Sri Lanka Safari - 12 Days

Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe relax on the -sandy beaches or feast on fresh seafood. You might also like to explore the surrounding countryside on a hired bicycle. Tonight, ask your trip leader for the best local restaurants for dinner.

Drive to Wilpattu this morning, visiting the Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary on the way. This unique area 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. While you’re exploring, stay on the lookout for herons, open-bills, great cormorants, white ibis, egrets, stalks, pheasant-tailed jacanas 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.

Head out for a morning safari in Wilpattu this morning, looking out for deer, elephants, wild boars, sloth bears and leopards. Cruise around in your 4WD, soak up the landscapes of the national park, then leave for Dambulla. This afternoon, you have the option to take an excursion to Minneriya National Park for another 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 (August and September are your best bet). Tonight, visit Popham's Arboretum – Sri Lanka's only dry zone arboretum – for a night walk with your group among the trees, looking out for the slender loris and pangolin.

Enjoy a leisurely morning today, then head to a local’s home for a cooking demonstration of traditional dishes like pol Sambol and dhal curry, which you’ll have for lunch. Get to know the locals, swap stories, then soak up a relaxing afternoon. After lunch visit the Zero Plastic Impact Center. This Intrepid Foundation partner supports almost 100 local artisans producing plastic-alternative products like reusable woven basket bags and clay water bottles. Try your hand at bamboo and coconut shell crafting, plus take home your own traditional Sri Lankan mask as a keepsake. Later, you’ll head into Minneriya National Park for a nighttime safari, watching the changing landscape from your 4WD as the sun goes down. Try to spot some more elephants, then spend another night in leafy Habarana.

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. If you’d like, climb the stairs to the top for epic jungle views. If you’re a birder, keep an eye out – the surrounding forests are home to thousands of birds. After exploring, head back to your hotel for a late breakfast. Then, it’s on to Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka's southeast coast, renowned for its world-class surfing, crescent-shaped beach and laid-back vibes. When you arrive, check in to your hotel and maybe chill out by the beach.

Soak up a chill morning to relax by the beach (maybe a morning swim is calling?). If you like, you can opt for a surfing lesson or an extra safari before embarking on a 4WD evening safari at nearby Kumana National Park. The park hosts a variety of 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.

This morning, head out on another safari through Kumana National Park. Because of the many waterways that thread through the landscape, you’ll have a pretty good chance of spotting some local wildlife. You'll also have the opportunity 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.

Double up on wildlife spotting with two included safaris, one in the morning and one in the evening in Yala National Park. There's a good chance of spotting crocodiles, elephants, monkeys and buffaloes, and if you’re 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.

Today, you’ll set your sights on Bundala National Park. When you arrive, head out for a safari to spot some of the amazing birdlife that calls this park home. Bundala harbours 197 species of birds, including the greater flamingo, which migrate here in large flocks. You may also spot leopards, spotted deer, sambars, crocodiles, wild boars, mongoose, monitor lizards and monkeys. Later, enjoy a relaxing evening on Tangalle's beaches and maybe watch the sunset this evening to cap off a great day.

Wake up with the morning birds – today is a free day to explore the area at your own pace. Maybe head out on a forest walk, keeping an eye out for butterflies, multi-coloured blue magpies, squirrels, mongoose and birdlife. Later this evening, you’ll drive to Rekawa. As the sun goes down, you’ll head out to the beach with your group to look for nesting turtles.

Visit Galle Fort – the fortified city with a mixture of Portuguese and Dutch influence, narrow laneways and popular promenades. Explore the area on foot, taking in architecture that dates from between the 16th and 19th centuries. Then, head to your last stop in Colombo, where you’ll 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.

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