Hike through the island's last great wilderness area

The Knuckles Mountain Range is a vitally important conservation area and forms the backbone of the recently declared Knuckles National Heritage and Wilderness Area. So-named because the appearance of this mountain range resembles that of a set of knuckles in a closed fist, the region is famed for its unique landscape and spectacular natural beauty. The Knuckles Forest covers an area of about 160sqkm and falls within the Kandy and Matale districts. It is the most scenic part of Sri Lanka's highlands and contains some of the island's most rugged, spectacular and breathtaking mountain scenery. Another unique feature of the Knuckles is that it represents almost all major climatic zones in Sri Lanka and this is sure to arouse the interest of nature enthusiasts, botanists and researchers alike.

This wonderful tour will take you through almost every forest type found in Sri Lanka at elevations ranging between 250 and 4,000 feet. From Illukkumbura you'll experience Dry Zone Forest and then traverse through Wet Zone Forest, Dry Pathana, Montane Forest and finally end up amongst Pygmy Forest in Riverstone, whose windblown trees mark the highest point of the trek.

A highlight of this tour is that all of these forest types can be encountered within a half hour drive meaning that separate short hikes into each forest type are entirely possible for those short on time. A walk through the Pitawala Pathana – the island's largest Dry Pathana plains - to glimpse 1,500ft down a sheer precipice to the Puwakpitiya valley below, is another fascinating attraction of this beautiful wilderness area.