Big 5 in 7 Days(Private Tour)

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Your first destination – Negombo. This will take about 25 minutes and depending on your arrival time, you can decide how you want to spend the rest of the day.
This coastal city is a bustling place, with historical buildings and churches reflecting colonial influences. Negombo has a canal system that weaves an interesting route around the city and a lively fisherfolk community with a daily bustling fish market that attracts people from near and far. And of course its enchanting beach that will always beckon you.

An early morning start will see you heading to the fish market to watch the day’s catch coming in, experience the process of wholesale fish trading and also to learn about the process of drying fish.
Then we will head to the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe where over 50 elephants are being cared for, before being released to the wild. Next: an evening Guided Jeep Safari at Udawalawe. After dinner a night walk will also be included with the guidance of an expert naturalist.

After a solid night’s rest, we’ll take you again for a morning Guided Safari. This gives you more opportunities to see different wildlife in action or in relaxation!

Besides the elephants, this dry zone park is a haven for bird watchers too. It is a birds’ paradise with over 183 species inhabiting the park, so watch out for the pied cuckoo, booted eagle, Malabar pied hornbill – among other birds.
Then you’ll be taken to a cookery demonstration of a typical Sri Lankan lunch: prepared in clay pots giving it an authentic taste – followed by tucking into it for lunch!
After lunch and a break we’ll be heading to a nearby Buddhist monastery. Buddhist monasteries, dating back centuries, are characterized by their ancient architecture, tranquil surroundings, and spiritual practices. These monasteries serve as centres of worship, learning, and meditation, providing a sanctuary for monks and visitors alike. We stop our jeep and walk through the forest for about 20 minutes to reach the monastery.

Then come back to the camp for evening sundowner tea overlooking the park. After dinner under the stars, you will be taken on a night drive to an Elephant Pass to observe the nocturnal behavior of elephants.

Bird watching in Sri Lanka is quite a rewarding experience and the camp’s resident naturalist will take you on a morning birding trail, which will culminate just in time for breakfast. The drive to Yala is quite short, so after a brief exploration of the campgrounds, followed by a delicious authentic Sri Lankan lunch, you will be taken on your evening safari of Yala National Park. A delicious dinner by a roaring campfire awaits your return from the safari, and your adventures on this day are capped off with a night walk along the borders of the Park, to meet some of the nocturnal residents of the jungle.

An early morning start will see you set off on a full day safari with packed breakfasts, lunches, and refreshments. Full day safaris are the best when it comes to getting the most sightings in, as it allows you to be inside the park for an extended period of time. Yala is also culturally significant and you will come across the ancient temples and monasteries of Situlpawwa, Magul Vihara and Akasa Chaitiya during your time there. A significant part of Yala borders the Indian Ocean and your picnic-style lunch on this day will be served in a safe location by the beach, where Park visitors are permitted to disembark from their vehicles.

After breakfast, we will stop at the famous Kataragama Temple for a morning pooja. Then head to Galle, check in your hotel and get ready for the Galle Fort Tour. On your Galle Fort tour, you’ll get an insight into the colonial history, legends and mysteries of the Fort. You are free to explore and experience the fort thereafter, but we do recommend that you head to the ramparts in the evening to watch the sunset whilst enjoying some street food.

If your tour is from November to March, you will leave early by 6-6:30am to go whale watching from the Mirissa harbour. This is an exciting adventure when you may sight Blue whales and Bottle-nosed dolphins. If you are travelling from April to October, you will go on the Galle Cinnamon Experience; an interactive tour which gives you a sense of a cinnamon farmer’s life – visiting a beautiful, working cinnamon estate.

We’ve reached the end of your 7 day holiday to Sri Lanka and it is time to depart. We will take you to Colombo Airport in time to catch your departure flight.