Sri Lanka Parks and Wildlife Tour
Tour route
- Wattala
- Wilpattu
- Kandy
- Nuwara
- Eliya
- Yala
- Udawalawe
- Sinharaja
- Mirissa
- Wattala
Prices from £2,099 pp for 14 nights including flights and transfers
Highlights
- Wildlife safaris in four national parks
- Watch a feeding at the Elephant Transit Home
- Trek the evergreen forest of Horton Plains
- Walk the nature trails in Sinharaja Rain Forest
- Enjoy a Tea Plantation tour in Nuwara Eliya
- Visit Temples in Dambulla & Kandy
Overview
Sri Lanka’s oceanfront national parks, mangroves, swamps and tropical rainforests have given rise to the amazing range of animals and birds that inhabit its borders.
Visit Yala National Park, home to the highest density of leopards in the world, trek through Udawattakele Nature Reserve to hidden forest monasteries and cave dwellings and spot endangered birds in the tropical undergrowth of Sinharaja Rainforest as you journey through the richest wildlife regions of this island nation.
Tour Dates:
2019
19 Feb, 05 Mar, 16 Apr, 07 May, 04 Jun, 03 Sep, 17 Sep, 15 Oct, 05 Nov, 19 Nov
Included in the Price
- Fully Escorted Tour with local English Speaking Guides throughout
- Scheduled Flights from the UK.
- All internal travel including air-conditioned/heated transportation.
- Accommodation, meals as specified and entry fees to all sights.
- All airport taxes and security charges.
Itinerary changes
The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, the order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
Travelling Alone?
We have 2 rooms available on most tour dates for single use where no single supplement will need to be paid. But hurry, these spaces are limited and subject to availability. If however once all the places are sold out and you are happy to share with another passenger of the same gender then let us know at the time of booking and we will endeavour to find you a travelling partner.
Hotel Information
The hotels listed below are provided for guidance only and final confirmation of your accommodation will be sent to you approximately 10 days before you travel
Wattala (2 nights): 4* Pegasus Reef Hotel
Wilpattu (2 nights): 4* Big Game Camp Wilpattu National Park
Kandy (2 nights): 3* Hotel Tree of Life
Nuwara Eliya (2 nights): 3* Mirage Kings Cottage
Yala (2 nights): 4* Tamarind Lake
Udawalawe (1 night): 3* Centauria Wild Hotel
Sinharaja (2 nights): 4* Rainforest Eco-lodge
Mirissa (1 night): 4* Mandara Resort
Included in the Price
- Fully Escorted Tour with local English Speaking Guides throughout
- Scheduled Flights from the UK.
- All internal travel including air-conditioned/heated transportation.
- Accommodation, meals as specified and entry fees to all sights.
- All airport taxes and security charges.
Itinerary changes
The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, the order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
Yala National Park
Please note that Yala National Park may close during September and October. If this does occur, you will visit the nearby Udawalawe National Park instead.
Extend your tour with a Sri Lanka Beach Stay 4 nights from £299pp
See the Highlights of Kerala 5 nights from £489pp
Extend your trip with a Maldives Beach Stay 4 nights from £839pp
Prices from £2,099 per person for 16 nights including flights and transfers.
Tour itineraries and accommodation may be subject to change.
Contact us about this tour
Itinerary
Day 1: UK to Colombo
Depart London on your overnight flight to Colombo.
Day 2: Wattala
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel with the rest of the day free before your welcome dinner.
• Dinner
Day 3: Wattala to Wilpattu
Depart for Wilpattu with a stop at Anawilundawa, where the ocean, mangroves and lakes which meet attract flocks of birds. Enjoy a barbeque dinner in Wilpattu.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Wilpattu
Enjoy a full-day safari at Wilpattu National Park and the chance to spot the Sri Lankan leopards and abundant wildlife, including elephants, bears and buffalo, which roam the area. This evening enjoy an outdoor barbecue dinner at your accommodation.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Wilpattu to Kandy
After breakfast depart for the hill capital of Kandy, stopping en-route to visit the Dambulla Rock Temple, a vast cave network containing painted walls and ceilings. Visit Matale for lunch, then continue on to the city of Kandy, the last royal capital of the Sri Lankan monarchy. A short city tour takes you through the city centre, with its bustling markets and bazaars, to the golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth that houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – one of Buddha’s teeth.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Kandy
Head to Udawattakele Nature Reserve, where you’ll embark on a forest trek, with the chance to spot deer, boar, bats, flying squirrels and monkeys. Explore the three Buddhist monasteries and cave dwellings in the forest undergrowth before enjoying lunch in a local restaurant and spending the afternoon at leisure, with the option to enjoy a relaxing massage (at a fee).
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Explore the spectacular botanical gardens of Peradeniya which boast a fantastic variety of exotic palms, colourful orchids and over 4,000 plant species. Travel to the countryside town of Nuwara Eliya, stopping for a tour of a local tea plantation. Upon arrival in Nuwara Eliya, a short hike and scenic drive past rolling valleys and cascading waterfalls allow for beautiful views over this rural hamlet.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya
Trek the dense evergreen forests of Horton Plains, a 1.5 – 3 hour walk that takes you past the thundering waters of Bakers Fall, the sheer drop of the cliffs at World’s End, and the herds of wildlife that inhabit the park. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure at your hotel, with an optional excursion to the local golf course
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Nuwara Eliya to Yala
Journey to Lunugamwehera National Park and make your way through the reserve on an afternoon jeep safari. Keep an eye out for the elephants, water buffalo and wild boar that roam the grasslands and the pelicans and mugger crocodiles patrolling the waters. Continue on to the lakeside area of Kataragama for the night
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10: Yala
The vast oceanfront reserve of Yala National Park is home to the highest density of leopards in the world. In the early morning, travel through the park by jeep and look for the wild animals that inhabit the area. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, with the option to visit Kataragama Temple to witness the ‘pooja’ prayer ritual.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11: Yala to Udawalawe
Witness an elephant feeding on a morning visit to the Elephant Transit Home, a rehabilitation centre for injured elephants, then head deeper into Udawalawe National Park on a jeep safari. Known for the big herds of elephants which roam its interior, the park promises close elephant encounters and the chance to spot other wildlife.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 12: Udawalawe to Sinharaja
Travel to Sinharaja and the rainforest eco-lodge where you’ll spend the night, surrounded by tropical trees and greenery. Travel through the cool tropical undergrowth of nearby Sinharaja Rainforest on this afternoon’s nature trail, looking for endangered Sri Lankan bird species in this UNESCOlisted reserve
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 13: Sinharaja
Wake to the sounds of nature and explore the rainforest on another trail before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, perhaps with a dip in the natural pool in the middle of the forest. Optional excursions into the rainforest are also available.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 14: Sinharaja to Mirissa
Journey to the coastal town of Mirissa and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at your beachfront resort.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 15: Mirissa to Wattala
Enjoy Mirissa with the morning at leisure or take a seasonal whale watching excursion (at a fee). Dolphins and whales frequent these waters between the months of November and March. Today marks the end of the tour for those staying on for the Sri Lanka beach extension, otherwise, transfer to Wattala. Please note: the Mirissa whale watching excursion is seasonal and takes place November – March only.
• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 16: Colombo to the UK
Transfer to Colombo for your return flight to the UK or continue on to your chosen extension.
• Breakfast
Is this the right tour for you?
This is the tour for you if you are looking for a very affordable way to see the best of Sri Lanka’s rich wildlife and scenery whilst staying in comfortable 3-4* hotels with additional optional excursions at extra cost if you wish.