Overview
Being blessed with mother nature, the sri lankan big five is one of the most sought after experiences by the wildlife enthusiasts. Scattered within 25330 square miles, this 7 days trip would cover sri lankas big five; leopard, sloth bear, asian elephant, blue whale & sperm whale.
Witnessing the splendour of blue whales and sperm whales in their natural habitat off the southern coast: inarguably one of the best locations in the world to spot these beautiful mammals of the ocean – is an experience words can barely describe!
Shared jeep safaris in the yala & udawalawe national parks with some of sri lankas finest naturalists, will enable you to observe sri lankan leopards, sloth bears and asian elephants, besides so many other wondrous animals including nocturnal species in these two national parks.
This wonderful wildlife holiday in sri lanka offers cosy accommodations situated close to nature, setting the stage for a truly wanderlust experience, close to wildlife like you never before would have experienced!
Ideal for – Wildlife enthusiasts who are looking for a dash of culture as well. Recommended for Solo Travelers / Couples / Friends / Families with kids and teenagers / Groups consisting of friends and family.
Highlights at a glance
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are nurtured and injured elephants are nursed back to health.
- Explore the world’s best park for Leopards, Yala National Park, with multiple safaris.
- Meet the giants of the forests - the Sri Lankan elephants - as you explore Udawalawe National Park.
- Stay at Tented Safari Camps bordering the National Parks in Sri Lanka and experience guided safaris, candlelight dinners under the stars, night walks and delicious BBQ served by roaring campfires.
- Explore the eclectic streets of the Galle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage site.
- Go on a Boat Safari to see the largest mammal on earth, the Blue Whale* or experience the Ceylon Cinnamon Trail.
- Experience regional culinary specialities and engage in culinary lessons with specialist chefs.
Itinerary
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.
Morning Star
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.
Pedlar 62
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.
Includes/Excludes
Includes
- 6 nights accommodation.
- Bed & Breakfast basis at Morning Star & Pedlar 62.
- Half Board basis at Big Game campsites (Udawalawe & Yala).
- Transportation in an air conditioned vehicle with an English Speaking Chauffeur throughout the tour.
- Jeep Safaris in the above mentioned National Park in a Private Jeep including the entry permit costs & government tracker fees. Including 03 half day safaris at Udawalawe & Yala, 01 full day safari at Yala.
- Jeep cost of night drive at Udawalawe buffer zone.
- Service charges at the hotels & current applicable taxes by the Sri Lankan Government.
Excludes
- Any International or Domestic flights.
- Any Visa fee or ETA fee. (Electronic Travel Authorization)
- Christmas & New Year Eve dinner supplement. (24th & 31st December)
- Entry permits to all the sites, temples, museums & monuments.
- Any additional beverage or food.
- Early Check-in or Late Checkout Charges at Hotels.
- Any tips to the staff.
- Any expense of personal requirements telephone, laundry, hotel extra bills etc.)
- Any additional expenses , other than mentioned in the inclusions list above.
When it comes to the accommodation, all the reservations are subject to availability at the time of confirmation, and as soon as we have received the payment, our Tour Operations Team will take in charge of your tour and proceed with the reservations. In case a hotel mentioned in your itinerary has no availability, we will find you an alternative. No changes will be done without your approval!
We will make a rough day-by-day schedule for your tour, but won’t set you exact timings for each and every activity – unless there is a an activity which start at a specific time. Since you will be traveling by private vehicle, with a knowledgeable driver-guide, we want you to have your part in decision making. With the help from him, you may tune the schedule to your rhythm.
Along the destinations included in your itinerary, you are free to take as many stops as you want to. When it comes to additional visits and destinations that are located out of the original route, the extra kilometers will be taken in consideration. For your journey, we will calculate a total mileage that is sufficient for the whole tour and mentioned in your itinerary. If this limit is exceeded, we will charge a supplement according the extra mileage.
We’ll do our best to accommodate the programme in your needs and wishes, if something urgent occurs during your tour. In a situation that requires changing the accommodation, the cancellation policies of the hotels concerned are to be taken on account.
Since the 1st of January 2012, all travelers must be in possession of a visa when arriving in Sri Lanka. Citizens from Singapore and The Maldives are the only exempt. Visitors can apply for the official Electronic Travel Authorization (visa) via www.eta.gov.lk, or upon arrival at the airport. There is a small fee to pay, and you must have at least six months left on your passport at the time of travel to obtain one.
MasterCard and Visa are widely used and accepted by many local shops, restaurants and hotels, but it’s always better to double check. Other major cards such as AmEx and DinersClub are accepted often also.
The important stuff
Sri lanka is a nation where religion and culture occupy an important place in the day-to-day lives of the local people. It is important to be aware of the customs and practices that are particular to the location you are visiting, so here are a few general tips to keep in mind during your travels. Your guide will assist you with more detailed information.
- If you plan on visiting any temples, ancient or current, you should wear clothing that covers your body from your shoulders down to your knees. Head coverings such as caps or helmets should be removed and shoes must be taken off at the entrance. White coloured clothing is generally a good choice to go with here.
- Some religious places do not allow photography or videography without prior permission and some may not allow it at all. Refer to signage or ask your chauffeur guide about the policy or protocol. Dont try to photograph or take videos without permission. If you have any tattoos associated with buddhism, hinduism or islamism, its best that you cover them completely in public places. Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, workplaces and on public transport.
- If you have any tattoos associated with buddhism, hinduism or islamism, its best that you cover them completely in public places.
- Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, workplaces and on public transport.
Tour was very enjoyable. Yala game drive was excellent.
Sighting of Sloth Bear was so unexpected.
Name: Tony A R Wilson
Country: United Kingdom
Completed Tour On: 21.05.2023
Your guides, drivers and staff are exceptional, and the foundation of your great company.
And our driver really did a fabulous job. A delight to be with and a charming influence on the journey.
You have a good concept – Nice work and thank you for the great experience
Name: Stephen
Country: Canada
Completed Tour On: 12.03.2023
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Very very good travelBy Alexfrom BelgiumJuly 22, 2019Very nice travel in december 2018. 5 leopards, blue whales, dolphins, turtles, lot of mammals, lizards, many different ecosystems and almost 200 hundred bird species!! The guides are very nice and they respect the environment by not going inside the leopard races (in Yala) for example. The food was very good and the discovery of the Sri Lankan culture too. I hope to come back one day.Date of Experience: December 30, 2018
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