Camping
Camping is not time spent but invested” Camping is one of the best ways to be spending time
outdoors, absorbing the beauty and amazement of nature. Sri Lanka comes on the top of the
list under the best camping places in the world. Sri Lanka is an island with a land blessed
with various locations from high mountain ranges and vast plains to beaches and lagoons,
from wildlife safari sites to dense rainforests. The number of places which are the
favorites of many campers is just irresistible. You can choose from rainforest adventure
camping, trekking camping, safari camping, lake and river-side camping to camping close to
the Vaddha ( the indigenous people)village.
Camping does not have to be restricted to National Parks and a jungle surrounding. In Sri
Lanka, there are interesting camping sites on the beach, amidst mountainous surroundings and
amidst villages as well. Now let us discuss what the 10 best camping sites in Sri Lanka are,
in no particular order.
White Water Rafting
Rafting and whitewater rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable
raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on whitewater or
different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk is often a part of the experience.
An average level of physical fitness and a strong spirit would do. White Water Rafting,
generally enjoyed in the white-waters as well as in other turbulent waters, brings about an
enthralling experience to the water sport enthusiasts.
Rafting begins from the hill country and most rivers descend from the 2,243m high mountain
of Adam’s Peak. The roaring Kelani River flowing through Kithulgala is a hot favorite
especially for beginners offering 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids covering a distance of
approximately 5 km. Kithulgala on the Maskeliya Oya which is a tributary of the Kelani River
was the location for filming of the “Bridge On the River Kwai” the first of David Lean’s
large-scale epics starring Sir Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins and William Holden in 1957.
Kithulgala is a favorite among local and foreign rafters.
Horse Riding
Sri Lanka is blessed with an awe-inspiring variety of terrains, landscapes, hills, valleys,
vast stretches of beaches, jungles, grass lands that will guarantee to give the serious
horse rider all that he can wish for to his heart’s content. Regular tours take the form of
luxury buses and vehicles, but horse riding makes you one with the environment and one with
nature as you can explore nature and rural life of Sri Lanka away from the concrete jungles
and hustle and bustle of towns.
The horses ideally suited for riding are available in Sri Lanka, well-trained, well-groomed
and rearing to go. The best of the breeds is the Marwari imported from Rajasthan, India
which is renowned for their endurance and versatility. They arrived in Sri Lanka during the
reign of ancient kings and became royal mounts during war and peace. Being desert breeds
they are full of stamina and endurance and take the hills, valleys, beaches and rough
terrain with dexterity and ease.
As for riding locations, Nuwara Eliya up in the hills takes pride of place especially with
horse races being a principal activity and horse breeding and training centers. The town
itself with its quaint colonial homes and cottages is known as “Little England” and is sure
to give you the feeling of home away from home.
Diving & Snorkeling
Sri Lanka is a beautiful location which is not only known for its coastal beautiful beaches
but also vast wildlife, exotic locations, and marine ecosystems. Because of this Sri Lanka
is also known as a country having exotic snorkeling spots which are the best for exploring,
as many of these spots remain unexplored.
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons that govern sea conditions. The southwest monsoon lasts
from June to around September and the Northeastern monsoon prevails from about October to
April making the seas rough in these areas with strong winds.
Sri Lanka’s largest reef called the ‘Bar Reef’ with a length of about 5.5 km and about 1.5
km in breadth, lies in close proximity to the town of Kalpitiya on the west coast which is a
hotspot for observing dolphins and whales and also for kite-surfing.
Elephant Back Riding
Almost all visitors arriving in Sri Lanka to observe Nature’s blessings in this Paradise
Island have “Elephant safaris” as one item on their Agenda. Most of the 15 nature parks
provide them the opportunity to observe elephants in the wild. Also all visitors never fail
to visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage that gives refuge to orphaned elephants and see
for themselves how elephants are cared for.
Elephant Back Safari in Sri Lanka brings in many joys. The majestic beasts, the locations in
close proximity to the cultural attractions and the terrain, rich with bird life. All of
these add up to bring about memorable experiences to the tourists holidaying in Sri Lanka.
Elephant Back Safaris are one of the newest and most thrilling safari experiences in Sri
Lanka. These Elephant Back Safaris not only make it possible to view wildlife from the back
of an elephant, but perhaps more importantly, provide the unique opportunity to share a day
in the life of an elephant
Seaplanes And Helicopters
Your tour of Sri Lanka wouldn’t be complete without an aerial tour of this Paradise Isle
that will leave you breathless and give you an experience you will never forget in your life
time.
Seaplane services began in 2004, but came to a standstill with the protracted civil war
which finally ended in 2009. You can now fly from Colombo to Jaffna in the extreme North and
visit the war-torn zones that came under a dark era with terrorist activities.
