The translator of the forest hears a bird call.

She stops and tells us it’s not a bird but a species of frog endemic to that rainforest, a Ramanella sp. We can’t see it but our ears get slowly accustomed to the symphony of what must be a hundred noises of nature. It’s just before 7 am and no one else has arrived. We’re on a privately guided rainforest trek in one of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the Kanneliya Rainforest.

The local guide cheerfully leads the way giving us an encyclopedia of insights into the beauty and biodiversity which we would have otherwise missed. Her grandmother used to teach her about the leaves and their medicinal properties. These landscapes are her home since childhood. Her livelihood is entwined with the trees and their inhabitants. She is the perfect translator of the forest.

An Ayu in the Wild Naturalist Guide adds to the interpretation of what you see in the rainforest connecting this wonderful biosphere reserve with what you have experienced on the rest of your holiday in Sri Lanka. This depth of local knowledge is what makes traveling with a destination specialist, special.

1

A Soft Hike

A Hump nosed lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) stands still giving a distinctive side eye to a soft yellow butterfly fluttering by.

Ahead of us a troop of Purple-faced leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus vetulus) are foraging wild berries. We drop our voices and ask if they are eating the same beautiful red berries we saw earlier on the lower canopy. Our Guides explain that those reds are toxic and the monkeys know it. Ayu in the Wild’s soft hikes are rooted in mindfulness and are all about enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Whether this is enjoying the fauna along trails, taking photographs of all the wild mushrooms on the forest floors, picking out the shrill call of glow worms over the gush of a waterfall in full flow or even stopping to read a book for a while where the sun breaks through the forest canopies – rest and joy are encouraged.

Soft hiking is accessible to all fitness levels and available with Ayu in the Wild across the island in forested locations. It’s a great way to get all the amazing wellness benefits of forest bathing flowing through you while hiking in Sri Lanka.

2

An Adventurous Climb

It was the monsoons in Sri Lanka but we were adventurous.

The 3 and a half hour trek in Sri Lanka’s Kanneliya Rainforest gets you to Kabbale Kanda. It wows you first with the panoramic views of the rainforest canopy from Kabbale Mountain Peak - and then, the descent through seasonal springs flowing with the rains. This mountain is best enjoyed during the months of October to March but the most adventurous will love this trek in the monsoonal months too (May to September). Rainforests come alive during monsoons, as waterfalls gush with force, streams flow with more body and the forest re-energizes. It’s a magical time to explore if you dare to travel out of season (with leech socks and raincoats we might need to add). Kanneliya Rainforest is just an hour north of the cobblestoned streets inside the iconic Galle Fort. Rarely can you hike in a rainforest, be at a mountain peak in the clouds, go to the beach, and make it to your dinner setting at one of Asia’s best bars all in the same day.

That’s what you can do on a personalized adventure holiday in Sri Lanka with Ayu in the Wild.

3

Expert-led Bird Watching Treks in Sri Lanka’s Rainforests

We listen to the gathering call of the Orange-billed Babbler. It is interspersed with the false alarm call of a Drongo. Our Naturalist Guide signals us to be still and listen as the bird chorus builds. It sounds like a mixed feeding flock being gathered by the Babblers. Few places on the planet flutter with the level of bird endemism found in the Sinharaja Rainforest of Sri Lanka. It nourishes 3000mm to 6000mm of annual precipitation and fosters an astonishing array of endemic species - 26 out of 32 endemic avian species have been identified here. We spot the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Hanging-parrot, Malabar Trogan (expertly spotted because these birds are known to call throw to confuse predators) and the Dusky-blue Flycatcher. Our Naturalist Guide smiles as he pointed out a pair of particularly jiggy Spot-winged Ground Thrush. They must have caught a huge earthworm; they always do a little celebratory dance afterward he explains.

Thereafter we head off to a nearby village in search of the Ceylon Spurfowl, known to forage on crops, fruit trees and the secondary growth beyond the boundaries of the dense rainforest. Our bird list is filled with little ticks.

It really is one of the best bird watching places in Sri Lanka.

Three Rainforest Treks in Sri Lanka - a soft hike, a hiking adventure and birdwatching with community-led experiences like this let nature and culture enthusiasts tap into the rare, rugged beauty of the island while contributing to local communities along the way.

Curated by Ayu in the Wild

Get in touch for personalized itineraries, access to off-the-beaten-path destinations, and luxury accommodation for an unforgettable journey of learning and becoming conscious stewards of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity.

Luxury holidays to Sri Lanka. Tailor made private tours by sustainable slow travel experts with a bespoke, boutique touch.

Ayu in the Wild Holidays is a 100% Sri Lankan owner-run bespoke luxury travel agency and are specialists in curating sustainable slow luxury holidays to Sri Lanka, since 2012. Founders of @sustainabletravelsrilanka

Contact Ayu in the Wild Holidays

Whatsapp +94 77 248 1100

or email info@ayuinthewild.com

Ayu in the Wild Holidays