The Wonders of Sri Lanka

Wildlife, Whales and Wonders of Sri Lanka - From £3,800 per person sharing

Day 1
On arrival into Colombo you will be met by one of our representatives who will present you with all onward travel documentation. You will then 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 journey.
Overnight: Cinnamon Lodge – Individual en-suite rooms on the ground or first floor, overlooking the lake

Day 2
This morning, 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 have a fantastic excursion to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which consists of a sheer cliff that rises 200 meters with the ruins of the palace on the top and impressive gardens at the foot.
Overnight: Cinnamon Lodge (B/L/D)

Day 3
Relax in the morning prior to travelling north east to the beautiful coastline of Trincomalee. This afternoon and evening is yours to relax and unwind.
Overnight: Chaaya Blue – Situated on the sparkling shores of Sri Lanka’s eastern coast in Trincomalee harbour, the perfect place to unwind and relax in the sun or head out whale or dolphin watching. Comfortable en-suite chalets or rooms. (B/L/D)

Day 4
You will have an early start this morning to head out whale watching. Spotting blue whales and humpback whales off the coastline of Sri Lanka is a fantastic experience. On occasions you can also spot pods of up to four hundred dolphins alongside your boat! This afternoon is yours to relax after the morning’s adventure.
Overnight: Chaaya Blue (B/L/D)

Day 5
Today you will head southwards to the central city of Kandy. On arrival you will have time to relax or alternatively you can start exploring this renowned city.
Overnight: Earls Regency – 5 star hotel providing views of the surrounding mountains and great access to Kandy (B/L/D)

Day 6
Explore the cultural city of Kandy; a highlight is a visit to the Temple of the Tooth. This is a must see temple which houses the tooth of the Buddha which was allegedly snatched from his funeral pyre and smuggled into Sri Lanka where it is now on display.
Overnight: Earls Regency (B/L/D)

Day 7
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 town or nearby tea plantations.
Overnight: Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya (B/L/D)

Day 8
Today you will explore the nearby Horton Plains National Park. As a National Park it is not wildlife orientated, but is one of the most scenic areas in Sri Lanka. Horton Plains is a protected area in the central highlands covered by montane grassland and the last true remaining cloud forest in Sri Lanka. One of the main highlights is “World’s End”, which is located at the southern reaches of the park and involves a 1,200m drop!
Overnight: Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya (B/L/D)

Day 9
After breakfast you will leave the hills and head south to Yala National Park where 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 – Located just 3 km from the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary makes Yala Village 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)

Day 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. 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)

Days 11, 12, 13
During days 11, 12 and 13, you will be staying at a bush camp within the park itself. This maximizes your chances of seeing leopards in the wild as you have quicker access to the prime viewing spots. This is truly a remote experience getting you up close and personal to the wildlife, and at the same time, having all your needs catered for.
Overnight: Leopard Safari Camp – Cosy tents with shared facilities. Tasty meals are prepared by the chef and are accompanied by vintage wines (B/L/D)

Day 14
Following your final morning game drive you will head south along the coast to the historic town of Galle. Here you will stay at the luxury boutique property of Aditya (located 15 minutes drive north of Galle). The afternoon will be perfect for you to relax and enjoy your surroundings after the adventures of the last few weeks.
Overnight: Aditya – Shanthi Room – A luxury boutique property with direct access to the beach and a lovely pool to laze in. Evening meals can be taken on the beach or even in your room where you have a private plunge pool! (B/L/D)

Days 15, 16, 17, 18
Enjoy four full days relaxing at this lovely property. Alternatively, if you are feeling a little more active, a variety of activities are on offer in the surrounding area including visits to the turtle project, exploration of Galle town itself and the historic fort as well as whale and dolphin watching from Mirissa Harbour.
Overnight: Aditya (B/L/D)

Day 19
Today you depart Aditya and make your way (approx 2hrs) to Colombo. The rest of the day is yours to relax before your international flight home the following day.
Overnight: Cinnamon Lakeside – 5 star hotel (B)

Day 20
This morning you will be met and transferred to the airport in time for your international flight back home (B)