Wildlife & Nature Tour
Colombo (1nt), Sigiriya (3nts), Kandy (1nt), Nuwara Eliya (1nt), Ratnapura (1nt), Hambantota (2nts), Colombo (1nt)
This 10 night tour is designed for the nature enthusiast to discover the wonderful wildlife that Sri Lanka has to offer. Sri Lanka is one of the smallest, but biologically diverse countries in Asia. A national park safari offers the chance to see some of Sri Lanka’s 92 mammals (16 endemic) - elephant, leopard, sloth bear, spotted deer, porcupine, the giant squirrel, and monkeys such as the macaque, purple-faced leaf monkey and grey langur. Yala National Park is believed to have the world’s highest concentration of leopards. Uda Walawe National Park is famous for its elephants, but Minneriya National Park boasts the awesome dry season “Gathering”, in which herds of elephants congregate to drink the region’s remaining water.
Day 1: Arrival into Colombo Airport
On arrival into Colombo Airport you will be met and transferred to the Taj Samudra Hotel for your overnight stay on bed & breakfast.
Day 2: Colombo / Muthurajawella / Pinnawella / Sigiriya
After early breakfast visit Muturajawela which is Sri Lanka’s largest single expanse of marsh on a guided boat tour. The marsh is home to all kinds of birds, small mammals, snakes, butterflies and dragon flies and even crocodiles. You will visit the Elephant orphanage at Pinnawela. This is the home for about 60 elephants, out of which many are baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. Overnight stay at the Sigiriya Village Hotel on bed & breakfast.
Day 3: Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Minneriya / Sigiriya
Proceed to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval capital and a well preserved metropolis of buildings and shrines. Later enjoy an evening visit of Minneriya National Park which consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka’s favorites such as the leopards and elephants. Overnight stay at the Sigiriya Village Hotel on bed & breakfast.
Day 4: Sigiriya / Habarana / Sigiriya
Today visit the Sigiriya Rock. Sigiriya is a fascinating fortress which was a stronghold of a fifth century king. The red stone rises 600 feet from the green scrub jungle and is famous for its frescoes painted within a sheltered rock. Only 19 out of the 500 painted in the 5th century remain. The Lion stairway, the mirror wall and the water gardens are amongst Sigiriya’s other highlights. This afternoon you will leave for Habarana for an Elephant Safari. Dinner and overnight stay at Sigiriya Village hotel.
Read more about Sigiriya Rock
Day 5: Sigiriya / Dambulla / Matale / Kandy
En route to Kandy you will visit Dambulla. Famous for its 1st century B.C. Cave Temple complex, this is an archaeological treasure. The rock temple is a series of caves, which has stunning Buddhist murals. A huge 47ft rock cut of a sleeping Buddha dominates the main cave. Continue to Kandy and visit a Spice Garden at Matale. Kandy is the last capital of a classical, independent Sinhalese Kingdom and still the home of traditional arts, music and culture. Later leave on a sightseeing tour of Kandy including a Kandyan Dancing performance. Late evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Overnight stay Mahaweli Reach Hotel on bed & breakfast.
Day 6: Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast you will visit Udawattekale Nature reserve. This is a small hill top forest situated over the heart of ancient capital of Kandy. The rare and most beautiful three toed Kingfisher has been seen here. Later leave for Nuwara Eliya. Visit the Beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya located on the banks of the Sri Lanka’s longest river Mahaweli and also visit a Tea factory and a plantation. You may also see Ramboda Falls en-route. Overnight stay at Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya on bed & breakfast
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya / Horton Plains / Nuwara Eliya / Ratnapura
After an early breakfast you will leave for Horton Plains, most certainly one of the world’s best nature reserves. If one is lucky he may get a glimpse of a Leopard. This was once Elephant habitat but the last was shot by a British Planter in the 1930s. Return to Nuwara Eliya and then leave for Ratnapura via Haputale and Pelmadulla. Check-in at Ratnaloka Tour Inns for overnight stay on bed & breakfast.
Day 8: Ratnapura / Sinharaja Rainforest /Udawalawe / Hambantota
Leave for Sinharaja Rain Forest which is Sri Lanka’s last remaining primeval rainforest, a World Heritage Site and one of the most important sites in Sri Lanka for its biodiversity. Afternoon continue to Udawalawe and go on a safari of the national park. Some of the animals that can be seen in herds include the elephants, wild buffaloes and monkeys. Proceed for overnight stay at Peacock Beach Hotel Hambantota on bed & breakfast.
Day 9: Hambantota / Yala / Hambantota
This afternoon visit the Yala National Park. Yala is the most popular park with a vast array of animals including deer, peacock, elephant, wild buffalo, Crocodiles and the lucky visitors may get to see a leopard or sloth bear. Return to Hambantota for overnight stay.
Day 10: Hambantota / Bundala / Galle / Colombo
After an early breakfast visit Bundala National Park a wild life sanctuary where birds are in abundance. Leave for Colombo along the picturesque South West coast. En route visit the Old Dutch Fort at Galle which is still the administration Center for the district. Also visit a Turtle Hatchery at Kosgoda. Check in at Taj Samudra Hotel Colombo for overnight stay on bed & breakfast.
Day 11: Colombo / Airport
Departure transfer to Colombo Airport for your flight home.
If you are interested in this itinerary and want more information please do not hesitate to request more information about this tour.
If you are an outdoor enthusiast and love nature, then this trip will definitely delight your senses with some fantastic wildlife discoveries