About this experience
The Sinharaja Rain Forest Adventure Tour is a full-day guided trek through Sri Lanka's last substantial tract of primary lowland tropical rainforest — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse patches of forest in South Asia. The route runs along jungle trails known intimately by your guide-naturalist, leading to two waterfalls deep within the reserve, and passing through a village at the forest edge where a local family offers a glimpse of daily life bordering the wilderness.
Sinharaja sits in the wet zone of south-west Sri Lanka, straddling Sabaragamuwa and Southern provinces, and the forest makes its character felt immediately. The canopy overhead is layered and dense, the floor carpeted in ferns and crossed by exposed tree roots, and mist frequently softens the light between the trunks even mid-morning. More than sixty per cent of the tree species here are found nowhere else on earth. The reserve holds nineteen of Sri Lanka's twenty endemic bird species — among them the Ceylon Grey Hornbill and the Green Bee-eater — and supports more than half of the country's endemic mammals and butterflies. Sightings depend on season, time of day, and the particular mood of the forest, but your guide-naturalist is experienced at locating elusive fauna, and binoculars are provided.
The trek leads to two named waterfalls: Kekuna Ella and Pathan Oya Ella. At one of them there is the option to wade into a shallow natural pool — bring swimwear if you would like to. The tour begins at the Deniyaya entrance of the reserve, where you meet your guide and the day takes shape around the pace of the forest rather than a fixed itinerary. Walking out before sunset, the total time in the forest runs to a maximum of seven hours, and the terrain — root-crossed paths, occasional mud, persistent humidity — earns the description of a challenging trek. It is designed for those who want to move through wild country rather than observe it from a vehicle.
Included in the tour are your guide and support staff, entrance fees, leech socks, a rain coat, binoculars, and lunch or a snack. Leeches are a fact of Sinharaja, particularly during and after rain, and the leech socks and clothing guidance provided at the start of the day are worth following. A tea factory visit can be arranged on request. What is not included is any transport to the trailhead: you can make your own way to the Deniyaya entrance, or prior arrangements can be made for a pick-up from the Mederipitiya Bridge at an additional charge. Personal expenses and gratuities are also outside the package.
