WILDLIFE OF SRI LANKA TOUR - TAILOR MADE HOLIDAY

 

Tour Highlights:

 

• Kelani valley Forest Reserve

• Sinharaja Trekkings

• Uda Walawa National Park

• Yala National park Safari

• Bundala National Park safari

• Victoria Park

• Horton Plains National Park

• Kandy City

• Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

• Udawattakele Sanctuary

• Sigiriya Rock Fortress

 

Day 01                                                   

AIRPORT/ KITULGALA - BORDERLANDS

 

Upon your arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by a Representative. You will then be escorted to your vehicle and introduced to your Guide and transferred to Kitulgala and check in to the hotel.

The day is free to relax.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 02                                                   

KITULGALA – BORDERLANDS

 

Breakfast in the hotel.

Proceed to visit Kelani Valley Forest Reserve.

Kitulgala is the place where the famous 'Bridge on the River Kwai' film was made. Kelani Valley forest reserve is established as a forest reserve to protect the watershed of Kelani River. It is home to many of Sri Lanka’s endemic fauna and flora. The forest is secondary lowland rainforest on the lower slope with the forest extending up to the higher elevations, contiguous with the Peak Wilderness sanctuary. Kitulgala also has several waterfall sand caves of Ancient times.

Red-faced Malkoha, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Malabar Trogon, Lesser Yellow-naped, Pygmy and Crimson-Backed Woodpeckers and Spot-winged Thrush, White-faced Starling, Dollar bird and Chestnut-backed Owlet are among the birds you can observe.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

 

Day 03                                                   

KITULGALA/ KALAWANA – BOULDER GARDEN

 

Breakfast in the hotel.

Proceed to visit Kelani Valley Forest Reserve.

Check out from the hotel & proceed to Kalawana.

Rest of the day is free to relax.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 04                                                   

KALAWANA/ SINGHARAJA FOREST – BOULDER GARDEN

 

Breakfast in the hotel.

Proceed to Sinharaja Forest for bird watching.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve 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 hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as Kingdom of the Lion. 
Sinharaja Rain Forest reserve is only 21 km from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. An interesting phenomenon is that birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the noisy Orange-billed Babbler. Of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species all occur here, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. 

Return to the hotel in the evening for overnight stay.

                                                                                                                             

Day 05                                                   

KALAWANA/ SINGHARAJA FOREST /UDA WALAWA– GRAND UDAWALAWA

 

After breakfast visit Sinharaja Rainforest.

According to a study carried out on the mixed species bird flocks, 40 individual birds are found in the flocks on average, which makes this the world’s largest mixed species bird flock. The mixed species bird flock study of Sinharaja forest has been continuing since 1981 and is considered the World’s longest running bird flock study. On a birding trip to Sinharaja a birdwatcher can see close to 18 of the 27 endemic bird species although the actual number of endemic birds recorded at Sinharaja is more. The birding highlights would include Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Black-naped Monarch, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Sri Lanka Spur fowl, Spot-winged Thrush, Sri Lanka Myna, Legge’s Flowerpecker, Brown-backed Needle tail, Green Imperial Pigeon, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Scaly Thrush, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Black-throated Munia, Dark-fronted Babbler and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. As dusk falls we look for the sub-continental endemic species the Sri Lanka Frogmouth.

On completion the bird trail, check out and proceed to Uda Walawa.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 06                                                   

UDA WALAWA / YALA– CINNNAMON WILD

 

After breakfast, check out from the hotel & proceed to Uda Walawa.

Arrive in Uda Walawa.

Safari at Uda Walawa National Park in the morning.

Uda Walawa national Park is located approximately 200km south-east of Colombo city and is a major eco-tourism destination in Sri Lanka. It is most famous for the many elephants that live there (about 400 in total) during a visit, it is not unusual to see whole herds of adults and young elephants feeding or bathing and playing in the water.

Check out from the hotel & proceed to Yala enjoying the beautiful sceneries.

Check in to the hotel in the evening for overnight stay.

 

Day 07

YALA – CINNNAMON WILD

 

Breakfast in the hotel.

Proceed to visit Yala National Park by jeep.

Safari at Yala in the morning.

Yala National Park (1,570 sq km) was created in 1938 and is located in the south-eastern corner of the island. Its diverse range of habitats, including scrub jungle, brackish lagoons, lakes and rivers are home to approximately 400 elephants and around 40 leopards in addition to wild buffalo, sambhurs deer, musk deer, black bears, macaques, jackals and a numerous variety of birds.

Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 08

YALA/ BUNDALA/ VICTORIA PARK/ NUAWARA ELIYA – GRAND HOTEL

 

With a packed breakfast, make a morning safari in Bundala National Park.

Bundala National Park, covering an area of 6216 hectares, is located about 250km southeast of Colombo in the Hambantota district.  The park falls within the southeastern arid zone of Sri Lanka, with a general climate that can be classified as hot and dry.  The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes bordering the coastline, and vegetation consists mainly of dry thorny scrublands and lagoons.  A total of 383 plant species have been recorded from the, park including 6 endemics and 7 species considered as nationally threatened.  It is also home to 32 different species of mammals, 5 of which are classified as threatened.  For keen birdwatchers, the complex wetland system harbours a rich bird life (approximately 197 species), including several species of migratory waterfowl.  This has led to the declaration of the park as Sri Lanka’s first ‘Ramsar’ wetland – one of great international importance especially for migratory waterfowl.

Check out from the hotel & proceed to Nuwara Eliya.

Visit Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya.

In the centre of Nuwara Eliya there is an ornamental public park called Victoria Park. They have a number of gardening staff working hard to keep it attractive. It is not in the same league as the Botanical Gardens but is worth a detour for a quiet peaceful stroll through the manicured lawns and maintained flower beds. Local courting couples seek out the tranquility and seclusion of the park. Victoria Park is a good place to spot a number of Sri Lankan Hill Country birds. Yellow-eared Bulbul, Pacific Swallow, Indian Pitta, Grey tit, Kashmir fly catcher and the Indian Blue Robin make the park their home. Bring your binoculars and telephoto lens. There is a Tea room in the park near the north entrance.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 09

NUWARA ELIYA – GRAND HOTEL

 

After breakfast, proceed to visit Horton Plains.

Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest.

The Horton Plains are the headwaters of three major Sri Lankan rivers, the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawa. In Sinhala the plains are known as Maha Eliya Plains. Stone tools dating back to Balangoda. This region was designated a national park in 1988. It is also a popular tourist destination and is situated 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Nuwara Eliya and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ohiya.

Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 10

NUWARA ELIYA /PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDENS/KANDY– CINNAMON CITADEL

 

After breakfast check out from the hotel & proceed to Kandy. 

En route, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya.

Initially a royal park, in 1821 under British rule it became a botanical garden. Here, exotic crops such as coffee, tea, nutmeg, rubber and cinchona (quinine) – all of which were to become important to the country’s economy were first tested.  The Botanical gardens are fantastic with an excellent orchid house and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world.  For keen gardeners, at least a morning is recommended to visit the gardens, possibly longer.

Continue to Kandy.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 11

KANDY/HABARANA – HOTEL KANDALAMA

 

After breakfast check out from the hotel & proceed to Udawattakele.

Udawattakele Bird Sanctuary is a one of well-known bird sanctuaries in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located 01km east of Trinity College (between the Temple of the Tooth and the Uplands-Aruppola suburbs), Kandy in Central Province. It’s one of historic forest giants in Kandy area, which provides shelter and is home to birds with its creepers. This Udawattakele kele was called as “Uda Wasala Watta” during the Kandyan Kingdom. The literary meaning of this is that the garden situated above the royal palace. However, this sanctuary contains various species of flora and is famous for its avifauna.

Udawattakele Bird Sanctuary is the destination of bird watching. It is recorded that sanctuary has about 80 avifaunal species.  And Layard’s Parakeet Psittacula calthropae, Yellow-fronted Barbet Megalaima flavifrons, and Brown-capped Babbler Pellorneum fuscocapillus are the endemic bird species at this bird sanctuary. Sometimes, rarely, travelers are able to discover rare three-toed Kingfisher “Ceyx erythacushas” also. And also bird watchers can view many birds at this sanctuary, such as Golden-fronted Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Brown-headed Barbet and Black-backed Kingfisher. Not only birds, there are many mammals also can be found in this Udawattakele Bird Sanctuary, such as the endemic Toque Macaque “Macaca sinica”, Jackal “Canis aureus”, Mouse deer “Moschiola meminna”, and Porcupine “Hysterix indica”. And also, visitors can discover Indian Muntjac, Boar, Asian Palm Civet, Golden Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Ruddy Mongoose, Indian Giant Flying Squirrel, Greater Bandicoot Rat, Dusky Palm Squirrel, Asian House Shrew, Greater False Vampire Bat and Indian Flying-fox in this Udawattakele Bird Sanctuary.

Proceed to Habarana.

Afternoon watch birds around Habarana Lake.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 12

HABARANA – HOTEL KANDALAMA

 

After breakfast proceed to visit the rock fortress of Sigiriya.

The legendary sky citadel of Sigiriya, the “Lion Rock” famous for its frescoes of ‘Celestial Maidens’ is possibly the most impressive site in Sri Lanka. Built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century on top of a vast 200m granite rock it took seven years to build and was abandoned after ten years of occupation when the King, defeated by his brother, committed suicide.

Although it is a steep climb, the views and frescoes are definitely worth the effort.

Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 13                                                                                                                  

HABARANA/ COLOMBO – KINGSBURY

 

After breakfast check out from the hotel & proceed to Colombo.

Take a city tour in Colombo city.

Facing the Indian Ocean and stretching along 14 km of the island’s western shores Colombo used to be called the Garden City of the East.  Things have changed, overcrowded buses and minivans have replaced the bullock carts and the once quiet roads are now bustling with people and traffic.  Yet the city still has its charms with its complex assortment of tree-lines boulevards, colonial buildings, parks, open air markets, temples, lakes, churches and now even skyscrapers. Colombo is the natural entry and exit point from the country and if not for its own charms its excellent shopping, great restaurants and a thriving art scene make it an enjoyable stop.

Check in to the hotel for overnight stay.

 

Day 14

COLOMBO/ AIRPORT

Checkout from the hotel and proceed to the airport in time for your departure. 

Please do note that you must be at the airport three hours before the flight. 

 

 

From £1592 per person sharing, subject to change & availability 

 

 

 

INCLUSIONS:

• Welcome and assistance on arrival in Sri Lanka by a representative.

• Transport in air-conditioned car, as mentioned above.

• Accommodation for 13 nights on BB basis at all hotels.

• Entrance fees to sites as mentioned in the itinerary.

• Taxes applicable locally.

• Mineral Water at disposal

 

EXCLUSIONS:

• Airfare & Visa.

• Lunch/ Dinner

• Tea / coffee, soft drinks, alcohol or any other beverages

• Tips and gratuities

• Video / photo permits at the sites visited

• Laundry, telephone or any other services obtained from the hotels

• Expenses of a personal nature

• Services other than those specified.