Sri Lanka’s incredibly varied terrain is ideal for the adventure tourist. The hardcore adventure enthusiast or some one looking for a bit of excitement will find a range of activities from hot-air ballooning, paragliding ,snorkelling over dazzling coral reefs, riding rapids along a wild river ,surfing a seeming endless wave to cycling between tea plantations in the misty Hill country.   

White Water Rafting is one of the longest established adventure sports, with rivers offering the average enthusiast a few thrills along with glorious scenery and a chance to view village life en route. The serious, professional kayaker could experience the challenging rivers depending on weather conditions. Kitulgala is the most popular area for rafting in the Kelani River where the classic film, Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed.   Read more...

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A day trip to Kitulgala from Colombo offers the novice as well as the experience rafter an opportunity to ride the rapids and enjoy the beauty of the countryside.   

Hiking is a delightful way to experience the different landscapes, fascinating plants, birds and other wild life of Sri Lanka. The possibilities are almost endless; an easy hike across gently undulating hills, past tiny hamlets and farms or hiking and camping adventure in the seldom-visited forests of the Knuckles Range near Kandy. A four kilometre hike across the grassy Horton Plains (over 2,000 metre high) to the dramatic escarpment, appropriately known as World’s End is highly recommended.   

One of Asia’s most beautiful golf courses established by the British in Nuwera Eliya at 1,900 metres above sea level, the prestigious Royal Colombo Golf Club or the Victoria Golf course overlooking a reservoir in Kandy are available for keen Golfers.   

In contrast with the interior, Sri Lanka’s coastline offers very different but equally glorious opportunities for adventure with sun-drenched beaches and waters that average a blissfully warm 27 C. A wide range of water sports are available during the well defined monsoon seasons. The west and south coasts could be visited from November to April while the East coast is best from May to October every year.   

Arugambay in the East Coast has been the most popular destination for Surfing while Pottuvil has been described as ‘every surfer’s dream of a tropical wave’ with a ride of around 800 metre in ideal conditions. Surfing is also possible at Hikkaduwa on the west coast (100 Km from Colombo) where the waves are 2 metres high.   

Hot air ballooning provide an attractive aspect that include exceptional quiet (except when the propane burners are firing), the lack of a feeling of movement, and the bird's-eye view of the beautiful Sri Lankan countryside. Since the balloon moves with the wind, the passengers feel absolutely no wind, except for brief periods during the flight when the balloon climbs or descends into air currents of different direction or speed. Great ballooning with near perfect weather with some interesting places to land is available for participants who appreciate the demand the terrain in Sri Lanka offers.   

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Adventure related References