Nature and Wildlife

Kick start your tour and head towards the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Usually a great hub for cultural and historical explorations, having the iconic Sigiriya Rock, Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa and well preserved Dambulla Cave Temples, but during this tour we will be focusing more on the nature and the wildlife of this Dry Zone. In the afternoon you will be taken to the Minneriya National Park for your first wildlife expedition. Sri Lanka although for its small size, is home for thousands of Asian Elephants, and Minneriya is one of the finest places in the world to witness the activities of wild elephants. Apart from that you will be able to witness many other species such as toque spotted deer, sambar deer, macaque monkeys, wild buffalo, wild boar, porcupine and mongoose. There is plenty for bird lovers as well with an impressive birdlife of over 160 species. On the second day your tour starts off with a visit to a nearby rural village where you’ll experience the lifestyle of a Sri Lankan farmer. You would be able to walk through the village, take a bullock cart ride and a catamaran ride before learning few tips for an authentic Sri Lankan menu which you be able to taste overlooking the rice fields. Thereafter you’ll be travelling to another magical site within the cultural triangle called Ritigala. It will be a great trekking experience and a place you could admire the nature and also an important historic monument filled with mythical stories. Ritigala is a fabulous place for all kinds of explorers.

Two days of real exploration awaits in GalOya a hidden paradise to reconnect with the rhythm of Mother Nature. Discover the richness of GalOya National Park one of the most isolated and remote wilderness on the island. Its untouched serenity, yet to be explored, and a true hidden gem with Sri Lanka's largest inland water body creating a unique ecosystem. Jeep and boat safaris to explore 25000 hectares of lush greenery, Iconic swimming elephants, hikes and treks, visit an indigenous Vedda tribe, research and conservation activities, and authentic Sri Lankan cooking demonstrations are some of the interesting activities for you to engage with.

A day to visit the sacred city, the cultural hub of Sri Lanka. Kandy has a fascinating cultural and historical value as the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka before falling to British rule. Kandy Temple is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, where a tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined since 4th Century AD. Participate in a daily Pooja and take the blessings of this holy place. A visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya and a trek at Udawattekele Sanctuary are two things which you shouldn’t miss on a tour to Kandy.

It is the time to witness the making of world renowned Ceylon Tea in the hills of Sri Lanka! Take a ride in the misty roads passing a world full of tea. Visit a tea plantation and a factory to experience a guided “tea tour” to get an in depth knowledge of the whole process from plucking tea leaves till getting the perfect cuppa. Enjoy the sceneries around Nuwara Eliya also known as Little England for its colonial looks and early English summer type of climate before boarding to your train from Nanu-Oya. It is the most scenic train ride in Sri Lanka where you travel passing the tea fields, misty mountain tops, waterfalls, tunnels and the smiling faces of children waving at you from a distance. Get down from Ella the most famous hill country village in the country where you could just relax overlooking the breath-taking views or do some adventurous hikes and treks covering the Little Adam’s peak, Ella Rock and 9 Arch bridge.

Continue your journey towards south of Sri Lanka and travel to Yala via Buduruwagala where the sculptures of Lord Buddha carved on the rocks way back in 8th century A.D. including the tallest standing Buddha statue which is 51 ft. in height. Yala is the most visited National Park in Sri Lanka with a total area of 1268 sq km filled with scrub and grassy plains, lagoons and rocky areas. Yala could be the best location to witness Leopards, Elephants, Sloth Bears, crocodiles, deer, monkeys, buffaloes, and various kinds of birds and other species during a four-hour game drive.

Sinharaja is one of the most unique and best preserved tropical rainforests in whole of South Asia, filled with precious herbs, plants, flowers and different kinds of species. This magical place has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site understanding it’s true value. Rich bio diversity, rare and endemic mammals and birds, water bodies and invaluable plants offers a heaven like experience to the nature lovers. Guided treks will be the only way to explore Sinharaja Rainforest since there are no paths for jeep safaris.

Your Sri Lanka expedition ends here but you have the option of experiencing the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka and smell the Indian Ocean and of course some mouth-watering seafood while relaxing under a palm tree reminiscing the moments you spent in this beautiful island.