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8 Days
Daily Tour
10 people
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This tour focuses on the main national parks of Sri Lanka which are visited in standard tours amalgamated with other activities and attractions. However, this is an exclusive wildlife tour which strives to introduce the visitor to Sri Lanka’s “Big 4”; the elephant, the leopard, the sloth bear and the blue whale. However, the tour provides more insight to fauna ranging from other mammals such as deer, monkeys, buffalos, giant squirrels and dolphins to name a few. Sri Lanka is a paradise for the birdwatcher and this tour gives ample opportunity to observe the variety of birds. For more a more comprehensive tour your please have a look at our comprehensive wildlife tour National Park Tour of Sri Lanka.
07 Nights / 08 Days
Tour based sharing twin on half board basis (Breakfast + Dinner)
| Day | Route | Places Visited | Over Night |
| 1 | Airport – Kalpitiya | Transfer to Kalpitiya | Kalpitiya |
| 2 | Kalpitiya – Habarana | Dolphin/Whale watching & Wilpattu safari | Habarana |
| 3 | Habarana | Minneriya Elephant safari | Habarana |
| 4 | Habarana – Pinnawela | Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage | Pinnawela |
| 5 | Pinnawela – Udawalawe | Elephant transit home, Udawalawe safari | Udawalawe |
| 6 | Embilipitiya – Yala | Bundala Bird watching safari | Yala |
| 7 | Yala – Mirissa | Yala safari | Mirissa |
| 8 | Mirissa – Colombo | Whale Watching (November to April) | |
| Transfer to airport or next destination |
Your Sri Lankan wildlife and marine adventure begins as you step off your flight into the warm island air at Bandaranaike International Airport. A warm smile of welcome greets you at the terminal, and soon you are whisked away north along the scenic western coastline to the sun-drenched peninsula of Kalpitiya. Framed by the Indian Ocean on one side and the tranquil Puttalam Lagoon on the other, this unspoiled coastal haven is renowned for its golden sands, swaying palms, and rich marine biodiversity. Settle into your beachfront retreat and spend the evening unwinding to the gentle rhythm of the waves.
Overnight stay in Kalpitiya
Set out at dawn onto the deep blue waters off the Kalpitiya peninsula for an exhilarating marine excursion. Renowned for vast super-pods of spinner dolphins leaping and spinning beside the boat—alongside seasonal sightings of majestic blue and sperm whales—the morning offers an unforgettable encounter with Sri Lanka’s ocean giants. Returning to shore, journey inland to Wilpattu National Park, the island’s largest and oldest wildlife reserve. Famous for its unique villus (natural sand-rimmed rainwater lakes), Wilpattu’s dense scrub jungle is a premier sanctuary for elusive Sri Lankan leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, and vibrant forest birdlife. After your afternoon game drive, continue eastward into the Cultural Triangle to Habarana.
Overnight stay in Habarana
Enjoy a relaxed morning surrounded by Habarana’s lush countryside before adventure calls in the afternoon with a 4WD jeep safari into Minneriya National Park. Centered around the ancient 3rd-century Minneriya Tank, this picturesque sanctuary of grasslands and scrub forest is world-famous for the “Elephant Gathering”. Watch in awe as large herds of wild Asian elephants emerge from the jungle to graze along the grassy shores and bathe in the reservoir alongside water buffalo, crocodiles, and flocks of painted storks.
Overnight stay in Habarana
Leaving Habarana after breakfast, journey southwest toward the lush river valleys of Pinnawela. Here, you will visit the world-famous Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, a sanctuary established to care for orphaned, abandoned, and injured wild elephants. Witness the heartwarming sight of young calves being lovingly bottle-fed by their caretakers, and watch the entire herd stroll down to the rocky Ma Oya river for their daily communal bath and playtime in the water.
Overnight stay in Pinnawela
Departing Pinnawela, travel south through scenic mountain passes and emerald landscapes toward the southern plains of Udawalawe. Your first wildlife stop is the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, a dedicated rehabilitation center where orphaned elephant calves are nurtured with minimal human contact before being released back into the wild—watch them gather eagerly at feeding time. In the afternoon, board a 4WD safari jeep to explore Udawalawe National Park. With its open grasslands and sprawling reservoir, the park offers virtually guaranteed close-up sightings of wild elephant herds, alongside sambar deer, wild buffalo, jackals, and birds of prey.
Overnight stay in Udawalawe
racing the scenic route from Embilipitiya toward the deep south, set off on a captivating morning safari in Bundala National Park. Designated as Sri Lanka’s first Ramsar Wetland of International Importance, Bundala’s shimmering coastal lagoons, salt pans, and dunes host an extraordinary array of resident and migratory waterbirds—including flocks of greater flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, and painted storks—alongside marsh crocodiles and wild elephants. By afternoon, continue onward to Yala, gateway to Sri Lanka’s most celebrated wildlife reserve.
Overnight stay in Yala
Adventure calls at dawn as you enter Yala National Park by 4WD jeep. Navigating a dramatic mosaic of dry monsoon forest, rocky outcrops, and coastal lagoons, keep your eyes peeled for Yala’s famed elusive leopards stretching on sun-warmed boulders or emerging from the thickets, alongside wild elephants, sloth bears, and crocodiles. Following your safari, trace the sun-drenched southern coastline westward to the laid-back beach paradise of Mirissa. Spend the evening relaxing beside its crescent-shaped golden bay.
Overnight stay in Mirissa
Rise early for one final marine spectacle off the coast of Mirissa (seasonal from November to April), setting sail into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean in search of magnificent blue whales, Bryde’s whales, and playful pods of dolphins. Returning to shore, transfer northward along the Southern Expressway to Colombo and Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight or onward stay. As you leave, carry with you unforgettable memories of Sri Lanka’s extraordinary wildlife—from jungle leopards and gathering elephants to the gentle giants of the deep.
End of Tour
