Overview
Sri Lanka’s Big Five. leopard, elephant, sloth bear, blue whale, and sperm whale – are known as the country’s great wildlife attractions. These species are just some of the country’s plethora of wild species of fauna.ri Lanka is home to an enviable variety of wildlife from Asian elephants to wild leopards
Highlights
- Veyangoda
- Domestic industry village
- sinharaja forest
- Samanala wewa
- Udawalawa national park
- Yala national park
- kataragama worshiping god
- Mirijjavila botanical garden
- Ussangoda National Park
- Coconut Tree Hill in Mirissa.
- Srilankan Style lunch
- lace factory in Galle.
- beach resort in Ahangama
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Veyangoda
Soon after you touchdown in Sri Lanka, an NKAR representative will welcome you at the airport. Here’s
to an exciting and exclusive tour ahead, and you will be spending the first day in Veyangoda – This city is
situated in the Gampaha district of the Western Province of Sri Lanka. After a 30 mins drive, you will
arrive at your hotel in Veyangoda to check-in
Evening visit Dunagaha Village where you will experience weaving done at homes which is a self-
employed domestic industry and very old fashion of handloom. If there is a mood to buy a nice scarf,
there is good value for money.
Overnight stay at hotel in Veyangoda.
Day 2 :
Sinharaja
Kick start your day with early hotel breakfast and thereafter proceed to Sinharaja forest via Ratnapura.
The journey via Ratnapura known as the ‘Gem City’ is a very scenic drive via winding roads passing
fantastic country views with a glimpse of the busy city. Ratnapura is a major city in Sri Lanka and is the
capital city of Sabaragamuwa Province. Once you reach the Sinharaja forest reserve, you will engage in
an exciting trek into the woods.
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is the best-kept rain forest in the nation. It has been recognized as a key
biodiversity hotspot drawing thousands of enthusiastic trekkers and travelers each year. The forest
reserve is a tropical rain forest in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka and is bordered by Galle, Matara,
and Ratnapura districts. The total area of the forest reserve is 18,900 acres or 7,648 hectares and ranges
in altitude from 300m to 1,170m. It is popular as a main eco-tourism attraction and an evergreen forest
in Sri Lanka. You can also go bird watching and further explore the forest. The Sinharaja forest was
identified as a world biosphere in 1978 and recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1978. It is a great
place to study flora and fauna as it is home to clusters of endemic species, plants, and a variety of well-
known and rare plants. It is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and
butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Be prepared to be amazed by
the fascinating beauty of the forest and capture as many pictures you like!
After the exciting forest trek throughout the day, you will head to the hotel in Sinharaja for a relaxed
overnight stay.
Overnight stay at hotel in Sinharaja.
Day 3 :
Udawalawe
After breakfast you will proceed to Balangoda which is a large town in the Ratnapura District and
Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Once you reach Balangoda, you will visit the iconic Samanala
Wewa.
Surrounded by rocky mountain sceneries, the still serene waters of the Samanalawewa reservoir is a
perfect spot for canoeing or kayaking. The reservoir’s name is derived from the Sinhalese word
‘samanala’ that means ‘butterfly’ and this refers to the great number of butterflies in this area and also
denotes the shape of the reservoir. Whether you want a relaxed little paddle for a couple of hours or
venture out more into the river or spend more time exploring the reservoir, you are sure to have an
unforgettable experience. A well-experienced guide will provide you with the right technics, safety
instructions and modern life jacket.
Next, you will visit a beautiful waterfall called ‘Duwili Ella’. The height of the waterfalls is about 40 m
(130 ft) and the name describes the sparkling spray of water emanating from the waterfall. After
admiring the cascading waterfall, you will head to Udawalawe to spend the night by a scenic river
campsite. (Typically, a village style accommodation with good quality)
Overnight stay in Udawalawe.
Day 4 :
Udawalawe
Your day starts early today with an early breakfast, as you will embark on an adrenaline-packed jeep
safari at the Udawalawe National Park – a famous tourist attraction, renowned for its outstanding scenic
beauty and wealth of faunal and floral species, predominantly mammals and birds. Situated in the dry
zone with unique vegetation and outstanding geographical features, the key ecosystem of the park is
made up of forests with scattered grasslands and thorny shrubs. Capture as many pictures you can of
the rare wildlife sightings and cherish each moment in the wilderness. After this safari, you will visit the
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.
Since inception in 1995, the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home has helped care for injured, sick and
orphaned baby elephants from all over Sri Lanka. You will be able to observe a lively group of 20-30
young and teenage elephants who are fed four times a day. The resident animals are looked after until
they are considered fit enough to be released back into the wild. Following this, you will enjoy a
mouthwatering lunch at the Athgira river campsite. Athgira River Camp is located at the doorstep of
Udawalawe National Park with fantastic views of the Rakwana River.
In the evening, you will engage in a village walk. Take a small village tour through the rustic rural
community accompanied by an expert guide. You will witness the village lifestyle, culture and
hospitality. After an interesting village walk, you would have experienced true Sri Lankan hospitality
filled with warmth and big smiles! You will wind up for the day with an overnight stay at the river
campsite under the star-studded skies.
Overnight stay in Udawalawe.
Day 5 :
Yala
After breakfast, your wildlife expedition continues today at the Yala National Park as you will take part in
the jeep safari that starts in the morning. The Yala National Park is a sprawling forest with watering
holes, and home to an abundance of wildlife including leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds and much
more. Yala is home to one of the best leopard spotting places on the planet, with the highest population
density of leopards in the world. If you want to see a leopard, there is no better place! So, do appreciate
what you see and capture the rare sightings as much as you can!
In the evening you will visit the Kirinda beach to enjoy the glorious sunset. It is a quiet town nestled
away from the hustle and bustle of major towns and known for its historic sites and breathtaking
sceneries. The secluded Kirinda Beach is an ideal spot for you to enjoy a long evening walk on its long
stretch of white sand and splashing waves. Prepare for sweeping views of the isolated coast, and marvel
at the long stretch of dunes and the ocean beyond. After this visit, you will end the day with dinner
followed by an overnight stay at a hotel in Yala.
Overnight stay in Yala.
Day 6 :
Kataragama
Today you will travel to Kataragama after breakfast to visit the Kataragama Dewalaya. Kataragama is a
pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. The Kataragama
temple ‘pooja’ is a colourful and enigmatic prayer done amid chanting worshippers. The legendary
worship place has mysterious legends about the Kataragama god and is an example of Sri Lanka’s racial
unity and has mysterious legends about the god residing in Kataragama.
Next, you will visit the Situlpawwa Buddhist Monastery, an ancient hermitage believed to date back to
the 2nd century BC. The monastery includes a collection of rocky outcrops and caves deep in the heart
of the Yala National Park. The solitude and serenity of the monastery carry a quiet and calming spiritual
vibe that confirms its original name – ‘hill of the quiet mind’. After an exciting day, you will return to Yala
for a comfortable overnight stay.
Overnight stay in Yala.
Day 7 :
Mirijjawila
After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, ‘Mirijjawila’. It is one of the five
botanical gardens in Sri Lanka and is the first Dry Zone botanic gardens in the country. The garden is
beautifully landscaped and has an extensive collection of blossoms for viewing.
Thereafter proceed towards your beach destination En route visit the Ussangoda
Ussangoda National Park is the 21st national park established in Sri Lanka, with the intent of
safeguarding the area’s biological, archaeological and geographical values. Ussangoda differ from other
destinations of Sri Lanka because of the exclusive soil structure and flora. There are several beliefs
regarding the unique reddish color of the soil. The soil structure has some residuals like a meteoroid hit
and is complemented with high concentration of minerals and metals. Due to the Martian look of the
ground, it seems like we are on a Mars planet! According to the Ramayana Legend, Ussangoda is the
place where King Ravena’s airport was constructed, and his big peacock shaped aircraft landed.
Thereon stop to visit the Hummanaya Blow Hole, it’s a natural wonder that sprays a jet of sea water into
the air between two giant rocks; sometimes reaching heights of over 80 – 100 feet and should be added
to your list of things to see while you stay with us in Mirissa. The best time to see this is during high tide,
as you can experience the salty spray on your skin as seawater jets towards the sky and falls back on its
wide-eyed audience.
Next, you will be heading to Dondra Head and the iconic Coconut Tree Hill in Mirissa. Standing at the
Southernmost point of Sri Lanka, the Dondra Head Lighthouse was built by the British in 1889. Octagonal
in shape and painted in white, the Dondra Lighthouse stands 54m tall and is one of the four
international lighthouses in Sri Lanka and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. The Lighthouse is still
active and helps to guide ships and boats and is carefully positioned at a vital point in the Maritime
route. The Dondra Head Lighthouse also transmits radio wave signals to surrounding lighthouses in Sri
Lanka. You will also visit the iconic ‘coconut tree hill’ – a well-known place in Mirissa. You can watch the
infinite sea and Mirissa bay area from the top of this amazing place. It is a unique cliff located at the end
of a beach which is covered in palm trees. You will conclude the day with an overnight stay at a resort in
Ahangama.
Overnight stay in Ahangama.
Day 8 :
Ahangama
The beach resort in Ahangama is blessed with a beautiful beach frontage offering you the perfect island
getaway from the busy city life. It is the ideal place to unwind, relax, refresh and experience the
heritage, culture, nature and the way of life in southern Sri Lanka by the beach. You can indulge in a spa
treatment or take a dip in the azure pool if you wish. You will enjoy a delicious spread of breakfast here
before heading for a village cookery experience.
For the local cookery and culinary experience, You will visit the local market, interact with the village
vendors and together with the tour guide you will buy your provisions to prepare your lunch. Next, you
will visit a village where you will engage in preparing your village lunch together with village folks. You
will also meet and interact with the village families as they share their lifestyles and stories with you so
that you can feel the pulse of the rural people and the village life of Sri Lanka. After relishing your own
cooked Sri Lankan style lunch, you will bid farewell to the villagers and head back to the hotel. You will
end the day with a fantastic spread for dinner followed by an overnight stay at the beach resort in
Ahangama.
Overnight stay in Ahangama.
Day 9 :
Ahangama
After breakfast, you will travel to Galle via a 30 minutes train journey. Upon reaching Galle, you can take
part in a city tour to witness the charming colonial town on the Southern coast. This UNESCO World
Heritage Site has a 300-year-old fort, a maritime museum and a historic lighthouse that you can visit to
learn more of Sri Lankan history. You will also visit the lace factory in Galle. In fact, lace-making is a
popular craft in the city of Galle and one the most popular and artistic is one is ‘Beeralu Lace Making’.
This art is believed to have been passed down from either the Dutch or Portuguese and has now grown
into one of the most popular crafts in the country.
After the Galle city tour, you will get back to the beach resort in Ahangama to relax the evening. You will
enjoy a fantastic spread for dinner followed by an overnight stay in Ahangama.
Optional – If Weather permits will arrange dinner at the Beach
Overnight stay in Ahangama.
Day 10 :
Colobo
Today is your last day on the paradise isle. Indulge in a lavish spread of breakfast before leaving to
the airport for departure.
This brings you to the end of an exciting, fun-filled and memorable trip in Sri Lanka!
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Accommodation on Double or Triple Sharing
- Accommodation on BB Basis.
- Transportation by Air-Conditioned Vehicle with an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
- Government Tax and Service Charge at all the Hotels
Cost Excludes
- Peak Period Supplements at the Hotels, Lunch & Dinner throughout the Tour, Video Camera and Still Camera permits at the visiting places, Entrance fees to sites not mentioned above, Cost of beverage throughout the tour, Expenses of a personal nature, Any other services not specified above and Entrance & Activity Fees