Hidden Sri Lanka – the Knuckles Mountains

After many years of hiding its charms from all but the most intrepid travellers, Sri Lanka is now on the world tourist map. The end of the civil war in 2009 combined with increasing investment in infrastructure and tourism mean that increasing numbers are visiting the beautiful beaches of the southern and western coasts. Despite this, the hill country east of Kandy remains largely off the tourist trail and is one of the last wilderness areas of Sri Lanka – a must-see for any adventurous traveller. Rising above the tea plantations and villages, the Knuckles Range is a refreshingly untamed area of rugged peaks and isolated cloud forests, harbouring a variety of flora and fauna, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The challenging terrain and lack of roads provide a great opportunity for trekkers to explore this untouched wilderness.