Accommodation

AIR CONDITIONING: All hotels on this trip have fans, but not all will have air conditioning. Permanent Tented Camp (with facilities) (1 night), Eco Lodge (1 night), Hotel (9 nights)

Meals

11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

Others

Wilpattu National Park - Evening 4WD Safari Anawilundawa - Bird Sanctuary Anuradhapura - Vessagiriya Complex Guided Tour Minneriya National Park - Afternoon 4WD Safari Popem’s Arboretum - Evening Nature Walk Sigiriya Rock Fortress Visit Habarana - Cooking Demo & Home Cooked Meal Gal Oya National Park - Evening 4WD Safari Kumana National Park - Evening 4WD Safari Kumana National Park - Morning 4WD Safari Yala National Park - Morning 4WD Safari Yala National Park - Evening 4WD Safari Sinharaja Rainforest - Evening Nature Walk Rekawa - Turtle Nesting Observation Sinharaja Rainforest - Bird & Butterfly Trail Walk Galle - Galle Fort Walk

Transport

MOTORCYCLES: Your travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover you when riding a motorcycle. We do not include or offer motorcycle activities on any of our trips in Sri Lanka. TAXIS: Use the taxi services from within the arrivals terminal at the airport or taxi services arranged through your booking agent. If you have a local SIM : card, ride-sharing services, such as Uber, are available in major cities. Private vehicle

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Optional

Kumana National Park - Evening 4x4 Safari (OPTIONAL) - USD87 Kataragama - Kataragam Temple (OPTIONAL) - Free Yala National Park - Evening 4x4 Safari (OPTIONAL) - USD84

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Negombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Negombo

Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, maybe relax on the golden sand beaches and soak up some sun or feast on fresh seafood. The surrounding countryside is also perfect to explore on a bicycle (which you can rent with help from hotel reception). Tonight, ask your trip leader for the best local restaurants for dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Wilpattu National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Wilpattu National Park

Drive to Wilpattu this morning, visiting Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary on the way. Anawilundawa is unique because it borders three vastly different ecosystems – the coast, the mangroves and the freshwater tanks. This makes it one of the six RAMSAR Wetlands in Sri Lanka and a favourable nesting and breeding ground for hundreds of species of birds. Some of the species found here include herons, open-bills, great cormorants, white ibis, egrets, stalks, pheasant-tailed jacnas and the purple swamp hen. A total of 20 species of mammals have been recorded here, too, including the rusty-spotted cat, the fishing cat, the Indian otter, the slender loris, the toque monkey and 74 species of butterflies. Continue to Wilpattu and when you arrive, set out for an evening safari in the national park. This thick, dry jungle features floodplain lakes and boasts an impressive variety of flora in the huge expanses of forest. Look out for deer, elephants, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards.
Day 3 Day 3: Habarana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Habarana

Set off after breakfast this morning for Dambulla. On the way, visit the Vessagiriya Complex – where 500 monks lived during the reign of the Anuradhapura kingdom. Explore the caves and then carry on to Minneriya National Park for an afternoon safari. Home to Sri Lankan elephants, Minneriya is said to be the best national park in the world for spotting large herds in their natural habitat (between July and August is your best bet). Tonight, you’ll drive to Dambulla for a free evening to rest and recharge.
Day 4 Day 4: Habarana (Sigiriya)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Habarana (Sigiriya)

Beat the heat with an early wake-up this morning and head to Sigiriya – this ruined fortress is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous sights and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Those who make it to the top will be rewarded with epic views. This is also a popular spot for birdlife, due to the surrounding forests. Here, you’ll also learn about the Intrepid Foundation partner Zero Plastic – which works in this area to eliminate single-use plastic, educating local communities on sustainability practices and limiting the impact of plastic in and around Sigiriya. After exploring, you’ll head back to your hotel for a late breakfast. After recharging (nap, anyone?), head to a local’s home for a cooking demonstration of traditional dishes like Pol Sambol and Dhal Curry, which you’ll enjoy for lunch. Tonight, visit Popham’s Arboretum for a night-time nature walk, looking out for the slender loris and pangolin.
Day 5 Day 5: Ampara - Gal Oya National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Ampara - Gal Oya National Park

Make the drive to Ampara and enter the unspoiled splendour of Gal Oya National Park. When you arrive, spend some time exploring the lush landscape on foot before heading out on a 4WD safari. This park is home to elephants, axis deer, muntjacs, water buffalo, mugger crocodiles and more than 150 species of birds. Set against the massive Senanayake Samudraya Lake, the park is framed by high mountain peaks.
Day 6 Day 6: Arugam Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Arugam Bay

Today, you’ll head to Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s southeast coast, renowned for its world-class surfing, stunning crescent-shaped beach, and laid-back vibes. When you arrive, check in to your hotel and maybe chill out by the beach before embarking on a 4WD evening safari at nearby Kumana National Park. The park hosts a variety of other wildlife, including elephants, leopards, and crocodiles. Kumana is also celebrated for its diverse birdlife and serves as a vital bird sanctuary with hundreds of species migrating to its lush wetlands.
Day 7 Day 7: Kataragama - Kumana National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Kataragama - Kumana National Park

This morning, head out on another safari through Kumuna National Park. Because of the many waterways that thread through the landscape, you’ll have a pretty good shot of spotting some local wildlife. You’ll also have the chance to stop by Arugam Bay Lagoon or Panama Lake to see some crocodiles before leaving the area for Kataragama. This afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure. Maybe visit Kataragama Temple – dedicated to the Buddhist guardian deity Kataragama deviyo and the Hindu War God Murugan. For those who just can’t get enough of wildlife spotting, you can arrange an optional safari in Yala National Park - Sri Lanka’s second-largest national park. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at your resort with your group.
Day 8 Day 8: Kataragama - Yala National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Kataragama - Yala National Park

Double up on wildlife spotting with two included safaris in the morning and evening in Yala National Park. There’s a good chance of spotting crocodiles, elephants, monkeys and buffaloes, and if you are lucky, you may even spot a leopard – the park is considered one of the best places in the world to see these ever-elusive beauties. Keep an eye out for the 215 species of birds that call this place home, including the Sri Lankan wood pigeon, painted stork, crimson-fronted barbet and prideful peacocks strutting their way through the park.
Day 9 Day 9: Sinharaja
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Sinharaja

Drive to Singharaja Forest Reserve today – a biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you arrive, settle into the Rainforest Eco Lodge, your accommodation for the night. Set among the misty rainforest, these eco-lodges sit on stilts for optimum harmony with the natural environment. In the evening, head out on a nature walk through the forest with your leader, immersing yourself in the tropical surroundings and looking out for local beasts like jackals, big cats, wild boars and toque monkeys. Tonight, fall asleep to the sounds of the forest.
Day 10 Day 10: Tangalle
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Tangalle

Wake up with the morning birds and head out on a forest walk with your trip leader. Follow the leafy pathway, keeping an eye out for butterflies, multi-coloured blue magpies, squirrels, mongoose and birdlife. After, you’ll make the drive to Rekawa, where you’ll spend the night. As the sun goes down, you’ll head out to the beach with your group to look for nesting turtles.
Day 11 Day 11: Colombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Colombo

Prepare for a big day as you head for your last stop in Colombo. From October to April, you have the option to join an early morning whale-watching excursion. Although it can make for a long day, Sri Lanka offers exceptional whale-watching sightings. Here, you have the chance to spot a variety of whales, such as sperm whales, orcas, fin whales, and the biggest attraction of all - blue whales. On the way to Colombo, you’ll visit Galle Fort – the fortified city with a mixture of Portuguese and Dutch charm, narrow laneways, and popular promenades. Explore the area on foot, taking in the local architecture that dates from between the 16th and 19th centuries. Grab some lunch from one of the many cafes here, serving traditional Sri Lankan meals with a contemporary twist. When you arrive in Colombo, you have a free evening to choose your own adventure. Maybe head out to sample some of the city’s renowned street food like crispy vegetable samosas, hoppers and kotthu (sliced roti, vegetables and eggs or meat) or find a bar and toast to a trip well-travelled.
Day 12 Day 12: Colombo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Colombo

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to stay in Colombo, just speak to your booking agent.

12 days tour

Sri Lanka Safari

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Sri Lanka Safari

Day 1: Negombo

Day 2: Wilpattu National Park

Day 3: Habarana

Day 4: Habarana (Sigiriya)

Day 5: Ampara - Gal Oya National Park

Day 6: Arugam Bay

Day 7: Kataragama - Kumana National Park

Day 8: Kataragama - Yala National Park

Day 9: Sinharaja

Day 10: Tangalle

Day 11: Colombo

Day 12: Colombo

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