A Perfect Holiday Filled with Nature, Wildlife, Adventure, and Amazing Beaches
9 Nights / 10 Days
Introduction
Watch the natural beauty of Sri Lanka unfold before your very eyes on this amazing tour of the island, where you will get to see, hear, and feel nature at its finest. Your sense of adventure will go into overdrive as you immerse yourself in Sri Lanka’s many national parks and wonderful pristine beaches. This tour provides you with insights into the culture, nature, and beauty of the emerald isle. You will understand why the ancient Arabs used to call it Serendib – the origin of the word “serendipity”.
Highlights
Highlights
- Safari on the back of an elephant
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Scenic train ride from Kandy to NanuOya
- White water rafting
- See the leopards at Yala National Park
- Watch herds of elephants at Udawalawe National Park
- Barbecue dinner and camping at Udawalawe
- Spend a night in a tree house at Yala
Tour Description
Tour Description
Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka takes you on an unforgettable journey across the island known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, with an emphasis on its natural wonders: its many national parks and the best beaches in the country. This 10 Days and 9 Nights tour travels to several parts of the country, traverses different terrains and climates, and ends up on the best place to relax – a gorgeous beach.
The tour starts in the cultural epicentre of Kandy. From Kandy, you will get to see the first elephant orphanage in Pinnawala, and take a safari tour on the back of an elephant. Hop on a train for the next leg of the journey and enjoy a scenic ride through Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. Visit a tea plantation and factory in Nuwara Eliya to see how tea is processed. From picturesque Nuwara Eliya, make a visit to the mysterious Horton Plains National Park, an area of serene beauty. On the way downhill, go white water rafting and “canyoning” at Kithulgala. Visit Udawalawe National Park for a great wildlife experience watching all sorts of wildlife including herds of elephants. The tour then takes you to Yala National Park, the best place in the world to see leopards in the wild. Days 8 and 9 are spent in the deep south of the island, in the southern capital of Galle, and the resort town of Unawatuna, home to one of the best beaches in the world. Leave on the last day with your batteries recharged, mind rejuvenated, and cameras full of pictures.
Tour Itinerary
Tour Itinerary
Days 1 and 2 - Airport, Kandy, and Pinnawala
Schedule:
Day 1 –
- Meet at the airport and transfer to Kandy
- Relax at the hotel after a long journey
- Overnight stay in Kandy
Day 2 –
- Elephant back safari at Pinnawala after breakfast
- A visit to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala
- Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy
- Experience cultural and traditional dances
- Overnight stay in Kandy
One of our representatives will meet you at the airport, and you will be taken to Sri Lanka’s hill capital of Kandy. The first day will mainly be for relaxation after your flight and road trip to Kandy. On Day 2, you get off to a flying start, as you take a safari tour in Pinnawala on the back of an elephant. Pinnawala’s main attraction – the elephant orphanage, first of its kind anywhere in the world – is the next stop on the journey. See these playful giants being fed, bathed, and given some attention. Believed to be the largest elephant herd in captivity, the orphanage contains a mix of baby elephants that have been orphaned due to poacher activity or otherwise, adult elephants that came to the orphanage as calves, and even elephants that were born in the orphanage!
The city of Kandy is the next destination, where more history and culture await you. The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is the most sacred site for Buddhists the world over, as this is where the most important object in the Buddhist world, a tooth fragment recovered from the funeral pyre of the Buddha, is located. The relic itself is kept in a golden casket amid heavy security in the Inner Chamber of the temple. The temple complex is adorned with paintings and sculptures depicting the life of the Buddha and a museum documenting its history.
Kandy also offers the opportunity to see a few traditional Kandyan dances at one of the city’s cultural performance centres. A team of dancers, accompanied by drummers, will give you a spectacular display which will leave you mesmerised.
Accommodation Options:
Earls Regency Hotel – 5 Star
Earls Regent Hotel – 4 Star
Comparable and 3 Star hotels are available
Days 3 and 4 - Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains
Schedule:
Day 3 –
- Scenic hill country train ride from Kandy to NanuOya
- Visit a tea planation and a tea factory
- Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Day 4 –
- Transfer to Horton Plains National Park after breakfast
- Nature walk at Horton Plains
- Visit Gregory Lake in the evening
- Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Start the day with a scenic hillside train ride from Kandy to NanuOya. See the beautiful landscape open up before you as you get to see Mountains, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and how civilisation has intertwined with nature in this remarkable area of the country. You reach NanuOya, the final destination, which is 5 miles (8km) from the picturesque town of Nuwara Eliya. Look out for a very nice view of the famous Adam’s Peak, about 1½km from the station.
Nuwara Eliya, nicknamed “Little England” by locals, is a town that has a sub-temperate climate. As it is situated at a high altitude, the town is colder than anywhere else in Sri Lanka. The colonial-era buildings, the impressive Royal Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (dating back to 1889), the beautiful parks and the serene Gregory Lake give Nuwara Eliya a feel that is unique to the town.
Tea Plantations are aplenty, as this area is famous for producing the world’s best tea. You get a chance to visit a tea planation and a tea factory to see first-hand how tea is processed from raw leaves to the final product.
The Horton Plains National Park is something special. Considered one of the world’s best nature reserves, it is an area of serene beauty and is known to have very high biodiversity. Sambur deer, spotted deer, giant squirrels, wild boar, and the rare Horton Plains slender loris – endemic to the national park, a small primate – call this area home. The grasslands are interspersed with montane forest, giving it a unique position among Sri Lanka’s National Parks. For the sake of conservation of the National Park and its many inhabitants, vehicles are strictly prohibited in the area, and the only way you can see this amazing national park is a guided nature walk. Unmissable sights in Horton Plains are Baker’s Falls, the Chimney Pool, and World’s End, a 3700ft (1130m) sheer drop providing fantastic views of the area below.
Accommodation Options:
Heritance Tea Factory Hotel – 5 Star
The Grand Hotel – 4 Star
St. Andrews Hotel – 3 Star
Comparable accommodation options available
Day 5 - Kithulgala
Schedule:
- Leave Nuwara Eliya after breakfast and head to Kithulgala
- Do white water rafting and “canyoning” activities
- Overnight stay at the hotel in Kithulgala
Kithulgala was once famous as the location used for the acclaimed film “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, made in 1957. Nothing but the concrete foundations of the bridge remains to this day in the area. Kithulgala is now a hot spot of adventure activities, and is the best place in Sri Lanka for whitewater rafting. The river has some shallow areas where you can take a nice dip in the cool refreshing waters.
A typical whitewater rafting session may take you as much as 2km down river, with several grades of rapids to conquer. Safety gear, including a life jacket and a helmet are provided. Everyone is given an introduction to rowing techniques and what to do in case the raft is toppled, or in case they fall off the raft.
For a novel and thrilling experience, try the new craze called “Canyoning”, where you slide down a smooth rock surface into a crystal clear rock pool below. Safety gear is provided for this activity as well.
Accommodation Options:
Plantation Hotel – 2 Star
Forest Edge Hotel – 2 Star
Royal River Resort – 2 Star
Comparable accommodation options available
Day 6 - Udawalawe
Schedule:
- Transfer to Udawalawe after breakfast
- Evening Jeep Safari
- Overnight stay at camping site / hotel
The Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. It is not uncommon to see a whole herd of elephants at a watering hole during your visit. An afternoon / evening safari tour will let you see elephants and many other animals, such as water buffalo, water monitor lizards, saltwater crocodiles, deer, monkeys, and even the occasional leopard. The park is also ideal for bird enthusiasts, as it is home to several hundred bird species.
Accommodation Options:
Mahoora Elite Camps – 4 Star
Grand Udawalawe Hotel – 4Star
Kalu’s Hideaway Hotel – 3 Star
Big Game Camps
Comparable accommodation options available
Day 7 - Yala
Schedule:
- Transfer to Yala after breakfast
- Evening Safari in a jeep
- Overnight stay in Yala
The Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Made up of five areas – known as blocks – of which two are now open to the public. Situated in the south-eastern dry zone of Sri Lanka, it is famous as the best place in the world to see leopards in the wild. Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka promises the best leopard safari experience, as our experienced naturalists and guides will take you to the areas known for leopard activity. Leopards are nocturnal, so the best chance of seeing one in the wild is either at dawn or at dusk. This experience gives you an evening safari, enabling you to see leopards as they come out of their daytime slumber. Leopards may be the star attraction at Yala, but elephants, sloth bears, deer, jackals, wild boar, and a few hundred varieties of birds can be found throughout the national park.
Accommodation Options:
Cinnamon Wild Hotel – 5 Star
The Safari Hotel – 4 Star
Mahoora Safari Camps
Big Game Camps
Tree Houses (Recommended for a truly unique experience)
Comparable accommodation options available
Days 8 and 9 - Galle and Unawatuna
Schedule:
Day 8 –
- Transfer to Unawatuna after breakfast
- Relax at the beach all day
- Stay overnight in Galle/Unawatuna
Day 9 –
- Full day of relaxation at the beach
- Overnight stay at your hotel in Galle/Unawatuna
Situated in the heart of the Southern Province, Galle is the largest city, and for all purposes the capital, of the South of Sri Lanka. The main attractions in Galle include the 17th Century Dutch Fort, a World Heritage Site with a culture and style all its own. Rustic houses and shops in the Dutch colonial style still exist within the Fort’s walls. Galle city itself is a bustling metropolis, and due to its location on the coast, is a major hub of fishing, transport, and culture in Sri Lanka.
In the afternoon to the evening hours, enjoy a relaxing time at one of the best beaches in the world. The calm waters of Unwatuna Bay and Thalpe offers you a chance to lie down and catch some sun, go for a long walk on a beautiful beach, or just dive in to the still waters. Unawatuna is great for diving and snorkelling.
The last leg of this busy tour is designed to be a relaxing experience on one of the most pristine beaches in the world. It will help you revitalise body and soul, and the fresh southern seafood will nourish and invigorate you in ways you never thought possible.
Accommodation Options:
The Light House Hotel – 5 Star
Calamander Beach Hotel – 4 Star
Comparable accommodation options available (3 Star and above)
Day 10 – Airport
You will transfer from Galle or Unawatuna to the Bandaranaike International Airport for your departing flight.
DISCOVER SRI LANKA WITH WILDLIFE TOURS