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View all Kandy toursSorabora Lake Sunrise and Waterfalls Day Trip from Kandy with a Village Visit
A long day east of Kandy for sunrise on Sorabora Lake from a traditional boat, a rural village visit, and the Kaluwa Wetuna and Ratna Ella waterfalls — Sri Lanka's second highest.
Highlights
- Sunrise from a traditional boat on Sorabora Lake, with mist on the water
- A reservoir sluice cut from a single rock in the second century BC
- A rural village in the Bintenna country, well off the tourist route
- Ratna Ella, at 111 metres the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka
- A swim at the Kaluwa Wetuna falls
Sorabora Lake Sunrise and Waterfalls Day Trip from Kandy with a Village Visit: Key Facts
| Price | From $286 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 hours |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Guided Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
Sorabora is a reservoir near Mahiyanganaya, east of Kandy on the far side of the hills, and it is old — the sluice was cut from a single block of rock in the second century BC, and the local name for it, the Sea of Bintenna, is not much of an exaggeration when the mist sits on it at dawn.
Getting there for sunrise means leaving Kandy in the middle of the night, which is the price of the whole trip. What you get is an hour on the water in a traditional boat as the light comes up, with the hills behind and almost nobody else out. It photographs extraordinarily well and it is not on any standard itinerary.
The day then moves to a rural village in the Bintenna country — farming, cooking, and the ordinary business of a place well outside the tourist route.
The waterfalls close it. Ratna Ella is 111 metres, the second highest in Sri Lanka, reached on a walk through forest, and Kaluwa Wetuna is smaller with a pool worth swimming in. Then the long drive back, arriving in Kandy in the evening.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Pickup in Kandy
A night departure for the drive east.
Sorabora Lake
Sunrise from a traditional boat.
Village visit
Farming country near Mahiyanganaya.
Kaluwa Wetuna falls
A stop and a swim.
Ratna Ella
The 111-metre falls, reached on foot.
Return drive
Back over the hills.
Kandy
Drop-off at your hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
[{"time": "02:30", "title": "Hotel pickup", "description": "Three hours east on hill roads. Sleep in the van."}, {"time": "05:30", "title": "Sorabora", "description": "On the water before first light. Cold and misty; bring a layer."}, {"time": "08:00", "title": "The village", "description": "Ask before photographing people."}, {"time": "11:00", "title": "Kaluwa Wetuna", "description": "A pool at the base. Water levels vary with the season."}, {"time": "13:00", "title": "Ratna Ella", "description": "A walk in through forest. Slippery rock near the base — do not climb it."}, {"time": "18:30", "title": "Kandy", "description": "Drop-off at your hotel."}]
Includes
- Private vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, hotel pickup and drop-off in Kandy, the boat on Sorabora Lake, the village visit, guiding at the waterfalls.
Excludes
- Meals and drinks, gratuities, entrance fees where they apply, personal expenses.
Important information
Meeting point
Hotel pickup in Kandy; the exact address and time are confirmed after booking.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts