Feedback from our treks and bike tours

5 reasons to trek Sri Lanka this Christmas:

1. Scenery. Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as the finest island of its size in the world (and he had done his share of travelling!). From the tropical rainforest in the south, through the tea plantations and gentle rolling slopes of the Hill Country to the wilderness peaks of the Knuckles Range, few areas of this size can match the variety and beauty of Sri Lanka’s scenery. 

2. Crowds. Not here. These days popular trekking areas like Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail and Nepal can seem like Oxford Street during the January sales. In Sri Lanka you will mostly have the hill country and Knuckles Range to yourself.

3. Wildlife. The whole island is full of wildlife ranging from monkeys and mongooses to monitor lizards, wild elephants and even the occasional leopard. Sri Lanka is also home to over 450 species of birds. There’s no better way to get up close to the local wildlife than on foot.

4. Weather. While summers in the UK can seem hit or miss affairs and the rest of the year often blends into continuous drizzle, Sri Lanka has a relatively constant temperature of 25-30 degrees – enough to make you take off a layer or two. 

5. Culture. Temples with spectacular religious ceremonies, ancient cities perched on precarious outcrops, giant Buddhas, Royal Palaces, a fascinating mix of Sinhalese Buddhism and Tamil Hindu culture, not to mention the ancient aboriginal Vedda tribe – the island packs a considerable cultural punch.

If 5 reasons weren’t enough: refresh after your trek with cup of local tea and a plate of Sri Lanka’s famous rice and curry.

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. 

Best places to cycle in Sri Lanka

Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as the finest island of its size in the world (and he had done his share of travelling!). From the tropical rainforest in the south, through the tea plantations and gentle rolling slopes of the Hill Country to the wilderness peaks of the Knuckles Range, few areas of this size can match the variety and beauty of Sri Lanka’s scenery. 

Lowland Forest. Covering most of the southern and western portion of the island this tropical rainforest gives memorable opportunities for trekking. Highlights include giant Buddhas perched on top of jungle hills, secluded temples overlooking rice paddies, trekking through plantations of cinnamon, rubber, cashew nuts and bananas. This forest is full of wildlife ranging from monkeys and mongooses to monitor lizards, wild elephants and even the occasional leopard. 

Hill Country. The Hill Country lives in a cool, perpetual spring, away from the often enervating heat and heavy air of the coastal regions or the hot dry air of the central and northern plains. Everything here is green and lush, and much of the region is carpeted with the glowing green of the tea plantations, with montane forest hugging the higher slopes. A string of towns and villages – Ella, Haputale and Bandarawela – along the southern edge of the hill country offer an appealing mixture of magnificent views, wonderful walks and old-world British colonial charm.

Knuckles Range. The hill country east of Kandy remains largely off the tourist map and far less developed than the area to the west of the city – a refreshingly untamed area of rugged uplands which still preserves much of its forest cover. The Veddhas (meaning “hunter”), were the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka, and are ethnically related to the aborigines of India, Sumatra and Australia. The Veddhas arrived in the island as far back as 16,000 BC and developed a sophisticated matrilineal hunter-gatherer culture based on an intimate knowledge of their forest surroundings. A small number have attempted to continue their traditional way of life and can be visited in their villages deep in the Knuckles.

Get on your bike and explore some of Sri Lanka’s most amazing and unforgettable locations!

Youtube Channel

Check out the Moonstone Expeditions Youtube Channel for videos of our trips https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqDOf0GjYwT96KDHIFHvVw

Trekking Blog Article

Here's a great blog article written by someone who came on one of our treks recently. http://catchmeifyoucan365.blogspot.sg/2015/05/beautiful-colorful-sri-lanka-april-2015.html

Deep South Bike Tour

A few photos from the recent Deep South Bike Tour. Next dates are 12-14 June, 31 July - 02 August, 10-12 August, 28-30 August. Come and join us!