Hike Lanka - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Hike Lanka is a community of hiking enthusiasts who gather to explore various trails and natural landscapes. We organise group hikes, share resources, and provide a platform for members to connect over their love for the outdoors.

We recommend you bring water, snacks, appropriate footwear, sunscreen, and weather-appropriate clothing. Specific details for each hike, including recommended gear, are provided ahead of time on our event pages.

Yes, we offer a variety of hikes ranging from easy to challenging. Our Sunday hikes are always considered easy.

Children are welcome on hikes unless noted otherwise.

We still hike rain or shine. 🫡

Please refrain from playing music out loud during our treks. We encourage you to enjoy the natural sounds of the environment and to be considerate of other participants and wildlife. If you prefer to listen to music, please use headphones at a volume that allows you to remain aware of your surroundings and group communications.

Deposit and balance:

• A 25% deposit secures your booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure.

More than 60 Days Before Departure:

• Cancel and your deposit is fully refundable, less a small administration fee.

Inside 60 Days:

• We retain the deposit. Any balance you have already paid beyond it is refunded.

Inside 30 Days:

• We retain 50% of the full trip cost.

Insurance:

• We strongly recommend trip-cancellation insurance to cover the unforeseen. See our travel insurance guide. Force-majeure events, such as monsoon trail closures or government advisories, are handled separately under our refund policy.

You can stay updated by following us on social media or regularly checking our website’s events page or website hikelanka.com.

We welcome well-behaved dogs on many of our hikes, provided they are kept on a leash at all times. Please check the specific event description to confirm if the hike is dog-friendly, as some trails may have restrictions. Owners are expected to bring their own waste bags and ensure their dogs are respectful of nature and other participants.

While we strive to adhere to the scheduled times, the duration of events may vary due to factors such as trail conditions, weather, or the pace of the group. We recommend allocating a bit of extra time beyond the scheduled end of the hike, just in case.

You are free to leave an event at any time. However, please note that you are responsible for your own safety and must ensure you can navigate off the trail safely if you decide to depart early. We recommend informing the hike leader or another member of the group if you choose to leave before an event has officially ended.

Yes, for safety reasons, our hike leaders have the authority to advise participants not to continue on the hike if their pace is significantly slower than the group’s within the first 5-10 minutes of the event. This policy helps ensure that no one is at risk of being left behind and that the group can maintain a steady and safe pace throughout the hike.

We may leave the trailhead up to 5 minutes after the scheduled start time of the hike. If you arrive later than this, it is your responsibility to catch up with the group. We will share our live locations via our WhatsApp chat group whenever possible, but please be aware that cellular service may not be available on all trails. Therefore, we strongly recommend arriving at the trailhead no later than 5 minutes after the scheduled start time to ensure you do not miss the group.