Wildlife Wonders of Lanka

Arrive Colombo & Travel to Negombo

Welcome to Sri Lanka!!! Upon arrival at Colombo airport, Total Holiday Options Executive will meet you at the arrival lounge holding a placard. Followed by transfer to Negombo. Negombo or Meegamuwa in Sinhalese is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon in Western Province. Situated six kilometres from the International airport of Sri Lanka, is a characteristic predominantly Christian fishing town with narrow streets and small boutiques, and many historic churches to visit and see, with its routes running back to the arrival of the Portuguese. A resort town dotted with many hotels and restaurants and the famous lagoon, where one could take a ride in an outrigger sailing canoe and experience the authentic fisherman’s life or explore the town to witness the locals day to day activity.

Assistance on arrival

Assistance on arrival and transfer to the Hotel.

Travel to Sinharaja

Travel to Sinharaja. It is famous for Sinharaja Forest Reserve, which is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The site is an icon of biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka, which has led to a considerable increase in conservation awareness among the public.

Sinharaja Rain Forest Walk

Trek one of the finest natural rain forests in the world which have been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as being a Man and Biosphere Reserve. It’s probably one of the oldest living ecosystems, a place that certainly deserves a visit and a place that promises to lives up to its expectations. Trek through dense greenery of lofty trees, intertwined with shrubs, woody climbers, vines, and smaller trees, experience a hot-spot of endemic species which includes over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic trees and woody climbers, mammals, birds, butterflies, reptiles, insects and rare amphibian species. This amazingly beautiful place is home to the Rusty-spotted and Fishing cats, Sambar, Wild boar, Barking deer, Squirrel, Monkey, Porcupines and the rare Leopard amongst many other mammals and many reptiles such as Green pit viper, the hump nosed viper and the krait. The fascinating birdlife includes 160 species of which 18 of the 20 endemic species in Sri Lanka are found here

Travel to Udawalawe

Travel to Udawalawe famous for its national park. The varied habitats in Udawalawe make it home to a diverse spectrum of animals. The main attraction at Udawalawe however are the elephants, endemic Toque Macaque, birds, reptiles and various species of exotic plant life. If you are traveling with children another highlight is the Elephant Transit Home – a highway house for orphaned elephants, supported by the Born Free Foundation. Over 100 elephants have been rehabilitated at the Elephant Transit Home and subsequently released into the wild.

Assistance on Arrival (Evening Safari at Udawalawe National Park)

Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Framed by soaring highlands on its northern boundary, the Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places to see wild elephants. Evening, enjoy Safari at Udawalawe National Park. This park has an area of 30,821 hectares and covers the catchment area of the Udawalawe reservoir. It provides a home for displaced animals from the Walawe Development Project. Rich in elephant population the park is having an estimated 500 or more elephants. The park is known to be a good breeding ground, for Baby elephants, guarded by their elders are seen around the year. To see elephants in their natural habitat visitors are advised to travel in Jungle Green vehicles and similar colored clothes. White and bright colors are quickly spotted by elephants.

Morning Safari at Bundala National Park & Travel to Yala

Morning, enjoy safari at Bundala National, an important wintering ground for migratory waterbirds between October to March. Covering an area of slightly more than 6,200 hectares, the Bundala National Park is in the southern district of Hambantota in Sri Lanka. The Park features a series of lagoons which are an important habitat for wintering waterbirds. It is due to this fact that Bundala was declared Sri Lanka's first Ramsar wetland. Many different species of bird and wildlife can be observed during the safari to name a few Elephant, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Toque Monkey, Stripe-necked and Ruddy Mongooses, Land and Water Monitor and Marsh Crocodile. For keen birdwatchers, the wetland system harbors an incredibly rich birdlife with approximately 197 species, including several species of migratory waterfowl. The rare Black-necked Stork and Great Thick-knee are birding highlights. Later continue your drive to Yala.

Assistance on arrival

Assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.

Morning Safari at Yala National Park

Early morning immerse yourself in nature and embark on a unique safari experience in Sri Lanka's most popular wildlife sanctuary Yala National Park. It is a huge area of forest, grassland and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean, in southeast Sri Lanka. Hop into one of the Jeeps commanded by a knowledgeable ranger, for a guided tour tracking the impressive number of elephants, crocodiles, buffaloes and hopefully, a leopard along the way. Despite the elusive nature of the leopard species, Yala boasts one of the densest leopard populations on the globe, increasing the likelihood of an encounter. Yala National Park plays a very significant role in the conservation of a large number of flora and fauna species in Sri Lanka, many of which are endemic to the island.

Travel to Nuwara Eliya

Travel to Nuwara Eliya also nicknamed Little England, rest and recuperate the center of the colonial British tea planters and dignitaries. The smoking steeples, British Tudor style architecture, misty mountains covered in tea plantations, and a lake to stroll along with feeling like a perfect holiday. Listed are some top things to see and do if you wish to explore the town on your own. Enjoy a speedboat ride on Gregory Lake, stroll at Victoria Park, spreads out on 27 acres of land and is full of trees and flowers. Explore the Bale Bazaar – a winter market selling winter clothes for the cold Nuwara Eliya weather. Visit Ambewela Farm, just a little bit out of town and you reach the rolling hills of Ambewela where the cows roam free to graze in turns. Hike along the Horton Plains to World's End a drop-off at the edge of a huge cliff at the end of the Horton Plains plateau.

Arrive Nuwara Eliya (Tea Tour)

On arrival, we enjoy a tour around the famous tea gardens of Nuwara Eliya, a land of tea estates and waterfalls! If you arrive in the morning you may witness the tea pickers at work, carefully picking the “two leaves and bud” that go into making the Pure Ceylon Tea. Later take a guided tour of the tea factory and learn about the next stage in the production of tea making. The full process involves Tea Plucking, Withering, Rolling, Fermentation, Firing and Sorting/Grading before it is bulk packed to be sent to the tea auctions in Colombo. After the tour, enjoy a cup of tea that is made here, sitting on the café balcony that overlooks the stunning tea plantations.

Horton Plains Excursion & Travel to Kandy

Today we enjoy an excursion to Horton Plains and then travel to Kandy. Wake up early and travel to Horton Plains for an excursion with your chauffeur guide. Everything is so picture-perfect here your photography skills will certainly be put to the test. Walk through the grasslands, patches of evergreen forests and cloud forests interspersed with freshwater streams and mist-covered swamps. The only sound to be heard is that of water gushing, birds and the wind blowing wildly through the trees. This UNESCO designated Natural World Heritage site, being a biodiversity hotspot is one of the best places to observe various species of plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. However the key attraction at Horton Plains is a sheer precipice with an 870m (2,854 ft) drop called “World’s End” – from where one can see the world stretch out to all eternity and the Baker’s fall, known as one Sri Lanka’s most beautiful waterfalls with its water pounding down a 20m (66ft) high stone slab.

Arrive Kandy & Visit Temple of Tooth Relic

Assistance on arrival & check in to the hotel. Later visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Temple of the Tooth. This temple has a burgeoning history spanning several centuries and is the home of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja (offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists. However, you don’t actually see the tooth. It’s kept in a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing size.

Travel to Wasgamuwa (Knuckle Valley Trek)

Travel to Wasgamuwa. This morning, leave for a Trek to the Knuckles Mountain Range. After arriving at the small town of Rangala, commence the trek to the Knuckles Mountain range. The Knuckles Mountain range is one of the most prominent Nature reserves in Sri Lanka with pure lush and greenery. You can either select the Seven Waterfalls expedition or the Hike to the High Knuckles. Both these treks are approx. 6 hours and longer but covers many beautiful sceneries and gives the chance to experience nature at its best. Later, continue to Wasgamuwa.

Assistance on Arrival

Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Safari at Wasgamuwa National Park & Travel to Negombo

Enjoy a morning safari through Wasgamuwa National Park, to see the presence of many small scale ancient reservoirs, and several other ruins and ancient religious sites that add vast historical importance to this National Park with its wide biodiversity. Spotting large flocks of birds on dead treetops and big herds of deer and buffalos grazing when passing by a water source is always an amazing sight. Peacocks in abundance roam this park where, getting a glimpse of a bear, is not uncommon. Elephants not confined to the Park, number about 150 here. Later travel to Negombo, a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka, north of Colombo.

Assistance on arrival

Assistance on arrival and transfer to the Hotel.

Colombo Departure

In time assisted transfer to Colombo International Airport to board your onward flight home.