Gentle walking through lush mountains and tea plantations
Think Sri Lanka, and trekking is rarely the first thought that springs to mind. But the unusualness of the destination is also half its charm; quiet trails lead up verdant mountainsides, passing beneath the groaning boughs of dense forests.
The distinctive call of monkeys and the roaring of waterfalls punctuate the stillness between the remote villages in the hill country, not another walking boot or rucksack in sight.
Acclimatisation begins in Sigiriya with a visit to Lion Rock, quintessential to any Sri Lanka adventure. From here the trekking begins in earnest, through the untouched World Heritage conservation area of the Knuckles Mountain Range, past rice paddies and brushing the vibrant, emerald-green tea plantations of Dickoya, with the chance to pause for the perfect cup of tea! After this, the drama of the 1000m drop at World's End will leave you awe-struck, and the summit of sacred Adam's Peak (2243m) offers a challenge.
The finale to this fortnight of spectacular scenery is the chance to spot a leopard slipping between the shadows in Yala National Park, before falling into a tranquil trance on the idyllic palm-fringed beaches, washed by the Pacific Ocean.
What makes this trip responsible?
We have an excellent long-term relationship with the local operator who employ and train all leaders. We provide refresher training with a focus on Responsible Tourism, so our local leaders can educate our clients locally on helping to preserve the way of life in their area. Many local restaurants and shops are also used to purchase items throughout this trip which benefits the local community.
Sri Lanka Projects
Back to Life Project
After the devastating Tsunami of December 2004 Exodus helped set up a project to rebuild some of the areas that our clients had been visiting for years. This included rehousing some of the families who had lost their homes in the Tsunami. The project has now been completed and we are looking forward to giving continued assistance to community projects in the area. If you would like to read further information about this project please see our Back to Life Project page.
Yala Leopard Project
This a new project set up in 2010 by Paul Goldstein. The dense population of leopards in Yala has pushed young leopards outside the park's boundaries to look for new territories. As the Chena cultivations and cattle farmers live adjacent to the park's buffer zones, the predators often come into contact with villagers and their livestock with casualties on both sides. Leopards prey on young cattle corralled in flimsy wooden pens for overnight protection. There are instances where a single leopard can cause multiple kills on young calves which leads to revenge attacks by farmers. This conflict is estimated to claim up to 20 leopards around the periphery of Yala Park annually, to say nothing of the financial loss to the farmers. Exodus has pledged to raise enough funds to supply the cattle farmers with steel pens that will safeguard their cattle through the night.
For further information please see our Yala Leopard Project page
Countries visited: Sri Lanka
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Exodus images from HIGHLANDS OF SRI LANKA
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Highland landscape with tea estates
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