Detailed Wildlife Itinerary
Day 1
Day 01 - Airport – Mirissa (Approx. 180 kms / 3h)
SCHEDULE
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Arrival in Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Mirissa.
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Check in to a hotel in Mirissa.
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Spend a relaxing afternoon on the pristine beaches of Mirissa.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Mirissa (HB).
Mirissa, surrounded by rubber and coconut plantations, ancient temples, spice gardens, natural sanctuaries and exotic wildlife, has become famous for its long whale watching season, but it still retains the charm of an idyllic fishing village. And the stunning crescent beach is a real paradise for anyone who loves the sun and the sea !
Day 2
Day 02 - Mirissa
SCHEDULE
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Transfer to the Mirissa harbor early in the morning (by 6:15 am) Breakfast at the hotel..
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Whale watching excursion (approx. 5h).
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Leisure time in the afternoon.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Mirissa.
In the entire world, the south coast of Sri Lanka boasts one of the very best places to see Blue Whales, and the season is longer than anywhere else. From November to April, when the whales are on their annual migratory route from the Horn of Africa up to the Arabian Sea, they can be seen in the waters around Sri Lanka. Sperm Whales with pods as well as other cetacean species, such as bryde’s whale, dwarf sperm whale, spinner dolphin, striped dolphin and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, can be seen also.
Day 3
Day 03 - Mirissa – Yala (Approx. 140 kms / 3h30)
SCHEDULE
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2nd whale watching excursion in Mirissa with packed breakfast.
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Transfer to Yala.
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Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Yala.
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Half day safari at Yala National Park (from 2:30 to 6:00pm)
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Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game campsite (HB).
Yala National Park, situated in the southeast region of the country, covers almost 1000 square kilometers and is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, along with Wilpattu, it is one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. Leopards are the stars here, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants as well as to the spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal and mongoose. The birdlife is fantastic too. Over 215 species of birds have been recorded in Yala, with six being endemic to Sri Lanka.
Day 4
Day 04 - Yala
SCHEDULE
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Full day safari at Yala National Park with packed breakfast and lunch.
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Return to the campsite.
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Dinner and overnight stay at Big Game Safari Campsite (HB).
Your best chance to see a leopard is generally early in the morning. Especially, the young males are very confident, and often they are seen walking on the tracks. As our safari campsite is located very close to the park's entrance, you will have an excellent access to the park's core areas and the best wildlife spots. Furthermore, the excellent location allows you to stay in the park until the very last moments, and enjoy a beautiful ride back to the campsite through the wilderness by the time of the sunset.
Day 5
Day 05 - Yala - Udawalawe (Approx. 60 kms / 1h30)
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the campsite.
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Transfer to Udawalawe.
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Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Udawalawe.
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Evening safari at Udawalawe National Park (from 2:30 to 6:00pm)
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Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game campsite (HB).
Located on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones, Udawalawe National Park, is one of the best places in the world to see wild elephants. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the area of 31,000 hectares, it is not unusual to see big herds gathering to feed and bath by the waterholes.In addition to this main attraction, Udawalawe is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer and monkeys.
Udawalawe, with its fascinating wildlife, history and culture, offers an array of historical sites and natural wonders, guaranteed to satisfy even the most seasoned traveler !
Day 6
Day 06 - Udawalawe – Colombo (Approx. 190 kms / 5h)
SCHEDULE
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Early morning safari at Udawalawe National Park with packed breakfast.
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Return to the campsite and transfer to Colombo.
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Check in to a hotel in Colombo.
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Leisure time in the evening to take a stroll in the centre of the town.
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Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo (BB).
In Udawalawe, the bird enthusiasts shall be in their own winged paradise with not only the variety, but the quantity of bird species. The park is also renowned for the fascinating bird species such as the red-faced malkoha, serpent eagle, hawk eagles, white-bellied sea eagle, black eagle, black-capped bulbul, racket-tailed drongo and peacock. During the winter season, Udawalawe boasts also an array of migratory birds including the forest wagtails, Indian pitta, whiskered terns and osprey sand pipers.
”We don’t want to miss to say a big thank you to you for our journey in Sri Lanka! We had a fantastic time on the Island, all was planned perfectly and the itinerary met our expectations exactly. Great job! And thanks again to Roshan! We are very grateful for his very kind guidance, ideas and problem solving skills during the trip. It’s a wonderful country and we hope to come back in future.”
Inga & Kay from Germany
