SCHEDULE

• Arrival to Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Colombo.
• Check in to a hotel in Colombo.
• Leisure time and relaxing, or Colombo city tour in the afternoon.
• Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo (BB).

A melting pot of cultures and commerce, Colombo is a lively city with the most fascinating history. Ancient Arab sailors frequented these ports to trade with the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonists that occupied the city. Today, Colombo has something from everyone! Visit impressive cultural sights, Buddhist Temples and Hindu Kovils scattered throughout the city and experience the diversity of religion, ethnicity and customs of the people. Drive through the city's commercial centre known as the “Fort”, where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside modern hotels and office structures. Explore the vibrant markets and bazaars in Pettah. Discover the Museums and Art Centres with their fine collections of antiques, arts and crafts of Sri Lanka. Or indulge in shopping and tasting Sri Lankan delicacies.

SCHEDULE

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Transfer to Kudawa / Deniyaya, located by the Sinharaja rainforest.
• Check in to a hotel.
• Short village trail in the evening.
• Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Kudawa / Deniyaya (HB).

After breakfast, you will head to Sinharaja rainforest, designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The forest reserve has an exceptional importance in terms of its biodiversity and fragility. Birding in Sinharaja is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka! Steeped in deep mystery, this evergreen rainforest was named after a Lion (Sinha) King (Raja). The legend has it that the origin of the Sinhala people is from the union between a princess and the lion king who once lived in the forest.

From the calls of birds and the rumbling noise of the Gin Ganga River to the fresh air filtered by its ancient trees, the colourful species of frogs and the bright flowers, Sinharaja leaves you in awe of nature and how species have evolved to suit the environment. It is said that in Sinharaja one square mile may have higher biodiversity than the entire North American continent. Most importantly, this area has a high concentration of endemic species. 20 out of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic bird species, including the Sri Lanka blue magpie and the green-billed coucal, are found in Sinharaja. In addition, it is home to several species of reptiles, such as green-pit and hump-nosed vipers, and some rare species of horned lizards. Also, a few elephants and leopards and many smaller mammals including the rusty spotted cat, purple-faced leaf monkey, fishing cat, mongooses and civets inhabit the forests of Sinharaja.

SCHEDULE

• Early breakfast at the hotel.
• Nature trail in the Sinharaja rainforest.
• Transfer to Udawalawe.
• Half day safari at Udawalawe National Park (from 2:30 to 6:00pm)
• Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Udawalawe
• Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game campsite (HB).

Udawalawe National Park is located on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones, which provides diversity in both flora and fauna. The area, with its fascinating history and culture, offers an array of historical sites and natural wonders, guaranteed to satisfy even the most seasoned traveler. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the park's boundaries, it is not unusual to see big herds gathering to feed and bath at the waterholes in Udawalawe.

In addition to this main attraction, Udawalawe is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard. The bird enthusiasts shall be in their own winged paradise with not only the variety, but the quantity of bird species in the park!

SCHEDULE

• Early departure (at 5:00am) from Udawalawe with packed breakfast.
• Bird watching safari in Bundala National Park.
• Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Yala.
• Lunch at the campsite.
• Birding excursion by the ancient irrigation tank of Tissa wewa.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Big Game campsite (FB).

Bundala National Park is a fantastic wetland sanctuary that shelters thousands of colourful birds ranging from little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed storks. In total, this wildlife wonderland covering 62-sq-km area, is home to 150 species of birds with many imigrating species arriving between August and April. It’s also a winter home to the greater flamingo, and it is possible to see over 1500 flamingos at once! In Bundala, you can observe the both species of crocodiles that inhabit the island. The estuarine crocodile, that is the largest reptile alive today, lives in the lagoons areas and the estuary of River Kirindi Oya, while the mugger crocodile dwells in the small freshwater lakes and in the upper regions of Kirindi Oya.

SCHEDULE

• Full day safari at Yala National Park with packed breakfast and lunch.
• Return to the campsite.
• Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game campsite in Yala (HB).

Yala National Park, situated in the southeast region of the country, covers almost 1000 square kilometers and is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, along with Wilpattu, it is one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. Leopards are the stars here, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants as well as to the spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal and mongoose. The bird life is also fantastic, and numerous species such as rosy starlings, paradise flycatchers, crested hawk eagles, blue-Tailed bee-eaters and common loras inhabit this natural wilderness.

SCHEDULE

• After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya via Haputale.
• En route visit a tea factory and plantations.
• Check in to a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
• Leisure time in the evening to take a stroll in the centre of the town.
• Overnight stay at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya (BB).

Ceylon Tea is undoubtedly the best tea in the world, and one of the main exports of Sri Lanka. When driving through the plantation you will see the colorfully dressed tea-pickers hard at work on the sloping hills abundantly lush with tea bushes. With incredible dexterity they fill several sacks of tea leaves each day. At the tea factory, you will see the entire process, from tea bush to teapot.

Set in the heart of the Tea Country, Nuwara Eliya has a climate unlike anywhere else in Sri Lanka. Situated 1890 meters above sea level, it offers a cooler and more invigorating climate than lower regions. Colonized by the British, and often referred to as ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya still retains the feel of the ‘old world’. Famous for its horse racing, the town also boasts an impressive Golf Club which dates back to 1889 and several hotels with grandiose colonial style.

SCHEDULE

• Short birding excursion (45 min) in Victoria Park early in the morning (6:00am).
• Breakfast and transfer to Horton Plains National Park.
• Transfer to Kandy.
• Check in to a hotel.
• Leisure time in the evening free to walk around the sacred city of Kandy.
• Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy (BB).

Today, the morning will start with a birding trail in the colonial Victoria Park that offers an excellent location for bird enthusiasts. From there you will be taken to the Horton Plains National Park, characterized by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, forests, and grassland.

The highest plateau in the island, spanning approximately 10,000 hectares, is home to 24 species of mammal - such as elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine, and leopard. The park also hosts unique vegetation and offers a perfect ground to observe many rare and endemic highland birds (87 species, 14 of which are endemic). An impressive physical feature in Horton Plains is the escarpment that falls 880 meters to the lowlands of the southern region of the island. Aptly known as the "World’s End", the precipice boasts a fabulous view of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant southern coastline.

In the afternoon, your journey will continue to the beautiful city of Kandy is nestled amidst three mountain ranges. Built in this location as a natural fortress against attack, the capital of the Central Province was not an easy target for the foreign invaders. This town is also home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the most sacred site in the Buddhist world. The impressive temple complex is made up of numerous buildings, decorated with paintings and carvings depicting Buddha. The Sacred Tooth of Buddha is kept in a gold casket and stored amidst great security in the Inner Chamber.

SCHEDULE

• After breakfast proceed to Wasgamuwa.
• Check in to a hotel / campsite in Wasgamuwa
• Half day safari in Wasgamuwa National Park (from 2:30 to 6:00pm).
• Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel / campsite in Wasgamuwa (HB).

Wasgamuwa National Park is home to incredibly diverse wildlife including 23 species of mammal and reptiles. Its main attraction is a majestic herd of over 150 elephants, that can be seen in their most natural feeding and roaming state. The park derives its name from the once abundant sloth bear or “walasa”. Nowadays, the sloth bear is a highly endangered species, yet it can be seen in Wasgamuwa. On the banks of the rivers, you can spot mugger crocodiles, camouflaged in murky waters. The Torque macaque “rilewa” and the Purple faced langur, both endemic species of monkey to Sri Lanka, can be spotted here also.

SCHEDULE

• Morning safari in Wasgamuwa National Park with packed breakfast.
• Transfer to Negombo.
• Check in to a hotel.
• Overnight stay at the hotel in Negombo (BB)

Located near the Bandaranaike International Airport, Negombo is a fishing town with a fascinating colonial past. British, Dutch, and Portuguese all fought over this town as it was a lucrative source of cinnamon. The spice trade impacted the future of this town, but so did the Catholic church too. Today, Negombo is alive in its own blend of culture and religions and colonial-style architecture, but local traditions appear to have outlived the colonizers. The lagoon has abundant with marine life, and fishermen have been harvesting lobsters, crabs, and prawns here for centuries.

SCHEDULE

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Check out from the hotel before noon and transfer back to the Bandaranaike International Airport.