Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 1

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality and a representative from Ceylon My Dream (Pvt) Limited will Welcome you and transfer you to Negombo.

Negombo is in the heart of Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. The sea and catamarans are the backdrops of Negombo and its fish market is quite possibly the island’s best. The city is dominated by shrines and picturesque churches due to its significant Catholic population. Due to this, the city is sometimes referred to as “Little Rome”. The candy-coloured church of St Mary’s is a must visit and a great example of Neoclassical architecture, which exhibits some amazing ceiling paintings. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the main attractions of Negombo and continue to captivate both local & foreign visitors.

After the city tour, you will be checked in to your hotel in Negombo and in the evening a visit to Muthurajawela is planned. Muthurajawela is a marsh located in the Negombo lagoon. This is the country’s largest saline coastal peat bog and is notable for its unique and highly diverse ecosystem. The name “Muthurajawela” means “Swamp of Royal Treasure”. It is believed that the marsh originated about 7,000 years ago and now it is a wetland sanctuary due to its vast bio-diversity. Hundreds of distinct flora and fauna species are found here in addition to hundreds of bird species. Some of the identified species have been shown to be indigenous to the marsh. This is yet another major local and tourist attraction, mainly for sightseeing and boating tours.

Finally a boat ride is planned for the day, along the Hamilton Canal which is also known as the Dutch Canal. This is 14.5 km long and connects Colombo to Negombo. It was initially designed to drain salt water out of the Muthurajawela wetlands. However, this was also used to transport goods of all kinds starting from spices to wood and even as a transportation mode for travellers.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Negombo.

Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 2

After breakfast the journey continues to visiting Wilpattu National Park. The park is located on the North West coast of Sri Lanka and is the largest National Park in the island. It is a dry lowland forest with an area of 131,693 hectares including a cluster of naturally formed lakes which are fed by rain and ground water sources. Many species of mammals including the Sri Lankan Leopard can be observed here. A Jeep Safari across the national park can be arranged and you will be the luckiest if you can capture a leopard to your camera. Wilpattu is also a bird paradise with both resident and migrant bird species. Additionally many species of reptiles, butterflies and beautiful flowers can be seen in Wilpattu.

Overnight stay at a camping site in Wilpattu or you will be transferred to Anuradhapura, if so Overnight stay at a hotel in Anuradhapura.

Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 3

After enjoying breakfast the Anuradhapura city can be explored. It is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, founded in the 5th century BCE, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization and is now a world heritage site. A visit will be arranged to all the ruins of the kingdom and sites of special interest including the sacred Isurumuniya Temple and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which is said to be the right-wing branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. It was brought there in the 3rd century BCE by Sanghamitta Theri, the daughter of Indian King Ashoka and the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns.
Anuradhapura, a Ceylonese political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 years, was abandoned after an invasion in 993 CE. Hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, is now accessible once again.

Thereafter you will be transferred to Habarana/Dambulla. Overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana/Dambulla.

Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 4

After having breakfast a Jeep safari can be arranged for you to explore the Minneriya National Park, which is located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa. The main habitats of the Minneriya National Park are of several types; including low-canopy montane forests, intermediate high-canopy secondary forests, scrublands, abandoned chena lands, grasslands, rocky outcrops, and wetlands. It has an area of 8890 hectares and is a great place for elephant and leopard watching. During the dry season Minneriya tank becomes tcies of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish,he ideal place to observe its natural wild life. Minneriya National Park is home to 24 species of mammals, 160 spe and 75 species of butterflies.

Afterwards we will be moving on to visit Polonnaruwa, one of the main ancient kingdoms in Sri Lanka. Here you will have the option for a bicycle ride through the traditional villages of Polonnaruwa while visiting historical places. Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka and a world heritage site. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the 12th century monastic university, the Lankatilleke Shrine, the Gal Viharaya with 4 four splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent” postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of King Parakramabahu, and the Parakrama Samudraya – the man-made lake, which takes the form of an inland sea built by King Parakramabahu. This ancient city is filled will historical ruins based mainly on Buddhism & Hinduism.

Thereafter you will be transferred to Habarana/Dambulla. Overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana/Dambulla.

Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 5

After breakfast, we will set off to discover the 8th wonder of the world; the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress built in to 477 – 495 CE and is now a world heritage site. This astounding ‘city’ on the summit of a high outcrop was the royal citadel of King Kassapa for over 18 years. A miraculous feat of artistry and engineering, its unique features and exquisite frescoes continue to amaze all who visit it, even today.

Next, you will be transferred to the hill capital of Kandy. En Route you will get to visit a Spice Garden at Matale. Our spices have been sought after for centuries and continue to be a celebrated export, even today.

In the afternoon you will be engaged in a Kandy City Tour. Kandy is the capital city of the last independent kingdom in the island after the coastal regions were conquered by the Portuguese. The journey includes taking in the sights of the Upper Lake Drive and the Market Square on the way to pay homage to one of the most sacred religious sites in Sri Lanka; the Sri Dalada Maligawa also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is believed to house the ‘tooth relic’ of the Lord Buddha. A walk around the town will let you indulge in some souvenir hunting with intricate treasures in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony, bronze, ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and reed ware to choose from.

Finally, you can round off your day in the evening with a Cultural Show, where the vibrant costumes and pulsating rhythms of traditional dance forms from centuries-old rituals will enthral you.

Overnight stay at a Hotel in Kandy.

Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 6

After breakfast at the hotel, the next visit will be to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by an ancient Sri Lankan king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. After experiencing the Botanical Garden, the journey will continue to the upper country.

Optionally you can join for trekking in Udawatta Kele Sanctuary also called the Royal Forest Park, which is located on the hillside behind the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. If you are a Nature Lover, the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is ideal for you, as it is a verdant nature reserve with an area of 257 acres and is considered to be a vital Bio-reserve for the much populated Kandy City. The important places in Udawatta Kele are the water pond, the highest peak “Kodimale”, the Senkanda cave, and the Garrison cemetery. There are also several Buddhist temples and hermitages inside the forest reserve.

A visit to Nuwara Eliya. As the old Colonial Outpost still referred to as ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya certainly lives up to its name. Perched 6200 feet above sea level, the climate too, adds to the illusion of one stepping into an old English town, where neat hedges, quaint cottages and beautiful old buildings stand as serene as they did well over a century ago and the magnificent Grand Hotel presiding over them all.

Overnight stay at a Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Sri Lanka wild life tour – Day 7

After breakfast at the hotel, the journey will proceed to Horton Plains National Park. The Horton Plains are a secluded wilderness sanctuary with an altitude of 2100 – 2300 meters and offers one of Sri Lanka’s most unforgettable views. Here the land plunges down a dizzy gorge to the southern foot hills and on clear days, even a glimpse of the sea more than 80 km away, is possible. Horton Plains are rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This is also the source or headwaters of three major Sri Lankan rivers, the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe.

The evening can be spent on a boat ride at Gregory lake, Nuwara Eliya.

Overnight stay at a Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Sri Lanka wildlife tour – Day 8

The Journey to Ella will commence after having breakfast at the hotel. Ella is a quiet hill country town that draws visitors to its cool climate and its picturesque setting deep in the heart of the ‘up country’. Steeped in the ancient legend of Rama and Sita from the Indian epic; the Ramayana, most significant natural landmarks are named after King Ravana; the local god who kidnapped the Indian princess. The myriad locations connected to the legend are well worth visiting and the cascading torrent of Ravana Ella waterfall too is a breath-taking sight. The towering mass of Ella Rock presides regally over the area and the mountain pass known as Ella Gap offers spectacular views right across the distant valleys all the way to the South Coast. The little town of Ella is far from a scenic stopover, but a truly charming and beautiful haven to relax & enjoy the fresh mountain air and unforgettable vistas.

Transfer to Yala & Overnight stay at Yala.

Sri Lanka wildlife tour – Day 9

Morning Safari at Yala National Park is from 05.30 AM to 09.30 AM. Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Yala is situated in Sri Lanka’s south-east region, hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated as a national park in 1938. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule. The park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks and lagoons. Yala is the home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world’s biggest concentration of leopards. Yala has been divided into 05 blocks and out of those, 02 blocks are currently opened to the public.

Next you can return back to the hotel for breakfast, and thereafter proceed to one of the Beach Resorts in down South. With nearly 1600 km of palm-fringed coastline baked to perfection surrounding the country, Sri Lanka is the ideal destination for beach bums worldwide. May it be windsurfing, kayaking, yachting, water skiing, scuba diving or just lazing around for the perfect tan, Sri Lanka offers it all.

En Route you can experience the heritage city of Galle. For centuries Galle has stood strong against invasions from colonial powers and nature’s volatile outbursts. The famous Dutch Fort was first built by the Portuguese, fortified by the Dutch and preserved by the British. Battered daily for over 400 years by the ocean it even survived the onslaught of a tsunami and is enjoyed today by residents and visitors alike. The colonial architecture of the walled city too has resisted the advance of modernity and holds tightly to its past glory.