Sri Lanka
Destinations
From ancient cities and sacred temples to tea-covered mountains, national parks and tropical beaches, Sri Lanka offers a remarkable variety of experiences within one island. Explore the places our guests ask for most and where every great itinerary begins.
Kitulgala Travel Guide
Kitulgala offers a river-and-forest setting associated with outdoor activities such as white-water rafting. Learn about the destination and check seasonal conditions, operator availability and activity suitability before building it into an itinerary.
Kitulgala sits on the road between Colombo and the hill country, where the Kelani River tumbles through a green gorge of rainforest and rubber estates. It is the island's white-water rafting capital, with grade 2–3 rapids that suit first-timers and families.
Beyond the river are canyoning and abseiling, waterfall trails, the Belilena prehistoric cave and the spot where David Lean's 1957 film was shot.
Why VisitKitulgala
- White-water rafting on the Kelani
- Canyoning and waterfall abseiling
- Rainforest and bird walks
- Belilena Cave
Best time to visit
Rafting runs year-round; water levels are highest in the rainier months.
Suggested length of stay
1 night
Getting there
About 2.5 hours from Colombo on the road to Nuwara Eliya.
ExploreNearby
Nuwara Eliya
'Little England' – a cool-climate hill station of tea estates, colonial architecture, rose gardens and misty mornings at nearly 1,900 metres.
Read more
Kandy
The last royal capital and spiritual heart of the island – home to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a serene lake and encircling green hills.
Read more
Sinharaja
Sri Lanka's last great lowland rainforest – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of endemic birds, giant trees, waterfalls and guided jungle treks.
Read more
Ready to ExperienceSri Lanka?
Tell us where you want to go, what you love and how long you have. We'll help turn it into a journey worth remembering.
