Hill country · 2 days, 1 night
Nuwara Eliya tea country and the train to Ella
FromLKR 44,900per person
On the water · Hill country
Kitulgala white-water rafting day trip
A day trip to Kitulgala in the rainforest foothills for white-water rafting on the Kelani River, with a rice and curry lunch by the water.
- Duration
- Full day, about 10 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup from your hotel or home in Colombo; Negombo on request
- Group
- Private car; rafts may be shared with other guests
- Languages
- English and Sinhala; Tamil on request
- Cancellation
- Free up to 24 hours before pickup
- Confirmation
- Within a few hours of your request
Highlights
- White-water rafting on the Kelani River with a trained guide in each raft
- Rapids that suit first-timers, with calm stretches for a swim
- Rainforest views from the river and on the drive
- The river where The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed
- A Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch
Why you’ll love it
Rapids for first-timers
The Kelani’s rapids are a good first taste of white water, with calm stretches in between to float and swim.
A guide in every raft
Trained river guides brief you on the bank and steer each raft, with life jackets and helmets for everyone.
Rainforest all around
The river runs between thickly forested banks, and the drive there climbs into green, wooded hills.
Lunch by the river
A Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch by the water, then a stop where The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed.
How the tour runs
7:00 am
Pickup
We collect you from your hotel or home in Colombo for the drive inland through Avissawella, about 2.5 to 3 hours.
10:00 am
Safety briefing
Meet the rafting team at Kitulgala, put on life jackets and helmets, and learn the paddle calls on the riverbank.
10:30 am
Rafting
Raft down the Kelani River through a run of rapids, with calm stretches to float and swim in between.
12:30 pm
Lunch
A rice and curry lunch by the river.
2:00 pm
Film location
A short stop by the stretch of river where The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed in the 1950s.
3:00 pm
Return to Colombo
Drive back to Colombo, with drop-off at your hotel or home around 5:30 pm.
What’s included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off in Colombo
- Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver guide
- White-water rafting with a trained guide
- Life jacket and helmet
- Rice and curry lunch
Not included
- Towels and a change of clothes (bring your own)
- Personal expenses and tips
Good to know
What to bring
- Swimwear or quick-dry clothes to raft in
- Sandals or old trainers that strap on
- A towel and a change of clothes
- Water-resistant sunscreen
- A dry bag for your phone, or leave it in the car
Not suitable for
- Pregnant travellers
- People with back, neck or heart problems
- Children under the rafting operator’s minimum age
- Non-swimmers who are uneasy in fast water
Know before you go
- Rafting depends on the river level, which rises and falls with the rain; if it is unsafe on your day, we offer another date.
- You will get soaked: leave phones and cameras in the car or in a dry bag.
- Children must meet the rafting operator’s minimum age; tell us the ages in your group and we check before confirming.
- Leeches are common on forest paths after rain, if you add the forest walk.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Cancellations after that, and no-shows, are charged in full. If the river is too high or too low to raft safely, you choose a full refund or a new date.
Questions
Do we need rafting experience?
No. The guide gives a safety briefing on the bank, and everyone wears a life jacket and helmet. Tell us when booking if anyone in your group cannot swim.
Is there a minimum age?
The rafting operators set their own minimum age. Tell us the ages in your group when booking and we will check before we confirm.
What if the river is too high or too low?
Rafting depends on the river level, which changes with the rain. If it is not safe to raft on your day, we will offer you another date.
Things to do in Sri Lanka
More things to do nearby
- Nature