Wild Sri Lanka

Wild Sri Lanka

Program

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Day 01 Airport | Negombo

Welcome to Sri Lanka!

On arrival to the main terminal you will be greeted by our chauffer guide and accompanied to the awaiting vehicle in order to transfer to your hotel in Negombo. (Approximately 20 minutes ‘drive)

Dubbed Sri Lanka’s ‘Little Rome’, this beach town located just a few kilometers away from the Bandaranaike International Airport is full of surprises for wanderlusts. The diverse array of restaurants, pubs and accommodation choices this metropolis offer is a perfect reflection of this beach-town’s exultant vibe. It is also a historically interesting location owing to the strains of Dutch-influenced architecture that remain intact in the town’s landscape, not to mention the ancient Dutch Fort as well as several churches constructed during the Dutch Colonial era that are thronged by pilgrims daily.

Overnight Stay in Negombo


Day 02 Negombo | Wilpattu

After breakfast leave for Wilpattu (Approximately 4 hours’ drive). Arrive and check in at the hotel. Late afternoon, a game drive in the Wilpattu National Park.

Thick foliage interwoven with shrubbery, streamlets and tanks that expand during the monsoons and contract during the dry season - the landscapes of the Wilpattu National Park reflect an ideal hideout for the varied wildlife species. The park is most popular for its sightings of majestic elephants, lithe leopards, spotted deer, sloth bears and gigantic crocodiles. Moreover, one can also bear witness to striking flocks of peacocks, painted storks, jungle fowls as well as mongooses. Spreading over 1085 sq.km, it is Sri Lanka’s largest National park.

Dinner and Overnight Stay in Wilpattu


Day 03 Wilpattu | Dambulla

After breakfast leave for Dambulla (Approximately 2 hours’ drive) arrive and check in at the hotel.
In the afternoon, feel free to enjoy village safari in Hiriwaduna village with lunch.

Make a visit to a village in Sri Lanka. Make a cart ride through the village, rice fields. Later make a short walk (a about 15 minutes) to the tank, to make a boat ride of about 20 minutes

Thereafter, proceed to Minneriya National Park for afternoon jeep safari.

Minneriya, located in the backwoods of the North Central Province is home to the famous Minneriya National Park that shelters some of the greatest wildlife treasures of this paradise isle. The park, nourished by an ancient man-made tank provides shelter for troupes of toque monkeys, sambar deer as well as leopards, elephants and bird-flocks including little cormorants and painted storks to name a few. It is also renowned for the ‘Sixth Greatest Wildlife Spectacle of the World’ – the amazing phenomenon of the ‘Minneriya Elephant gathering’. The best time to visit the park is during June – September as the low water levels of the tank exposes grass in the tank-bed, which attracts herds of grazing animals.
Thereafter, return to hotel.

Dinner and Overnight Stay in Dambulla


Day 04 Dambulla | Kandy

Breakfast at the hotel.
Later, leave for Kandy. (Approximately 2 ½ drives’ drive) En route visit Spice Garden in Matale,

Since time immemorial, this emerald isle has remained popular for its exotic spices, world over. To those who bear an interest in these rich elements that stirred the interests of many nations, the spice gardens located in Kandy, Matale and Mawanella offer wonderful opportunities to view these spices up-close. The gardens are not only delightful spots for a stroll midst the fragrant greenery but also offer interesting perspectives into the local spices, as the visitors are educated on the diverse variety of spices available in the country as well as on how they are grown and processed.

Proceed to Kandy. On your arrival do Kandy city tour and visit Temple of Tooth Relic

Often referred to as the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy offers a diverse variety of experiences to its visitors ranging from history, culture and simple scenic beauty coupled with a touch of urbanity. It was the last Sinhalese Kingdom that fell under British rule in 1815. The journey to this mellow weathered city can be quite enjoyable, particularly by train owing to the scenic delights that lie alongside. The city’s colonial architecture has been preserved well even in the backdrop of rapid urbanization. Close to the city’s centre is the prime landmark - Sri Dalada Maligawa that houses the sacred tooth relic of Buddha. Apart from the ancient monuments of the Kandyan era, the delightful jumble of antique shops and the bustling market in the city also make up for interesting places of visit.

Arrive and check in at the hotel.
Overnight Stay in Kandy


Day 05 Kandy | Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at the hotel.
Thereafter, leave for Nuwara Eliya (Approximately 2 ½ drives’ drive) On your arrival do Nuwara Eliya city tour and Tea plantation visit.

Dubbed the ‘Little England of Sri Lanka’, Nuwara Eliya is located in the thick, misty hills of this paradise isle, 180 km away from Colombo. The summer resort of Sri Lanka, it is one of the few areas where the colonial atmosphere is preserved, still resembling a British countryside complete with rose gardens, hedges and red-roofed bungalows. Although the town-centre has receded from its old-world charm, the lush tea-plantations, the racecourse, the English country house–styled Hill Club and the beautifully kept golf course instantaneously rushes its visitors back to the colonial times
Arrive and check in at the hotel.

Overnight Stay in Nuwara Eliya


Day 06 Nuwara Eliya

Early morning with packed breakfast leave for Horton Plains.

Located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, the Horton plains are a mystical world of extraordinary beauties. The plains located over 2000m high are covered by montane grasslands, coverings of thick forests, filigree waterfalls and rocky boulders and hazy lakes. Horton Plains is the only national park in Sri Lanka where the visitors are allowed to hike on their own and it provides some excellent trails for hikes amongst the shadows of its dewy foliage and misty landscapes. The main attraction of the location is the World’ End, where the plateau reaches an abrupt end with a mysterious ridge that drops over 800m straight. The Baker’s Falls that lies along the hiking trails is also a popular spot that visitors admire owing to its serene, misty environs.

Return to hotel.

Overnight Stay in Nuwara Eliya.


Day 07 Nuwara Eliya | Yala

After breakfast leave for Yala. (Approximately 3 ½ hours’ drive) Arrived to Yala and check in at the hotel. Evening leisure at the hotel.

Overnight Stay in Yala.


Day 08 Yala

Early morning with packed breakfast leave for Yala National park for morning game drive.

Its magnificent sights of majestic elephant herds, fine-feathered peacocks, great black bears and agile leopards that steal away into the shadows of the thick foliage are unparalleled to any of the national parks in the country. Apart from the rare sightings of varied animal species, which includes herds of elephants and leopards, the visitors can also enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach in the beautiful setting of unspoilt beaches, as the Southern park border lies along the South-eastern coastal line. The ancient monastic settlement, Sithulpawwa located midst the thick verdure of the park also makes up for an interesting place of visit.
Return to hotel and evening leisure.

Overnight Stay in Yala


Day 09 Yala | Udawalawa

After breakfast leave for Udawalawa. (Approximately 1 ½ hours’ drive) Arrive and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon you will do the Jeep safari in Udawalawa National park.

Home to scenic landscapes and rare wildlife that rival the savannah reserves of Africa, the Udawalawe National Park is a treasure of this emerald isle. Nourished by the Udawala reservoir, the park is located between the Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces, stretching over 30,000 hectares. It is most popular for elephant sightings as the verdure shelters close to 500 jumbos. The riches within the park do not end there; flocks of sambar deer, wild buffaloes, bandicoots, foxes, water-monitor lizards, crocodiles, sloth bears, the occasional leopards and a wealth of reptiles and birds can also be observed in their natural habitats.
Return to hotel.

Overnight Stay in Udawalawa


Day 10 Udawalawa | Sinharaja

After breakfast, leave for Dickwella. (Approximately 2 ½ drives’ drive) En route visit Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home. (please note daily feeding time at 9.00 am, 12.00 pm, 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm)

If you are a wildlife enthusiast, the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe run by the Born Free Foundation is definitely a must-visit. Located about 5 km away from the Udawalawe National Park, it is a halfway house that cares for wounded adult elephants and orphaned, baby elephants. The complex usually houses about 50 elephants during any time of the year. Apart from caring for the sick and orphaned animals, it also rehabilitates them before they are released into the wild. Although the visitors are not permitted to be with the elephants up-close and personal, the feeding times of baby elephants scheduled four times daily (9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm and 6 pm) are wonderful opportunities to observe them and can be quiet.

Thereafter, proceed to Sinharaja. Arrive and check in at the hotel. Evening at leisure.

Dense, dark and mysterious - the Sinharaja is a picturesque rainforest ideal for meditation, relaxation and scientific exploration. Located at the heart of the island’s wet-zone, it is the last standing rainforest within Sri Lanka. Midst the thick evergreens that stretch over 18900 acres reside some of the rarest wildlife treasures of this paradise isle. Upon entering the forest, its visitors become one with nature, embracing the serenity of the lush surroundings. Sinharaja’s ‘mixed-species feeding bird flocks’ is a unique wildlife spectacle and is popular amongst birders who visit to observe the feathered creatures in their natural habitats. The villages located close to the forest make an interesting experience as they produce some of the best honey and treacle in the country.

Arrive and check in at the hotel. Evening at leisure.

Dinner and Overnight Stay in Sinharaja


Day 11 Sinharaja

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day lesuire at the hotel.

Dinner and Overnight Stay in Sinharaja


Day 12 Sinharaja | Colombo

Breakfast at the hotel. Later, leave for Colombo

Colombo is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins and the population of about 752,993 in the city limits. It was formerly the political capital of Sri Lanka, before Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. Due to its large harbour and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago.

Overnight Stay in Colombo


Day 13 Colombo | Airport

Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter, according to the flight time proceed to the Airport for departure. (Approximately 45 minutes’ drive)


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Itinerary

Accommodations provided in each place