Elephants of Sri Lanka

Days 1 & 2. Colombo

Depart London for Colombo. On arrival the next day you will be met and transferred to Villa Talangama where you spend the night.

Days 3 & 4. Udawalawe & Bundala National Parks [B, D]

Today you head for the Oasis Hotel in Hambantota, where you will be based for two nights. Accommodation here is comfortable with all rooms having air-conditioning, a balcony and private facilities. More importantly the hotel provides an ideal base for exploring Udawalawe and Bundala National Parks.

Udawalawe National Park is home to wonderful birdlife including the Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Shikra, Common Kestrel, Brown Fish Owl and Western Marsh Harrier. It is also home to many Elephants, 50-60 often being seen at any one time. Enjoy afternoon safaris wildlife-viewing by jeep. Meanwhile Bundala National Park is home to 150 species of winter migrants and resident birds. Highlights include Greater Flamingo, Lesser Adjutant and Painted Stork.

Days 5 & 6.Yala National Park [B, D]

Continue to Yala National Park and Yala Village Beach Hotel where you spend two nights. Spend time birding along the lodge's nature trail which incorporates a variety of habitats resulting in a fantastic diversity of birdlife. (See our 'Leopards of Sri Lanka' itinerary for further information on the park and lodge.)

Day 7. Kandy [B, D]

Transfer to Kandy for a 1-night stay at Hotel Suisse. An afternoon visit to the Temple of the Tooth is included.

Days 8 & 9. Wasgomuwa [B, D]

Continue to the exclusive Dunuvila Cottage for a 2-night stay, which is conveniently on the border of Wasgomuwa National Park. The cottage is eco-friendly with mud walls, a thatched roof, verandahs and accommodation consisting of two rooms and a bathroom with an open-air shower and a sunken bath. Of the 23 species of mammals that have been spotted in Wasgomuwa National Park, the most important is the Indian Elephant of which there are approximately 150. In addition you may see Water Buffalo, Chital, Water Monitor and crocodile. Birding highlights include the globally threatened Lesser Adjutant.

Days 10 & 11. Sigiriya [B, D]

Sigiriya Village Hotel is your next port of call where you spend two nights. From here you may visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, birding en-route on the look out for the elusive resident Blue-eared Kingfisher. Explore the Polonnaruwa Sanctuary and Minneriya National Park where Elephants, Sambar and Chital are a common sight. Birding highlights include the Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill and Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl.

Days 12 & 13. Homeward [B, D (Day 12 only)]

After breakfast transfer back to Colombo, visiting the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage en-route. Spend the night at the Taj Airport Garden Hotel, before catching your daytime homeward flight the next day.