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26 Days from$4798 p/p in USD -
DeparturesYear Round
Destinations
Sri Lanka,
Tour Type
Guided
Safari Standard
Mid Range
More Details
Tour Overview
During the safari you will be staying inside some of the national parks in tented safari camps to maximize the game viewing opportunities. Witness many resident, endemic and migratory birds in Sinhraja Rain Forest, Bundala National Park, Kitulgala Makandawa Rain Forest, Anawilundawa Wetlands, Nawadankumala Wetlands, Bundala National Park and Kalpitiya Lagoon. In addition, search for blue whales and dolphins in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mirissa as well as large mammals such as leopards, elephants and bears in Yala, Udawalawe and Wilpattu National Parks. Accommodation options are selected on character and ease of access to game viewing areas and parks.
NB: whale and dolphin watching is a seasonal activity from mid November to end of April, during other periods this can be switched with another activity.
General Information
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Safari types:Birding Safari, Dolphin Safari, Guided Safari, Whale Safari, Wildlife Safari
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You will visit:Yala National Park, Wilpattu National Park, Udawalawe National Park, Minnieyera National Park, Sinharaja National Park, Mirissa, Kalamatiya Bird Sanctuary, Tissamaharama, Kitulgala, Habarana, Kalpitiya
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Wildlife:Leopard, Elephant, Sloth Bear, Dolphin, Whale
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Activities:Game Drive, Nature Walk, Birding, Whale Watching
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Getting around:Transfer Vehicle
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Start/end:Start/end in Colombo
Highlights
- Birds in Sinharaja Rain Forest
- Leopards in Yala National Park
- Elephants in Udawalawe National Park
- Sloth bears in Yala
- Blue and Sperm Whales in the Indian Ocean
- Dolphins in the Indian Ocean
- Many varieties of endemic, resident and migratory birds
- Tented safari camping experience
- Boat trip in the Indian Ocean to see Whales
- Night safari in Habarana jungle
- Large herds of elephants in Minneriya National Park
Price Per Person – USD
From USD 4,798 per person, based on double occupancy
What's Included
- Accommodation in mentioned hotels
- Meals as per itinerary
- Air conditioned transfers with an English speaking driver
- All mentioned activities and park entrance fees
What's Excluded
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Disclaimer
- This itinerary is owned and delivered by ‘Sri Lankan Expeditions‘
- All prices are ‘From’ and may vary at the time of booking
- Display price is usually based on two people sharing
- ‘Sri Lankan Expeditions‘ reserves the right to change the content and price of the itinerary
- All itineraries are subject to availability
Day by Day Overview
- Meet with our driver in Colombo
- Transfer to Sinharaja Rain Forest in Deniyaya side – 4 to 5 hours drive approximately
- Afternoon walk to arboretum at Sinharaja Rain Forest Eco Lodge
- Dinner and overnight stay in Sinharaja Rain Forest Eco Lodge
- Early morning bird watching trail
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Trek in Sinharaja Rain Forest for birding
- Dinner and overnight stay in Sinharaja Rain Forest Eco Lodge
- Early morning bird watching trail
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Trek in Sinharaja Rain Forest for birding
- Night trek in the vicinity of Sinharaja Rain Forest Eco Lodge to see nocturnal species
- Dinner and overnight stay in Sinharaja Rain Forest Eco Lodge
- Early morning bird watching trail
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Mirissa – 3 hours drive approximately
- Evening at leisure by the beach
- Dinner and overnight stay at Paradise Beach Club Hotel in Mirissa
- Morning whale watching trip in the Indian Ocean at 6.30 am
- Back to the shore by noon
- Transfer to Kalamatiya Bird Sanctuary for a catamaran ride in the lagoon for a bird watching trip (4 to 6 PM) – 1 ½ hours drive approximately.
- Dinner and overnight stay at Paradise Beach Club Hotel in Mirissa
- Morning whale watching trip in the Indian Ocean at 6.30 am
- Back to the shore by noon
- Transfer to Tissamaharama (Yala) – 3 hours drive approximately
- Dinner and overnight stay in Chandrika Hotel in Tissamaharama
- Morning safari in Bundala National Park at 6 am for bird watching with a picnic breakfast (advisable to check out from the hotel in time for safari)
- Lunch at our border camp in Yala
- Transfer to Yala National Park with the afternoon safari at 3 pm in Yala
- Dinner and overnight stay in safari camp inside Yala National Park
- Full day safari in Yala National Park with picnic breakfast and lunch from 6 am to 6 pm
- Dinner and overnight stay in Yala Safari camp inside Yala National Park
- Full day safari in Yala National Park with picnic breakfast and lunch from 6 am to 6 pm
- BBQ Dinner and overnight stay in Yala Safari camp inside Yala National Park
- Morning safari in Yala National Park at 6 am
- Back to the camp for breakfast by 10 am
- Checkout and transfer to Buttala – 2 hours drive approximately
- Lunch at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge
- In the afternoon after 4 pm, go with the in house tracker team on a walk in the vicinity of the camp. You will see more of the camp surroundings, be introduced to the main elephant tracks and get more understanding of the wild nature of the place. Return at 6 pm to get ready for the evening; hurricane lamps will be placed outside your room. A sun downer is served around 6.30 pm
- Dinner is served around 8 pm under the moon or the canopy of stars
- Overnight stay at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Around 9 am start on a walk that will take you inside the dry zone, mature and tall virgin forest. As soon as you are under the forest cover the air is different and cool. This is a protected forest connected to the Yala National Park, about 7 km further to south. Walking on animal tracks, we may see signs from the previous nights’ activity. We might come across footprints of sloth bear and paw marks of leopard as well as wild elephant footprints. All dry zone forest birds can be spotted in this forest. There are still ebony trees here, a rare tree to see in the forest today. We might make a small trek up on a mountain, to an open rock place from where you’ll see a panoramic view to the east and south which is all jungle, in fact you can see an almost complete overview of the total Yala National Park. Return to the camp around 11–11.30 am
- Lunch at the lodge
- In the afternoon around 4.15 pm, start on an excursion to the lakes in close proximity to the camp. Stay for some time at a lake; enjoy the scenery and the birdlife unfolding. With a bit of luck, elephants can be observed drinking water. Get back to camp around 5.45 pm in time for a shower before the 6.30 sun downer.
- Dinner and overnight stay at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Recommended is to try to ‘do nothing’ but follow the natural rhythms of the jungle. Relax and listen to the sounds. There’s a small library with books about the Sri Lankan elephant, nature, and history. The local staff is highly skilled in the art of interpreting the signs of nature and visitors could learn to understand some of the sounds and smells of the jungle
- Lunch at the lodge
- If you still want to be active, we can make similar walks as described for the first day but slightly different – planning of walks always depends on the movement of wildlife
- Dinner and overnight stay at Tree Tops Jungle Lodge
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Transfer to Udawalawe National Park – 4 hours drive approximately
- Lunch at Udawalawe Safari Camp
- Afternoon safari at 3 pm in Udawalawe National Park
- Dinner and overnight stay at Udawalawe Safari Camp inside Udawalawe National Park
- Morning safari in Udawalawe National Park at 6 am
- Back to the camp for breakfast
- Relax at the camp by the river
- Lunch at the camp
- Afternoon safari in Udawalawe National Park at 3 pm
- Back to the camp for BBQ dinner and overnight stay at Udawalawe Safari Camp inside Udawalawe National Park
- Morning safari in Udawalawe National Park at 6 am
- Back to the camp for breakfast
- Check out and transfer to Kitulgala – 3 hours drive approximately
- Dinner and overnight stay in Plantation Hotel in Kitulgala
- Morning bird watching trail in Makandawa Forest in Kitulgala (refreshments will be provided)
- Back to the hotel for breakfast
- Afternoon bird watching trail in Makandawa Forest in Kitulgala (refreshments will be provided)
- Dinner and overnight stay in Plantation Hotel in Kitulgala
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Transfer to Habarana – 4 hours drive approximately
- Relax in the afternoon or visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress (optional)
- Dinner and overnight stay in Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana
- Nature trail in Habarana Jungle for bird watching
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Safari in Minneriya National Park to see large herds of elephants at 3 pm
- Dinner and overnight stay in Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana
- Nature trail in Sigiriya Jungle for bird watching
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Safari in Minneriya National Park to see large herds of Elephants at 3 PM
- Night safari in Habarana Jungle at 8 PM
- Dinner and overnight stay in Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Wilpattu – 1½ hours drive approximately
- Lunch at Palpatha Eco Lodge
- Do some bird watching in Palpatha Eco Lodge’s garden
- Dinner and overnight stat at Palpatha Eco Lodge in Wilpattu
- Full day safari in Wilpattu National Park with picnic meals from 6 am to 6 pm
- Dinner and overnight stat at Palpatha Eco Lodge in Wilpattu
- Bird watching in the garden of Papatha Eco Lodge
- Breakfast at the lodge
- Transfer to Kalpitiya – 2 hours drive approximately
- Dinner and overnight stay at Bar Reef Resort in Kalpitiya
- Dolphin watching trip in the Indian Ocean at 6.30 am
- Back to the shore by noon
- Relax in the afternoon
- Dinner and overnight stay at Bar Reef Resort in Kalpitiya
- Transfer to Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary early morning at 5.30 am with picnic meals
- Back to the hotel
- In the afternoon visit Nawadankulama Bird Sanctuary
- Dinner and overnight stay at Bar Reef Resort in Kalpitiya
- Dolphin watching trip in the Indian Ocean at 6.30 am
- Back to the shore by noon
- Lagoon trip in Kalpitiya Lagoon
- Dinner and overnight stay at Bar Reef Resort in Kalpitiya
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Colombo – 3 to 4 hours drive approximately
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