About us
11 Nights - 12 Days
Wildlife & Culture
Sri Lanka
Tour Overview
Tour Highlights
➤ Full-day leopard safari inside Yala National Park
➤ Elephant gatherings at Minneriya National Park
➤ Sunrise climb of Sigiriya Rock Fortress
➤ Sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy
➤ Whale watching off Mirissa
➤ Galle Fort at the coastal finish
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Airport / Wilpattu National Park / Anuradapura
Greeted by our representative at Colombo Airport and depart to Wilpattu National Park for a Half Day Game Safari, then continue to Anuradapura. Wilpattu National Park: Sri Lanka's largest national park at 1,085 sq km, once closed for decades but now thriving again, home to an estimated 50 elephants, 50 leopards, spotted deer, sloth bear, wild hog and crocodiles. Anuradapura Historical Site: the island's ruling capital for 1,000 years, still used for religious purposes, with giant dagobas, lofty pillars, ancient rock pools and museums. Open roughly 7.00-18.00, allow 2.5 hours. Overnight stay at Anuradapura.
- Wilpattu National Park
- Anuradapura
- Half-Day Game Safari
Anuradapura / Polonnaruwa / Dambulla
After breakfast proceed to Polonnaruwa, then return to Dambulla. Polonnaruwa: a World Heritage Site with Buddha statues in varied postures, ancient palace complexes, Hindu sculptures reflecting Indian influence, and irrigation canals fed by the Parakrama Samudra. Flat and walkable, allow 2.5 hours. Overnight stay at Dambulla.
- Anuradapura
- Polonnaruwa
- Dambulla
Dambulla / Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park / Sigiriya
Early morning Half Day Game Safari at Minneriya National Park, a renowned spot for elephant gatherings (hundreds in herds during the dry season, May-September), also home to sambar deer, crocodiles and macaques. Sigiriya: a 200m rock fortress with a royal palace at its summit; 1,200 steps, about 3 hours round trip, with fifth-century frescoes and an ancient graffiti-covered mirror wall. Overnight stay at Dambulla.
- Dambulla
- Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park
- Sigiriya
- Half-Day Game Safari
- Mirror Wall & Frescoes
Dambulla / Kandy
After breakfast depart to Kandy, the last royal capital. Kandy Tooth Temple: enshrines the sacred left canine relic of the Buddha, held in the highest esteem; an easy visit of about 2 hours. Folk Show: a one-hour showcase of 12 traditional dance forms and a fire-walking ceremony. Overnight stay at Kandy.
- Dambulla
- Kandy
- Traditional Folk Show
- Fire-Walking Ceremony
- Temple of the Tooth
Kandy / Pinnawala
Breakfast at the hotel, then depart to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Gates open 8.30am; visitors can watch baby elephants roam a 25-acre property. Each elephant receives around 76kg of greens plus a rice-and-maize mix daily. Founded in 1975, the orphanage now cares for about 90 elephants (39 male, 51 female). Daily schedule: 8.30 opening, bottle feeding at 9.15/13.15/17.00, river bathing at 10.00 & 14.00 (2 hours), gates close 17.30-18.00. Overnight stay at Kandy.
- Kandy
- Pinnawala
- Elephant Bottle Feeding
- Elephant River Bathing
- Elephant Orphanage Visit
Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast then depart for Nuwara Eliya, passing scenic landscapes, waterfalls and a working tea factory with its estate. City tour: Golf Course, Race Course, Gregory Lake and Victoria Park as preferred. Seetha Amman Temple: the world's only Seetha temple, marking the spot where legend says Seetha was held captive by Ravana. Hakgala Botanical Gardens: established in 1861, originally for cinchona cultivation, later transformed into gardens known for orchids and roses. Overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya.
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Waterfall Visit
- Botanical Garden Visit
- Tea Factory Tour
Nuwara Eliya / Udawalawe National Park
Early morning visit to Horton Plains National Park. A 5am jeep transfer from Nuwara Eliya precedes a 3-hour, 9.5km trek past World's End (Small and Big), Baker's Falls and Chimney Pool. Depart for Udawalawe, with an optional stop in Ella. Overnight stay at Udawalawe.
- Nuwara Eliya
- Udawalawe National Park
- World's End Trek
- Nature Trek
Udawalawe National Park / Yala National Park
Early morning Half Day Game Safari at Udawalawe National Park, sustained by the Udawalawe Reservoir and home to elephants, wild buffalo, sambar deer, crocodiles, sloth bear, jackals and leopards; sparser vegetation here makes for clearer wildlife sightings. Depart for Yala. Overnight stay at Yala.
- Udawalawe National Park
- Yala National Park
- Half-Day Game Safari
Yala / Mirissa
Breakfast then an early morning Full Day Game Safari at Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka's foremost parks, known for leopards, elephants, sloth bear, wild water buffalo and crocodiles; roam the park for 10-12 hours with lunch inside the park. Depart for Mirissa. Overnight stay at Mirissa.
- Yala
- Mirissa
- Full-Day Game Safari
Mirissa / Galle
Early morning whale watching safari from Mirissa. Doable year-round with peak season November-April; the Indian Ocean here is known for blue, Bryde's, sperm and occasionally killer whales, plus common, bottlenose, spinner, Risso's and striped dolphins. Boats depart around 7am for roughly 4 hours. Galle Fort: built in the 17th century, one of the best-preserved forts in South Asia, with colonial villas, the Dutch Reformed Church, a museum and the Clock Tower. Overnight stay at Galle.
- Mirissa
- Galle
- Whale Watching
- Dolphin Watching
- Fort Exploration
Galle / Negombo
Breakfast then depart for Negombo. Moonstone Mines: near Ambalangoda in the village of Meetiyagoda, the only concentrated moonstone deposit in the country (about one acre), with narrow mining shafts open to visitors. Ambalangoda Mask Museum: traditional hand-carved masks, painted in vivid style, tracing centuries of craft and cultural significance. Island Hopping on the Madu River: a lagoon with hundreds of islets in southwest Balapitiya; see an old Buddhist monastery and local cinnamon cultivation and prawn fishing (about 2 hours). Turtle Hatchery: begun in 1988, the hatchery buys turtle eggs from fishermen, incubates them in sand for roughly 50 days, then releases hatchlings to the sea at night; survival to adulthood is roughly 1 in 1,000. Overnight stay at Negombo.
- Galle
- Negombo
- Moonstone Mine Visit
- Mask Museum Visit
- Turtle Hatchery Visit
Negombo / Airport
Optional city tour in Negombo if time allows -- a small fishing village near the airport known for traditional catamarans still working the coast, plus a Dutch-era fort and canal from the late 16th century. Depart to Colombo Airport with delightful memories.
- Negombo
- Traditional Catamaran Fishing
- Fort Exploration
What's Included / Excluded
✓ INCLUDED
✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle for the full itinerary
✓ English-speaking chauffeur guide
✓ Fuel, parking and highway toll charges
✓ Driver accommodation and meals
✓ Daily breakfast at listed hotels
✓ Airport pick-up and drop-off
– NOT INCLUDED
– International flights and visa fees
– Entrance tickets to sites and national parks
– Lunches and dinners unless noted
– Personal expenses and gratuities
– Travel insurance
– Optional activities such as ballooning or rafting tickets
Tour Route
Frequently Asked Questions
The dry season from May to September gives the best sightings at Minneriya and Kaudulla, while Yala is at its best from February to July. The itinerary can be adjusted seasonally to prioritize the parks with the strongest wildlife activity.
The 12-day route covers Wilpattu, Minneriya or Kaudulla, and Yala National Park, plus the Cultural Triangle sites of Anuradapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya.
This is a private tour with your own air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking chauffeur guide throughout, not a shared group safari.
Yes, the day-by-day plan can be adjusted to fit a shorter trip or add extra nights at any of the national parks or the south coast.
Request This Tour
Real moments from real Sri Lanka trips
