Day 1

Fly to Colombo

Today you will start your Sri Lankan adventure by flying to Colombo International Airport.

Day 2

Arrival → Colombo → Balapitiya

“Ayubowan” & ‘’Vanakkam’’. Welcome to tropical paradise.
You will be welcomed and greeted by your guide or Earth Trip representative on arrival at the waiting area at Colombo International Airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in Balapitiya.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Mosvold Sundara

Sundara by Mosvold is a luxurious beach hotel located in the tranquil town of Balapitiya. With...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 3

Madu River & Culinary Experience

Today you will take a Boat Tour on the Madu River. You will explore this remote area and Cinnamon Islands. Madu Ganga or (Madu River) wetland spreads across 915 hectares, out of which 770 hectares is covered with water. Sail downstream for about a kilometre, the river opens its doors to 36 spectacular islands covering the rest 145 hectares. The inhabitants of these islands are mostly traditional fishermen and to some extent they are engaged in some traditional cottage industries such as producing peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil.

Afterwards you will have Sri Lanka culinary experience with a local family to learn about Sri Lankan food.

Enjoy Sri Lankan traditional culinary experience for Lunch (included). You can also learn to cook few Sri Lankan dishes if you like to. You will visit a local family in Bentota. When you arrive, you will be welcomed. Here you will learn how to prepare and cook Sri Lankan dishes such as. You will also discover how coconut milk is made, learn to crack open and scrape out your own coconut, and taste samples of each dish as you go along. The end product is a feast of 7 unique dishes served in a lotus leaf which you can eat local style with your fingers if you are up for the challenge. (If you like to spend the day buying ingredients with the host in local markets. You are welcome to join in the Morning).

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Mosvold Sundara

Sundara by Mosvold is a luxurious beach hotel located in the tranquil town of Balapitiya. With...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 4

Balapitiya → Udawalawe

Today you will travel to Udawalawe. After lunch you will enjoy an afternoon safari at Udawalawe National Park.

An area of 31,800 hectares and surrounded by mountain ranges, the terrain of Udawalawe National Park is a mixture of grassland, shrub jungle, wild tea plantations and two important factors which make this park special – the large Udawalawe Reservoir and the Walewe River, which ensure a supply of water for the fauna within. Internationally renowned for its large herd of elephants, the park is also known for several species of deer, wild boar, wild buffalo, jackal and very rare sightings of leopards.

Hotel: Kalu’s Hide Away

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 5

Udawalawe → Gal Oya

After breakfast you will enjoy a morning safari at Udawalawe National Park.

You will travel to your accommodation near Gal Oya National Park. Gal Oya National Park lies south east of Kandy in the eastern district.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Gal Oya Lodge

Take your time enjoying this natural paradise with boat safaris, jungle drives, bicycle tours, riverside picnics,...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 6

Gal Oya – Boat Safari

In the early morning you will take a boat trip to watch the birds and wildlife of Gal Oya.
This is the only park in Sri Lanka where you can take a boat trip to watch the wildlife. A unique opportunity to observe the local wildlife from the stunning Gal Oya Lake: including crocodiles, deer, elephants and many rare and endemic species of birds. This experience is the only one in Sri Lanka that enables you to spot wildlife from the water and to truly immerse yourself in the animals’ habitats. You may be lucky enough to see the elephants swimming between islands or bathing at the lake’s edge.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Gal Oya Lodge

Take your time enjoying this natural paradise with boat safaris, jungle drives, bicycle tours, riverside picnics,...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 7

Gal Oya – Jeep Safari → Nilaveli

Today you will take a jeep safari at Gal Oya. Gal Oya National Park is known for its resident elephant herds, flourishing birdlife and 32 species of mammal including langurs, toque macaques, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, water buffalo and deer.
The park was closed during the war for three decades. This park was established to protect the catchments area of the Senanayake Samudraya (lake). This wildlife richness of this wetland is a natural habitat for a wide range of fauna and flora consisting of dry mixed vegetation including savannah grass and an extensive green cover. About 45% of the vegetation is evergreen forest, 33% savanna, 9% grassland, 2% cheina cultivations and the balance is water bodies dominated by Senanayake Samudraya. The park hosts medicinal shrubs and trees, while a number of locally known trees such as Vevarana, Halmilla, Veera, Palu, Ebony and Mahogany are found in great numbers. The park with its thick green canopy is a haven for birds and nearer to the Samudraya even migratory birds such as Painted Storks, Pelicans, Cormorants and Teals can be seen. A host of local birds such as the Grey Dove, Malabar Horn Bill and Grey Horn Bill, Koel and a number of water birds are found in this jungle habitat. January to May is the green season, with the chance of afternoon and night time showers. The lake is at its fullest and there is amazing birdlife as all the migratory species are in residence. You can also see stunning early morning views of cloud engulfed mountains.
June-December is the dry season, as the year goes on the lake subsides and exposes the lake floor where fresh grass grows and attracts large herds of elephant. During this time the days are hot and the nights are cool.

Hotel C Beyond

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 8

Nilaveli

Relax on the beautiful Nilaveli coast in the Trincomalee district.

Hotel: C Beyond

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 9

Pigeon Island

In the morning you travel by boat to Pigeon Island Marine National Park.

Pigeon Island Marine National Park is fantastic place for snorkelling to see the spectacular marine life with over 100 species of colourful corals teeming with 300 types of reef fish. Pigeon Island National Park has one of the best remaining coral reefs with high live coral cover and is an ideal location for scuba diving and snorkelling.

Pigeon Island National Park consists of two small islands off the East coast, North of Trincomalee. The island gets its name from Blue Rock Pigeon, a native endangered bird that lives within the rocks in these islands. The islands were declared a sanctuary in 1963 for the purpose of protecting these birds. In 2003 this area was upgraded to the status of a National Park and the boundaries were extended to include coral reef around them. The islands are situated about 1 kilometre off the Nilaveli coast in the Trincomalee District.

Hotel: C Beyond

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 10

Nilaveli

Relax on the beautiful Nilaveli coast in the Trincomalee district.

Hotel: C Beyond

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 11

Minneriya

After lunch around 2pm enjoy a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park. It’s on the banks of the Minneriya reservoir, which was built in the 4th century A.C. Minneriya is a hide-out for many elephants, where you may see herds of elephants, with approximately 50 to 60 elephants in a herd. During July to September, one of the world’s top ten wildlife spectacles takes place, known as ‘The Gathering’, where more than 250 elephants gather around Minneriya water tank in search of food and water. Apart from elephants, it is a habitat for migrant and resident bird species like Grey heron, Open built storks and Painted storks. In addition you may see three different species of monkeys: Silica makake, Pink faced leaf monkey and Grey langur.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Aliya Resort & Spa

The Sigiriya hotel ‘Aliya’ is an authentic experience of the lifestyle of nearby villages in the...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 12

Ritigala & Kaudulla

In the morning you will visit the Ritigala jungle Monastery & Nature Reserve which is nestled deep inside the Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve. Ritigala is a fascinating nature reserve which harbours countless species of rare flora and fauna. Moreover, one finds the partially excavated ruins of a large Buddhist monastery. The ruins date from the pre-Christian times. The monastery was abandoned following the South Indian invasions in the 10th and 11 Centuries, but today holds a special charm with its strange mixture of Archaeology – atmosphere. Walking around the beautiful ruins will certainly give you a sense of adventure in search of the mythical past. It is easy to imagine yourself as Indiana Jones as you clamber the boulders and walk among the moss-covered relics of a bygone civilization.

Afternoon safari at Kaudulla National Park. Kaudulla National Park is the most recent to be added to the list of 15 parks in Sri Lanka. Famous for its elephants and bird population, species include the nation’s largest bird, the Lesser Adjutant and the Pompadour Green Pigeon. Built around the year 300 A.D, the tank slowly fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in 1959, and with its variety of plant life it has now become home to 24 species of mammals, 25 species of amphibians and countless bird types. The endangered Rusty Spotted Cat can be spotted in Kaudulla National Park, as well as large herds of Asian elephants, elusive leopards and both Sambar and Axis Deer.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Aliya Resort & Spa

The Sigiriya hotel ‘Aliya’ is an authentic experience of the lifestyle of nearby villages in the...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 13

Wilpattu

Today you will travel to Wilpattu and enjoy an afternoon safari at Wilpattu National Park.
Wilpattu National Park (‘Land of Lakes’) is situated on the north western coast near the ancient city of Anuradhapura. It is the largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka, consisting of 140,000 hectares of mostly dry zone evergreen forest cover and a coastal belt to the West. This is one of best places to see leopards in Sri Lanka alongside Yala National Park. The open grassy plains are set within the thick dense scrub jungle. The wetland includes around 48 shallow natural lakes known as Villus, natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and two salt water lakes. These natural lakes are the most important parts of the complex eco-system in the park.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • Negombo & the Northwest

Ibis Wilpattu

The Ibis is a four bed roomed exclusive and private ‘Villa’ styled property which lets...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 14

Wilpattu

After an early breakfast you will enjoy a full day safari with a picnic lunch.

Wilpattu National Park (‘Land of Lakes’) is situated on the north western coast near the ancient city of Anuradhapura. It is the largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka, consisting of 140,000 hectares of mostly dry zone evergreen forest cover and a coastal belt to the West. This is one of best places to see leopards in Sri Lanka alongside Yala National Park. The open grassy plains are set within the thick dense scrub jungle. The wetland includes around 48 shallow natural lakes known as Villus, natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and two salt water lakes. These natural lakes are the most important parts of the complex eco-system in the park.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • Negombo & the Northwest

Ibis Wilpattu

The Ibis is a four bed roomed exclusive and private ‘Villa’ styled property which lets...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 15

Wilpattu → Negombo

Today you will travel to Negombo.

Negombo is located approximately 37 kilometres north of the commercial capital of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the major tourist attractions of Negombo. Water sports and diving are also extremely popular, with a few well preserved coral reefs and a 50 year old shipwreck that serves as an artificial reef for many varieties of fish. It is common to use the town for the first or the last night of your stay in Sri Lanka, on your way to or from the airport. Negombo is perfectly located within 7 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

Hotel: Ambarella Lodge

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 16

End of Tour

You will be transferred to Colombo Airport to fly home. Travel time to the airport is approximately 20 minutes.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast