A fabulous two week tailor made itinerary in Sri Lanka, explore the stunning scenery, wildlife and heritage sites of this beautiful country.
Sri Lanka has everything a wildlife enthusiast could ask for. The island’s dazzling array of national parks are home to an excellent range of mammals, as well as a huge diversity of birds. This extensive itinerary brings together the finest locations in Sri Lanka for observing wildlife, but also combines wonderful landscapes and some of the island’s iconic cultural and historical locations.
Over the course of two weeks, this suggested itinerary will provide opportunities to see Asian elephant, marsh mugger crocodile, sambar, chital, leopard, and even sloth bear. As for birds, there have been more than 400 species recorded in Sri Lanka, of which 30 are endemic to the island. Some of the notable highlights that you could see here include red-faced malkoha, malabar trogon, Sri Lanka blue magpie and white-bellied sea eagle.
Suggested Itinerary
-
Day 1:
Depart UK
-
Days 2-3
:
Arrive Colombo & drive to Kandy
On arrival in at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo, you will be met by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel in Kandy - a drive of around three hours. The remainder of the day is free to relax. On your second day, visit the Temple of the Tooth and Millennium Elephant Foundation.
Accommodation: Hotel Thilanka, 2-nights
-
Days 4-6
:
Drive to Nuwara Eliya via Udawattakale Forest; visit Horton Plains
This morning you head south to Nuwara Eliya, visting Udawattakele Forest en route. Located a hillside north of Kandy, this rainforest reserve is home to numerous animals and birds, including mouse deer, jackals, porcupines and civets.
During your stay in Nuwara Eliya, you will also visit Victoria Park and Hakgala Botanical Gardens. You will also make a full day visit to Horton Plains, which lies roughly two hours drive from Nuwara Eliya, in search of endemic birds and butterflies.
Accommodation: Heaven Seven Nuwara Eliya Hotel, 3-nights
-
Day 7:
Transfer to Tissamaharama
Continue your drive to Tissamaharama, visiting Ravana Ella waterfall en route. You spend the next two nights at Tissamaharama.
Accommodation: Rain Tree Hotel, 2-nights
-
Day 8:
Lunugamvehera National Park
It will be an early start to the day as you have a full-day safari in Lunugamvehera National Park, one of the sectors of the larger Yala National Park. On your safari, there is a possibility of spotting some of Sri Lanka’s large mammals, including leopard, and a diverse range of birds and reptiles.
-
Day 9:
Birding around Tissamaharama & Yala Salt Pans
This morning, after breakfast, you are transferred to your accommodation close to Yala National Park where you will spend the next three nights. En route, you will stop to do some birding around Tissamaharama and the Yala Salt Pans before reaching our destination later in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Cinnamon Wild Hotel, 3-nights
-
Day 10:
Full-day safari in Yala National Park
Today, enjoy a full day jeep in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s oldest wildlife reserve and famous for one of the world’s highest densities of leopard – and some of its largest and most visible individuals. The park is also home to elephant, sloth bear, sambar, chital, marsh mugger crocodile and several civet species. Birding highlights include blue-faced malkoha, rufous-winged bush lark, thick-billed flower-pecker and purple sunbird.
Accommodation: Cinnamon Wild Hotel, 2-nights
-
Day 11:
Visit Bundala Lewaya
Today you visit the Ramsar site of Bundala Lewaya, the south coast’s major wetland area. Home to almost all Sri Lanka’s resident waterbirds, the area attracts countless migrants between November and March. Highlights include greater flamingo, lesser adjutant and painted stork. Mammals such as elephant, chital, grey langur, water monitor and crocodile are also seen regularly.
-
Days 12-14
:
Drive to Sinharaja Forest Reserve via Udawalawe
Udawalawe National Park and Walawe Reservoir comprise an area of open plains and hills in south-west Sri Lanka at the foot of the Kaltota Escarpment. The park is good for elephants with herds of 50 to 60 individuals regularly seen as well as sambar, chital and wild boar. Dry zone birdlife includes greyheaded 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. Safari drives in open-top jeeps are accompanied by local wildlife guides.
After your visit here, continue to Sinharaja Forest Reserve, home to several of Sri Lanka's endemic animals, birds and plants.
Accommodation: Blue Magpie Lodge, 3-nights
-
Day 15:
Katunayaka near Colombo
Today it’s time to head back north to the Colombo area - a drive of roughly five hours, to a pleasant hotel close to the airport, ready for your farewell tomorrow.
Accommodation: Tamarind Tree Hotel, 1-night
-
Day 16:
Fly back to the UK
You will be transferred to Colombo airport in time for a daytime flight back to the UK.
