Sri Lankan Wildlife Discovery Tour

On arrival you will be met by your Walkers driver guide and transfer directly to Ratnapura before checking into your hotel for your first night’s stay. Ratnapura is a city in South-western Sri Lanka. Known as the ‘City of Gems’, Ratnapura lies at the foot of Adam’s Peak and close to Sinharaja Rain Forest. Spend the day at leisure. Dinner included.

Accommodation:
Standard: Lake Serenity Ratnapura (Deluxe Room) or similar
Premium: Boulder Garden (Standard Room) or similar

Transfer time approximatey 3 hours.

Enjoy an early morning excursion to Sinharaja Forest Reserve – one of the least disturbed and biologically unique primary lowland rain forests in Sri Lanka, covering an extent of over 11000 hectares. Of international significance and declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978 when UNESCO included it in its international network of Biosphere reserves. It was subsequently designated a National wilderness area in 1988 and received full status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. Situated in the lowland wet zone of the country with an average temperature of 23.6C and an annual rainfall of more than 2500mm the high level of endemism makes it an international rarity. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and it is home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Of Sri Lanka's endemic birds, all 22 rainforest species are seen here, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. Your guide will introduce you to the many sights. In the afternoon proceed to Beruwela for your next two nights stay where you can spend the afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation:
Standard & Premium: Cinnamon Bey Hotel (Superior Room) or similar

Transfer time approximately 3 hours.

Enjoy an early morning optional whale watching excursion in Mirrisa (seasonal activity November -March) payable locally $70 per person. Mirissa is the closest point to where blue whales are inhabited because it has appropriate environmental conditions to live these giants. It was reported five types of whales (blue whale, bryde's whale, sperm whale, killer whale & pilot whale) & four kind of dolphins (spinner dolphin, bottle nose dolphin, stripped dolphin, Risso's dolphin) can be found in Mirissa. We cannot guarantee you will see them but if you do it’s an amazing experience. In the afternoon visit a Turtle Hatchery. The Turtle Hatchery is said to be the best place to see giant turtles and their babies and is endowed by Hasselblad cameras.

Accommodation:
Standard & Premium: Cinnamon Bey Hotel (Superior Room) or similar.

Transfer time approximatey 2 hours.

After breakfast proceed to Yala, where in the afternoon you wil take a jeep safari at Yala National Park.

Yala is Sri Lanka’s most known National Park is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. 97,800 hectares in extent, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. Vegetation is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth while several salt and fresh water lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. Areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide.

Standard: Cinnamon Wild Yala (Jungle Chalet) or similar.

Premium: Jetwing Yalla (Deluxe Room) or similar.

Transfer time approximately 4 hours.

After an early breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya on a nice drive through constantly changing scenery, passing the impressive Rawana Ella Waterfalls. On the way visit Udawalawe National Park. An estimated 450 elephants live here, with optimum viewing between May & September. Then head for Nuwara Eliya the heart of Sri Lankan hill country. It is the home of the famous Ceylon Tea and the rolling mountains are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations. The climate, misty and the decidedly British Character make Nuwara Eliya a must on any Sri Lankan travel itinerary.

Accommodation:
Standard: Jetwing St Andrews (Superior Room) or similar.
Premium: Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya (Deluxe Room) or similar.

 Transfer time approximately total 6 hours.

Enjoy an early morning excursion to Horton Plains for a simple 2-3 hour walk to Worlds End and the beautiful Bakers Falls. Horton Plains is Sri Lanka’s highest plateau 7200 ft above sea level in the central mountain country. This “Fen’s” is a very scenic region with an astounding variety of scenery from mountains to grasslands, from marshes to trout streams. Sri Lanka’s best flavored high grown teas are grown in the surrounding areas. Spectacular view from “Worlds End” where the plateau plunges a thousand feet in a straight sheer drop. Distinctive flora (many English field flowers grow on the plains) colourful butterflies and many rare highlands birds. Afterwards proceed to Kandy. En-route visit a tea plantation and a tea factory. Kandy is a lovely city in the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which retains an aura of grandeur, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens – home to one of the world’s best collections of Orchids.

Accommodation:
Standard: OZO Kandy (Superior Room) or similar.
Premium: Earls Regency (Deluxe Room) or similar.

Transfer time approximately 3.5 hours.

After breakfast return to the airport for your flight home or continue on to your beach resort or why not extend and stay on to discover Kandy. Breakfast is included.

Transfer time to the airport approximately 4.5 hours.