TREK SRI LANKA ABOUT THE CHALLENGE SRI LANKA TREK ORANGE 1

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1 SRI LANKA TREK ORANGE 1 ABOUT THE CHALLENGE Little can rival Sri Lanka s variety. From paddy fields, high grasslands and emerald-green tea estates, to dense forest and golden tropical beaches, this Island of Serendipity is renowned for its natural beauty, rich wildlife and fascinating culture. Our trek takes us through the Knuckles Mountain Range, named after its likeness to a clenched fist, in central Sri Lanka. This region is a trekker s paradise, offering us the chance to follow little-trodden trails through rice paddies and teablanketed highlands, passing tumbling waterfalls and small mountain villages as we walk towards our highest point: Knuckles Peak, at 1900m. In addition, the isolated villages and communities of local farmers and tea planters provide an authentic glimpse of everyday life in the Central Highlands, contrasting with the colonial grandeur of former British hillstations and the colourful Buddhist temples of the cultural capital, Kandy. All combined, this is an irresistible and unforgettable trek you will not want to leave Sri Lanka! 9 DAYS

2 PAGE 2 Day 1: Depart London Day 2: Arrive Colombo; transfer to Sigiriya Arriving at the international airport near Colombo, we transfer straight to our hotel in Sigiriya, where we can freshen up and prepare our kit for tomorrow s trek. If time permits, an optional trip can be arranged to climb up to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There will be a full trip briefing in the evening over dinner. Night hotel. (Lunch not included) Drive approx 4 hours Day 3: Sigiriya - Gammaduwa After an early breakfast, we transfer to the start point of our trek, in the small village of Andawala. Before setting off, there will be the opportunity to receive the blessing of the monks at Andawala Buddhist Temple. Our trek begins on small village paths, which lead us out across small paddy fields fringed by palm trees. The irrigation streams lead us into forest, which is broken up with areas cleared for pepper farming. We stop for a rest at a small village before continuing on jeep tracks which ascend through the hills, opening up to wonderful views. The end of our day lies at a picturesque forest bungalow, where we camp on the smooth, shaded lawns and enjoy some local folk songs around the campfire, with a hot cup of local tea. Night camp. Drive approx. 1.5 hours, trek 3 4 hours Day 4: Gammaduwa - Riverstone Our beautiful, hilly day starts with an uphill trek through pine forests the only trail to Kargastene; this village is completely isolated and supports only one small farming family. From here, we enjoy a change of scenery as we trek for an hour or so across grassland, before heading into jungle-like forest. Our undulating path takes us across small reservoirs and streams before emerging at paddy fields marking another small village where there is the chance to help cook your own lunch! We should have time for a quick swim at a nearby waterfall before continuing on our way. The challenge ramps up this afternoon, as we head uphill again, through dense forest. As we near the end of the day, we re rewarded with one of the trip highlights Mini World s End, a lookout with panoramic views of the forests and peaks of the Knuckles range, down to the fields and villages of the foothills, and even, on a very clear day, to the Indian Ocean 81km away! Jeep trails take us our night stop in Riverstone. Night camp. Trek approx. 5 6 hours Day 5: Riverstone - Manigala Rock - Riverstone After a hearty breakfast, we head out initially on small village back-roads, passing emerald-green stepped paddy terraces on the way, admiring the way that farmers have managed to work with the steep terrain. Continuing through dense forest, with many small stream crossings, we tackle steep slopes as we cross this hilly and jungled landscape. A long climb, tough-going at times, brings us to the top of Manigala Rock, a stand-alone sheer-sided mountain at 1300m, which was once used by the locals to calculate time. We may see water-buffalo, who graze freely here when not needed for farming work. From this impressive mountain plateau, we are rewarded with jaw-dropping views of our terrain for

3 PAGE 3 the next two days the mighty Knuckles range. The views over these misty peaks will either whet appetites or make legs tremble, depending on how you found today! After some time to take in the views, we begin our hike back to our campsite and relax. Night camp. Trek approx 5 6 hours Day 6: Riverstone - Kabaragala A long, winding day today, predominantly uphill. Leaving the village on jeep tracks, we walk through pine forest, before heading into thick forest bush and on to cardamom plantations. There is a great variety of vegetation in this lush region and we re surrounded by beautiful views of the valley. Deep in the forest, we pass a quaint forest temple, where animal sacrifices to the gods are sometimes performed. Our scenic route continues along the rocky Thelganu Oya River, with its gushing stepped waterfalls, and it brings us out into tea country yet more diverse scenery! We trek the last few miles of the day through a tea estate dating from 1880, then meet our vehicles and transfer the last stretch to our campsite. Night camp. Trek approx. 5 6 hours; transfer approx hours Day 7: Kabaragala - Kandy We have saved some of our best trekking till last! Initial jeep tracks soon give way to tea estates and, time permitting, we will have the opportunity to visit a tea factory and learn about tea production. From here we head into the jungle, our path snaking relentlessly through tea plantations and jungle as trek up through the folds of the Knuckles range. While this region covers only a small percentage of Sri Lanka s land, it is home to a significant proportion of the country s biodiversity, and over 34% of its endemic flora is found here. We gain height slowly but surely, heading for the highest point at 1900m: Knuckles Peak. We pass several small waterfalls along the way, and the breaks in vegetation give us a taster of the views that await us. A final haul up the top, and it s well worth the effort! We take time to enjoy the views probably our most scenic lunch-stop! and then descend. Going down isn t always easier than up, and there will be a few aching muscles as we negotiate the often-muddy paths. This is an achievement to savour as we meet the awaiting vehicles and drive to our lovely hotel in Kandy. This evening we have a great celebration to mark our triumphs over the past week, and the opportunity to watch a traditional dance Kandy is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Night hotel. Trek approx 5-6 hours; drive approx 2 hours Day 8: Free Day Kandy After a good night s sleep and a relaxing lie-in you have the day free to explore Kandy as you wish. There are plenty of fascinating sights, and you can shop for souvenirs or indulge in a lazy day and treat yourself to a massage. In the evening, we visit the impressive golden-roofed Temple of the Tooth, one of Buddhism's most sacred shrines as it houses a relic of the Buddha. Night hotel. (Lunch and Dinner not included) Day 9: Kandy - Colombo; Flight Departs Transfer to the airport in time for our flight home.

4 PAGE 4 (Lunch not included) Drive approx 3-4 hours WHAT'S INCLUDED All flights and transport from London to Colombo return All meals except where specified Accommodation and camping equipment (except sleeping bag and sleeping mat) Discover Adventure leaders; doctor with a group of 15 or more participants; local guides, drivers, porters and cooks Entry to Temple of the Tooth and traditional dance show in Kandy Local support and back-up equipment WHAT'S EXCLUDED Any meals specified 'not included' in the itinerary Travel insurance Sleeping bag and sleeping mat Sri Lanka entry visa Personal spending money, souvenirs and drinks Inbound airport departure tax (no tax applied at the time of writing) Fees for any optional sites, attractions or activities Airline taxes: we cap these so is the maximum you will pay Any applicable surcharges as per Terms and Conditions TREK TRAINING WEEKEND 170 Special Offer - Only when you book at the same time as registering for your main challenge Discover Adventure Trek Training Weekends take place in Snowdonia National Park, Wales. This training weekend is designed to put you through your paces to enable you to gauge fitness levels and gain advice from our experienced leaders. GRADE ORANGE Trips are graded Yellow, Orange or Red, in increasing level of challenge. This trip lies within the ORANGE range. The grade is determined by factors such as terrain, distance, climate, altitude, etc. Each colour grade has a spectrum which reflects the difficulty of these factors; trip duration, accommodation and living conditions (see icon) are also taken into account.

5 PAGE 5 Trip grading explained logo aito Discover Adventure reserves the right to change the route or itinerary for safety reasons should local conditions dictate. Please note: This document was downloaded on 4 Apr 2019, and the challenge is subject to change.