(SKU: LK74005CBF) The Railroad Hike to Horton Plains Border Tour allows you to hike along the railroads in Pattipola for some distance, before passing through the jungle and hiking towards Horton Plains. Enjoy walking through the third-largest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka with its amazing, wet zone on one end and dry zone on the other, properties. Have a strenuous hike through the jungle. Move on through the beautiful Ohiya area to reach the borders of Horton Plains. Take some photos of breathtaking views. This tour also includes lunch and refreshments. Get challenged with nature and architecture.
Highlights
- Difficulty Level: Medium.
- A visit to the third longest railway tunnel in Sri Lanka.
- The chance to experience the magic of a railway tunnel with different weathers at each end.
- A challenging hike through the forest.
- A hike through Ohiya, one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka.
- Photography sessions of the best views.
- Qualified hiking guide.
- Safety backup in the form of a qualified first aid offic
Includes
- Service of an English-Speaking Trakker.
- Picnic Lunch.
- Refreshments with Water Bottles.
- Backup Vehicles for Emergency Transport.
- All Taxes & Service Charges.
Excludes
- Hotel Pickup and Drop (Any transportation up to the trail head at Nuwara Eliya).
- Food or Drinks (Not specified above).
- Gratuities (Optional).
- Expenses of Personal Nature.
What to Expect
You will be meeting up at the Pattipola railway station or Ohiya at 0630 hrs. You can choose the starting point to start your hike at any of the above points. You will get a presentation with the necessary route and safety information. You will be starting your hike at 6:45 am.
You’ll be passing through Horton Plains National Park, a protected area in Pattipola which is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Sri Lanka. The park’s entrance fee is included in your hiking package. The Horton Plains National Park has a variety of mammals such as sambar, chevrotain, wild boar, fishing cat, purple-faced langurs and many others. As one of the Important Bird Areas of Sri Lanka it also has a large numbers of bird species, including some rare and endemic. If you are quiet enough you might get to see some of them. You will also pass through a section of the park with many springs, which mark the birth of some of the largest rivers of the country.
After some time on the trail you will find yourself climbing up Kirigalpoththa. Standing at 2388m tall, it is the second tallest mountain in the country. It is also the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka, which the public are allowed to climb. The entire trek is approximately 7km long and takes about five to six hours to hike. The terrain and weather can be treacherous and cause difficulties, causing one in nine hiker fail in reaching the summit. You will have to pass through bogs, swamps and high undergrowth, and ford over rivers or cross slippery rock surfaces. Do not stray from the trail that your hiking guide leads you on. You will have a qualified first aid officer accompanying you.
You will have breaks every 1.5 km, allowing you to refresh yourself with an energy bar and water. You will be reaching the summit by 1215 hrs. You will be enjoying the panoramic views spread out like a feast for your eyes. After a photograph session you will be having a picnic lunch. The meal is part of your hiking package and will include an authentic buffet style Sri Lankan meal in a village family house.
Once lunch is completed, you will be returning using the same trail that you used earlier. You will be leaving at 1315 hrs. You will be able to return to the trail head by 1730 hrs, completing your hike.
Additional Note
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended for this tour.
