Overview
This tour is perfect for those who are looking to explore the beautiful wildlife and nature of Sri Lanka in a short span of time.
Explore Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and experience the urban biodiversity the city has to offer on the first day of the tour.
On the next few days witness the wonder of mammoth elephants and majestic leopards at two of Sri Lanka’s best parks – Yala and Udawala. Enjoy incredible Safari tours, including a night tour, which will allow you to not just experience but also learn about the diversity of flora and fauna that Sri Lanka has to offer.
Make your way to picturesque Galle situated in the southern coast of the island to get a glimpse of the deep blue sea and the wonderful cultural treasures it has to offer. End your tour at this beautiful location with a hearty breakfast under the warm tropical sun.
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
- Roam in the streets of Commercial Capital; Colombo
- Visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are nurtured and injured elephants are nursed back to health.
- Meet the giants of the forests - the Sri Lankan elephants - as you explore Udawalawe National Park.
- Explore the world’s best park for Leopards, Yala National Park, with multiple safaris.
- 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.
Itinerary
Welcome to Sri Lanka!
Once you arrive at the airport in Katunayake, you will be guided by our representative to Colombo, the commercial and cultural capital of Sri Lanka where you will be spending your first day in the country.
Colombo offers an array of exciting attractions and activities for any traveller to indulge in. The city is adorned with unique architecture, cultural and religious destinations, vibrant markets and places of biological importance such as wetlands. The Colombo wetlands are ideal for observing many bird, butterfly and dragonfly species including migrants. If you are lucky you may also come across varieties of reptiles, amphibians and mammals while exploring the Baddagana or Attidiya parks. You can spend your day exploring the many wonders of Colombo and enjoy a luxurious stay at a Colombo hotel during your first night in Sri Lanka.
Fairway Colombo
On your second day, you will travel to Udawalawe.
Upon your arrival at Udawalawe, your first destination would be Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home. A visit to this location is always a heartwarming experience for anyone. The home provides refuge to a large number of juvenile elephants that have been orphaned or separated by their herds. You can watch them stream out in a line to receive their milk feed and enjoy playing with each other. The baby elephants in the home range from just a few months to five years of age. Witness the botte feeding of Milk to elephant calves at 2.30pm.
Soon after the elephant feeding, the next would be an evening jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park. An elephant population of over 600 are believed to be resident in the park. It is also home to other mammals such as monkeys, sambar and spotted deer, leopard, jackal and mongoose. In addition, you can also see crocodiles, waders and beautiful forest birds such as the Malabar Hornbill.
Drive to your campsite in the park border for dinner and overnight stay.
Your next destination, the Bundala National Park is a Ramsar site famous for housing a large number of resident and migrant waterfowls. Bundala has over 200 bird species including rare species such as the black-necked stork and great thick-knee. Between the months of October and March you can experience unique sights of over 10,000 shorebird feeding in the shallow water in unison. The park is also home to both crocodile species that exist in the country, the freshwater crocodile and the estuarine crocodile – which is the largest reptile alive today.
In addition, you can also see a large number of mammals and four out of five sea turtle species in Sri lanka who come ashore to lay eggs in the coastal region of the park.
Your final destination for the day will be Yala where you will check in to a hotel or camping site close to the Yala National Park for a relaxing night.
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.
Lady Hill Hotel
Your last morning in Sri Lanka will also be spent in picturesque Galle where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast and reminisce on the adventure you just concluded. You will then be taken to the airport well before departure.
Includes/Excludes
Our Services Include
- 6 nights accommodation on Double Sharing basis
- Bed & Breakfast basis at Hotels in Colombo & Galle
- 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 01 half day safaris at Udawalawe & Bundala National Parks and 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.
Our Services do not Include
- Any International or Domestic flights.
- Any Visa fee
- 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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