Sri Lanka Travel
Sri Lanka Travel is an amazingly beautiful experience. This is a picturesque island with serene mountains & hill stations surrounded by tea gardens and bungalows of the colonial era in one province, pristine sea beaches favorite among surfers in the other. UNESCO world heritage sites, ancient forts, temples are everywhere in this country. And how can one forget Sri Lankan elephants and leopards and other wildlife in unique national parks.
Is it Safe to Travel to Sri Lanka
It is completely safe to travel to Sri Lanka right now. The change of government brings political stability, and the main protest location was withdrawn. All resorts in Sri Lanka are open for business, with no power outages. Fuel is being provided in a systematic way, with no long queues. Every dollar spent in Sri Lanka strengthens their economy, and the tourism industry is critical to the country’s economic recovery. Government offices and public transport, including trains, are now fully operational. The western countries relaxed the travel advisory.
Why Travel Sri Lanka with us
Unlike the regular travel agencies arranging one night at each spot to cover several destinations of Sri Lanka in the minimum days possible, we recommend a two-night stay to immerse yourself in the culture, local cuisine, and diverse scenery of Sri Lankan destinations. After all, you are not here to cross off the destinations or run a marathon; you are here to live the moments.
In addition, unlike most tour companies, we can show you the undiscovered side of the Yala National Park and provide many game drives as well as an unusual, sumptuous stay in Yala.
Sri Lankan leopards, Panthera pardus kotiya, are huge. Because it’s the nation’s top predator, maybe. Large males weigh approximately 100 kg, according to limited data. Except for mothers with young, leopards hunt alone. Male ranges often overlap female territory and neighbouring male regions. They hunt primarily at night, but they are active at dawn, dusk, and noon. They seldom drag kills into trees due to the absence of combat and huge prey base.
Birding in Sri Lanka
7 days Trip to Yala National Park, Overnight inside Yala
This is our Sri Lanka travel itinerary, focused mainly on wildlife of Yala as we nicknamed it “Undisclosed Yala“. You are not going to stay in one of the usual hotels of Tissamaharama. We avoid the maddening tourists and locals of that part completely. You will stay in a Luxury Tented Safari Camp located amidst dense vegetation at the very boundary of the national park for 1 night. But before that, you will stay in the Pahalahenthota Forest Bungalow deep inside the National Park for the first 3 nights of your Yala adventure. How thrilling that can be? You will have access to the active wildlife very early in the morning, even before the gates of the national parks open for other visitors.
As a buffer, you will stay one night in Galle fort, and one night in Tangalle on the way from Colombo to Yala and back. If you wish to directly drive from Colombo to Yala, that can be arranged too, without these two extra nights to spend.
Pricing of all the Sri Lanka Trips are available on request.
Day 1: You will be picked up either from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo or a nearby hotel and transferred (~3 hours) by the southern coastal road to Galle. You will stay inside the Galle fort area in a heritage building turned boutique hotel. After checking in, you can have a meal in one of the beautiful and cozy cafes and restaurants. We can definitely recommend some of our favorites for lunch and dinner. Do not miss the fresh Gelato joints in and around Peddler’s street. The sunset around the fort is really beautiful. In the evening, you can either walk past the colonial buildings up to the Instagram worthy Light House or can hire a tuk tuk to drive you around the fort.
Day 2: After breakfast, we check out from the hotel to transfer you to Yala National Park. On the way, you can visit a government certified gemstone store.
The vehicle will drop you at Kataragama town and after lunch you will be picked up by a 4WD safari vehicle to transfer you to the Forest Bungalow deep inside the Block 1 of Yala National Park, world famous for its Leopard.
Your safari starts in the afternoon. Drinking water will be provided. Tea/coffee and little snacks will be provided during the safari.
Dinner and overnight in the Forest Bungalow. You are not allowed to venture outside the bungalow after dark.
Day 3: Wake up very early in the morning, as this is your best chance to find the leopards actively hunting.
You can do a Full Day safari where a picnic style lunch can be packed and you have it in the forest and continue the safari until evening.
You can also choose to spend the mid day in the bungalow taking a nap. This is the Advantage of staying in the Bungalow, you do not have to waste time on road and to register every time you enter or exit the park.
Dinner and overnight in the bungalow.
Day 4: A repeat of Day 3.
Day 5:Early morning safari to track the predators before any other tourists even enter the park. After a late breakfast we will proceed to the luxury safari camp driving through an unpaved road for few minutes. You will be welcomed with local drinks and refreshing towels before you check in to your huge tents.
After a sumptuous lunch, we proceed to the afternoon drive in a hidden treasure, the block 5 of Yala National Park.
Dinner and overnight in the camp. Bonfire might be arranged, depending on the weather.
Day 6: On the last day at Yala, you can go on a guided walking tour in the buffer region and take a dip in your plunge pool. After the breakfast, a 4WD will drive you to the nearest town where a car will pick you and proceed to the next destination.
After the hectic wildlife safaris, we recommend to relax for a night by enjoying Srilanka’s amazing seasides and doing nothing. In tangalle, we can book a beautiful colonial style bungalow near a quaint sea-beach all to yourself. You can rent a tuktuk to roam around Tangalle town. You can either eat in some sea side restaurants, or we will arrange a chef in the bungalow to cook you the meals.
Day 7: From Tangalle, you will be transferred to the international airport in the capital city Colombo.
Additional night stay in Colombo and a city tour can be arranged.
Package includes:
- All road transfers as mentioned.
- Private Game drives in modified 4WD Toyota Hilux, equipped with binocular and beanbag (upon request).
- All Park Entry Fees.
- While staying in Yala NP, All meals and drinking water.
Package excludes:
- Personal spending money for drinks.
- Outside the stay in Yala NP, all Meals except the included breakfast in hotel.
- Drinking water except while staying in Yala.
- Entrance fees in the Gangaramaya temple and any other entrance fees during the city tours.
8 days Travel along Sri Lanka's South Coast
This is our Sri Lanka Travel Itinerary focusing solely on Southern Coast, the most amazing part of Sri Lanka covering the magical sea beaches of the southern coast, and of course national parks and wildlife of Yala. We deliberately skipped the mountains and tea gardens of Kandy and Ella in this itinerary. This is also ideal for those who get motion sickness and dizziness on mountain roads.
Pricing of all the Sri Lanka Trips are available on request.
Day 1: You will be picked up either from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo or a nearby hotel and transferred (~3 hours) by the southern coastal road to the Galle. Galle fort was built by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural jewel by the sea. You will stay inside the fort area in a quaint heritage building turned boutique hotel. After checking in, you can have a meal in one of the beautiful and cozy cafes and restaurants. We can definitely recommend some of our favorites for lunch and dinner. Do not miss the fresh Gelato joints in and around Peddler’s street. The sunset around the fort is really beautiful. You can either walk past the colonial buildings up to the Instagram worthy LightHouse or can hire a tuk tuk to drive you around the fort.
Day 2: Have your breakfast in the hotel with a nice Srilankan spread before we take you around the Galle area. Ladies, did we tell you about the famed gemstones of Srilanka? You can visit a government certified gemstone store, having a good collection of semi-precious to precious gemstones. The blue sapphire is the most popular among the gemstones of Srilanka. Even if you do not like to buy any expensive gems, it will be a nice experience to visit this place, trust us.
We can then take you to the local fish market to see the fresh catches of the morning, if you are interested. The Rumassala temple can be the next destination. The legend has it that Rumassala mountain is actually a part of the himalayan range which was dropped by the monkey God Hanuman on his way to save Lord Rama. This mountain is said to be heaven of herbs and offers a beautiful coastal view and Galle city view. The peaceful turquoise water at the base of the cliff is also amazing to look at.
Finally, we will take you to the vibrant Unawatuna beach, popular among western tourists. We will drop you to your hotel in Galle fort before lunch time. The evening is free and easy.
Day 3: We will start early for the 3 hours road journey to the Yala national park. You are not going to stay in one of the usual hotels of Tissamaharama, to avoid maddening visitors entering Yala every day from there. For an authentic wildlife experience, you will be staying in an ultra-luxurious safari tent located amidst dense vegetation at the very boundary of the national park instead. The last leg of your journey to the safari camp is only accessible in a 4WD. This part of the road is unpaved and through thorny branches on both sides, please be careful.
The naturalist will meet you in the lounge and brief you about the park, its inhabitants and the safari camp, while you will be greeted with a wet towel and refreshing welcome drinks. It is good to inform your dietary requirements before your arrival and to discuss with us about any food preference or if you are interested to try some authentic local dish.
Your safari starts in the afternoon after a sumptuous lunch. Drinking water will be provided all the time, so you don’t have to carry any on your own. Soft drinks/tea/coffee and little snacks will be provided during the safari.
Day 4 and 5: You can either choose a full day safari where the lunch can be packed and have it in the forest and continue the safari until evening. Or you can do a morning safari where you usually start around 5:30 am until 10:30 am, come back to the camp, take rest and enjoy the pool and after lunch can embark on the afternoon drive.
Day 6: On the last day at Yala, you can opt to relax in the camp, go on a walking tour in the buffer region or continue the morning drive. After the breakfast, a 4WD will drive you to the nearest town where a car will pick you and proceed to the next destination.
Day 7: After the hectic wildlife safaris in Yala, we recommend to relax for a night by enjoying Srilanka’s amazing seaside and doing nothing. In Tangalle, we can book a beautiful colonial style bungalow near a quaint sea-beach all to yourself. You can rent a tuktuk to roam around Tangalle town. You can either eat in some seaside restaurants, or we will arrange a chef in the bungalow to cook you the meals.
Day 8: From Tangalle, you will visit the capital city Colombo. We will arrange a tuktuk for local sight-seeing in Colombo in the evening and the next morning. Gangaramaya temple and the lotus tower are the main attractions. After check out from the hotel you will be dropped to the Airport.
Package includes:
- Airport Arrival and Departure Transfers.
- Game drives in modified 4WD Toyota Hilux, equipped with binocular and beanbag (upon request).
- All Park Entry Fees.
- While staying in Yala NP, all meals and drinking water.
Package excludes:
- Personal spending money for drinks.
- Outside the stay in Yala NP, all Meals except the included breakfast in hotel.
- Drinking water except while staying in Yala.
- Entrance fees in the Gangaramaya temple and any other entrance fees during the city tours.
11 days Classic Sri Lanka circuit Tour
This is our most comprehensive Sri Lanka Travel plan, taking in the mountains, colonial tea farms, the gorgeous sea beaches of the southern coast, and, of course, the Yala National Park and its wildlife. This tour concentrates on the bulk of Sri Lanka’s most appealing characteristics, with the possibility of continuing to Northern Sri Lanka.
We will provide a few hotel/resort options, with prices varying depending on your preferences.
Pricing of all the Sri Lanka Trips are available on request.
Day 1: You will be picked up from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport or a nearby hotel and driven (3 hours) to the Galle Fort, an archaeological and architectural marvel by the sea. We will house you in a wonderful history building that has been converted into a boutique hotel. You can dine at one of the charming and pleasant cafes and restaurants after checking in. We can certainly recommend some of our favourites for lunch and dinner. Don’t miss out on the new Gelato shops on and around Peddler’s Street.
The sunset above the fort is spectacular. You may walk through the colonial structures and up to the Instagram-worthy Light House, or you can rent a tuk tuk to transport you around the fort.
Day 2:
Before we take you around the Galle neighbourhood, enjoy a delicious Sri Lankan breakfast in the hotel. Ladies, did we tell you about Sri Lanka’s famed diamonds? You can visit a government-approved gemstone store that stocks a wide range of semi-precious to precious gemstones. The blue sapphire is the most popular jewel in Sri Lanka.
If you’re interested, we can take you to the local fish market to see the morning’s fresh catches. The next visit could be the Rumassala shrine. This hill is thought to be herb heaven and provides a beautiful view over the seashore and the city of Galle. The peaceful turquoise sea at the cliff’s base is equally stunning.
Finally, we’ll take you to the vibrant Unawatuna beach, which is popular with western tourists. We’ll drop you off to your Galle Fort hotel before lunch. The evening is unstructured and uncomplicated.
Day 3: We’ll leave early for the three-hour drive to Yala National Park. You are not going to stay in one of Tissamaharama’s customary hotels to avoid the crowds that enter Yala every day from there. Instead, for a true wildlife experience, you will stay in an ultra-luxurious safari tent set within deep jungle at the national park’s very edge. The final stage of your journey to the safari camp is only accessible by 4WD vehicle.
It is best to advise us of your dietary restrictions before to your arrival and to discuss any food preferences or if you want to taste some authentic local dishes.
After a sumptuous meal, your afternoon safari will begin in the Block 5 of Yala, hidden from the usual tour groups. Wildlife viewing will start much earlier before you enter the park though.
Water, soft drinks/tea/coffee, and light snacks will be served throughout the safari.
Day 4 and 5: You can opt for a full-day safari, where you can pack your lunch and eat it in the forest before continuing the safari till the evening. Alternatively, you can go on a morning safari that lasts from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., return to the camp, relax and enjoy the pool, and then go on an afternoon drive after lunch.
Day 6:
You have the option of relaxing in camp on your final day in Yala, embarking on a walking tour in the buffer region, or continuing the morning drive. After breakfast, a 4WD will transport you to the nearest town, where you will be picked up and driven to your next location.
After the frenzied animal safaris in Yala, we bring you to the peaceful dreamy mountains of Ella. The evening is free and simple at your resort.
Day 7: After breakfast, we will go for Ella city tour including but not limited to Ella rock and tea gardens. Spend the night at the resort.
Day 8:
After checking out, take the famed TRAIN trip via the nine arch bridge to colonial Kandy, and leave your belongings in the car that will pick you up from the Kandy train station.
Check into your hotel. Following that, a Kandy city tour and an overnight stay at a Kandy resort.
Day 9:
After breakfast, we take a leisurely drive to Colombo, the country’s capital. We can stop for pictures along the route.
After checking in, you take a quick break. In the evening, you can take a tuk tuk trip throughout Colombo. Souvenirs are available for purchase.
Day 10: After breakfast, a tuktuk will take you to the Gangaramaya temple and the lotus tower. After check out from the hotel you will be dropped to the Airport by a car.
Package includes:
- All Road Transfers as mentioned.
- Train ticket from Ella-Kandy.
- Game drives in modified 4WD Toyota Hilux, equipped with binocular and beanbag.
- All Park Entry Fees.
- While staying in Yala NP, All meals and drinking water.
Package excludes:
- Personal spending money for drinks.
- Outside the stay in Yala NP, all Meals except the included breakfast in hotel.
- Drinking water except while staying in Yala.
- Entrance fees in the Gangaramaya temple and any other entrance fees during the city tours.
Sri Lankan Elephant
The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is a subspecies of Asian elephant. Among Asian elephants, some (and not all) males have profound tusks. Female elephants do not have tusks, unlike their African counterparts. Home to an estimated 7500 elephants, Sri Lanka has very few elephants with tusks. Longest tusks of 7 feet 6 inches long were recorded in the past, although to encounter one in the wild is an extremely rare experience. Obviously, tuskers are exposed to more harm than other elephants. Do you know that these elephants stand on their hind legs to reach young juicy leaves of tall tree, a phenomenon quite common in Zambia, Zimbabwe or Botswana. Travel to Sri Lanka to see this gentle giant from close.
Useful Information
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- Please inform us of your dietary requirements. We try to provide authentic local dishes in the safari camp and in the forest bungalow. And we can advise you for the other locations.
- There is no proper washroom inside the park, but bush toilets during the safari are always there.
- We will provide you field guide books during safari.
- There will be complimentary wifi in the lounge of the safari camp but none in the forest bungalow. The hotels/resorts usually have wifi.
- You need a pair of slippers and comfortable walking/trekking shoes.
- A headlamp is handy, so is mosquito repellent and antiseptic cream in any forests.
- We will provide glass water bottles and refill them in the safari camp. Tea/coffee and electric kettle are available.
- Blanket, towel, pillow, clean bed sheets, shampoo and soap will be provided and replaced. Kindly carry the other personal amenities, or request us in advance.
- In each luxury tent you will have enough power outlets to charge multiple gadgets together at the same time. For other locations, this might be limited.