Sri Lanka Wildlife, Culture and Beach Safari

Sri Lanka Wildife, Culture and Beach Safari - From £2,200 per Person Sharing Excluding International Flights

Day 1
On your arrival into Colombo you will be met by one of our representatives who will welcome you to Sri Lanka before heading off to Habarana which will take roughly five and a half hours. The rest of the day is yours to relax after your long flight.
Overnight: Cinnamon Lodge – Individual en-suite rooms on the ground or first floor, overlooking the lake

Day 2
After breakfast you will head to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a World Heritage site. Here you will be able to see the well preserved ruins constructed by Parakramabahu the Great, the last in a sequence of warrior-kings, who developed the city on a lavish scale. In the afternoon you will return to the lodge where the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax.
Overnight: Cinnamon Lodge (B/D)

Day 3
This morning you will be taken to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a sheer cliff that rises 200 meters with the palace ruins on the top and impressive gardens at the foot. The afternoon will be spent at Minneriya National Park. August is the dry season in Sri Lanka and so the area is parched and most of the water sources dry up. The main lake in the park is therefore the main source of water for the animals. During the dry season it is possible to see large herds of elephants congregating on the shores of the lake which makes for some spectacular wildlife viewing.
Overnight: Cinnamon Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 4
After breakfast you will leave the lodge and will head to Kandy. After you have checked into the hotel you will head off for a visit of the Temple of the Tooth. This is a must see temple which houses the tooth of the Buddha; allegedly snatched from his funeral pyre and smuggled into Sri Lanka where it is now on display.
Overnight: Chaaya Citadel Hotel – Deluxe and Luxury rooms with en-suite facilities as well as balconies overlooking the river (B/D)

Day 5
About two hours from Kandy is the tea plantation town of Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lanka. The afternoon is yours to relax or to explore the nearby town or tea plantations.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya (B/D)

Day 6
After breakfast you will leave the hills and head south to Yala National Park, here you will meet your leopard tracking team. After you have settled into the lodge and had lunch, you will go on your first afternoon game drive in search of the Asian Leopard.
Overnight: Yala Village – Situated just 3km from the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary, this lodge is an ideal base from which to explore the area. There are beach and jungle chalets with balconies, en-suite facilities and air conditioning (B/L/D)

Days 7, 8, 9, 10
You will have four full days of morning and afternoon game drives inside the national park as you search for leopards, elephant, bears, deer, crocodiles, buffalo and much more. A second vehicle will search the national park for leopards and they will be in radio contact with you so can alert you of any leopards they have spotted. During the four days you will be able to enjoy a breakfast in the bush, a dinner in the bush as well as a private dinner on the observation deck with one of your guides.
Overnight: Yala Village (B/L/D)

Day 11
From Yala you will head to the coast where you will have the chance to relax after the last few days’ adventure. Hikkaduwa beach is a tranquil location with sandy beaches and coconut groves.
Overnight: Aditya Hotel – A boutique hotel with 12 suites each individually decorated and all with en-suite bathrooms (B/D)

Days 12, 13
Spend two full days relaxing at your hotel.
Overnight: Aditya Hotel (B/L/D)

Day 14
Today you will be transferred back to Colombo in time for your flight back to the UK (B)