Even though Sri Lanka is not a top-notch adventure holiday destination in the world, travellers find a large number of adventure places in Sri Lanka giving many opportunities for adventure junkies. Some of the Sri Lanka adventure tourism is popular among foreign travellers and is booked by many travellers every year. Seerendipity tours alone conduct a large number of Sri Lanka adventure tours every year. And most other tour operators of Sri Lanka also offer a large number of Sri Lanka adventure tours such as 5 days Sri Lanka adventure trip.
Table of Contents
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka
- Adventure trips in Sri Lanka
- Important reading to plan your Sri Lanka adventure tour
- Popular activities for Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka
- Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
- What are the popular adventure activities in Sri Lanka?
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Mountaineering
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Trekking /Hiking
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Forest Exploration
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka visiting the Sinharaja rainforest
- Sri Lanka wildlife tours are a part of most adventure trips in Sri Lanka
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Whitewater Rafting
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Surfing
- Best surfing destination in Sri Lanka
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Paragliding
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Cycling / Mountain biking
- Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Kayaking / Canoeing
- Enjoy Your Sri Lanka adventure tour through Rock Climbing
- Bungee jumping in Sri Lanka
- Choose Seerendipity tours for your adventure trip in Sri Lanka
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a popular holiday destination in Asia for many hundreds of years. The island attracts a large number of travellers every year. Many travellers mistakenly think that Sri Lanka is mainly a leisure holiday destination due to its 1300km of beach. But Sri Lanka offers a lot more than beach holidays. Other branches of the leisure industry such as adventure tours, eco-holidays, and wildlife tours are also getting popular among travellers in Sri Lanka.
A large number of travellers, who visit Sri Lanka are actively engaged in some form of adventure activities. Unlike earlier, when Sri Lanka was popular only for Sun, Sea and sand, today it has become very affordable and convenient to book Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka such as mountaineering holidays… Adventure travel Sri Lanka…
Adventure trips in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka adventure tours are one of the most popular activities among foreign travellers and are booked by a large number of travellers every year, Seerendipity tours alone conduct a large number of Sri Lanka adventure tours every year. And most other tour operators of Sri Lanka also offer a large number of Sri Lanka adventure tours such as 5 days Sri Lanka adventure trip.
Perhaps you are also looking for ways to make your Sri Lanka holiday packages more exciting and colourful. Whether it is a summer holiday or winter holiday more and more travellers on the island are looking for different activities and tours with a touch of a refresh in order to relish the freedom of their Sri Lanka adventure tours.
Important reading to plan your Sri Lanka adventure tour
- Kanneliya, Dediyagala, Nakiyadeniya rainforest Sri Lanka
- Crocodile sanctuary Sri Lanka
- 7 beautiful attractions in the mountains of Sri Lanka
- Four Sri Lanka wildlife safaris in a single circuit
- Trekking in Kandy
- What are the 6-best hiking places in Sri Lanka
- Great cities for Sri Lanka outdoor activites
- Adam’s peak hike
- Sri Lanka safari holidays
- Scuba diving in Sri Lanka
Popular activities for Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has the best settings to rest, relax and have fun and adventure at any time of the year. Take the control of your holiday and define the tour package on your own term with Seerendipity tours. You will find ample activities with excitement and revitalisation in Sri Lanka. Usually most travellers, regardless of their age the travellers, the most love to engage in outdoor activities.
Below is a Sri Lanka adventure tour itinerary that most travellers love to book with Seerendipity tours. This tour package not only helps the travellers to engage in popular adventure sports but also allows the travellers to experience some of the important cultural and historical places as well as the Yala wildlife reserve in southern Sri Lanka.
From the upcountry of Sri Lanka to extensive palm-fringed tropical beaches, Sri Lanka entices in the best possible manner. Whether on cool mountains and tea plantations or cascading waterfalls and rivers, in rainforests or parched desert-like arid zone, gliding above it or probing underneath it, Sri Lanka offers fascinating adventure activities and landscapes to make any type of adventure lover happy. Here are some of the features of adventure trips in Sri Lanka.
This tiny island is 65610 sq km in extent and shows a fascinating variation of landscapes and natural resources across the island. In the centre of the country is the mountain that rises up to 2500 meters from the sea level while the elevation gradually sinks in the surrounding area to zero near the ocean. Therefore, Sri Lanka is one of the best places to experience awe-inspiring mountain scenery and breathtaking geography along with other interesting natural attractions.
Historical cities with several thousand years old monuments, historical, cultural and natural museums, trekking sites, mountain biking, zip-lining, mountain climbing, bird watching, rainforest exploration, and safari are some of the several activities that can be performed here.
The travellers also have the opportunity to engage in water-related sports such as Whitewater rafting, diving, snorkelling, canoeing, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, and whale watching due to the abundance of inland water resources such as rivers, canals, tanks reservoirs and the warm Indian Ocean around Sri Lanka. If you love to have more extreme adventure sports such as rock climbing, paragliding, and mountaineering, you are well on the way to accomplishing your target in Sri Lanka.
Also, the Sinharaja rainforest, knuckles mountain and KDN are ideal places for people who look for less adventurous engagements such as trekking, walking, and medium difficulty mountaineering. The tour operators such as Seerendipity tours provide itineraries, guide services, and equipment needed for travellers.
The underwater world off Trincomalee on the east coast is the home of the pigeon island marine reserve. It is located on the east coast of Sri Lanka near the beach holiday destination Nilaweli. Pigeon Island marine reserve can be reached in about 15 minutes of boat ride from the mainland. It is extremely rich in fascinated underwater exotic fish species, coral reefs and various types of sea plants. It is one of the most valuable adventure jewels of Sri Lanka. Other than being a destination for snorkelling and diving, it is one of the best places for whale and dolphin watching on the East coast of Sri Lanka.
The Biosphere Reserve of Sinharaja is one of the most valuable natural assets of Sri Lanka. This primaeval rain forest harbours hundreds of thousands of fauna and flora species. It is the patch of forest with the highest biodiversity on the island and nearly half of the species are endemic to the country. The fragile ecosystem of Sinharaja is still largely undisturbed and visitors are allowed to explore only the buffer zone of the forest. Even though you are not in the main forested area, you need to respect nature and need to maintain calmness without making unnecessary noise during the tour. Sinharaja is declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
The environmental activist group Conservation International (CI) has identified the island as one of the bio-diversity hot spots in the world.
The number of flowering plant species on the island is estimated to be 4000 and 107 freshwater fish species, 59 amphibian species, reptile species 174, bird species 435, and number mammal species 140 with many hundreds of invertebrates
Sri Lanka possesses a high percentage of endemism among its fauna and flora: endemism among the freshwater fish estimated to be 41%, it is 65% among the amphibians, Reptiles 52%, endemism estimated to be 10% with 125 species of Birds, Mammals 5% while the Land Snails 80% and Freshwater crabs endemism is 100%.
The CI publication under the title “Heroes for the Planet: Earth Angles” in America suggest more preservation effort of the green cover in the region. The magazine reveals western Indian and the island of Sri Lanka possess 2,180 flora species that are identified uniquely to each hot spot. The fragile ecosystem in some of the tropical forests in Sri Lanka has been destroyed during the last few years mainly due to deforestation. With stern action against poaching and illegal timber harvesting, the island has managed to protect the remains of the green cover.
What are the popular adventure activities in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka offers a large number of adventure activities and some of the most popular activities are listed below.
- Mountaineering in Sri Lanka
- Jungle Tours /Hiking
- Forest exploration
- Sri Lanka wildlife tours
- Whitewater Rafting
- Surfing in Sri Lanka
- Cycling / Mountain biking
- Kayaking / Canoeing
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Mountaineering
Mountaineering is a major component of Adventure trips in Sri Lanka and walking through the rugged terrain in the mountainous area is one of the ideas that every adventure enthusiast wishes to have. Adventure lovers, who like to have Adventure trips in Sri Lanka with moderate difficulty can go for mountaineering holiday activities such as trekking.
The hill country of Sri Lanka has a large variation of the landscape within a small geographical area, due to the geological upheavals and is a popular mountaineering holiday destination in Asia. The central part of the island is dominated by mountains, which is the main reason for the popularity of Sri Lanka as a mountaineering holiday destination in the region.
A large number of travellers who make Adventure trips in Sri Lanka are actively engaged in some form of adventure activities. Unlike earlier, when Sri Lanka was popular only for Sun, Sea and sand, today it has become very affordable and convenient to book Adventure trips in Sri Lanka such as mountaineering holidays. If you book your next mountaineering holiday in Sri Lanka, you have the opportunity to experience the lifestyle in the Sri Lankan mountains. It allows you to enjoy fascinating landscapes across the Sri Lanka Mountains and awe-inspiring scenery over the uneven surface of the central highland.
Adventure trips in Sri Lanka in the mountainous area of Sri Lanka definitely rejuvenate your physical fitness and allow you to have solitude and peace of mind.
If you plan your Adventure trips in Sri Lanka with a tour operator such as Seerendipity tours, they will take care of all the services and equipment that you required for your Adventure trips in Sri Lanka. Adventure lovers, who wish to have a mountaineering holiday in Sri Lanka, can opt to have their own tour, which is commonly known as Tea-house trekking or tour with a guide. But most adventure travellers join a tour guide and it is the most popular method of travel among foreign travellers, who wish to have an Adventure trip in Sri Lanka.
Mountaineering holiday in Sri Lanka can be combined with other adventure holiday activities too. Whitewater rafting, and kayaking, can be combined with mountaineering holidays due to the abundance of rivers and streams in the mountains. Mountain biking is another very suitable activity to combine with other activities of mountaineering holiday in Sri Lanka and there are a number of biking trails with varying difficulties.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Trekking /Hiking
Trekking is one of the very popular soft adventure activities in Sri Lanka and includes in most Sri Lanka adventure tours. It is a kind of activity that makes you refreshed and hence most travellers love to do it. It is inspirational and it is a great way to test your mental and physical strength and endurance.
Most trekking sites are located in remote areas and therefore it gives you the opportunity to inhale unpolluted clean and fresh air. Besides, you can feel the warmth of mother nature, listen to the chirping sounds of avian fauna species and explore the exotic wildlife.
Most trekking sites of Sri Lanka are to be found in the mountains and rain forests and the difficulty of treks are largely differing from one place to the other.
The trekking sites in the mountainous areas such as Ella, and Bandarawela, are the most difficult with an uneven surfaces and great opportunity to have an exciting and revitalising experience. Most trekking sites in Sri Lanka are the least explored tourist destinations on the island, therefore having a trek is a great way to understand the flimsiness of mountain ecology, and explore many unknown territories while realising the value of Fauna and flora of high altitude. contact serendipity tours if you need assistance to choose the best trekking sites in your Sri Lanka
The mountains of Sri Lanka that are ranging from a few meters to 2524 m above sea level and offer hundreds of sites for adventure tourism. Horton plains the highest elevated national park on the island offers excellent opportunities for hikers. The unusual environment of Horton plains consists of many natural habitats such as grassland, forest patches, montane forests, streams, waterfalls etc.
Climbing of Holy Mountain (Adam speak) is starting at night in order to witness the beautiful sceneries at sunrise from the top of the mountains. Adams peak is the third highest mountain in the country and one of the most popular destinations among pilgrims. Ella is another popular place on the island with a number of walks including the little Namunukula mountain range, Adams peak and Ella rock. The knuckles mountain range is another important site for exploring nature and heritage. Knuckles range spread over 155 sq. km will all five major forest types in the country. The knuckles mountain range is an important biodiversity hotspot and home for many species of endemic fauna and flora in Sri Lanka.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Forest Exploration
Mountaineering holiday in Sri Lanka accompanies many other activities apart from hiking and trekking. Forest exploration, there are a large number of patches of forests in the mountains and you can spend some time exploring the interesting vegetation in the mountains. If you are a bird lover, the Sri Lankan mountains give you the opportunity to see a large number of bird species in Sri Lanka.
The mountainous area of the island is inhabited by a large number of bird species and some of them are endemic to the island. Here, you also can enjoy the awe-inspiring scenery in the mountainous area during the day, so take a walk around your hotel or camp and enjoy the different scenery in the mountains. There are much hiking, and trekking, spots in the Sri Lankan mountainous area and you can spend your entire holiday in Sri Lanka with adventure activities.
The mountaineering path can be very exhausting or less adventurous but you can choose a suitable path for your physical fitness. Therefore, it is definitely a good idea to go with a tour guide because they have been through those mountains and know the most suitable path for your requirement, physical and mental fitness. The path with steep gradients and the rocky surface can be challenging for novices. Sri Lankan mountains record heavy rainfall every year and don’t forget to check the weather forecast before you head to the mountains.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka visiting the Sinharaja rainforest
It is always good to exercise in the fresh air and it makes you feel good and refreshed, you can put the Sinharaja rainforest trekking tour in the same mould. Trekking through the Sinharaja rainforest is a wonderful way to explore one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Sinharaja rainforest trek is a wonderful activity for the entire family and anyone can take part in the trek without any age barrier. This is a good outdoor activity for nature lovers to get lost in a virgin rainforest and enjoy the peace and serenity of the forest.
It is a great opportunity to get close to nature and it is fun too. Travellers love the idea of exploring tropical plants, trees and fauna of the Sinharaja rainforest. Our nature guide helps you to gather information on trees, plants and animal species that you encounter along the way. You hardly see the sun rays within the rainforest due to the canopy and upper canopy of the forest. These two structures obstruct the might sun from entering the forest, making a gloomy cathedral-type setting at any time of the day.
Sri Lanka wildlife tours are a part of most adventure trips in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka wildlife tours/safari tours are typically undertaken via jeeps (either 4-wheel drive or 2-wheel drive), safari tours on the elephant are not available in Sri Lanka like in India. Walking safaris are available only in a few national parks such as Horton plain’s national park, and Sinharaja rainforest, where there is no chance of animal attacks. Walking safari makes it low-impact in nature and provides a great opportunity to get close to nature and explore the Flora and birdlife of Sri Lanka. The chance of spotting a big cat, elephant, crocodile, the bear should be ruled out during the walking safaris but you have a good chance of spotting a large number of other species including birds.
Sri Lanka is home to more than 5000 wild elephants and the number of elephants is also on the rise. Hence Sri Lanka is one of the best places to spot majestic Asiatic elephants. It is very common to see a large number of elephants at a single location numbering many hundreds of them sometimes. Hundreds of elephants can be spotted in one place during the Minneriya safari and Udawalawe national park safari. Udawalawe national park and Minneriya in the central province are the 2 most popular wildlife reserves to see wild elephants in Sri Lanka.
All the national park and wildlife reserves offer accommodation, sometimes within its borders, but mostly outside of the reserves and catering to travellers of any budget – from dormitories and rent rooms to luxurious game camps. The nature of accommodation facilities and rates differs from wildlife reserve to wildlife reserve, so do your research before travelling and decide, which is the best suitable for your Sri Lanka safari.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting is a popular high-adrenaline water sport in Sri Lanka and is loved by many young travellers. By far Kitulagala is the best place for a top-notch Whitewater rafting experience in Sri Lanka. Kitulgala also known as adventure play ground of Sri Lanka is one of the top 5 places for one day adventure tours in Sri Lanka.
Whitewater rafting is considered to be good physical exercise. Whitewater rafting revitalises you and makes you feel at ease. Whitewater rafting is a great way to enjoy riverine vegetation and have fun with friends and family. You will enjoy the challenge posed by the swiftly drifting waves to keep the dinghy without toppling. This is a group activity and close collaboration among the team members is highly important.
The difficulty grade of Whitewater rafting in Kitulgala is measured to be at 6, which means it is at the highest difficulty that’s. That’s why you get an experienced local man at the helm to maintain the balance of the dinghy. Whatever the experience you have in white water rafting the local expert makes it easy for you to survive the challenge.
The ability to explore the fascinating wildlife is another great opportunity for people who take part in whitewater rafting in Kitulgala. As you cruise down the river you can watch the amazing plant life that is dominated by mangroves type of plants and trees that cannot be found on the ground. Whitewater rafting enables you to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. All in all Whitewater rafting in Kitulgala is an exciting activity beyond all other factors. It is exciting, enjoyable, refreshing, and unforgettable it is well deserved to have your time. Don’t forget to wear all safety equipment before you start the journey. Also, don’t forget to wear an easy-drying swimming suit.
There are several exciting places on the island for intrepid Whitewater rafters, Kitulgala is the most popular of them all. You feel the adrenaline pumped into the blood as you reach the waterfalls and make you scream unintentionally, it’s all happening against the backdrop of beautiful scenery.
The Whitewater rafting experience in Kitulgala is at the highest class. Anyone with any type of skill can do white water rafting here, with the local expert at the helm. If you wish to do it on your own you should be very skilled at it. Check before you head to Kitulagala for white water rafting, because it is not available sometimes due to the danger of rushing water, especially during the rain.
here you feel the power of the Kelaniya river! The rapids at Kitulgala is ranging from class 1-6. The best time to travel to Sri Lanka is from November to April.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Surfing
For a different view of Sri Lanka, how about surfing? Every year, Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s east coast hosts the international surfing contest. Surfing in Arugam bay come to life as surfers from around the world with all skill levels fight for the championship. Attracting surfers from all around the world, Aru Gam Bay is already on the radar of surfing enthusiasts in the world.
Best surfing destination in Sri Lanka
Weligama, head to this idyllic coastal town if you travel from November to April. The best weather conditions for any type of beach holiday activity can be seen from November to April, parallel to the north-wast monsoon. Most Sri Lanka beach resorts on the west coast such as Mirissa, Weligama, Ahangama, and Narigama are the best places to experience a top-notch roller coaster ride as surf. If you are a beginner, there are many surf schools that are ready to help novices in the game. If you are an expert in surfing choose Weligama, where surfing is a bit difficult for novices.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Paragliding
Kalpitiya in the North-west corner of the island is an emerging beach holiday destination in Sri Lanka. Kalpitiya is popular for whale watching and mostly for paragliding. Kalpitiya emerged as a paragliding destination in the region with training programs, equipment and instructors readily available, and tourists gathering in Kalpitiya just to paraglide.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Cycling / Mountain biking
There are many dozens of interesting trails for biking in the low land of Sri Lanka; the trails are running through the beautiful landscaping of Coconut plantations, tea estates, rubber plantations, and forests. The hill country of Sri Lanka provides more challenging tracks for those who look for more of a challenge. The knuckles mountain range offers many very steep tracks, which are more suitable for professional bikers.
Adventure holidays in Sri Lanka: Kayaking / Canoeing
Kayaking is another great way of exploring the thousands of kilometres of Sri Lankans’ magnificent waterways and coastline. A guided Sri Lanka kayaking trip can take you anywhere from the pure waters in Sinharaja to the coastal region of western Sri Lanka, or the towering grandeur of Kitulgala to open water safari around, for instance, Kelaniya river. Paddle with various fish species; paddle around the untamed wilderness of Kitulgala rainforest while listing to the soothing music of birds.
Kitulgala is one of the best places for freshwater kayaking in Sri Lanka, one of the longest navigable waterways in Sri Lanka. It has many rapids enabling you to have enjoyable kayaking. For an adventurous experience of Whitewater try the Kelaniya River, which flows through the Kitulgala rainforest. And if you would enjoy something a bit more tranquil, the water body of the Kelaniya river in the southern part of Kitulgala is an easy way to master kayaking.
Sri Lanka is boasted to have 103 lagoons, swamps, and interconnected canals and these inland water resources are very valuable resources for Adventure travel, in Sri Lanka. These resources are extensively being used for boat tours in Sri Lanka along with other activities such as Kayaking, canoene, fishing, whitewater rafting etc. All these water resources provide ample opportunities for kayaking and canoeing in the country. Many numbers of rivers in the country also provide an important source of transport. Well, known river Kalu Ganga (Kalu River), starts from the central mountains and flows to the west coast of the country, where it meets the Indian Ocean. This beautiful river is a great resource for an interesting canoe trip. Fascination variation of fauna and flora along the river with ever-changing landscapes provides one of the most beautiful canoe trips in the country.
Enjoy Your Sri Lanka adventure tour through Rock Climbing
Most travellers love the idea of rock climbing because it makes your holiday more exhilarating. It is an activity out of the routine and allows you to spend time with your friends and family members. Apart from the thrill of the union, you get an opportunity to have a workout that uplifts your confidence.
You definitely appreciate the idea of a rock climb because it makes your Sri Lanka adventure tours more exhilarating. Rock climbing is not a routine activity and gives you the opportunity for a great outdoor activity with your family and friends. Rock climbing is a great way to uplift mental challenges and it is a body workout too. rock climbing improves the confidence level and it is fun to engage in rock climbing. rock climbing is one of the best ways to release tension and stress.
Bungee jumping in Sri Lanka
Are you ready to experience the thrill of bungee jumping in Sri Lanka? Look no further! Our travel website will introduce you to the most thrilling bungee jumping excursions in this tropical paradise. Explore breathtaking locales and learn fascinating facts about this adrenaline-fueled sport. Prepare to enter into the world of bungee jumping in Sri Lanka.
Popular places for bungee jumping in Sri Lanka
- The Mahaweli Bridge in Kitulgala provides an unforgettable bungee jumping experience. Plunge 25 meters into the flowing waters of the Kelani River, surrounded by lush flora and stunning surroundings.
- Ozone Bungee, located in Kithulgala, offers Sri Lanka’s highest commercial bungee jump. Feel the excitement as you fall from a dizzying height of 50 meters into the gorgeous Kelani River below. Prepare for an incredible adrenaline-fueled experience!
- Adventure Basecamp in Kalutara offers bungee jumping for those looking to unleash their inner daring. Leap from a 40-meter platform for breathtaking views of the Kalu Ganga river and the surrounding tropical countryside. Prepare yourself for an incredible bungee jumping adventure.
Choose Seerendipity tours for your adventure trip in Sri Lanka
If you wish to have Adventure trips in Sri Lanka, Seerendipity tours can make the best package for you. Don’t hesitate to call us or write to us with regards to any holiday package in Sri Lanka at info@seerendiitytours.com.