Wild Glamping Knuckles is nestled amongst the grasslands and rugged mountains in Rangala. Up in the hills over looking the vast and verdant greenery sits your own luxury tent, complete with an en suite and rain shower. Wake up in a beautiful queen-sized bed to the misty mountains ahead of you, and dine in the outdoor restaurant where the cool evening breeze meets the campfire and you can unwind after a days exploring. Built so as to impact the environment as little as possible, this retreat uses solar power to light all the tents and heat all the water. So set off into Knuckles Range and know that your stay won’t compromise the pure and pristine wilderness under your feet.
Wild Glamping Knuckles, Thangappuwa Road, Sri Lanka
Known as Dumbara mountain by locals, Knuckles is located approximately 48km from Kandy, in the northern end of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. To get to the camping site guests are picked up by staff from the ‘New Division Hindu Temple’ 4km away and transferred in 4×4 vehicles.
- Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010
- Open air restaurant
- Each tent has been designed completely in par with green building standards
- Many hikes organised all around the Knuckles forest reserve
- Each tent has en suite bathroom with rain shower
- Wide use of solar power
- Excursions to the local village and tea plantations
The two luxury Double Tents are masterpieces of elegance, effortlessly blending the natural surroundings with a spacious, well designed interior. Slumber in the queen-sized bed and wake up to the misty mountains all around you. Furnished with items of simplistic charm, the cosy interiors help you reach a place of tranquillity and comfort, so that you can truly relax in the abundant nature all around you. Each tent has an en suite bathroom with rain shower.
After a long days trekking in the unmatched beauty of the forest, come back to the serenity and comfort of your private wooden-floored Twin Tent. These purposefully simplistic tents allow you to focus on the wild environment you are nestled in, and sleep in amongst the verdant landscape.
Feast at the open-air restaurant where the Wild Glamping chefs serve up scrumptious authentic Sri Lankan cuisine with a mix of BBQ, all by the campfire. Courteously blending in with the flawless backdrop of the verdant highlands, the humble setting of the restaurant welcomes the chilly breeze flowing in as the inviting aroma of the sizzling platters floats out. Be it a humble breakfast as the first rays of the sun shine over the hills, a full-blown Sri Lankan rice and curry for lunch, or a candle-lit dinner at dusk, this exceptional encounter of hotel dining in the wild is sure to excite and satisfy every tastebud!
It is no overstatement to say the landscape around the Wild Glamping campsite is teeming with wildlife, including many bird varieties. The forest reserve is thus a paradise for ornithologists and bird-lovers. So take part in one of the many nature walks and see if you can spot some of the many endemic species, including the Sri Lankan Swallow, the Black Eagle and the Pale-billed Flower Pecker – just don’t forget the binoculars!
Hidden away from the world’s view is a beautiful waterfall deep in the depths of the Knuckles forest reserve. Trek along a distance of 14km with your guide, trailing through lush green forest and rich flora to the beauty of the humming waterfall and watch the mists rise up to the sunny sky.
For a more relaxing time, trek along the gentle downhill trails that takes you to the rural village of Heel Oya. Located in the foothills of the Knuckles it is still untouched by mass tourism. Make your way through the surrounding tea estates and pine forests, as you marvel at the stunning views all around. Learn traditional paddy cultivation and farming methods, observe how villagers make their spices, and on the way home to the campsite take a moment to dip into the cooling waterhole.
At the core of the Wild Glamping philosophy is the recognition that the wild nature all around them, and its protection, is paramount. The Knuckles forest reserve is a renowned area of biodiversity on the Island and its conservation is vital. That is why all the tents are built on stilts, to ensure the retreat impacts the grassland below as little as possible, also allowing wildlife to roam freely without human interruption. The campsite is also often in touch with a naturalist who aids in environmental education and awareness.
The beauty of Wild Glamping Knuckles is that you are surrounded by modern comforts that do not cost the environment. All lighting and water heating is powered by solar power, meaning that your as you indulge in the serenity of your own private rain shower after a long days trekking you can be assured that that luxury hasn’t costed the wilderness of Knuckles a thing!
Families are very welcome at the Wild Glamping campsite!