Indulge your Inner Adrenaline Junkie with Adventure Sports in Sri Lanka
From waterfalls that gloriously cascade over magnificent mountain tops, to mighty rivers that snake their way past rich forestry and urban development, to the abundant mountains that are animated with the livelihood of thousands of flora and fauna, to the vast sea all around thriving with marine life and cajoling waves on their shores, the quaint island of Sri Lanka is a paradise that offers a myriad of experiences within its multitude of natural resources.
Here are some of the adventure sports that you can experience when in Sri Lanka.
- Trekking and Hiking
With multitude of roads winding through expanding mountains, lush green forests, paddy fields, parks and sleepy villages, Sri Lanka offers a plethora of opportunities to the Keen hikers and trekkers. The highlands of Sri Lanka with virgin rain forests, sacred mountains, lush tea gardens and plains filled with rare birds and insects coupled with mild temperatures and welcoming smiles of the villagers provide the ideal setting to an unforgettable walking and trekking experiences while trekking in Sri Lanka. Some of the renowned locations for hikes and treks include Adam’s peak, Horton Plains, Meemure amongst many others.
- Diving & Scuba Diving
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean with its coral gardens, thousands of exotic fish and ancient wrecks, diving in Sri Lanka is a must-not-miss experience. There are many diving sites in Sri Lanka that spread out across the Eastern, Southern and Western coasts. The colourful coral gardens along Southern coasts, with its old and new shipwrecks (estimate of around 200 wrecks around the coast of the island) are some of the most famous Sri Lankan dive sites. Kalpitiya, Ampara and Trincomalee situated in the Western and Eastern coasts, are other famous locations that offer rare chances for shipwreck diving, skin diving and diving with dolphins.
- Rock Climbing
Experience the thrills of crumbling rocks beneath your feet, head spinning heights and the earth expanding beneath while conquering the mountains while in Sri Lanka. The Knuckles range, Ella range, Habarana, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Horton Plains and Buttala are some of the renowned ranges of mountains that stand guard around the highlands of Sri Lanka which provide challenging climbs to both amateur and experienced climbers alike.
- Sea Kayaking
A sea kayak or touring kayak is a kayak developed for the sport of paddling on open waters of lakes, bays, and the ocean. Sea kayaks are seaworthy small boats with a covered deck and the ability to incorporate a spray deck. Weligama is one of the best locations to engage in Sea Kayaking in Sri Lanka.
- Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing
Surfing & Windsurfing are popular water sports among foreign tourists who frequent the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka. The most popular surfing spots in the island are Arugam Bay (which is an International surfing competition venue) of the Eastern coastal belt and Hikkaduwa of the South Western coastal belt. Other locations include Negombo and Kalpitiya. Another water sport that has been gaining momentum in Sri Lanka recently is Kitesurfing, which is also available in Kalpitiya. Kitesurfing is where you strap yourself to a giant kite and then be dragged on a surfboard over the sea, by the wind.
- White Water Rafting
Experience an exciting adventure of rafting amidst a jungle paradise. The Kitulgala-Kelani Forest Reserve, which sits on the edge of the island’s central highlands, is the best place to go white-water rafting in Sri Lanka. The Kelani River runs down from Adam’s Peak, Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, and offers adventure enthusiasts a range of different activities, from the popular white-water rafting to canyoning. Other famous locations for white water rafting include:
- Kalu Ganga
- Kelani River
- Kotmale River
- Mahaweli River
- Sitawaka River
- Canyoning
Canyoning is roving in canyons using a variety of techniques that includes walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and/or swimming. This is one of the Sri Lanka‘s leading wilderness-outdoor adventures specially offered in the Kitulgala region of Sri Lanka.
- Caving
This captivating activity of speleology is relatively new to Sri Lanka and is rather an unusual experience not to be missed. Sri Lanka is dotted with many caves from the Ritigala mountains in the north to the central hills and the southern hillocks of the South. The most famous being Batatotalena at sudugala attributed to the “Balangoda man” a prehistoric man whose skeletal remains were uncovered inside this cave, Belilena in Kithulgala and aptly named “Wavulpone” because of the large community of bats living inside with some records indicating a figure as high as hundred thousand. Some of the renowned caves include:
- Batatotalena (Batadombalena) Cave
- Belilena Cave
- Wavulpone Cave
- Mahalenama Cave
- Canoeing
Discover Sri Lanka’s network of rivers, jungles, lagoons and canals by canoe. The journey from the Sinharaja Forest Reserve to the coastal town of Kalutara, is a very rewarding one, which can be done as a day or overnight trip and is good for amateurs. Small jungle river tours and riverbank camping are also offered on the ‘Bo-path Ella waterfalls to Kaluganaga’ trips. The lagoon at Bentota is a calm place to paddle in one or two-person canoes. The more adventurous can pass under the Galle Road bridge and head upstream in search of water monitors, mangroves and maybe crocodiles.
- Waterfall Abseiling
Enjoying the view of a stunning Waterfall is already amazing but abseiling takes this adventure to a whole new level. The intense and powerful feeling of the water combined with the fact that you hang on a rope with nothing but water beneath and above, will give you an adrenaline rush like you have never experienced before. Waterfall Abseiling is an ideal adventure activity to test and build your confidence. Again, the city of Kitulgala offers an array of packages to choose from and if you have the time, this is a must-have experience when in Lanka.
If you are looking to foster your adventurous side and tick off many items off you bucket list, Sri Lanka is where you need to be! Cinnamon Air offers daily scheduled flights to key locations such as Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Koggala, Dickwella, Sigiriya, Hambantota and charter flights to these destinations and many more, so you can connect across destinations in a fraction of road-travel time, enjoy spectacular bird’s-eyes of the country and save time to enjoy the adrenaline-pumping activities!