Ultimate Nature & Wildlife Explorer

(12N / 13D)

A full wild routes trip that includes walking in the jungle, famous safaris, highland trails, waterfalls, and less well-known nature paths. This journey takes tourists across Sri Lanka’s many habitats, from thick rainforests and foggy hills to wide plains and coastal mangroves. Guests go on guided treks to see animals, waterfalls, and birds, and they learn about conservation and local ecosystems by doing things. Every day is carefully planned to include a mix of excitement, relaxation, and time spent in nature.

Day 01: Arrive in Colombo, then drive to the Kitulgala Rainforest. Take a guided forest walk, listen to a nature talk in the evening, and spend the night in Kitulgala.

Get to Bandaranaike International Airport and then drive to Kitulgala, which is a beautiful rainforest area. Take a walk around your resort to get to know the plants and animals in the area. End the day with a talk about the area’s biodiversity and conservation initiatives. Stay at Kitulgala for the night.

Day 02: Full-day trek in the rainforest, birdwatching and spotting wildlife, a picnic lunch, an optional night walk, and an overnight stay in Kitulgala.

Take a guided trip into the jungle for a whole day and see native birds, small creatures, and a wide variety of plants. Have a picnic along the river. Optional nighttime stroll gives you the chance to see animals that come out at night. Stay the night at Kitulgala.

Day 03: Move to Udawalawe, have a walk along the riverbank in the afternoon, visit an organic farm and interact with villagers in the evening, and spend the night in Udawalawe.

Go to Udawalawe, which is known for its elephants. Take a walk along the riverbanks in the afternoon. There are a lot of animals there. Go to an organic farm and talk to the people who live there to learn about how they used to make a living. Udawalawe for the night.

Day 04: Udawalawe Safari/Wildlife Viewing/Optional River Pool Relaxation/Overnight in Udawalawe.

Take a morning safari at Udawalawe National Park to see elephants, water buffalo, marshland birds, and other animals. Afternoon free time with the chance to rest by the river pool. Stay at Udawalawe for the night.

Day 05: Drive to Ella, Dawun Ella, or Diyaluma Falls. Hike and then have a free evening. Stay in Ella for the night.

Travel through beautiful hills to get to Ella. Take a short stroll and see the waterfalls at Dawun Ella or Diyaluma Falls. Take it easy tonight and explore the town or relax at your accommodation. Staying in Ella overnight.

Day 06: Hike to Little Adam's Peak, walk across Nine Arches Bridge, do the Tea Garden Loops, relax in the evening, and spend the night in Ella.

In the morning, trek up Little Adam’s Peak for a panorama of the whole valley. Walk on the tea garden pathways and to Nine Arches Bridge. Evening free for taking pictures and relaxing. Ella for the night.

Day 07: Take a beautiful train ride to Nanu Oya, stop at tea estates, and then go on to Nuwara Eliya. Relax in the evening and spend the night in Nuwara Eliya.

Take the picturesque train from Ella to Nanu Oya, stopping at tea farms along the way for walks and photos along the edge of the forest. Go on to Nuwara Eliya for some evening rest and leisure in the highlands. Stay the night at Nuwara Eliya.

Day 08: Walk through a tea plantation, learn about sustainable farming, see a wild patch or waterfall, and stay the night in Nuwara Eliya.

Take a guided tour around a tea plantation, see highland farm plots, and learn about how tea is grown in a way that is good for the environment. In the afternoon, explore a local waterfall or wild area, such as Lover’s Leap or St. Clair’s. Stay at Nuwara Eliya for the night.

Day 09: Baker's Falls and Horton Plains National Park/World's End Hike, see wildlife, have a picnic lunch, and stay the night in Nuwara Eliya.

Take a moderate climb to World’s End and Baker’s Falls in Horton Plains National Park. Watch native animals and have a picnic lunch in the beautiful environment of the plateau. Go back to Nuwara Eliya to sleep for the night.

Day 10: Go to Sinharaja Rainforest, with the option to stop at a village, stroll through the jungle, listen to rainforest sounds in the evening, and spend the night near Sinharaja.

Go south into the Sinharaja Rainforest, stopping in a community along the way to learn about local crafts and culture. Take a stroll in the forest in the day to get up close and personal with plants and animals, and then go on a guided rainforest sounds tour in the evening. Overnight close to Sinharaja.

Day 11: Deep Trek in Sinharaja Rainforest / Endemic Birds, Primates & Butterflies / Eco Education / Optional Canopy Walk / Overnight Close to Sinharaja.

Take a full-day guided hike deep into Sinharaja, where you’ll see native birds, primates, and butterflies. Get advice from experts on how to protect and learn about rainforest ecosystems. You may take an optional canopy trail walk to see the rainforest from a new angle. Overnight close to Sinharaja.

Day 12: Drive to Galle, stop at the Coastal Mangrove, and then go home. Galle Fort for fun and Galle for the night.

Take a beautiful interior road to Galle and stop at a coastal lagoon or mangrove to see birds. In the evening, you may explore the picturesque alleyways and walls of Galle Fort. Stay overnight in Galle.

Day 13: Go to Bandaranaike International Airport and leave.

After breakfast, you will be taken privately to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo to leave. Finish your trip with memories that will last of Sri Lanka’s jungles, animals, and mountains.

Inclusions

  • Lodging with breakfast every day as planned
  • Private air-conditioned car with a driver
  • A guide who speaks English the whole time
  • Guided hikes through the jungle and fauna, safaris, and trips to tea estates
  • Fees to get into national parks, reserves, and tea plantations
  • A beautiful train ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya

Exclusions

  • Flights to and from other countries and the US
  • Meals that aren’t listed in the itinerary
  • Money spent on personal things like shopping, doing laundry, or making phone calls
  • Things you can do that aren’t on the schedule