Itinerary

Day 1 - Airport – Negombo (Approx. 12 kms / 30 min) [B]

SCHEDULE

• Arrival to Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Negombo

• Check in at Suriya Arana Guest House

• Spend a relaxing afternoon on the beach.

• Overnight stay at Suriya Arana Guest House in Negombo

NEGOMBO town is a historically interesting place strongly influenced by the Catholic Church. The narrow strip of land between the lagoon & the sea and the many canals make for a good exploring.

The Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640, lost it again in the same year, and then captured it again in 1644. The British then took it from them in 1796 without a  struggle. Negombo was one of the most important sources of cinnamon during the Dutch era, and there are still reminders of the European days.

 

Day 2 - Negombo – Udawalawe (Approx. 200 kms / 5 Hours) [B]

SCHEDULE

• Transfer to Udawalawe after breakfast.

• Visit Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe by 12.00 noon

• Check in at Big Game Camp in Udawalawe.

• Jeep Safari in Udawalawe National Park in the evening.

• Overnight stay at Big Game Campsite in Udawalawe.

Udawalawe ELEPHANT TRANSIT HOME is a place; where closer to 35 baby elephants are being taken care of with minimum human interaction as they are separated from their mothers. Mothers of these babies are either killed or lost due to non ending Elephant –human conflict in Sri Lanka.The transit home provides food, medical care, everything a baby elephant needs. When the elephants are big and strong enough, they are released into wilderness and start living “normal” elephant life. A few times a day, visitors can enjoy the feeding hour, when the small elephants rush to drink milk and play with their mates. As any other babies, elephants like showing off, especially when spectators are around.

 

Day 3 - Udawalawe – Yala (Approx. 60 kms / 1.5 Hours) [B]

SCHEDULE

• Go for an early morning safari in Udawalawe National park after morning tea /coffee

• Morning Safari in Udawalawe National Park.

• Back at the campsite for a late breakfast.

• Transfer to Yala after breakfast. Visit Kataragama Vishnu Shrine enroute.

• Check in at Big Game Campsite in Yala.

• Evening at leisure.

• Overnight stay at Big Game Campsite in Yala (Katagamuwa side)

UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARK - Originally, the national park was created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir in 1972. The reservoir, surrounded by open plains and foothills, is continuously replenished by River Walawe that draws its waters from the central highlands. The fringes of the reservoir and its creeks are filled with weather-bleached skeletons of thousands of jungle trees, and the area is about to become an important breeding place for aquatic birds.

 

Day 4 - Yala

SCHEDULE

• Breakfast at the Campsite.

• Go for a Full Day Safari in Yala National Park with a packed lunch.

• Enjoy the lunch inside the Park.

• Back at the campsite in the evening.

• Overnight stay at Big Game Campsite in Yala

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 bird life is also fantastic, and numerous species such as rosy starlings, paradise flycatchers, crested hawk eagles, blue-tailed bee-eaters and common loras inhabit this natural wilderness.

 

Day 5 - Yala - Galle - Colombo (Approx. 300 kms / 6 Hours) [B]

SCHEDULE

• Breakfast at the campsite.

• Transfer to Colombo via Galle after breakfast.

• Visit Galle Dutch Fort with a local host “Shanjei Perumal”

• Continue to Colombo and check in at the hotel.

• Shopping Tour in Colombo in the evening,

• Overnight stay at Me Hotel in Colombo.

GALLE DUTCH FORT, is situated in the the Bay of Galle on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards.The Galle Fort has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria IV, for its unique exposition of an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.Today, most of the properties are owned by the Sri Lankan Government and a few Dutch people who had the ownership from the beginning.

 

Day 6 - Colombo - Departure [40 Km – Approximately 1 hour]

SCHEDULE

• Breakfast at the campsite.

• Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport to connect with the departure flight.