Sri Lanka Safari and Wildlife Tour: 14 Days with a Private Driver

14 Days / 13 Nights
Adventure & Hiking Tours · Wildlife & Nature Tours
Elephants beside a lake in Sri Lanka

This 14 day Sri Lanka nature and wildlife tour is built for travellers who want the outdoors first: a safari, hiking trails, white water and hill country walks, alongside the country’s major cultural sites.

What this Sri Lanka nature and wildlife tour covers

Highlights include a safari at Yala National Park, hiking at Horton Plains, white water rafting at Kithulgala and the hill country around Ella, alongside Kandy, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and the coast at Trincomalee. A private driver runs the whole route, so wildlife stops can be timed around the best hours to see animals in Sri Lanka.

Highlights

  • Yala National Park safari
  • Nine Arch Bridge & Lipton’s Seat, Ella
  • Horton Plains & World’s End
  • White water rafting, Kithulgala
  • Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy
  • Elephant safari & Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • 3 beach days at Trincomalee

Day-by-day itinerary

1st Day –Airport/ Negombo

Pick up from the airport and drive to Negombo (30 Minutes’ Drive). Stay in a Hotel at Negombo.

[Negombo is a major city in Sri Lanka closer to the airport, situated on the west coast, in the Western Province, 38 km (24 mi) from Colombo. Even though the airport is called as Colombo airport it is really not in the middle of Colombo, it is 35 km away from Colombo city. But Negombo is 12 km and 30 minutes’ drive from the airport. Negombo is a popular tourist attraction with many of world class hotels and the perfect place to stay and relax after arriving to Sri Lanka]

2nd Day – Negombo / Bentota

Visit Negombo Traditional dry fish processing area and the fish market. Drive to Bentota (2 Hours). Boat Safari in Bentota River. Visit a sea turtle hatchery. Stay in a hotel at Bentota.

[Bentota is a coastal town in Sri Lanka, located in the Galle District of the Southern Province. It is approximately 65 kilometers (40 mi) south of Colombo and 56 kilometers (35 mi) north of Galle. Bentota is situated on the southern band of the Bentota River mouth. Bentota is a tourist attraction, with a handful of world-class hotels. It is a destination for watersports. Bentota also delivers an ancient art of healing called Ayurveda.]

3rd Bentota/ Thissamaharama (Yala)

Drive to Thissamaharama and Afternoon jeep Safari to Yala National Park. Stay overnight in a hotel at Thissamaharama. (3 Hours’ Drive)

[Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is situated in the southeast region of the country. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals and aquatic birds. Including Sri Lankan elephant, 44 species of mammals are resident in Yala National Park, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world]

4th Day- Thissamaharama/Ella

Drive to Ella. Climb mini Adam’s peak, visit Nine Arches Bridge. Stay in a hotel at Ella. (2 Hours 15 Minutes’ Drive)

[Ellais approximately 200 kilometers (120 mi) east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 meters (3,415 ft.) above sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.]

5th Day – Ella / Haputale /Ella

Drive to Haputale and visit Lipton’s Seat, on the way back have train ride from Bandarawela to Demodara visit railway loop. Drive back and stay overnight in the same hotel at Ella. (2 Hours 30 Minutes’ Drive up & down)

[Lipton’s seat is a famous viewpoint which is located 25 km (1 hour and 20 minutes) away from Ella in the central hills of Sri Lanka. Lipton’s Seat provides a 360 degrees view of the hills and tea estates, and it’s said you can see seven provinces of Sri Lanka form here. It’s named after Sir Thomas Lipton, as it was a favorite spot of Sir Thomas Lipton, who played a key role in developing the tea industry in the country. The location is a popular tourist attraction, for the people those who interested in tea culture and magnificent scenery.]

6th Day –Ella /Horton Plains /Nuwaraeliya

Early in the morning (5.30 AM) drive to Horton Plains National park (2 Hours’ Drive). Explore the beauty of Horton Plains, Worlds End and Bakers Waterfall. (9 km walking in a nature trail). Drive to Nuwaraeliya. Stay in a hotel at Nuwaraeliya. (1 Hour 30 Minutes’ Drive)

[Nuwaraeliya is a city, in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft.) and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka. Nuwaraeliya is the coolest area in Sri Lanka having the annual temperature of 16 ⁰C (61 ⁰F). In the winter months, there can be frost at night, but it warms up rapidly during the day because of the high sun angle.]

7th Day –Nuwaraeliya/ Kithulgala

Drive to Kithulgala on the way visit a tea factory, do the White Water Rafting after arriving to Kithulgala. Stay in a hotel at Kithulgala. (2 Hours 30 Minutes’ Drive)

[Kithulgala is a famous for adventure base sport activities such as White Water Rafting, Waterfall Abseiling, and Canoeing. It is 2 hours away from Colombo. Kithulgala is known as one of the wettest places in the country which gets two monsoons each year. There is a relaxing environment with full of nature. Bird Watching, Cycling and Night Camping are the sum of activities can be done in Kithulgala.]

8th Day – Kithulgala/ Kandy

Drive to Kandy visit the botanical garden. Visit Kandy city and The Temple of Tooth Relic. Stay overnight in a hotel at Kandy. (2 Hours’ Drive)

[Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka, located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in the country after Colombo. It was the last capital of the ancient king’s era of Sri Lanka. Kandy is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988]

9th Day – Kandy/Dambulla

Drive to Dambulla on the way visit Dambulla Cave Temple. In the afternoon elephant watching Jeep Safari to a National Park. (One of Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Parks). Stay in a hotel at Dambulla. (2 Hours 15 Minutes’ Drive)

[Minneriya National Park is in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is situated 182 kilometers (113 mi) from Colombo. Large numbers of Sri Lankan elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. The Minneriya tank contributes to sustain a large herd of elephants gathered here is numbering around 150-200.]

10th Day – Dambulla/Sigiriya

Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress (UNESCO world heritage). Drive back and spend the night in the same hotel at Dambulla. (30 Minutes’ Drive)

[Sigiriya Rock is nearly 200 meters (660 ft.) high. According to the Sri Lankan history, this site was selected by king Kasyapa (477-495 CE) for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king’s death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed world heritage site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.]

11th Day – Dambulla/Anuradhapura/Trincomalee

Drive to Anuradhapura (1 Hour 15 Minutes’ Drive) and visit first ancient capital city of Sri Lanka. (UNESCO world heritage). Drive to Trincomalee. Stay in a hotel at Trincomalee. (2 Hours’ Drive)

[Anuradhapura is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. The city lies 205 kilometers (127 mi) north of the current capital of Colombo. Anuradhapura is the best representation of the beginnings of pre-modern urbanization in Sri Lanka. It was the longest-servings Sinhalese capital of Sri Lanka from the 5th century BCE (437 BCE) until the 11th century CE (1017 CE) flourishing for around 1,500 years.]

12th, 13th, Days – Trincomalee

Spend the days relaxing in the same hotel at Trincomalee and doing some water sports, excursions as your choice. (Relaxing days at the beach can be extended as your choice)

[Trincomalee is the major port city of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka Located on the east coast of the island. Trincomalee has some of the most picturesque and scenic beaches found in Sri Lanka. The area is famous for bathing and swimming, owing to the relative shallowness of the sea, allowing one to walk out over a hundred meters into the sea without the water reaching the chest. Trincomalee which is a natural deep-water harbor has attractive seafarers, trader and pilgrims from Europe, Middle East, Africa, Chine, East Asia and Australasia since ancient times]

14th Day- Trincomalee/Negombo

Drive to Colombo Airport / Relax in a transfer hotel for few hours and leave for the departure. (These plans can be changed according to your departure timings) (4 Hours ‘Drive) End of the Tour.

Above Tour Package Include

  • Hotel Accommodation for 13 Nights.
  • 14 Breakfast and 12 Dinners.
  • Transport by a Car/Van (Air conditioned) from Airport pickup to the departure drop for the 14 days with the English speaking Tourist Driver.
  • Safari Jeeps (4×4) with a driver for the 2 Safaris.
  • Entrance tickets to all places mentioned in the tour itinerary including the 2 Safaris and Activities.
  • Train Tickets
  • Unlimited Drinking water while traveling.

Sri Lanka Culture,Adventure & Ultimate Nature Discovery 14 Days -Tour Map

Map of the 14 Days Nature and Adventure Tour in Sri Lanka route

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What’s included

  • Hotel Accommodation for 13 Nights.
  • 14 Breakfast and 12 Dinners.
  • Transport by a Car/Van (Air conditioned) from Airport pickup to the departure drop for the 14 days with the English speaking Tourist Driver.
  • Safari Jeeps (4×4) with a driver for the 2 Safaris.
  • Entrance tickets to all places mentioned in the tour itinerary including the 2 Safaris and Activities.
  • Train Tickets
  • Unlimited Drinking water while traveling.

Interested in this tour?

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