Kitulgala, a picturesque town which is a 03-hours journey from Colombo, stands on the banks of Kelani River, surrounded by a rainforest. Part of Kitulgala is planted in tea; part of it is abandoned tea, while the rest is wilderness. The area abounds in streams and little waterfalls. Rapids of Kelani River around Kitulgala are considered the most ideal and risk-free of all South Asia for whitewater rafting. The entire trip takes about 10-12 hours.
Start & End Locations :
Hotel in Colombo or Colombo Harbor.
Starting Time :
Around 07:30 am.
Wheelchair Accessibility :
Inaccessible.
Remarks :
Not recommended for kids below 10-12 years of age. A surcharge will apply for solo traveler or for picking up & dropping off outside Colombo.
Highlights:
A jungle trail in the Kitulgala Rainforest
Whitewater rafting in Kitulgala
'The Bridge on the River Kwai' (1957) movie location
Includes:
Private transport
English-speaking chauffeur-guide
All mentioned activities
Itinerary
Activity : Jungle Trekking in Kitulgala Rainforest
Head for Kitulgala town. Catch a thrilling ferry ride to cross the 60m wide Kelani River to the opposite bank. Your hiking route lies across brooks, over a few challenging boulders, past a few hidden waterfalls and streams. Enjoy an invigorating dip in a stream before making the way back to the starting point.
Activity : Whitewater rafting in Kitulgala
Thereafter slip into your wet suit, grab a paddle and enjoy an adventurous and exciting 05 km league whitewater rafting trip on the Kelani River. The ride lasts about 02 hours. Once at the end, hop off board and have a cheerful swim before making way to the shore.
Sight : 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' movie set in Kitulgala
The real bridge over the River Kwai still stands in Thailand but the director David Lean had his own wooden bridge set up across a tributary of Kelani River in Sri Lanka for the iconic scene of blowing up the train on the bridge. Since then 06 decades have elapsed. Remains of the old bridge is long gone, but the site remains a hotspot for tourists. Before driving back to Colombo, take a walk down to the location. Enjoy a moment walking around.
~ END OF PROGRAM ~
Related Excursions
You may also like following excursions to other interesting regions of the island with equally enjoyable sites and activities.
Boat Safari on Madu River & Galle Fort Tour
$
95 per person
DAY EXCURSION
Rafting in Kitulgala, Kandy City & Elephant Orphanage
