deserved dinner and relaxation.

Accommodation: Sir John’s Bungalow

Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner

Safari at Wasgamuwa

Today we head to the famed Wasgamuwa National Park for a Safari, boasting a jaw-dropping collection of wild beasts and birds, it is also the best place to observe Elephants especially between November to May when large herds can be sighted here.

The Park is home toa huge variety of wild animals and birds, there are  two species of endemic monkeys: the Purple-faced Langur and the Toque Macaque, as well as other mammals including water buffalo, axis deer and a rare leopard or sloth bear. Among the reptiles are water monitor, mugger crocodile, estuarine crocodile and python.

We take you through this glorious Wasgamuwa Park and bring you closer to some of the most dazzling and magnificent animals found in Sri Lanka, including rare species of birds and large herds of elephants. You will enjoy a wonderful game drive through the National Park, and then return to your accommodation to relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Sir John’s Bungalow

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Departure day

Check out of your accommodation after breakfast and make your way to your next place of adventure in Sri Lanka.

If you require transport to your next destination please let us know and we can arrange this at an extra cost.

Meals: Breakfast

What's included

Included

  • 3 Nights Accommodation with breakfast and dinner included
  • All transfers in AC vehicle with an English speaking guide
  • Lunch in a local village during your hike on day one
  • Packed lunch on day two
  • Game drive in Wasgamuwa National Park
  • Local guide for your hikes each day

Accommodation

Sir John's Bungalow (or similar)

Nestled within Knuckles Mountain Range, Sir John's Bungalow offers peaceful and comfortable accommodation with views of the landscaped gardens and beautiful countryside.

There is a restaurant serving a delicious selection of local and western dishes.

Your local host

Prateeque

Hi! My name is Prateeque, your host. I grew up in India, in Bangalore and after completing an engineering degree, I decided to not actually follow this path and chose to follow my passion of travel. I quickly got a job as an actual tour guide in the wonderful southern region of Kerala, India, for a few months and ended up staying for 2 years.

An opportunity opened up to go to Sri Lanka to become manager for the country, so when I was offered it, I jumped at the chance. During my time working in travel, I’ve travelled the majority of both India and Sri Lanka and discovered almost place you could possibly explore in these crazy, yet amazing countries.

I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and exploring, even as a kid. ... Read All

Hi! My name is Prateeque, your host. I grew up in India, in Bangalore and after completing an engineering degree, I decided to not actually follow this path and chose to follow my passion of travel. I quickly got a job as an actual tour guide in the wonderful southern region of Kerala, India, for a few months and ended up staying for 2 years.

An opportunity opened up to go to Sri Lanka to become manager for the country, so when I was offered it, I jumped at the chance. During my time working in travel, I’ve travelled the majority of both India and Sri Lanka and discovered almost place you could possibly explore in these crazy, yet amazing countries.

I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and exploring, even as a kid. I would go out on my bike and get lost and then try to find my way back. I grew up in an urban setting, so any chance I could get I was out exploring. The feeling of release you get from the outdoors, is completely different to anything you can feel.

The one thing that inspired me to work in travel and pursue it as a long term career, is the feeling of pure amazement when discovering something new or seeing something spectacular for the first time. It’s an indescribable feeling, but you’re just totally immersed in this place and you just forget about everything else for a while.

And seeing this look on people’s faces and being with them when they’re doing this, is something I found out very quickly when I was tour guide I absolutely loved and just had to pursue this further.

Another thing is, you always learn in travel, there’s always something new that comes up, whether it be an experience, untapped location, or new people, you’re always learning and this pushes me to find new things to do.

It’s fair to say that Sri Lanka is oversaturated, there are plenty of companies here offering the same tours to the same places. We however, like to go off the beaten track. It’s unbelievable how much there is to see in this wonderful country away from the main sights. For example, the busy national parks e.g. Udawalawe National Park can have up to 600 jeeps a day on it’s roads. But if you go just 2 hours away at Gal Oya national park, it’s much less busy and you can get much closer to the wildlife.

Prateeque image

Location

Your adventure takes place in central Sri Lanka, where you’ll explore the incredible landscapes of Riverstone, the mighty mountain ranges of the Knuckles Forest Reserve, and the beautiful wildlife in Wasgamuwa National Park.

Your base for the duration will be a stunning little colonial bungalow in the hills, the perfect spot to feel truly off the beaten track.

You will start at Gammaduwa village, where you will meet your local guide.

Please let us know if you require transport to reach Gammaduwa village – this can be arranged at an extra charge.

 

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