Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Intrepid Travel · 10 days
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak
10 Days
From AUD $2740
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Average

Rating


 (20 reviews)

Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Sri Lanka: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Intrepid Travel · 10 days
4.5
20 Reviews
View Map
Duration

10 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

On a 10-day active adventure in Sri Lanka, you’ll see the best UNESCO World Heritage sites and varied landscapes of this beautiful country.

Highlights

  • Kayak down the Gin River on a half day paddle through Sri Lanka’s ever-changing landscape. Float past forests, sandbanks and plantations while keeping an eye out for wildlife along the way.
  • Come face with one of Sri Lanka’s most storied sites as you hike to the ancient carved rock fortress of UNESCO World Heritage site – Sigiriya, which rises dramatically from the surrounding plains.
  • Hike through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Knuckles Mountain Range and encounter Sri Lanka's lush scenery and amazing biodiversity. Visit the observation point ‘Mini World’s End’ and see the sheer drop into the Thelgamuwa Valley and its forest floor below.
  • Cycle a mostly downhill route through the green heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country in ‘the Golden Valley of Ceylon’.
  • Get to know the layered history of Galle during a walking tour, uncovering the city’s maze of streets, historic buildings, lighthouse and the famed 17th-century fort.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.

Trip Details

Duration

10 days

Transportation

Private vehicle,Jeep,Taxi,Kayak,Mountain Bike,Train

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Negombo, Sri Lanka

Finishes

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Active

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Negombo
Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the beachside town of Negombo with a welcome meeting at 5.30 pm. Known for its centuries-old fishing industry, Negombo is a historic port city close to Sri Lanka's international airport. If you arrive early, maybe watch the fishing boats head out to sea, stroll along the beach to see the daily catch drying in the sun or indulge in a seafood feast. The surrounding countryside, with its network of canals, is a fascinating slice of Sri Lankan rural life and is best explored by bicycle.

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Sigiriya
Leave bright and early this morning and travel to Dambulla – home to the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. After checking into your accommodation, make the short drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya for your first activity – a hike up the 1200 steps of the famed Lion Rock. This ancient carved-rock fortress rises dramatically above the surrounding plains, elevating Sigiriya high into the air. On the way you’ll visit the water and boulder gardens, frescoes and the mirror wall. The next section of the climb takes about half an hour along steep walkways and steps all the way up to the rocky plateau, which soars 200 m above the jungle. From here, the views over the surrounding area and the nearby Pidurangala Rock are jaw-dropping. Make your way back down and head back to Dambulla for a relaxing evening.

Included Activities:

  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Minneriya National Park & Knuckles Mountain Range
Today you’ll head out on a relaxed jeep safari for about 3 hours through the nearby Minneriya National Park. The park is home to a mix of evergreen forest and scrublands – look out for sambar deer, leopards and elephants roaming the wild. After the safari, travel by private vehicle to the Knuckles Mountain Range – your home for the next two nights. Named after its striking visual likeness to human knuckles, this UNESCO World Heritage site features 34 mountains that range from 900 to 2000 m. Surrounded by dense forest, waterfalls and terraced rice fields, they are home to some of Sri Lanka’s best hiking trails. Tonight, get closer to nature as you set up camp next to the pristine waters and natural rock pools of the Thelgamu Oya stream. To keep you fresh for tomorrow’s hike your activity is limited to an evening walk around the village before relaxing by the riverside with a group dinner.

Included Activities:

  • Minneriya National Park
  • Knuckles Mountain Range - Village Walk

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Knuckles Mountain Range Hiking
Today you’ll head out early for a full-day guided hike along the Manigala Trek through the Knuckles region. Start hiking after breakfast and wind your way through emerald forests and hillsides, past cliffs and alongside fast-flowing rivers. Maybe stop to explore a few of the villages along the way, which are surrounded by sweeping rice terraces. Have lunch by the river and continue up the stone and dirt trail all the way up to the imposing Manigala Rock, for the panoramic views of the peaks and valley below. After taking in the views, make your way back down to camp to enjoy a hearty dinner after a long but rewarding day of hiking.

Included Activities:

  • Knuckles Mountain Range guided trek

Accommodation:

  • Camping (with basic facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Kandy & Knuckles/Mini World’s End Hiking
Begin the day with a moderate hike through the forest to Knuckles’ renowned Mini World’s End – an observation point overlooking the Thelgamuwa Valley and a sheer drop of 1192 m (4000 ft) to the forest floor below. The panoramic views over the misty valley and distant mountain peaks are truly spectacular, you’ll want your camera today! After the hike, you’ll drive to Kandy, passing the gorgeous scenery along the way. Lying in the hills of the Kandy plateau, this city previously served as the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries – maybe visit the golden roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Housed inside, the relic of the tooth of the Buddha has played an important role in local politics due to the belief that whoever holds the relic holds governance of the country. Kandy’s temple and its status as the last city of the Sri Lankan Kings have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Included Activities:

  • Knuckles Mini World's End Guided Trek

Optional Activities:

  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth (7 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Hatton & Tea Country Cycling
Start your day with a scenic train journey to Hatton. When you arrive, cycle from the train station to the small village of Norton Bridge, passing vast tea estates and scenic, tree-lined hills along the way. Check in to your hotel and if you’re still feeling energetic, maybe opt to hike up to Adam’s Peak. The peak is often visited by pilgrims who climb a candle-lit trail in the evening, passing shrines and food stalls along the way. Or you can simply put your feet up with a nice cup of Ceylon tea – the afternoon is yours.

Included Activities:

  • Hatton Tea Country Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling
  • Kandy - Scenic train ride from Kandy to Hatton

Optional Activities:

  • Adam's Peak Trek - per group (20 USD)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Tea Country Cycling & Mirissa
After breakfast, it’s back on your mountain bike for a mostly downhill ride through the heart of tea country. Pedal from Hatton through Bogawantalawa – home to premium Ceylon Tea – to Balangoda. Cycle through the sculpted green hills of ‘the Golden Valley of Ceylon’. Your ride will be broken up with snack breaks and a lunch stop, providing plenty of fuel (and photo opportunities) for your ride. Then, transfer to the delightful coastal town of Mirissa. This town is part fishing village, part beachside resort and is the perfect place to sit back and relax by the beach after a few active days. For those looking to keep their heart rate up, you can visit nearby Weligama – the ideal place to hit the waves at one of the local surf or bodyboarding schools.

Included Activities:

  • Golden Valley of Ceylon Guided & Vehicle Supported Cycling

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Gin River Kayaking & Galle
Start your day with a short drive to the small town of Unanwitiya – your starting point for an exciting day of kayaking down the Gin River. After instruction from your expert guides, you’ll cruise down the clear waters as it winds its way downstream. Paddle past dense forests, sandbanks, tea plantations and rice paddy fields while keeping an eye out for monitor lizards, birds and the occasional troop of monkeys. After kayaking, head to the boathouse for a delicious local lunch and then head to UNESCO World Heritage city of Galle. Once the main port for local cinnamon trade, this city features a maze of streets with mansions, ancient churches, a lighthouse and the imposing 17th-century fort. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean, this is surely one of the most dramatic structures in all of Sri Lanka. Start your exploration of Galle Fort on a walking tour along the ramparts and winding streets of the Fort and end it with an included dinner before heading back to Mirissa for a well earned rest. 

Included Activities:

  • Galle - Galle Fort Walking tour
  • Gin River Kayaking

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
9
Day 9: Colombo
Depart Mirissa after breakfast and transfer to Colombo. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then take a leader-led walk past the bustling Petta Bazaar, Independence Square, Old Parliament Building, and the National Museum. Your walk finishes with a shopping opportunity at the Barefoot fairtrade store. Here, you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. Tonight, there's an optional group dinner to celebrate your journey – if you opt in, you’ll go on a fun food crawl along the city's many market stalls.

Included Activities:

  • Colombo - City walking tour

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
10
Day 10: Colombo
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $2,740
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 10 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Average

On a 10-day active adventure in Sri Lanka, you’ll see the best UNESCO World Heritage sites and varied landscapes of this beautiful country.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 21 Jun 2026

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.5
Rebecca
Traveled, April 2024

04/17/2024

What a way to see and experience Sri Lanka. From start to finish the trip was fantastic. The people really made it special, not just the group but every person we met along the way. (Note that the cycling is more challenging than the description suggests and you can’t take your bag to the camp, only an additional day pack). It was an add tire I’ll never forget.

3.5
Roger
Traveled, April 2024

04/17/2024

This very varied trip through Sri Lanka gave me a very good impression of the country and its people. We had really good tour guides. The safari was one of the many highlights. It should be borne in mind that the tour is somewhat more demanding than advertised due to the full program. Due to the heat and humidity, hiking, biking and kayaking tours are strenuous.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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