Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 to Day 03
Day 01 - Arrival at Hatton and trek to Castlereagh with a vehicle transfer to Dalhousie.
On the first day, you will arrive at Hatton and meet the representatives of Eco Team where you will be given an introductory briefing of the program. Afterwards you will begin your downward trek from Hatton to Castlereagh and pass through many panoramic views of the endless green tea plantations and local tea communities which will be highlights of your trek. Once you reach Castlereagh, you will be transferred by vehicle to Dalhousie also known as Nallathanniya, which is at the foothills of Adam’s Peak on the eastern side of the mountain. You will be staying at a guest house in a village that gets very busy during the Adam’s Peak pilgrimage season which lasts from December to May as thousands of foreigners and locals alike visit.
Day 02 - Trek from Dalhousie to Bogowantalawa and overnight camping.
After breakfast at the guest house, you will begin your trek from Dalhousie to Bogowantalawa, a small town located in the hill country which is also a very famous area for its tea plantations and even offers a brand of tea under the same name. The Bogowantalawa plantation owns almost all of the tea estates in the area and is the largest Sri Lankan iced tea supplier to the United States of America. You will finish your day’s trek at our community camp followed by dinner and an overnight stay at the camp.
Day 03 - Trek from Bogowantalawa to Ihalagalagama with overnight camping.
You will begin your 3rd day of trekking from Bogowantalawa to Ihalagalagama after breakfast at the campsite. This is an incredibly diverse trek which will take you through forests, tea plantations and grasslands with ascents, descents, flat terrains, desolate and inhabited areas changing by types of vegetation all while taking you through spectacular views nonetheless. You will be able to witness this beauty beginning from the Bogowantalawa plantation’s rapid ascent through a jungle terrain.
Once you come out of the jungle, you will trek through open grasslands similar to the ones at the famous Horton Plains. Down this trek, you will surely see the footprints of leopards and sambhur deer who roam in the area – and even spot the animals themselves if you’re lucky! Along the way you will follow a river where you will notice a couple of man-made holes which is a result of gem mining in this area.
Next you will be trekking through a shrubland area where the next part of the trail will take you down a footpath towards Nonpareil Estate, where on the way you will cross the Belihuloya River which is an ideal place for you to make a quick stop for a lunch with a view.
Once you come out of the jungle tunnel, you will be able to see for miles beyond including the Samanalawewa reservoir and dam. You will then pass the tea plucker’s homes, vegetable plots and nursery school before reaching the Nonpareil Estate.
Heading downwards the plantation, you will get to a sparse and rocky area where you will continue trekking through it forest patches and see bear monkeys and a variety of birds. This is the steepest descent, yet holds the most panoramic views! The final part of the trail will lead you down through a dense pine tree plantation and you will reach our day’s retreat and overnight stay campsite at Ihalagalagama village.
Ihalagalagama is a small village in Belihuloya in the Sabagamuwa province bordering the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. The day’s trail will lead you through the sanctuary and the western hills of Horton Plains National Park before bringing you to our campsite in Ihalagalagama located in the banks of the infamous Belihuloya.
Important notes
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Exclusive & unexposed camping locations will be provided in remote villages & jungles.
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Accommodation in guest houses/campsites will be on double/twin sharing basis.
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Double manned tents will be provided for accommodation for single occupancy.
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No vehicle transport is involved from day 2 till day 5.
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You will have portable toilets in the campsite on day 4.
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The Accommodation on day 5 will be a participatory camping where the guests will have to put up their own tents and prepare their own meals. The support staff will provide a ration pack for each guest and assist them to find firewood etc. to get things started.
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The breakfast on day 6 will be served as a packed breakfast to be enjoyed on your way to the national park.