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Things to do in Kitulgala

Our most recommended things to do in Kitulgala

From Colombo: Adventure Rafting In Kitulgala

1. From Colombo: Adventure Rafting In Kitulgala

After being collected from your Colombo hotel at approximately 7:00AM, you will embark on a 3-4 hour journey to your white water rafting location. Once arriving at the Kelani River, your adventure water rafting experience will begin. After being assigned one of the modern rafts, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing by a professional water rafting instructor. The distance you will cover is approximately 5-kilometers, and the river and its surrounding will make you feel enchanted, providing you with a memorable experience during your adventure water rafting tour in Kitulagala. On completion of the tour, you will be transferred to the Plantation Hotel for your well earned buffet lunch by the river. Following your lunch, you will be transferred on your approximately 4-hour journey back to Colombo.

Sri Lanka rainforest trekking, wildlife safari, water sport

2. Sri Lanka rainforest trekking, wildlife safari, water sport

Spend an adventure-filled 6 days in Sri Lanka, discovering the island’s natural wonders and engaging in a number of activities in the jungle and rainforest, on rivers and wetlands, and in a national park that’s a game reserve. You’ll stay in 3 or 5-star accommodation and enjoy daily breakfast and dinner, as well as travelling around the island in air-conditioned comfort. Days 1 and 2: Arrival/Kitulgala You’ll be met on arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport by a representative and transferred to your eco-hotel in Kitulgala. Spend a relaxing night in the Kitulgala jungle near the Kelaniya River. Enjoy a BBQ dinner with the sound of the roaring river in the background. On the next day, you’ll experience 5 kilometers of white-water rafting on the picturesque Kelani River, which features 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids. Nature lovers and bird watchers will be rewarded with sightings of the Crested Serpent Eagle, the Ceylon Spur Fowl, the Ceylon Hanging Parrot, and the Layard's Parakeet. As you trek in the Kitulgala Forest Reserve you’ll come across spectacular hidden waterfalls. Enjoy a cool dip in a stream. Overnight in Kitulgala. Kayaking is another popular adrenaline pumping activity in Kitulgala and it is one of the perfect ways of exploring the rich fauna and flora of Kitulgala. There are several places in the area where you can have a memorable kayaking experience. You can also try your hand at a spot of birdwatching and explore the rich natural wealth of the rainforest from your kayaking boat. Day 3: Kitulgala/Sinharaja Leave in the morning for Sinharaja, the last remaining rainforest in Sri Lanka. You’ll trek with a trained forest explorer and experience the untamed wilderness of a natural rainforest. Overnight in Sinharaja. Day 4: Sinharaja/Udawalawe After breakfast leave for the hotel in Udwalawe, where you will enjoy a safari tour by jeep, accompanied by a jungle tracker. You’ll be on the lookout for elephants, bears, deer, monkeys, and maybe spot some leopards too. Overnight in Udawalawe. Day 5: Udawalawe/Bentota Have breakfast at the hotel before departing for a beach hotel in Bentota/Hikkaduwa. Along the way, you’ll stop in Galle, the best-preserved colonial city on the island. Galle is one of Sri Lanka’s ancient seaports and was an anchor point for the Silk Route. The Portuguese later built a fortress on the site and the Dutch fortified it further. Today the fortress is a World Heritage Site. Visit a turtle hatchery that was set up to protect and replenish the turtles that have been nearing extinction. Eggs are gathered and hatched in enclosed areas where the birds can’t reach them. A couple of days after hatching the babies are let out into the sea at night, offering them the best chance of survival. Later you’ll explore the natural wealth of the Maduganga River by motorboat, and see the islands in the wetlands that are largely inaccessible by road. Overnight in Bentota. Day 6: Bentota/Colombo After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll depart for the airport with a stop to visit Colombo. Enjoy a tour of the city’s top sites, and spend some time shopping before heading to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departing flight.

From Bentota: Wonders of Hill Country Exploration Tour

3. From Bentota: Wonders of Hill Country Exploration Tour

Day 1: Bentota-Nuwara Eliya You will begin your journey at 6:00AM from your hotel in Bentota where you will be met by your friendly chauffeur guide. After exchanging formalities at the hotel, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle in which you will proceed to Kitulgala, the location for your whitewater rafting. This whitewater rafting adventure activity lasts about 2 hours, after which you will then check in to your hotel. After resting up at your hotel, you will visit a tea factory and receive a guided tour through a tea estate where you will learn more about the varieties, processing methods and qualities of tea. At the completion of this tour, you will return to your hotel to rest for the night. Day 2: Nuwara Eliya-Horton Plains-Bentota Early in the morning you will proceed to the Horton Plains National Park to go on a lovely hike. You will visit the national park in Ohiya, with its mountainous grasslands and cloud forests. You can enjoy the majestic views from the precipice of "World's End", and the cooling sprays from Baker's Falls. If your lucky, you can also catch glimpses of the many endemic fauna that make their home in these plains. Your guide will also explain to your about the archaeological finds that were discovered in this particular area. On completion of your trek, you will return to the hotel to relax, before checking out and proceeding to your hotel in Bentota.

From Colombo: Belilena Cave Expedition Day Tour

4. From Colombo: Belilena Cave Expedition Day Tour

Venture into Belilena Caves on a private 9-hour tour with a friendly guide. Hike through the dense jungles around Kitulgala. Explore the secretive caves to witness fossils and skeletal remains that are more than 10,000 years old. Wear long pants and closed shoes to avoid getting thorny burrs and insect bites. Bringing some salt for the leeches, mosquito repellant, and rain gear would be a good idea too. You will be meeting up with your chauffeur guide at hotel in Colombo at the prescribed time. Then Proceed to Plantation Hotel in Kithulgala where you will be meeting up your trekker. Your trekker will then drive you to Inoya Estate where the trail begins. You will then be hiking through the rough terrain of the jungle, on a narrow trail to reach the caves of importance. The area is a rain fores, with rough and slippery ground, dense undergrowth and many rare birds and other wildlife; providing lots of photo opportunities. It is also prone to sudden rainfall. You will reach the Belilena caves within an hour. They lie behind a gently cascading waterfall. Reaching them is a slightly difficult climb. The Belilena Caves are one of the most historic sites of the island. Excavations done between the years 1978 and 1983 have unearthed the skeletal remains of prehistoric people who lived there for period between 32,000 to 9,000 years ago, the Balangoda Man. The most famous excavated skeletal remains were dated to be from 16,000 years ago. In addition to the skeletons, other fossilized remains of animals used for food; such as pigs, barking deer, sambhur, monkeys, giant squirrels, and an assortment of reptiles and fish; were also found. There were also fossilized remnants of food plants, commonly used in the diet of these people, found in the caves. However, the most important finds were the geometric micro lithic stone tools dating back to 30,000 years, being amongst the earliest in the world; and the rubble foundations dating back 16,000 years; which are the earliest evidence found of substantial structures in South Asia. As such Belilena Caves occupy a very special place in the historic and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. You will be able to see the remains that have been unearthed, along with the excavations. Your guide will tell you about the Balangoda Man; and there will be plaques at prominent places that you can read to learn more. This archeological reserve is a major find for mankind; and you will be able to see the place, where humankind developed tens of millennia ago, with your own eyes. However, bear in mind that there are unexplored areas and live excavations in some places within the cave network. Therefore, you will have to follow your guide closely for safety. The cave entrance also provides excellent views with great opportunities for excellent photographs. You will spend an hour at the Belilena Caves, before hiking back. The tour will be completed once you get back to Plantation Hotel.

Negombo: Adventure water Rafting In Kitulgala

5. Negombo: Adventure water Rafting In Kitulgala

After being collected from your Negombo hotel at approximately 7:00AM, you will embark on a 2 to 3-hour journey to your white water rafting location. Once arriving at the Kelani River, your adventure water rafting experience will begin. After being assigned one of the modern rafts, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing by a professional water rafting instructor. The distance you will cover is approximately 5-kilometers, and the river and its surrounding will make you feel enchanted, providing you with a memorable experience during your adventure water rafting tour in Kitulagala. On completion of the tour, you will be transferred to the Plantation Hotel for a well earned buffet lunch by the river. Following your lunch, you will begin your 4-hour journey back to Negombo.

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What people are saying about Kitulgala

Overall rating

4.0 / 5

based on 6 reviews

Good, but rafting too short

Organization was okay so far, but you drive 3 hours to raft and the time in which you do rafting is not more than 1h, which is too little and a shame. Accordingly, the price is a bit too high and as I said, more rafting would have been nice. The tour is quite lame for adrenaline junkies, but for families and beginners with a little fear I think just right :)

We got to see alot on this tour and had great experiences. Our driver Silva was very nice to us and helpfull. There is quite alot of driving on this tour so that is good to know on beforehand.

Great tour with driver Silva - I especially liked the Sinharaja rainforest and Udalawawe National Park! Hotels well chosen - except for a minor incident.