Price
From £3,275 per person.
Includes B&B, H/B or AI accommodation, a/c transport with chauffeur guide, exclusive jeep & boat safaris, entrance fees & activities, and taxes.
Arrive Colombo airport and greeted by your dedicated Tikalanka chauffeur guide.
Head north along the west coast onto Kalpitiya peninsula, famous for kite surfing, dolphins and deserted, unspoiled beaches.
Two nights stay at Dolphin Beach Resort, which offers luxury tented accommodation as you have never experienced before. Ideal for couples and families wanting to get away from it all, this secluded and private, sand-between-the-toes retreat provides something truly different, a unique experience staying in a luxurious and air-conditioned tent-style pavilion, conjuring up images of the Arabian Nights.
There's lots to do locally near Alankuda Beach including whale and dolphin watching (season from November to April), wind and kite surfing, water skiing, fishing, cycling, kayaking, SCUBA diving and snorkelling, and yoga. Or just relax by the beach or next to the salt-water swimming pool at this 'no news, no shoes' resort.
Further afield (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE):
- Jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park, which is the island’s largest wildlife reserve at 131,693 hectares as well as one of the oldest and most important protected areas in Sri Lanka. Principally a dry lowland zone, the main topographical feature in the park is the concentration of ‘villus’. Though looking like lakes, these ‘villus’ are in fact basin-like fault depressions in the earth that fill with rain water during the monsoon season. The ‘villus’ attract a variety of animals including leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, water buffalos and deer as well as resident and migratory waterfowl.
- Visit Anuradhapura, the first capital of ancient Lanka in the 3rd century BCE, for a guided tour of the historic city, with visits to the preserved and partially restored ruins of the three principal monasteries: Mahavihara, Abhayagiriya and Jetavanarama. Absorb the atmosphere of Ruvanveliseya Dagoba and Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred Bo Tree and the oldest recorded tree in the world.
- Visit the hilltop temple of Mihintale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and enjoy a guided walking tour of this historic site.
Drive southeast to Habarana, the ‘crossroads’ of the island's Cultural Triangle.
Two nights stay at Galkadawala Forest Lodge, which is an open-plan forest lodge built sensitively with its natural surroundings and nestled in ‘jungle’ near a picturesque lake. It is a unique property in a stunning setting with an eclectic charm at every turn, an ideal retreat for nature lovers.
Early morning hot air balloon flight around the Sigiriya and Dambulla area to view the surrounding countryside at dawn – a very special experience indeed. IMPORTANT - Weather conditions permitting. Season from November to April.
Jeep safari in Minneriya NP, which forms an ‘elephant corridor’, along with Kaudulla NP, for the vast herds roaming the eastern region of the country from Trincomalee through to Wasgamuwa, Maduru Oya and Gal Oya NPs further south. The park is home to a variety of animals such as elephants, leopards, toque macaques, purple faced langurs, sloth bears, sambar and spotted deer, and about 160 bird species, including many endemics. Minneriya is home to the ‘gathering’ between August and October, when large herds of elephants congregate around Minneriya Lake to seek the last available water at the end of the dry season.
Head south to the Knuckles Mountain Range, a World Heritage Site of majestic mountains, lush green valleys and crystal clear streams. Known locally as Dumbara Kanduvetiya, or "mist-laden mountains", the entire region is characterised by astounding landscapes often enveloped in thick layers of cloud, which imbues an ethereal charm. The area is a climatic microcosm of the island as a whole, with typical conditions of all climatic zones being displayed in the massif. At higher elevations, there is a series of isolated cloud forests, harbouring a variety of flora and fauna, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Although the range constitutes only a tiny fraction of the island’s total area it is home to a significantly higher proportion of the country’s biodiversity.
The Knuckles, named after a series of peaks in the west of the massif that resemble the knuckles of a clenched fist, is an ideal area for hiking and trekking or kicking back and communing with nature. The region is still a tourist backwater, which will appeal to many visitors.
Two nights stay at Madulkelle Tea & Eco Lodge, which offers eco lodges scattered over a terraced hillside tea estate centred on a faux tea planter’s bungalow encircled by a colonnaded veranda furnished with reclining ’steamer’ chairs and a large swimming pool affording possibly one of the finest views anywhere on the island.
Suggested actvities (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE):
- Hiking and trekking – various trails are available winding across crystal clear streams, attractive waterfalls, dense forests and terraced paddy fields.
- Bird watching and wildlife – the Knuckles Mountain Range is a unique ecosystem in comparison to the rest of Sri Lanka’s central hills, with more than 120 bird species on record including many endemics. Other wildlife sighted in the area include the rare white sambhur, barking and mouse deer, and the giant squirrel as well as elephants and leopards.
- Camping safari – spend a night camping out in the wilderness with an expert tracker.
- Tea Factory visit and tea picking.
- Local community activities including garland making and volunteering for children’s club programmes.
Continue to Kitulgala in the foothills of the western Hill Country. Southwest of Kandy and north of Adam's Peak, Kitulgala hugs the Kelani Ganga (river) as it meanders through the Sri Lankan 'jungle'. Made famous by the Oscar-winning epic Bridge on the River Kwai, which was filmed here in 1956 by Sir David Lean, Kitulgala is now a popular area for nature walks and bird watching. It is also one of the few places in Sri Lanka where white-water rafting and other exhilarating water-borne actvities are possible.
Two nights stay at Borderlands Eco Lodge, which provides eco lodges and a jungle camp overlooking the Kelani River. This is a rustic ‘glamping’ experience for those who need a certain degree of comfort. Surrounded by mountains and the clear, rushing river below, the site is truly stunning.
A half-day trek through the Makandawa Rainforest Reserve, a spectacular area of jungle-clad hills and plantations growing low-country tea and rubber, which was established to protect the watershed of the Kelani River. Similar to Sinharaja, the lowland rainforest around Kitulgala is one of the best spots to see endemic bird species on the island. For example, the Sri Lanka hill munia, chestnut-backed owlet and Sri Lanka small barbet are all resident here, and the green-billed coucal is certainly easier to see at Kitulgala than in Sinharaja. (packed lunch included)
In the afternoon, experience an adrenaline-pumping, white-water rafting excursion. After a safety briefing and a few pointers on rafting technique, you will jump right into the action. Seven high quality, class II and III rapids and temperate waters make the Kelani River a premier introduction to the sport of white-water rafting or an exciting choice for experienced rafters. The river hosts rapids between grades 2 and 3, with the rafting stretch approximately 6.5 km in length, and taking between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to complete, depending on water levels. With the Kelani’s special “Killer Fall” and “Butter Crunch” rapids, rafters are guaranteed a challenge, but are also offered a chance to relax, with small calm stretches allowing a refreshing swim in the river to unwind. Along the way, you will have the option to hike down one of the river’s side canyons where you can jump into plunge pools, wade across “potholes,” and shoot down a few slides.
Leisurely drive through spectacular mountain scenery and Sri Lankan 'jungle' to Maskeliya in the Adam's Peak area.
One night stay at Pekoe Lodge, which is a former tea company's office dating back to the 1940s and newly refurbished into a smart guesthouse with far reaching views to Adam’s Peak. The start of the trail to the peak is less than 30 minutes’ drive away.
Reveille at 01.30 to drive to Nallathanniya to join the pilgrimage trail to sacred Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada; 2243 metres). The 6000 or so steps take 3-4 hours to climb at a leisurely pace and are interspersed with tea stops, chats with locals and blessings from sadhus. An awe-inspiring sunrise producing the famous spectacle known as the ‘Shadow of the Peak’ is your reward. December to April is the pilgrimage season when the climb to Adam’s Peak can be very congested, especially at weekends, and on public holidays and Poya (full moon) days. This may mean you might not reach the peak!
Continue into the upper Hill Country, following the winding vertiginous roads through the velveteen slopes of verdant tea plantations and past spectacular waterfalls and impressive mountain scenery on your way to Nuwara Eliya, the British colonial capital of the Hill Country and the highest town in Sri Lanka at 1900 metres above sea level.
Amble around the ‘City of Lights’ and enjoy a little piece of England in the tropics!
Scenic train journey to Ella in the southern Hill Country - subject to availability.
Two nights stay at Clove Tree Cottage, which is an off-the-beaten-track and novel guesthouse set in a two-storey former tea estate office in an unspoiled valley in the hills above Ravana Falls near Ella, with access to the facilities and services of AMBA Estate next door, which produces a range of artisanal teas, coffees, spices and preserves from the 40-hectare plantation.
Most visitors want to stay at the estate to learn more about organic farming and artisanal product-making. Guests can join the daily public tour at 11.00 or they can book to do a private tour and tasting at other times. For guests who want to spend time with village families learning about local food and handicrafts, help to collect honey and kithul treacle from the forest, explore the farm and learn about organic farming, and try their hand at plucking and rolling their own tea, peeling cinnamon, roasting coffee or making jams and chutneys, a range of hands-on experiences are offered. There are also various walking trails of differing difficulty, spectacular waterfalls and panoramic viewpoints in the vicinity, as well as the Flying Ravana Mega Zip Line, where you ‘fly’ along the 0.5 km-long zip-wire at speeds of up to 80 km/h with a bird’s-eye view of the iconic tea estates and lush vegetation surrounding Ella Gap.
Drop down to the hot and dry southern plain before continuing south to Yala.
Afternoon jeep safari in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s principal wildlife reserve, with an expert tracker and specialised game viewing jeep designed to camouflage you from the wildlife while enhancing your viewing opportunities.
Two nights stay at Kulu Safaris, which provides a classic tented safari camp experience in the ‘buffer zone’ surrounding Yala National Park. The all-inclusive campsite comprises of large tents with Queen-size beds, hot water showers and toilets with comfortable chairs set up on the veranda; a separate dining tent; breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by a gourmet chef; local liquor, beer, house wines, soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee, and bottled water; snacks and drinks during game drives; all park entry fees; two safaris per night's accommodation; experienced naturalist to accompany guests on all safaris.
Early morning AND afternoon jeep safaris in Yala NP, which is one of the island's best-known reserves and one of its largest. This region, known as the 'Dry Zone', has mostly dry thorn scrub, interspersed with small dusty glades – the ideal habitat to view elephants, Sri Lanka's largest mammal. The park does have a varied landscape, however, from parkland to dense jungle on the plains, scrubland with rocky outcrops and several streams, small lakes and lagoons. The picturesque ocean frontage to the east has wide beaches and high sand dunes. A former hunting reserve, which was transformed into a nature park in 1938, Yala NP, also called “Ruhuna”, is currently home to over 390 elephants, several of which are tuskers, and about 120 leopards, reportedly the highest density of leopards in the wild anywhere in the world. Watching elephants go for their bath at sunset or seeing leopards laze about on the rocks at dusk are the most popular natural spectacles at Yala NP. However, you may also see other species of mammals such as sambar and spotted deer, wild boar, buffalo, musk deer, black bear, the unique small Loris, toque macaque and langur monkeys, jackal, mongoose, porcupine, civet cat, anteater, and the enigmatic sloth bear. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in Yala NP, including the Sri Lankan junglefowl, white-bellied fish eagle, painted stork, black-necked stork, lesser adjutant, pompadour green pigeon, orange-breasted green pigeon, brown fish owl, red-faced malkoha, three species of bee-eaters, and large numbers of waders (including three species of pratincole and two thick-knees).
IMPORTANT – Yala NP (Block 1) is closed from 01 September for up to 2 months annually as a respite period for the animals and environment at the end of the dry season.
Early morning jeep safari in Yala NP.
Head west along the picturesque and cove-sprinkled southern coastline to the attractive crescent-shaped bay of Mirissa, which is popular for surfing, snorkelling and whale watching.
Two nights stay at Villa Atulya, which is a home-away-from-home on the beachfront, with five ocean-facing, spacious air-conditioned rooms. The villa is located on a quiet beach where the Indian Ocean laps at the edge of the property and local fisherman offer their catch at the door. There are rock pools full of colourful fish to explore and long stretches of beach for leisurely walks at sunset. On moonlit nights, turtles from the deep visit the sandy beach nearby to lay their eggs.
Suggested activity (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE):
- Early morning boat safari off the south coast from Mirissa or Weligama to spot blue whales, the largest animal on Earth! Sperm, humpback and orca whales as well as large pods of dolphins are also regular sightings. IMPORTANT - Season from November to April.
Continue further west along the southern coastline to Galle, famed for its exquisite Dutch colonial era fort.
Two nights stay at Fort Bliss, which is a comfortable four-bedroom town villa with courtyard garden and sit-out veranda within the Fort. Elegantly furnished and built in harmony with the original colonial Dutch architecture of the 17th century, it is located only a few metres from the famous ramparts.
Early morning boat safari through the mangroves and lush vegetation along the Mahamodara River, which offers great opportunities for spotting birds, butterflies, monitor lizards, and much more! A variety of water-borne birds can be seen including purple and grey herons, large and little egrets, Indian shag, and white-breasted, common and Indian-pied kingfishers. Among the forest dwelling birds are the spotted dove, pompadour green pigeon, drongos, bee-eaters, parakeets, coucals, and barbets. The birds of prey include the Brahmini kite, white-bellied sea eagle and the tank eagle.
Suggested activities (NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE):
- Guided cycling tours around the paddy fields and local villages around Galle.
- Guided walking tour of the Dutch fort at Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amble around the ramparts and stroll through the Arab Quarter.
The following day, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
