The Five Peaks of Knuckles Range - challenging 2-days trek
Our most challenging 2-days trek in Knuckles Range takes 46 km altogether,
it includes reaching each of the namegiving "5 peaks" (looking like 5 knuckles of a hand from a distance).
it includes reaching each of the namegiving "5 peaks" (looking like 5 knuckles of a hand from a distance).
By "challenging" we mean you have to walk many kilometers up and down and up and down and up and down ... during almost all daylight hours!
And in parts the path will be stony or muddy or slippery or near escarpments.
But it's NOT required to have any mountaineering or climbing skills or extraordinary equipment, nor do you need a lot of trekking experience.
The maximum height is 1,864 m (6,115 ft).
For comparison: The challenge is similar to 2-days arrangements in the area of the Kathmandu Valley, but NOT to trekking in mountainous regions of the Himalayas. In Nepal, our "challenge" would still be promoted as "hiking", not "trekking". But in Sri Lanka we usually call all multi-day tours on foot with overnight stays at camp sites: trekking.
To put it in other words: Our Five-Peaks Trek in Knuckles Range is much more relaxed than high-mountain or desert trekking. Don't worry!
But this "Five Peaks" tour is much more strenuous than most other hikes in Sri Lanka (e.g. Horton Plains or Sinharaja Forest). Be aware of this!
So please be sure to be in a good physical condition.
And in parts the path will be stony or muddy or slippery or near escarpments.
But it's NOT required to have any mountaineering or climbing skills or extraordinary equipment, nor do you need a lot of trekking experience.
The maximum height is 1,864 m (6,115 ft).
For comparison: The challenge is similar to 2-days arrangements in the area of the Kathmandu Valley, but NOT to trekking in mountainous regions of the Himalayas. In Nepal, our "challenge" would still be promoted as "hiking", not "trekking". But in Sri Lanka we usually call all multi-day tours on foot with overnight stays at camp sites: trekking.
To put it in other words: Our Five-Peaks Trek in Knuckles Range is much more relaxed than high-mountain or desert trekking. Don't worry!
But this "Five Peaks" tour is much more strenuous than most other hikes in Sri Lanka (e.g. Horton Plains or Sinharaja Forest). Be aware of this!
So please be sure to be in a good physical condition.
Trekking Tour details
Day 01: Heeloya Track
Start is at a meeting point at Udispattuwa at 8.30 am.
The 16 km hike on the first day is along the medium-level Heeloya trail.
En route, you will see tea plantations, birds and hopefully other animals in the nature park, rural village life, paddy fields near the villages, spice trees in the forests, finally you will reach a waterfall with a safe natural swimming pool.
We will arrive at the camp site around 4.00 or 5.00 pm.
Start is at a meeting point at Udispattuwa at 8.30 am.
The 16 km hike on the first day is along the medium-level Heeloya trail.
En route, you will see tea plantations, birds and hopefully other animals in the nature park, rural village life, paddy fields near the villages, spice trees in the forests, finally you will reach a waterfall with a safe natural swimming pool.
We will arrive at the camp site around 4.00 or 5.00 pm.
Day 02: Five Knuckles Peaks Track
The second day is a 30 km hike to the 5 peaks, starting 6.00 am.
The trail to the summits is higly attractive due to the scenic views.
This day will be exhausting. But no climbing is required.
Around 6.00 pm you will arrive at a place for car transfers.
The second day is a 30 km hike to the 5 peaks, starting 6.00 am.
The trail to the summits is higly attractive due to the scenic views.
This day will be exhausting. But no climbing is required.
Around 6.00 pm you will arrive at a place for car transfers.
Prices and Services
If you contact us for a quotation, please let us know:
- number of persons
- dates
- shall the transfers from and to your hotel be included (recommendable, because the starting point is not easy to find for all other drivers)
- special wishes (e.g. vegan or gluten-free food, additional porters allowing you to walk without luggage, earlier starting time, extra insurances)
With the quotation, of course, we will send you a list of inclusions.
If not asked or stated otherwise, our list of included services will usually look like this example:
- guided trekking throughout the 2-days tour
- for 1 overnight stay camping tent, sleeping backs, blanket, pillow, and English toilet will be provided
- arrival day: morning tea with snacks (biscuits), lunch, afternoon snacks with drinks, evening barbecue dinner with camping fire
- 5-peaks day: breakfast and lunch
- bottled water throughout the journey
- entry tickets for 2 days
- all government taxes
- number of persons
- dates
- shall the transfers from and to your hotel be included (recommendable, because the starting point is not easy to find for all other drivers)
- special wishes (e.g. vegan or gluten-free food, additional porters allowing you to walk without luggage, earlier starting time, extra insurances)
With the quotation, of course, we will send you a list of inclusions.
If not asked or stated otherwise, our list of included services will usually look like this example:
- guided trekking throughout the 2-days tour
- for 1 overnight stay camping tent, sleeping backs, blanket, pillow, and English toilet will be provided
- arrival day: morning tea with snacks (biscuits), lunch, afternoon snacks with drinks, evening barbecue dinner with camping fire
- 5-peaks day: breakfast and lunch
- bottled water throughout the journey
- entry tickets for 2 days
- all government taxes
Cancelation Policy
Please understand, that a trekking tour requires more preparation work than most of our other packages.
This is why your costs would be higher in case of cancelation on short notice within only a few days before scheduled tour start.
In case of canceling after confirmation and minimum 3 days prior to tour start, 20% of the quoted tour price will be charged.
In case of canceling within only 3 days prior to the tour start, 100% of tour costs will be charged, no refund at all then.
Our general terms and conditions can be found by clicking here...
This is why your costs would be higher in case of cancelation on short notice within only a few days before scheduled tour start.
In case of canceling after confirmation and minimum 3 days prior to tour start, 20% of the quoted tour price will be charged.
In case of canceling within only 3 days prior to the tour start, 100% of tour costs will be charged, no refund at all then.
Our general terms and conditions can be found by clicking here...
Personal Equipment
You should have your own
- rain jacket
- sturdy trekking boots
- walking sticks are recommended
- anti-leeches socks are recommended, much more reliabe protection than only anti-leeches soap
- anti-mosquito repellents
Camping equipment and catering service and first-aid-kit will be provided by us.
- rain jacket
- sturdy trekking boots
- walking sticks are recommended
- anti-leeches socks are recommended, much more reliabe protection than only anti-leeches soap
- anti-mosquito repellents
Camping equipment and catering service and first-aid-kit will be provided by us.
Security Precautions
Knuckles Forest Reserve and World Heritage Site is a wildlife area.
Leopards and sloth bears are almost never sighted. No animal attacks on trekkers have been reported so far. BUT dangerous animals inhabit this area!
Also to prevent snake bites and accidents, it is essential that you don't leave the group and strictly and quickly follow instructions of your guide,
even if he cannot explain them instantly but only later on: First do what he says and ask questions afterwards. He will explain as soon as possible, for sure. You know what we mean: On some rare occasions your reaction time and trust matters more than your full understanding of the situation.
Never walk around while looking on your mobile or GPS or map or pocketguide or camera display or viewfinder etc. Better ask the group to wait a moment. There will be enough breaks anyway. While walking, your attention must remain focused on the path and the next step of your foot throughout the tour. Our guide is strictly advised to call you to order whenever he sees you violating this no-mobile-screen-gazing rule. To be very frank in this regard: No, we do not accept if you consider your risktaking as your moral right or freedom or own personal decision, because your accident would harm not only yourself but also harm the pleasure of other holiday makers and the joy of working of the guides.
As mentioned, we recommend anti-leeches socks (available in Sri Lanka, very fashionable and sexy) for your best protection against leech bites.
Be aware that leech bites in tropical countries are not only annoying and bloody, they can also cause infectious diseases. Better don't take that risk.
Knuckles Range is NOT a malaria area, because Sri Lanka was declared malaria-free by the WHO in 2016. BUT mosquitos also transmit other diseases. So repellents are highly recommendable anyway. Because their compounds can be more specific, buying insect repellents in Sri Lanka is better than using fly dopes bought in other countries.
Leopards and sloth bears are almost never sighted. No animal attacks on trekkers have been reported so far. BUT dangerous animals inhabit this area!
Also to prevent snake bites and accidents, it is essential that you don't leave the group and strictly and quickly follow instructions of your guide,
even if he cannot explain them instantly but only later on: First do what he says and ask questions afterwards. He will explain as soon as possible, for sure. You know what we mean: On some rare occasions your reaction time and trust matters more than your full understanding of the situation.
Never walk around while looking on your mobile or GPS or map or pocketguide or camera display or viewfinder etc. Better ask the group to wait a moment. There will be enough breaks anyway. While walking, your attention must remain focused on the path and the next step of your foot throughout the tour. Our guide is strictly advised to call you to order whenever he sees you violating this no-mobile-screen-gazing rule. To be very frank in this regard: No, we do not accept if you consider your risktaking as your moral right or freedom or own personal decision, because your accident would harm not only yourself but also harm the pleasure of other holiday makers and the joy of working of the guides.
As mentioned, we recommend anti-leeches socks (available in Sri Lanka, very fashionable and sexy) for your best protection against leech bites.
Be aware that leech bites in tropical countries are not only annoying and bloody, they can also cause infectious diseases. Better don't take that risk.
Knuckles Range is NOT a malaria area, because Sri Lanka was declared malaria-free by the WHO in 2016. BUT mosquitos also transmit other diseases. So repellents are highly recommendable anyway. Because their compounds can be more specific, buying insect repellents in Sri Lanka is better than using fly dopes bought in other countries.
