For you nature lovers, there is no better way to interact with Sri Lanka than an adventure into its wild. You begin in the hill country at Kandy and make your way south to colonial Nuwara Eliya before your first nature exploration, Horton’s Plains. Visit where The Bridge on The River Kwai was filmed and white water raft the Kelani River. See the lush vegetation of the rainforest at Sinharaja, elephants and maybe even a leopard at Uda Walawe Park. Explore Sri Lanka’s newest nature reserve, Bundala National Park, home to 60 elephants and a wide array of exotic birds, flora and fauna. Stay in a luxury jungle tent in Kuda Oya. End your adventure on a white sand beach in Talpe on the south coast. Wild Sri Lanka is for those of you who are wild at heart!
Day 1 – Negombo
Arrive in Sri Lanka where you will be met and driven to your hotel in Negombo. Explore the Dutch fort and Dutch canal or stroll the beach.
Day 2 – Negombo/Kandy
After breakfast, drive to the hill country’s gateway and capital, Kandy. Explore around the lake and the Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Day 3 – Kandy/Nuwara Eliya
Drive to the picturesque town of Nuwara Eliya, called “little England”, located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft). Nuwara Eliya is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. Explore this colonial village and see the Queen’s Cottage, General’s house, Grand Hotel, Hill Club and its Post Office.
Day 4 – Nuwara Eliya/Horton’s Plains/Nuwara Eliya
Early morning depart for Horton’s Plains National Park, a key wildlife area of open grassy woodland. Species found here include the leopard, sambar and purple-faced langur. Highland birds such as the Dull Blue Flycatcher and Yellow Eared Bulbul live here. Visit the World’s End, a sheer precipice with a 1050 m drop off. The return walk passes the scenic Baker Falls. Return to Nuwara Eliya.
Day 5 – Nuwara Eliya
Morning visit to Victoria Park to walk the trails and bird watch. Afternoon visit a tea factory and see how tea is processed.
Day 6 – Nuwara Eliya/Kitulgala
Drive to west Sri Lanka to the small town, Kitulgala, in the wet zone of the rain forest. Visit where the film, The Bridge On The River Kwai, was filmed on the Kelani River although nothing remains now except the concrete foundations for the bridge (and, supposedly, the submerged train cars that plunged into the river in the climactic scene).
Day 7 – Kitulgala
White-water raft the Kelani River (3 hours) or explore the Kelani Forest Reserve, a fantastic place for trekking and bird watching.
Day 8 – Kitulgala/Sinharaja Rainforest/Kitulgala
Early morning depart for the Sinharaja Rainforest. Animal sightings here are rare because of the forest’s denseness making this park known for its flora and fauna. The most common deer species is the Sambur, the Monk deer and Barking deer are also found within the reserve. Leopards are very seldom sighted, but their frequent presence has been confirmed by tracks and other signs. Badger Mongoose are also present. The vegetation of Sinharaja is tropical lowland rain forest or tropical wet evergreen forest. Characteristics of the forest are the loftiness of the dominant trees and the abundance of regeneration and the diversity of species. Return to Kitulgala.
Day 9 – Kitulgala/Uda Walawe National Park/ Kuda Oya
Drive onward to kuda Oya exploring Uda Walalwe National Park, an important habitat for Sri Lankan Elephants, on a jeep safari en route. Elephants are easy to see at Uda Walawe and are attracted to the park because of the reservoir with a herd of about 250 believed to reside permanently. Also present in this park are leopards, sloth bear, fishing cat and sambur deer. Drive to Kuda Oya and overnight in your luxury jungle tent.
Day 10 – Kuda Oya/Bundala National Parl/Kuda Oya
Bundala National Park, near the south coast of Hambantota, is the newest addition to Sri Lanka’s protected regions. Nearly 200 species of birds have been recorded within the park and 58 species are migratory birds. The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes near the coastal part. Mugger crocodile and green sea turtles are found here. Bundala shelters a small population of elephants here estimated at around 60. Return to Kuda Oya.
Day 11 – Kuda Oya/Talpe
Drive to the south coast village of Talpe for relaxing beach time.
Day 12 – Talpe
The gorgeous white sand beach of Talpe is perfect for sunbathing, swimming, surfing and snorkeling. A small coral reef forms a natural swimming pool. Its coconut fringed beach stretch for miles north and south. Today is free to relax or explore as you wish.
Day 13 – Talpe
Your day is free for beach time.
Day 14 – Talpe/Colombo
Drive to Colombo. Your extra time is free to explore Colombo or shop.
Day 15 – Depart ColomboTransfer to the airport for your departure flight.
