Sri Lanka: Adam’s Peak, Knuckles Trek & Community

Negombo

Touch down at Colombo airport and travel to the beach town of Negombo. You’ve made it to Sri Lanka – a country of golden temples, jungle wildlife and tropical shores.
Make sure you get some rest after your flight. You’re about to take the road less travelled and experience the places you’ve been dreaming about.
Misty mountains, green forests and palm-fringed beaches – they’re all here, waiting to be explored.

Adam’s Peak

Wake up to your first morning in Sri Lanka and dive into expedition life. Assign some team roles and meet the ground team to discuss your plans. You’ll also need to buy a SIM card for the team phone – head to the market and get to grips with the local currency, Sri Lankan Rupee.
Travel to Dalhousie, a small town at the base of Adam’s Peak (2,243m). Climb this sacred mountain in the early hours of the morning. It’s 5,200 steps to the summit, where you’ll see the sun rise over Sri Lanka. This is a memory that will stay with you long after you return home.
Rest your legs on the journey to Kandy.

Kandy

Welcome to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural capital. You have options on how to spend your day, so plan something awesome with the ground team.
The Temple of the Tooth should be top of your list – it houses one of the most important Buddhist relics, a tooth of the Buddha. Join worshippers to get a glimpse of the famous gold casket, then explore the other temples and learn about Buddhist history in the museum.
Another option is to spot parakeets in the Royal Forest Park and Royal Botanical Gardens, or delve into the history of tea at the Ceylon Tea Museum. For a different perspective of Sri Lankan culture, you could watch a traditional Kandyan dance show – it includes fire breathing and walking on hot coals!

Knuckles mountains

Boots on, time to trek. Travel to Thangappuwa, a remote Tamil village in the Knuckles mountains.
Your team just got bigger. Meet your guides and cooks – they’re insanely experienced so learn everything you can from these mountain masters. You’ll be carrying your own gear, cooking on stoves and camping beneath the stars.
Step forward as team leader and set the pace through misty forests and wide valleys, passing dramatic waterfalls and rice terraces. Look out for the toque monkey and purple-faced leaf monkey – endemic to Sri Lanka.
At times, you’ll be climbing on steep trails to reach the plateau. The reward? Epic views across the mountains and over Sri Lanka. When you arrive in Ududumbara, the feeling of achievement is awesome.

Rural community

Spend the next three days living alongside a rural community and contributing to a sustainable tourism initiative. Learn about reforestation efforts and how reintroducing endangered plants to the area can boost local livelihoods through eco-tourism.
Learn how to plant trees from the experts – then roll up your sleeves and help out. Dive deeper into community life by learning about sustainable farming and lending a hand on the farm. Or why not organise a volleyball match with the locals?
You could dip into your spending money and join a yoga class or optional cooking class.

Galle

Explore the historic town of Galle, with its impressive Dutch Fort. Famous for its food, Galle is a great place to sample delicious dhal, sambal and hoppers.
You have options on what to do here, so make a plan with the ground team. You could learn about the colonial heritage in the old town and at the Maritime Museum. Or you could discover more about the Muslim faith at the Jumma Mosque, housed inside the old Portuguese Baroque Cathedral.
Or how about an optional workshop – mask carving, jewellery making or handloom weaving, take your pick! For some beach time, you could head to Unawatuna (around 20mins away).

Negombo

Back in Negombo, watch the fisherman head out for the morning catch and feel the sand between your toes. Navigate the city’s streets to find colonial churches, temples and fish markets.
You have more options about how to spend your last day in Sri Lanka. How about checking out the pink walls of St Mary’s, the best known Roman Catholic church in the country? Or you could visit Negombo’s largest Buddhist temple, Angurukaramulla.
Another option is to head to Colombo (about 30mins away) to experience the Sri Lankan capital with its colourful Pettah market and shiny skyscrapers. Learn about the country’s history at the National Museum, and step inside the 120-year-old Gangaramaya temple.
Mark the end of your trip with a team meal. Tuck into your favourite Sri Lankan cuisine and set your friendships in stone.

Colombo

After the best two weeks of your life, it’s time to travel home. Cram everything into your backpack and head to the airport.
Check in, sit back and let it all sink in. You’ve just experienced something incredible. Sri Lanka has opened your eyes and challenged you more than you ever imagined. You’ve fast-tracked your life skills and connected with locals; you’ve led your team and made new friends for life.
These experiences will shape who you are and put you on the path to becoming a true global citizen. Prepare to return home forever changed.