Highlights
Special Note: This excursion is available only for guests who have stayed overnight in Kandy. Due to the early departure required, it cannot be arranged as a day tour from Colombo or Negombo.
• Begin your day with an early departure from Kandy, making this tour ideal if you have already stayed overnight in the city
• Hike through Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of windswept grasslands and cloud forests
• Reach World’s End, a dramatic cliff with jaw-dropping views across the southern plains
• Visit Baker’s Falls, a cascading waterfall hidden amidst misty forest trails
• Encounter unique wildlife and flora, including species found only in Sri Lanka’s highlands
Inclusions
• Private air-conditioned vehicle from Kandy to Horton Plains and return
• Entry permits to Horton Plains National Park
• Guided hike with an experienced naturalist
• Bottled water and light refreshments
• Packed breakfast or picnic lunch
Itinerary
Sight: Journey from Kandy to Horton Plains
Your adventure begins before dawn, as you leave Kandy behind and travel deeper into Sri Lanka’s highlands. The drive winds through tea-clad hills and sleepy villages before arriving at Horton Plains National Park, where the cool mountain air greets you. This journey itself offers glimpses of misty valleys and endless emerald landscapes, setting the tone for your day of exploration.
Sight: Hiking Across Horton Plains
Step into a world of open grasslands and cloud-kissed forests. The park’s unique ecosystem shelters rare species of plants and animals, from orchids that bloom in the mist to the shaggy-coated sambar deer grazing on the plains. As you trek along the trails, your guide will share insights into this fragile environment and its significance as a vital watershed for the island.
Sight: World’s End
Arrive at the iconic World’s End, where the plateau suddenly falls away in a near-vertical drop of 880 meters. On clear mornings, the view stretches all the way to the southern coastline, an awe-inspiring panorama of rolling hills, forests and villages. This moment is a highlight of any journey to the highlands, blending exhilaration with serenity.
Sight: Baker’s Falls and Cloud Forests
Continue your hike to Baker’s Falls, a picturesque waterfall hidden within the park’s dense forest. The sound of rushing water, combined with the cool mist rising from the cascade, offers a refreshing pause along your trek. As you loop back, you’ll walk through cloud forests alive with bird calls and the whispers of wind, completing a circuit that showcases the park’s many facets.
Sight: Return to Kandy
After your hike, relax on the drive back to Kandy, passing through highland tea country once more. With memories of dramatic landscapes and high-altitude wonders, you’ll return to the city by late afternoon.
End of Program