Review Author: Jurga

Review Date: 23 Mar 2024

Review Body: The two day, one night hike with Nipuna Knuckles Trekking is one of the highlights of my three weeks in Sri Lanka. Everything was very well organised, we were led by a knowledgeable guide, who shared information about nature as well as culture of villages we were passing by. The accommodation is located in a stunning location on a side of hill and the food served during the trip was always incredible. Combined with the wonderful nature views, this was a great experience

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Pauline R

Review Date: 28 Feb 2019

Review Body: We did the 3 days trek with my boyfriend for his birthday. I was a bit afraid by the challenge at first (it was my first Trek) but I can only recommend it now. We only needed walking shoes, warm jackets and raincoats. Everything else (snacks, lunch, water, sleeping bags) was provided. Our guide Chamara was very understanding and he helped us constantly, always making sure that we were alright. We always had the possibility to adapt our itinerary depending on how tired we were. Day 1 was super easy and interesting. We walked from 9 to 3PM with as many breaks as we needed. We discovered rice cultures and the surrounding nature. Chamara showed us many Spices ans fruits from the area that we could taste. Best thing for us : no tourists ! We were absolutely alone with the local people. We also discovered an amazing waterfall ! We could jump and swim in it and had a "fish pedicure". Water was cold but it was perfect with the hot weather. Sleeping at the camp was awesome. you will never find a better view of the mountains! Everything was settled for us : tent (in a sort of hut), mattress, blankets, torch lamp, portable phone battery, nice new shower in a separate building with toilets. We had tea and beers and an excellent cook just for us ! He was adorable and accomodating. Great vegetables ! They lit a warm big fire and we had a nice talk watching the stars that are so visible there ! No noise, no mosquitos, no dogs Day 2 started with a great Sri Lankan breakfirst. The itinerary was more challenging. It included getting on the top of a high mountain, but we could stop whenever we wanted. We started at 7.30 and arrived at 12.30 on the top for lunch. The hard part was the last hour and half. I really have to thank Chamara for his help during the climbing. He remained calm and reassuring all along the way. When we got back Chamara made a detour by another waterfall that made like a natural shower! So refreshing ! Back at the base camp, Nipuna and Chamara had prepared a birthday cake ! We had a nice party that evening with all the team. Day 3 was about the tea plantations. I really wanted to see them closely. Chamara explained the different steps to create tea and we had a quick exchange with the workers. No better way to discover this beautiful area. We finished with another natural swimming pool for lunch. Again, just for us. Nippuna took us back to our hotel in Kandy around 4.30 PM. We were amazed by the nature, the mountains, by how kind and understanding the team is. Their only concern is that you're happy. This is a great way to discover this area even for beginners like me ! Thanks again to everyone !

Review rating: 5

Review Author: LauraCob

Review Date: 23 Sep 2019

Review Body: My husband and I did a 3 day trek with Nipuna Trekking in August 2019. We absolutely loved our time with Nipuna and our guide Chamra, it was one of the highlights of our trip. They are both from a village inside the Knuckles themselves, which made it a different trekking experience than going with some of the bigger tour companies. They are such wonderful people I would really recommend people to go with them! We slept at the base camp, which is simple but comfortable, and ate delicious Sri Lankan food! We even had a cooking class one night, and on the last day, as my husband loves to cook. The lunches during the treks were really good as well. At night they would light a bonfire, it was really nice to sit around under the stars in that beautiful place. Chamra was so knowledgeable about the local plants, spices and fruits. On the first day we walked through rice terraces with buffalo grazing (it looked just like Bali but with no-one there!), and saw an abundance of local plants: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, pepper, tamarind, coffee, to name a few! We would smell the leaves and fruits and try to guess what trees they were, it was really fun. And there were lots of fruit trees too: banana, mango, guava, passion fruit ... Chamra was so respectful of the natural environment, even for the leeches we met along the way. And good at pointing out local fauna - we saw many types of lizards and chameleons, and a deer that only lives in the Knuckles. The views were stunning, each day the route was really different. On the last day we walked through the tea plantations and Chamra explained how the tea industry works. We also swam on two days, in rock pools and by a spectacular waterfall. It was incredible that there was no-one there! It felt much more remote from other trekking routes we’ve done. Chamra was really flexible about where to go and what to do, one day we changed our route because we wanted to swim in a waterfall at the end. I only have good things to say about them - there are just two guides working for Nipuna, we met the third guide, Janaka, round the campfire in the evenings and he’s great too! Will definitely be recommending Nipuna to any friends travelling to Sri Lanka in the future.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 55AA

Review Date: 07 Mar 2019

Review Body: Really enjoyed our trek with Nipuna's team. We opted for two days, 1 night stay at the Knuckles Base Camp, which was semi-glamping with great food and I'm really happy we did the overnight option. Nipuna was very fast at responding, and we actually were able to book just 1 day in advance. The days were long, so I'd recommend only do 2/3 days if you're in for a lot of work! (We met a group doing 3 days, who opted out of Knuckles summit on the last day because they were so tired.) Our first day was part of a group, and our guide took us through villages, rice paddies, and old tea plantations. He pointed out all the native plants and fruits along the way which was really cool to learn about. Our lunches were boxed, and we ate them at a really cool waterfall swimming spot. After 13 km we came to the peak of the hike, a giant rocky viewpoint surveying the valley – so most of the trek this day was uphill! 15km in total. The other people in the group got in the jeep to end their day, and my husband and I then walked with our guide a further 4 km to Knuckles base camp for the night. It was nicer than expected, and very large though not a ton of people there yet (we only saw 2 other people). On day 2 we got an early start at 8 am for the 22km Knuckles summit hike, and reached the summit at 1:20 pm. Hard work and so rewarding! It took us until 4:45 to come back down the mountain and meet our car to go back to Kandy, and our guide saw we were exhausted so he took us by a local restaurant for hoppers and samosas. Yum.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Femaletravelblogger

Review Date: 26 May 2019

Review Body: I came to Sri Lanka in January 2019 and the knuckles was on my list but I never had time to do it as most of my travels were in the south. Anyhow I came back to do some diving and booked a 3night/4day trek with Nipuna I booked the trip from New Zealand and was impressed by the communication I received from Nipuna compared to other bigger companies I enquired through I was very excited about the trek as it was my very first and it exceeded all my expectations. Not only did I have the privilege of having Nipuna as my guide but due to the recent events in Sri Lanka I felt like we had the Knuckles to ourselves without any other tourists around Nipuna is very knowledgeable in all aspects of what’s in the knuckles and I learnt things I never knew. We swam in freshwater swimming holes, climbed the highest knuckle and sat in the clouds, saw deer, eagles, lizards, insects and learnt what grew in the knuckles too Pictures don’t do this place justice, around every twist and turn there is some spectacular view So if you haven’t been to Sri Lanka and intend coming get your hiking boots on and book a trek with Nipuna.... if you have been to Sri Lanka and didn’t do the knuckles then you’ve missed out on a spectacular experience The places I stayed were awesome and just perfect for and end of day trek, the food was plentiful and delicious so Thankyou to the chefs Well organised trek and well worth the money Sharon, New Zealand

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cubalibre10

Review Date: 31 Jul 2019

Review Body: We had wanted to visit the Knuckles for a number of years and owing to this we looked carefully for a guide. Nipuna’s communication before our trek was speedy and efficient making preparations a breeze. On the day our guide was the incredible Jannika. Our day started with a lovely cup of tea together in the last town before the trek. Throughout the day we peeled back layer after layer of this fascinating man whilst he showed us the wonders of the Knuckles. He has superb English and a wonderful knowledge of the history and endemic species found here and a very keen eye - he spotted a well camouflaged leaf nose lizard hidden within the trees. We do a lot of walking and mountain climbing so we chose the hard trek. The trek was gentle for the first and last thirds - mostly flat with a few steep climbs. The middle section to climb the 1st and 2nd Knuckles was hard going but worth it! The terrain is quite challenging and sturdy footwear and good balance is required. Nipuna and Jannika are very good at assessing abilities and they say they have a range of options if the terrain becomes too challenging (or not enough!) This has been the highlight of this visit to Sri Lanka. Wonderful scenery and a very good price for 8/9 hours of guiding and 1 hour driving each way. Crucially these guys were friendly, kind and fascinating people and this made the experience for us.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nick M

Review Date: 22 Mar 2019

Review Body: When I booked one day walk for two people I was told I would be bale to choose between a mountain walk to the peak and a lower level one through local villages. I had decided to have a go at the mountain one, but as it turned out we wew in a group with 3 other people, which we hadn't been told about, and we weren't given the option of the mountain walk. However that was the last of the bad news. The people we were with were really nice, the walk was absolutely wonderful, and our guide Charmara was a superb guide. We saw so many different types of trees and plants, including lots of spices and fruits, and Charmara got us to try each of them and see if we knew what they were. We also walked through rice fields and tea plantations. Charmara was an absolute mine of information about everything, and had a really lovely relaxed manner. We had a great curry lunch, swam in a waterfall pool, and even had a free-range fish pedicure. And to cap it all off, on the way back we stopped for egg hoppers!! We shared the truck back with a couple who had done the two walks over the to days and said the one we did was better than the mountain one. They too were full of praise for Charmara, who had guided them on their first day

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rossana W

Review Date: 08 May 2019

Review Body: I’d thoroughly recommend this tour company, it was well organised from start to finish. Our guide Janika was fantastic throughout and he really made sure we were looked after over the two days! We loved the two day/ one night trek through the knuckles mountains. Day one we walked through rice paddies, tea plantations, pine forest and local villages. At lunch time we swam in a waterfall which was a lovely way to cool off. We also met some local people who lived in the villages around the mountains on our way to base camp. It was a long but very enjoyable walk. We slept overnight at the camp, which was a tent under a wooden shelter which kept us lovely and warm and had amazing views. There were western style toilets and showers too. We had lovely food and spent the evening playing cards. The next morning we headed up to the knuckles summit. This was hard work but very rewarding! On the way back to Kandy we stopped for some delicious egg hoppers at a local cafe which were the nicest we had all trip! Overall this was definitely our highlight of our two week trip. If you don’t have two days to spare then I’d still recommend the one day trip as day one was a great experience in itself!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Charlie A

Review Date: 21 Jan 2019

Review Body: Absolutely agree with the other reviews you will find here - this was by far and away the highlight of our trip to Sri-lanka. What really made the experience special was our 'world famous' guide, Janaka. What a privaledge it was to spend a few days in the company of this beautiful soul. His knowledge of the region was immense and it was clear he took great pleasure in sharing this passion for his home. Along the way, Janaka showed us every fruit and herb imaginable growing, not to mention an incredible array of wildlife and some of the most breathtakingly scenery you can imagine - from sweeping rice paddies to hidden waterfalls. We also visited a remote village and spent a magical few hours there, drinking tea and playing games with the local children. Nipuna also arranged for us to spend a night in a genuine family homestay. Another great privilege. I really cannot recommend this adventure highly enough. Even if you don't feel confident in your fitness, these guys know their stuff well enough to look after you. My wife is 5 months pregnant and, thanks to Janaka's gentle encouragement, we both managed to impress ourselves with just how high we were able to climb.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 910paulinel

Review Date: 12 Feb 2019

Review Body: A day I will never forget! Knuckles mountains are not so well known for hiking in Sri Lanka but it’s the most beautiful nature you can think of! We started with the largest rice fields in the country then the jungle, the forest, the tea plantations, stopped at local farmers houses for some fresh fruit juices. Janaka, my guide was so lovely! Really the best guide! He explained to me everything about the local biodiversity: flowers, trees, spices, animals. We ate some fruit on the way and a very nice typical lunch. He also teaches meditation so I asked him to do some mindful stops where we would meditate together on some view points and really enjoy the peacefulness of these fabulous mountains. You meet local farmers on the way but very few tourists. It’s so peaceful and beautiful! And they are very flexible to adapt the hike to what you prefer to do or see. I am doing another one with them in a few days and highly recommend it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Scenic624395

Review Date: 04 Apr 2019

Review Body: My partner and I had a brilliant day out with these guys. We picked up two other hikers who did the lower hike while we did the harder peak hike. Pretty strenuous trip up first through beautiful fields of tea and then some hard trekking up steep bits. Views throughout were stunning and our guide was really friendly and set a really good pace (and didn’t mind stopping when we needed it!). We ate some lunch at the top (curry/rice) and then hiked down a different route via a waterfall for a swim. It was just the three of us and exactly what we wanted and expected. Picked up And dropped off in Kandy at our hotel. We stopped off for some tea and biscuits in our guide’s village on the way back which was fun to chat with some locals. (Stops, water, lunch etc were all covered in the price...it wasn’t touristy selling stuff). Would recommend for a day trek in the knuckles for sure.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: dancingobroni

Review Date: 19 Oct 2019

Review Body: This was one of the best guided trekking experiences I've ever had. It all started when Janaka jumped out of the jeep at our hotel and greeted us with his fantastic energy. His joy and enthusiasm never wavered throughout the two days, even when he was plucking leeches from my shoes. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the area, and knows his way around enough to customize the hike as needed (due to weather, scenery preferences, energy levels, etc.). Our stay at Basecamp was great - comfortable tents, flush toilets, electricity and yummy food. It definitely exceeded our expectations. Nipuna was quick to communicate and helped organize everything quickly, as this was a last-minute decision for us. I definitely recommend trekking with Nipuna and his team. **By the way, we were not asked to do a Tripadvisor review.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: William N

Review Date: 27 Nov 2019

Review Body: We booked this trek very last minute and were very impressed with the organisation and communication. Collected the next day by our guide Chamara and off we went. The trek was fantastic, despite all the rain. Chamara was an excellent guide with great knowledge of the local area, Flora and fauna. He was incredibly kind and attentive throughout the day. The camp was simply but comfy and we had a great night sleep through a huge storm. The food was a real highlight. Unbelievably generous portions and very tasty! The second day was just as good as the first. Great hike in the sunshine to the peak. What a lunch spot! All in all a fabulous experience. A great company. I would not hesitate to recommend. Nipuna even did our laundry which really was above and beyond.....

Review rating: 5

Review Author: AMohsen

Review Date: 11 Mar 2019

Review Body: Nipuna team were very professional and friendly leading the daily trekking for three days. It was very interesting experience, somehow tiring due to average 15 Km daily trekking and hikes, but very enjoyable, funny, and full of memories, photos, and amazing landscapes. It is very recommended for groups of young friends. The daily camping above the sky clouds within amazing views was very enjoyable and funny. The camping included very nice breakfast, lunch during trekking in front of waterfalls and amazing peaks, and night dinner. The knuckles seem to be usually rainy, and famous by plenty of annoying leeches to be aware from them, and only one disadvantage is the limited number of bathrooms during camping.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Deboravp

Review Date: 23 Jan 2019

Review Body: We had the absolute best experience with this hike! After days in the city with a lot of people we wanted to enjoy the nature. This was by far the BEST experience we had in Sri Lanka. Jonathan our guide was very kind and gave us so much information about the plants, animals and nature we passed! It was really amazing. We have some great snacks, fruits and drinks at the most beautiful view points, and even a dip in a waterfall! We were just the two of us with our guide, and that made it such a nice experience! We topped it off with a home cooked meal at their home. We felt really welcome and the food was amazing! If you go to Kandy area, we really recommend a hike with these guys!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Vernon L

Review Date: 27 Aug 2019

Review Body: Highly recommended this service!! Itenary included being picked up from my hotel, given a nice breakfast near the start of the hike, dropped of to the start of the hike track with my lovely guide and dropped back to my hotel at the end. Highlights of the hike included being shown the waterfall, being able to swim in the waterfall, shown all the natural flora and fauna (see picture), have a lovely lunch provided in the middle, being taken to 2 of the knuckles peaks, all while being provided insights the whole way up by my very knowledgeable guide while always looking out for my safety. Definitely recommend to everyone!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Connector1667372

Review Date: 16 Jul 2019

Review Body: Today we were near from Kandy in the knuckels for trekking the knuckels are a big mountain area.... For trekking you need there a guide. Maby 4-5 houers for walking between the jungle... And our guide (Chamara) had informate us about a lot of plants,animals,histery and culture. He was very social and the time with him was great. We rest in the near of a waterfall and enjoyed a nice lunch. The lunch was organized from the guids. After lunch we had the possibility for take a cold bath in the creek. On each summit we could enjoy a fantastic view. All in all.... It was e perfect day! Thanks to Chamara and Nipuna!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: annejG3957DB

Review Date: 03 Feb 2019

Review Body: We just finished a 2-day trek and it was AWESOME!! I couldn't speak highly enough of our guide Janaka! Our group of 4 friends had a memorable time with him in the beautiful sceneries of Knuckles range, learning and laughing the whole time. Amazing landscapes in rice fields and mountains, waterfalls, tea plantations, discovering local spices and herbs, singing late at night... and the best of all our crazy cricket game ;) So far our best experience in Sri Lanka! Janaka, thanks for all and we hope to meet you again soon in India, France, Vietnam or Sri Lanka

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Finn R

Review Date: 19 Sep 2019

Review Body: We loved this trek from the start to the finish. We chose to do a two day trek to climb the tall knuckle mountain and stay at base camp. Nipuna was excellent at communicating information on the trip and replied to all queries very quickly. We trekked with Janaka and we could not have asked for a better guide! He taught us alot about the flora and fauna we saw and his enthusiasm and sense of humour made for a very fun trek! Base camp was in a great location, warm tent set up and the food was unbelievable! A great small family business. Highly recommend!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Manarhafez

Review Date: 29 Dec 2018

Review Body: This was the highlight of my solo trip to Srilanka.. I was worried at first because I was travelling alone but I’m so happy I did it.. Nibuna is very knowledgeable and professional explaining everything we saw, and we saw a lot!, I wanted to do the 25 km hike to the top but as it was very rainy he suggested doing the 15 km hike as the summit is very slippery.. it was fascinating but be aware of the leeches.. he gave me a leech socks when we met and although I was covered from head to toe I got 3 bites in my tummy!!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Trek with Flexible Timings

Itinerary Description: 9 AM: Starts trekking. Timings are flexible, you can stop for a break or take pictures of interesting sights whenever you want. 7 PM: Dinner. Overnight at the base camp.

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Today you will begin the descent and head back to Kandy.

Itinerary Description: 9 AM: Starts trekking