Sri Lanka’s wildlife ranges from wild elephants and leopards to sea turtles and a vast variety of birds. Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park is known to have the highest density of leopards in the world. National parks and bird sanctuaries, particularly in the southern and central zones, have the best opportunities to see animals in their natural habitat. Stay alert for a sighting of the endangered sloth bear or leopard, watch hundreds of elephants feeding and washing in a tank or lagoon during “the gathering”; or be amazed by the egg laying sea turtles. Our tours include many possibilities for wildlife watching and birding.
This is a tour that introduces guests to the best wild life sanctuaries in Sri Lanka as well as including fascinating adventures like a nature trail, a forest trek and a bullock cart ride, concluding with a couple of relaxing days on the beach by the Indian Ocean. This journey of discovery begins with a drive northwards along the west coast to the seldom-visited Wilpattu National Park for two nights, then south to the centre of the Cultural Triangle with an opportunity to visit another National Park. There is an arranged encounter with Veddas, and a night in the old capital of the medieval kingdom of Kandy with its Temple of the Tooth and grand Edwardian buildings.
Next a conducted tour of the Sinharaja Forest followed by a safari in the southern National Park of Yala, concluding with a couple of nights in the tourist hotspot for the young-at-heart, Hikkaduwa, awaits you.
On arrival you will be met by our English speaking Chauffeur Guide and the Airport staff who will offer assistance. Arrive at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure as you will be after a relatively long flight.
Leave Negombo and transfer to Wilpattu National Park. The Wilpattu National Park recently opened after a closure of over 20 years. The wilderness is pristine and remains undisturbed. Meet the camp crew and settle down at your campsite which is located at the border of the National Park.
Enjoy morning and evening game drives at the Wilpattu National Park. Observe the majestic creatures of Sri Lanka in their natural habitat. A real treat for nature and animal lovers alike. This exciting drive is a must do during your visit.
After breakfast depart to the hub of the cultural triangle, the town of Habarana. You can either spend the afternoon relaxing or embark on an exciting safari at Minneriya National Park.
After breakfast take part in the Hiriwaduna Trek. This trek allows you to understand village life as well as experience a bullock cart ride and even a catamaran boat ride.
Thereafter proceed to Sri Lanka’s Hill Capital, Kandy en route visiting the Matale Spice Gardens.
Leave after an early breakfast to Dambana a village where it is possible to meet the Veddha community, Sri Lanka’s aborigines. Interact with this community through interpreters and learn of their unique way of life.
In the evening visit the much revered Temple of the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha and a sightseeing tour of Kandy and enjoy and learn of its history and surroundings.
After breakfast proceed to a location close to the Sinharaja Rainforest. A lowland rain forest alive with life. Bird watchers will find this to be a real treat.
Spend the evening at leisure after a strenuous drive from Kandy.
After breakfast, embark on a guided walk in the Sinharaja Rainforest. Listen to the chirping of birds and learn about the different species of birds, reptiles and amphibians found within this great Rain Forest.
Leave after breakfast for Yala National Park. Arrive at the campsite located inside the Yala National Park in time for lunch. Popular for its Elephant and Leopard sightings, catch a glimpse of these creatures roaming the wild.
Take an evening game drive of Yala National Park to track the Sri Lanka Leopard, Elephant, Sloth Bear and many other exciting species of wildlife.
Set off once again and enjoy morning and evening game drives at the Yala National Park. This is an ideal opportunity to observe all the animals you might have missed during the previous day, as each day is different from the other.
After your final morning game drive, you will leave Yala and journey to Hikkaduwa. Arrive at your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure relaxing by the beautiful beach. Grab a drink as you sit down on the soft sand while you watch the sun set.
Spend the whole day at the beach. Catch some sun or take a walk along the shore line as you are surrounded by the sights and sounds of tropical paradise.
After breakfast proceed to the Airport in time for the connecting flight.
The ancient kingdom of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha as well as Edwardian buildings, a king-made lake, a nature reserve and exciting shops.
As the second largest city of the island and the capital of the Central Province, Kandy has grown from being a medieval kingdom to a friendly, busy city set in forested hills and surrounded by tea plantations and close to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, as well as the Temple of the Tooth. There are many Buddhist monasteries and Hindu places of worship to visit, and cultural dance performances to watch.
Kandy is a convenient base to stay for a few days while exploring the Cultural Triangle as there are comfortable hotels to suit every budget. The city is easily accessible from Colombo by rail, road and float plane.
Wilpattu National Park is located in the north west of the dry zone of the island with a long coastal boundary. It is approximately 180 km north of Colombo. Wilpattu is reputed to have the highest density of leopards in the world. The park is also home to elephants, spotted deer, boars and mongooses. The jungle fowl, the national bird of Sri Lanka, and many species of owls, gulls, eagles are also found in the Park.
The Park is also inhabited by mugger crocodiles, common cobras, Indian pythons and soft shelled turtles. During the rains of the northeast monsoons from December to February and the subsequent inter-monsoonal rains, the 60 lakes and tanks in the Park attract wildlife while flora and fauna thrive in the lush climate. Only a quarter of the Park is open to visitors; the rest is covered in dense forest.
Yala National Park is also known as the Ruhunu National Park and is one of the biggest jungles in the country. Set in the southeast of Sri Lanka, it is a 305 km drive from Colombo. Elephants are the Park’s main attraction although leopards are seen frequently and the sloth bear occasionally. Yala is also home to hundred species of birds, endemic and foreign, including the jungle fowl, Sri Lanka’s national bird, and flocks of peacocks. Yala also has a beach front and swamps haunted by crocodiles.
As one of the first National Parks established in Sri Lanka (in 1938), Yala is an established place for tourists to visit and stay as it has plenty of accommodation near its gates, both luxurious and budget and even camping; morning and evening safaris by jeep can be arranged easily.
The Sinharaja Rainforest covers 7,648ha and is a biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site, a national park surrounded by rivers. While the altitude ranges between 300m to 1,000m, the Reserve houses more than 50% of endemic species including mammals, butterflies, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians living in temperatures of 19 – 34 degrees Celsius. Sinharaja is home to twelve endemic mammals including the frequently seen giant squirrel, dusky-stripped jungle squirrel, badger mongoose and endemic purple-faced leaf monkey and torque macaque.
The birds include more than half of the endemic species including endangered ones while the Green Pit Viper and the Hump-nosed Viper are common reptiles. The Torrent toad, common house toad and the Wrinkled Frog and Sri Lankan Reed Frogs are also found in Sinharaja. The Reserve can be reached from hotels on the west coast.
This tour packs in all the essentials of Sri Lanka between beaches. It is good to spend the first night at a beach hotel in Negombo because it is not far from the airport. The tour begins with a visit to the Cultural Triangle, where elephants roam the wild at the Nature Reserves. There is culture galore the very next day with visits to the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress and to the ancient rock cave temple at Dambulla on the way to the medieval kingdom of Kandy with a visit to the revered Temple of the Tooth. There is a bird sanctuary in the middle of the town and another chance to see birds at the next stop, the colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya. After trekking across Horton Plains it is down to the Nature Reserve of Yala in the south before a final night on a beach at Mirissa, famed for whale watching.
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met by our Walkers Tours representative and transfer to Negombo before spending the evening at leisure by the beautiful beach.
After breakfast depart to Habarana, where you can spend the day at leisure, exploring the grounds of the hotel or the nearby town before preparing for an exciting day of new cultural experiences.
After an early breakfast visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress which houses the remnants of an ancient Sri Lankan kingdom. Spend the evening taking a Jeep safari at Minneriya/ Kaudulla National Park. The tank just outside your hotel and hotel’s bird trails also present a relaxing way to spend your day. If time permits you can take a bird watching tour around the hotel.
After breakfast, set off on your journey to the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka – Kandy. En route visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, a UNESCO world heritage site that dates back to the 1st century BC. While in Kandy, witness a cultural show and visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Early morning, enjoy a game drive at the Yala National Park. Experience the majestic creatures of the wild in their natural habitat. An exciting experience that is not to be missed. In the afternoon proceed to Mirissa.
Leave very early in the morning with a packed breakfast for the Horton Plains for a morning of great birding. Take in the beautiful sites of the surrounding landscapes and after lunch visit Yala National Park.
Early morning, enjoy a game drive at the Yala National Park. Experience the majestic creatures of the wild in their natural habitat. An exciting experience that is not to be missed. In the afternoon proceed to Mirissa.
Leave for an early morning whale watching excursion. This is a must do for those visiting the country as Sri Lanka is considered one of the best locations in the world for Whale and Dolphin watching. Thereafter proceed to the Airport in time for the connecting flight.
Within 20 minutes by car from the airport, on the west coast of Sri Lanka some 35km north of Colombo, the former fishing village of Negombo is now a hot spot for tourists. Negombo has a vibrant after-beach night life with a slew of bars and restaurants. The beach itself is shared with fishermen, and one of the most photographed scenes is of the fishing boats red sails in the sunset.
There is plenty of beach action too, such as kite surfing, whale watching and boat rides. There are also several dive stations and Negombo is a popular destination for windsurfing competitions. Negombo has many resorts and holiday inns that are up to the mark for those who wish to stay for some time. These places will give you easy access to enjoy all the activities and some even have packages to offer.
Called by many names including “The Lion Rock” for its initial name of “Sinhagiri”, Sigiriya is near the town of Dambulla and is a colossal column of rock nearly 200m high. It was a royal citadel for 18 years (477-495) when it was fortified by King Kasyapa. The architectural and irrigational technologies of Sigiriya, such as the Water Gardens, still baffle engineers. The climb up steep steps of metal with railings passes a wall decorated with frescoes of bare-breasted women. Art experts consider them unique.
The summit of the rock is a hectare in area and the outer wall of the palace was constructed on the brink of the rock with gardens and ponds softening the harshness of the eerie surroundings. Since it was constructed over 1,500 years ago, it is claimed by enthusiasts as the Eighth Wonder of the World and is anyway a World Heritage Site.
Minneriya National Park. Sitting in the centre of the cultural triangle, Minneriya is a good alternative to the busier parks in the south and it is easy to weave in a day here between visiting the ancient cities. The dry season, preferably from June to September, is the best time to visit the 8,890 hectare park when the ancient tank, the lake that dominates the area, dries and the grasses. During this time it is possible to see herds of up to 150 elephants feeding and washing, as well as toque macaques, sambar deer and leopards. The hungry bird flocks include cormorants and painted storks. Minneriya, closest by car to the ancient city Polonnaruwa, was upgraded from a nature reserve to a national park because of the increased number of tourists coming to see the elephants.
The Dambulla temple has five caves and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasise the artistic talent of ancient days. The history of the caves, rock and temples dates from the first century B.C. The fascination of these caves are not only the statues but also the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints.
Because of the history, archaeological and artistic implications, the premises were declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991. The temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality. Visitors may climb up steps to the temple and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple’s golden interior.
The ancient kingdom of Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha as well as Edwardian buildings, a king-made lake, a nature reserve and exciting shops.
As the second largest city of the island and the capital of the Central Province, Kandy has grown from being a medieval kingdom to a friendly, busy city set in forested hills and surrounded by tea plantations and close to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, as well as the Temple of the Tooth. There are many Buddhist monasteries and Hindu places of worship to visit, and cultural dance performances to watch.
Kandy is a convenient base to stay for a few days while exploring the Cultural Triangle as there are comfortable hotels to suit every budget. The city is easily accessible from Colombo by rail, road and float plane.
The golden canopy of the medieval Temple of the Tooth is a landmark dominating the ancient kingdom, now modern city, of Kandy.
The Sacred Relic of Lord Buddha’s tooth was brought from India in the 4th century prior to been housed in a specially created temple in Kandy in the 16th century. The moat and octagonal structure were added later. The tooth relic is enclosed in seven golden caskets enriched with gemstones, in the shape of a Stupa, within the depths of the temple. The temple is open to visitors.
Officially declared a National Park in 1988, Horton Plains in the hill country 32km by road from Nuwara Eliya, stretches 3,000ha across the highlands to plunge at World’s End. The Park receives rainfall from both northeast and southwest monsoons as well as inter-monsoonal rains; three main rivers namely Kelani, Walawe and Mahaweli, the longest river of the country, begins in this area.
The plains are popular for trekking and rich in biodiversity with much of the flora and fauna found in the Park being endemic and only found there. Forests are dominated by a range of giant tree ferns and the Park is also famous for flowers and there is wild life aplenty such as leopard, sambhur and wild boar. Though this is a cold highland plateau the bird diversity is very high.
Yala National Park is also known as the Ruhunu National Park and is one of the biggest jungles in the country. Set in the southeast of Sri Lanka, it is a 305 km drive from Colombo. Elephants are the Park’s main attraction although leopards are seen frequently and the sloth bear occasionally. Yala is also home to hundred species of birds, endemic and foreign, including the jungle fowl, Sri Lanka’s national bird, and flocks of peacocks. Yala also has a beach front and swamps haunted by crocodiles.
As one of the first National Parks established in Sri Lanka (in 1938), Yala is an established place for tourists to visit and stay as it has plenty of accommodation near its gates, both luxurious and budget and even camping; morning and evening safaris by jeep can be arranged easily.
Mirissa’s harbour is known as the best place to charter a boat for whale and dolphin watching from November to April. The tourist settlement on the coast at Mirissa has sprung up in response to backpackers flocking there to enjoy hours of paragliding, body boarding and sea kayaking as well as snorkelling and diving. For surfing, the seas are ideal during the months of September to April.
The beach at Mirissa is popular with budget and mainstream tourists although upmarket properties are opening close by. It lies off the south coast road at 150km from Colombo and can be reached quickly via the new Southern Expressway from Colombo to Matara. The best beach cove stretches east of the headland that separates Mirissa from Weligama Bay and is lined with sunbeds and restaurants in thatched shacks.
This tour packs in all the essentials of Sri Lanka between beaches. It is good to have the first night at a beach hotel in Negombo because it is not far from the airport. The tour begins with a visit to the Cultural Triangle, where elephants roam the wild at the Nature Reserves. There is culture galore the very next day with visits to the Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress and to the ancient rock cave temple at Dambulla on the way to the medieval kingdom of Kandy with a visit to the revered Temple of the Tooth. There is a bird sanctuary in the middle of the town and another chance to see birds at the next stop, the colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya. After trekking across Horton Plains it is down to the Nature Reserve of Yala in the south before a final night on a beach at Mirissa, famed for whale watching.
Upon Arrival to the Sri Lankan International Airport you will be greeted by your chauffeur guide who shall take you by air conditioned vehicle to Negombo. This trip will take you only 20 minutes.
Check into Golden Star Beach Hotel in Negombo for your first night.
Leave Negombo and journey into the heart of the Knuckles mountain range, to your campsite. After settling in, take a 03 – 04 hour trek through the villages which surround Sphinx Eyrie. This trek though forest paths and village tracks is through the rich foliage of the Knuckles range.
Return to Corbert’s Rest
A trek of approximately 03 – 04 hours through scrub jungle and forests will bring you to the little farming village of Meemure, deep in the Knuckles Valley. The trek is on rough trails and a few streams need to be forded en route.
Take a break at the little village shop for a cup of hot tea, sweetened with “jaggery”, made of coconut sap. Overnight stay at Corbert’s Rest Campsite, Knuckles.
After breakfast you will be transferred to Kitulgala. In the afternoon trek through the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve. Cross a suspension bridge and enter the forest. Proceed through the dense forest cover emerging for short spells to walk along the bank of the Kelani River. Appreciate the rainforest like foliage and amazing birdlife and butterflies.
Overnight Kitulgala Resort, Kitulgala
Embark on an adrenaline fuelled adventure down the rapids of the Kelani River. This short but exhilarating excursion is level 03 rafting and is suitable for most people between the ages of 12 and 65 years. Leave in the afternoon for Maskeliya and check in at a roadside guest at the base of Adam’s Peak for dinner and a few hours rest.
Overnight Punsisi Rest, Maskeliya
Begin the climb at approximately 0200 hrs. Climb through the night in order to reach the summit by dawn to witness a once in a lifetime sunrise. (If not cloudy….!)
The pilgrim season for Adams peak is December to May. During this time thousands of pilgrims climb to the summit every night. The pathway is lit and the experience is a cultural treat.
Overnight Kalu’s Hideaway, Udawalawe
After breakfast embark a morning safari at Udawalawe National Park.surrounded by mountain ranges. The terrain of the park is a mixture of grassland, shrub jungle, wild teak plantations and two important factors which make this park special – the large Udawalawe Reservoir and the Walewe River, which ensure a supply of water for the fauna within.
Once you are done with the safari proceed to Bentota for your beach stay. Overnight Bentota Beach Hotel, Bentota
Relax by the pool or beach and spend your day at leisure taking in the sun. Overnight Bentota Beach Hotel, Bentota
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Soaring across 155 square kilometres, containing five of the country’s largest forest formations, the Knuckles Mountain Range features breath taking mountain scenery and rewarding trekking.
The range was named after the folds and peaks that resemble the knuckles of a closed fist, when seen from afar. Knuckles is listed as a World Heritage site and has rare flora and fauna that cannot be found elsewhere. The special climate and atmospheric conditions are caused by the different altitudes and the range is often covered in thick clouds.
Mountain trails (go with a guide) lead alongside rivers, past flowing waterfalls and dense forest shrubs by sprawling acres of tea, terraced paddy fields and vegetable gardens of village folk. There are several species of endemic birds, adding colour and bird song to this lush hill country wilderness.
Venerated by the four religions of Sri Lanka, Adam’s Peak is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, at 2,243m above sea level, where pilgrims flock to climb during the night in the special season of January to April. It is near the hill country town of Hatton, 123km from Colombo. The spectacular sunrise seen from the peak rewards pilgrims who climb to pay respect to the footprint set in rock at the summit.
The climb is up uneven steps of granite and cement and climbers are encouraged by others to keep going; the descent is just as taxing. A ritual, after worship, is to ring the bell, not on the first visit, but only on subsequent visits. The various faiths regard the footprint as representing their own beliefs, so it is a symbol of the multi-cultural character of Sri Lanka.
Udawalawe National Park sprawls over 30,000 hectares along the border of Sabaragamuwa and Uva Provinces, about a five-hour drive from Colombo. The Park, open to visitors when accompanied by a tracker, was formed as a sanctuary for wild animals displaced during the construction the Udawalawe Reservoir. Its vegetation is influenced by the wet and dry zone boundaries, a range of plains highlighting its topography. Rain falls occur during the months of October to January and March to May.
The park is known for elephants, water buffaloes, wild boar, spotted deer and fishing cats and jungle cats. Endemic birds including the Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Spurfowl and the Ceylon Grey Hornbill are to be seen and other bird species such as the Spot- billed Pelican, Little Cormorant, Grey Heron and the Indian Pond Heron frequent the park.
