Tag: Sri Lanka

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

NEGOMBO I ANURADHAPURA I DAMBULLA I JAFFNA I TRINCOMALEE I KANDY I NUWARA ELIYA I ELLA I YALA I GALLE I BENTOTA I COLOMBO

WHEN TO GO

NOVEMBER – MAY

IDEAL LENGTH

21 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

12

The Greatest Show on Earth tour explores this bountiful and spirited nation based on Active Asia’s in house Sri Lankan enthusiast and Creative Director. A one-off journey covering all the must-see spots, Valentina shares with you the places,experiences and people she fell in love with. 

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

WILDLIFE & HISTORY

Begin your journey in Negombo,a fishing village with old-world charm before heading to Anaradhapura. Once serving as Sri Lanka’s capital, the city is home to a large collection of well-preserved architectural achievements. Next turn your focus to wildlife, with jeep safaris in both Wilpattu and Minneriya National Parks. Boasting a treasure trove of historical monuments, continue on to Dambulla. Visit the famed Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the ruins of Polonnaruwa. Once a medieval capital, this amazing citadel boasts historic archaeological relics. 

TEA PLANTATIONS

Travel north to Jaffna. Lying close to India, the city presents a largely Indian influence and offers a different perspective from the rest of the country. Then head east to Trincomalee, recognised for its natural harbour and an abundance of water related activities. Offering an urban buzz, head inland to Kandy. Bordered by beautiful hills and countryside, explore the city before travelling to Nuwara Eliya, a quaint town with colonial English charm. Surrounded by tea plantations, with tea pluckers working the slopes,the area affords a delightful landscape, as does a trek through the Horton Plains National Park where high-altitude grasslands border dramatically plunging cliffs

THE EPIC TRAIN RIDE

Take to the train as you journey into Ella – the track snakes along the edge of the mountains overlooking breath-taking valleys of rolling tea plantations and small villages. Considered the most famous national park in Sri Lanka, head to Yala National Park for a jeep safari in search of leopards, elephants, sloth bears plus more. Continuing along the southern coastline, a stay in Galle rewards you with a unique fusion of European and Arabic charm. Nearing the end of your journey, Bentota offers a relaxing beach stay. Small and buzzing with a friendly local atmosphere, one can spend the days languidly walking the streets,partaking in water adventures or merely enjoying the sunshine. Colombo is your final stop. This vibrant capital city offers a whirl of commotion and the perfect spot to reflect on your adventures.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

NEGOMBO LOCAL MARKET I RUINS OF ANURADHAPURA I JEEP SAFARIS IN WILPATTU, MINNERIYA, YALA AND UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARKS SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS EXPLORATION I POLONNARUWA CITADEL I JAFFNA CITY TOUR I DELFT ISLAND VISIT I TRINCOMALEE CITY TOUR WALKING TOUR OF KANDY I TEA PLANTATION VISIT I SCENIC TRAIN JOURNEY TO ELLA I GUIDED TOUR OF GALLE FORT RELAXATION IN BENTOTA I COLOMBO STREET FOOD TOUR

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

SRI LANK’S SECRET SIDE

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

SRI LANK’S SECRET SIDE

NEGOMBO I ANURADHAPURA I TRINCOMALEE I PASIKUDA I GAL OYA I KANDY I COLOMBO

WHEN TO GO

NOVEMBER – MAY

IDEAL LENGTH

15 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

7

Offering the perfect mix of culture and relaxation, Sri Lanka’s Secret Side explores not only historical cities but also the lesser visited east coast of Sri Lanka. Still a little raw around the edges, the east coast is one of Sri Lanka’s upcoming areas with beautiful beaches and warm waters. It is only fair to dedicate some of your time to experiencing these caramel coloured sands,swaying palms and have the sea breeze in your hair as you watch the sun set behind the horizon.

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

NATURE

Journey from Negombo to Anuradhapura and travel around the ancient citadel by bike to discover the ruins of its monastic complex all whilst learning about the lives of its inhabitants. Climb the famed Sigiriya Rock Fortress ahead of a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park which allows you to observe nature and its diversity from the comfort of your seat.

BEACH

As you head east to Trincomalee and Pasikuda, the days and nights are spent at leisure for you to take in the tranquil atmosphere and relax. The beaches of Trincomalee –mainly Nilaveli and Marble Bay offer white soft sandy beaches that stretch for miles whilst Pasikuda is known to have one of the longest stretches of shallow coastline in the world. At select times its possible for people to walk at least half a kilometre into the sea at certain points due to the water being only a few inches deep, with the current relatively weak compared to the rest of Sri Lanka’s coastline. 

CULTURE

Soak yourself in local culture as you visit Gal Oya, one of Sri Lanka’s most remote and least visited wilderness areas – here a walk in the forest with the ‘Veddas’, the forest dwelling indigenous community of Gal Oya, offers an insight as to how they live off the land and be at one with nature.Travel inland to Kandy and discover sacred spaces and listen to intriguing tales of the city before heading to Colombo for your last night.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

BIKE RIDE IN ANURADHAPURA I SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS EXPLORATION I JEEP SAFARI I A WALK WITH AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITYBOAT RIDE I KANDY CITY TOUR I CULTURAL COLOMBO TOUR

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

GEOFFREY BAWA: AN ISLAND VISIONARY

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

GEOFFREY BAWA: AN ISLAND VISIONARY

NEGOMBO I DAMBULLA I KANDY I COLOMBO I BENTOTA I GALLE I TANGALLE

WHEN TO GO

NOVEMBER – MAY

IDEAL LENGTH

13 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

7

This tour draws pure inspiration from the late, great and talented Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Sri Lanka is often visited for its dreamy beaches and balmy weather, but it also holds a strong modern design and architectural history that’s often overlooked. Bawa helped give Sri Lanka an individual and sophisticated sense of style and produced sustainable architecture long before it became a fashionable trend. On this exciting and stirring itinerary, not only will you visit the places he lived in, designed and drew inspiration from but you will also stay in some of these places. 

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

ARTIST

Start your Bawa journey in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle where you will visit such sights as Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Granted World Heritage status by UNESCO, the rock fortress is possibly one of Sri Lanka’s most extraordinary and mesmerising sights. From Dambulla to Kandy, explore this historical and cultural city. As Sri Lanka’s artistic heart, here you will meet two of the island’s best and most captivating artists.

ART & FOOD

Next, head to the capital city of Colombo and visit Geoffrey Bawa’s home and architectural studio, now transformed into Colombo’s most loved restaurant, The Gallery Café. Whilst Bawa’s office has been transformed into a bar, the space has been kept much as it was during Bawa’s time with an open courtyard and a reflecting pool.

COAST

Continue on to his country house estate Lunuganga, close to the beach resort of Bentota. This masterpiece was a true labour of love, a 50 year project which documented his ability to tame wild tropics and turn them into a cultivated vision. Follow the coast and explore the fort in Galle where quaint boutique stores are found within lovingly restored old houses. End your stay relaxing in the beach resort of Tangalle at ‘The Last House’, which, as the name suggests, was Bawa’s final architectural creation.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

NEGOMBO CITY TOUR I SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS I LOCAL VILLAGE TOUR I THE THREE TEMPLE LOOP TOUR I ART & PHILOSOPHY TOUR DRUMMING LESSON I COLOMBO’S CULTURE TOUR I EXPLORATION OF BAWA’S WORKS I THE LUNUGANGA ESTATE I MASK MAKING

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

TASTING NOTES IN SRI LANKA

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

TASTING NOTES IN SRI LANKA

NEGOMBO I SIGIRIYA I JAFFNA I TRINCOMALEE I KANDY I GALLE I COLOMBO

WHEN TO GO

NOVEMBER – MAY

IDEAL LENGTH

12 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

7

Prepare your taste buds for a fresh adventure on our culinary tour. Sri Lanka has long been renowned for its spices. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka brought their native cuisines to the island,resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Sri Lankan people use spices liberally in their dishes and typically do not follow an exact recipe – fora serious wow factor each region has a unique flavour. It is said that Sri Lanka was the original Garden of Eden and it only takes one visit to understand why.On the basis that less is more, we have chosen some of our favourite spots on this in-depth tour which encompasses a leisurely route through the country with local market visits, cooking demonstrations along with lunches and dinners at restaurants with captivating tales.

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

SEA & JUNGLE

Begin in Negombo, an old and large fishing town offering an abundance of seafood with lagoon lobsters, crabs and prawns caught on a daily basis and served as delicacies in the restaurants. Head to the famed Sigiriya Rock Fortress, sitting on a rocky plateau 370 metres above sea level, it is one of the most visited destinations of Sri Lanka. Enjoy an elephant filled Minneriya jeep safari before heading north into Jaffna, an area with a dominant Tamil culture. Accessible by boat, visit the nearby Delft Island where life is simple, earthen homes are surrounded by coral walls and herds of horses roam freely.

EAT

Follow the coast as you travel east to Trincomalee, ripe for discovery with its many natural attractions. Travel inland to Kandy where the cuisine is inspired by its tapestry of multi-culture diversity. Move on to the southern coast and explore Galle. Once a trading hub for Arab merchants bringing with them many dishes perhaps most quintessential, the Biryani, a mixed rice dish. End your Sri Lankan experience in Colombo with an exciting street food tour – as the evening draws in, food, often in unusual guises, is everywhere! It offers the perfect opportunity to learn about the city’s sights and aromas.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS I LOCAL VILLAGE AND MARKET TOURS I JEEP SAFARI I DINNER WITH A LOCAL FAMILY I DELFT ISLAND EXPLORATION TRINCOMALEE CITY TOUR I KANDY FOOD TRAIL TOUR I GALLE FORT TOUR I COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS I COLOMBO STREET FOOD TOUR

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

TEA, LEOPARDS & TEMPLES

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

TEA, LEOPARDS & TEMPLES

GALLE I YALA I NUWARA ELIYA I GAL OYA I KANDY I SIGIRIYA I COLOMBO

WHEN TO GO

FEBRUARY – MAY

IDEAL LENGTH

12 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

7

From epic legendary tea estates, historical towns and spectacular national parks, Sri Lanka has it all. For a slightly different taste of what this country has to offer, embark on this eleven night itinerary through Sri Lanka and take in the tea plantations surrounding Nuwara Eliya, the majestic wildlife in both Yalaand Minneriya National Parks and the exquisite carved rock Buddha images at Polonnaruwa.

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

WELLNESS

As soon as you touch down in Colombo, you’ll take a trip south along the coastline to Galle, an amazing fortified town filled with an eclectic mix of art galleries, cafes and boutique hotels. Offering a truly invigorating way to start your day, hop on a bike and cycle through flourishing paddy and cinnamon plantations in the charming southern countryside.

ECO RETREAT

From the walls of Galle head to the open spaces of Yala National Park, home to leopards,elephants, sloth bears, sambar, spotted deer, jackals, wild boar, buffaloes,langur, macaque monkeys and an array of bird life. Travel inland and enjoy the spring like weather in Nuwara Eliya, surrounded by hills and tea plantations –here you’ll need to blink twice as the quaint town keeps the atmosphere of a misplaced British village. Continue on to Gal Oya, one of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems and an area waiting to be explored. Along with recognisable wildlife, Gal Oya is also home to Sri Lanka’s indigenous communities.

TREATMENT

Move on to Kandy, a city which attracts visitors from afar and visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. The 147 acre site is composed of endemic plants and mixed with species brought from as far as the famous Kew Gardens in England. Travelling further north and with Sigiriya as your base, discover the archaeological relics of Polonnaruwa and the wildlife of Minneriya National Park. Your journey comes to an end in the vibrant capital city of Colombo – traverse the varied streets of a city rooted in trading, a colonial past and around every corner where buildings from another era remain hidden between renovations.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

RURAL GALLE BIKE RIDE I JEEP SAFARI AT YALA NATIONAL PARK I NUWARA ELIYA EXPLORATION I KANDY CITY TOUR PERADENIYA ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS I RUINS OF POLONNARUWA I JEEP SAFARI AT MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK I HISTORIC SITES OF COLOMBO

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

THREE VITAL FORCES

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

THREE VITAL FORCES

ANAMADUWA I DIGANA I NEGOMBO

WHEN TO GO

DECEMBER – MARCH

IDEAL LENGTH

9 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

3

Sometimes we all just need to hit reset. To take a step back, take a deep breathin – and let go. Sometimes, the only way to do that is to get away – and that’s where we come in. We’ve spent years looking for the best ways to relax and recharge and nowhere has left us more invigorated than Sri Lanka. Offering a fantastic combination of stunning scenery, delicious cuisine and breath-taking sunset vistas, Sri Lanka also boasts a number of wellness retreats enabling you to find the balance and rejuvenation that you seek. Appealing to couples,friends and solo travellers alike, wellness retreats are certain to release you of all your stresses. 

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

WELLNESS

We all love to be pampered, but on this holiday, we arrange to go that little bit further to ensure you leave utterly blissed out. We’ve created a meaningful and sincere wellness experience that will appeal to those seeking balance in a contemporary environment. We have chosen three ideal places to spend eight nights getting your body and spirit aligned, assisted by experts,specialists and therapists in the height of hospitality.

ECO RETREAT

Your first two nights are spent in a private and unique eco retreat that takes you back to basic living with a magic touch. Here choose from a myriad of activities from early morning nature walks, kayaking, swimming in a quarry to cycling the various trails around the property. Next, move to a modern, minimalist resort in the misty mountains of Sri Lanka. Spend the next three nights focusing on relaxation, health and wellness with specialised therapy and delicious cuisine

TREATMENT

 The last three night sare spent in a comfortably isolated coastal retreat where the in house Ayurvedic doctor will recommend personalised treatments that will uplift your overall wellbeing. Sri Lanka definitely offers something a little bit incomparable – what could be better than experiencing magical sunrises, practicing yoga in the purest form with a mountainous backdrop. Feeling calm and collected, it’s then time to leave the peace of Sri Lanka behind as you return to the real world.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

IDYLLIC LOCATIONS I PERSONALISED SPA TREATMENTS I YOGA I DELICIOUS CUISINE I MEDITATION I RELAXATION

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

TAKING THE ROAD LESS BIKED

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

TAKING THE ROAD LESS BIKED

NEGOMBO I KANDY I DAMBULLA I POLONNARUWA I ANURADHAPURA I COLOMBO

WHEN TO GO

DECEMBER – MARCH

IDEAL LENGTH

7 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

6

Where else can you tick off five off the eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in one go? Consisting of Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, these three great, ancient capitals form the Cultural Triangle. Crammed with monuments and ruined cities, there is so much to see in this one area, it’s an obvious ‘not-to-miss’ on this small group cycling tour. Cycling offers the opportunity to see things close up, cycle the many back roads and absorb a grassroots feel of the country. 

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

OLD TOWN

The ride commences on the road to the beautiful old town of Kandy. Sweet-sounding Kandy lives up to its name, deep in the heart of the island and in perfect proximity to explore Adam’s Peak, which is known by a multitude of different names and brings together four separate strands of religious beliefs. Kandy is home to the famed Temple of the Tooth Relic and located around an atmospheric lake.

TEMPLES & WILD

The following day pedal through open countryside to see the ancient Buddhist cave temples of Dambulla or the city of Polonnaruwa (which you may recognise from Duran Duran’s ‘Save a Prayer’ video if you are a fan). Pedalling out of Dambulla head to Sigiriya, it’s dominating rock fortress will be in continuous view as you cycle towards it. It’s well worth the climb to explore its green slopes and holy summit. Taking a 4×4 through Minneriya National Park, home to herds of elephant, a sprinkling of leopards, buffaloes, boar, spotted deer,sloth bear, crocodiles and jackals, is another Sri Lankan treat and a generous slice of safari adventure. 

ANCIENT JUNGLE

After an adventurous morning, cycle back to Polonnaruwa, an ancient former capital with 800 years of history and with fascinating ruins rescued from the jungle’s grip. Cycle through and explore this historic complex. The last stop is the even more ancient heritage site of Anuradhapura, the centre of Theravada Buddhism and the most continuously inhabited city in the world.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

CYCLE THE SCENIC BACK ROADS I ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS VISIT I GOLDEN TEMPLE OF DAMBULLA I SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS JEEP SAFARI AT MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK I ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF POLONNARUWA I RUINS OF ANURADHAPURA

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

FOCUS ON SRI LANKA

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

FOCUS ON SRI LANKA

COLOMBO I ANURADHAPURA I SIGIRIYA I KANDY I NUWARA ELIYA I NEGOMBO

WHEN TO GO

DECEMBER – MARCH

IDEAL LENGTH

9 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

6

Sri Lanka is a country just waiting to be photographed! Offering diversity with tranquil locations, ancient temples, colonial architecture, wildlife parks and pristine beaches, endless photo opportunities abound here. Get your creative juices flowing engaging with traditional culture and contemporary scenes.

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

VIBRANT CAPITAL

Work on your weaknesses and enhance your skills as you chat with a local professional photographer. Begin in Colombo, the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital of Sri Lanka. The city offers a constant buzz of activity perfect for snapping up the local culture. Take a step back in time as you discover the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Explore its culture and heritage through its architectural marvels.

HISTORIC

With your first taste of Sri Lanka’s illustrious history in Anuradhapura, continue on to its second capital, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa to see some of the island’s most dazzling ruins from its next significant era. As you head to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, an early start offers a morning hue resulting in a different filter altogether for landscape photography. Offering fantastic moody images, the cave temples of Dambulla will surely excite, ahead of arriving into Kandy where a picturesque lake setting with delightful stalls and buzzing street market await.

SCENIC HILLS

From Kandy, travel up the verdant green hills that surround the city and venture further into Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and magical region, the Hill Country – proceeding to the town of Nuwara Eliya. With its cool air, magnificent waterfalls and thriving tea culture, the enchanting allure of these hills has to be seen to be believed – have your camera ready! With winding roads through the gorgeously lush tea plantations – see tea pluckers amid the well-maintained tea bushes that look like green sculptures stretching up and down the misty hills as far as the eye can see.

GOLDEN HOUR

The last part of your journey will see you relax in the coastal town of Negombo. Watch the sunset over the tropical landscape and marvel at its rich pinks and ambers, the ideal end to an enchanting journey.

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

TIPS FROM A LOCAL PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER I COLOMBO CITY TOUR I ANCIENT RUINS OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA I EARLY MORNING SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS CLIMB I KANDY CITY TOUR I DRIVE THROUGH THE TEA PLANTATIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

FEELING WILD

Posted on by Leave a comment

Experience

FEELING WILD

KALPITIYA I KANDY I NUWARA ELIYA I YALA I HAMBANTOTA I MIRISSA I SINHARAJA I GALLE I COLOMBO

WHEN TO GO

DECEMBER – MARCH

IDEAL LENGTH

18 DAYS

FLIGHT TIME

15 HOURS 45 MINUTES FROM AUCKLAND

DESTINATIONS

9

As the name suggests, this is the perfect trip for adventurous wildlife and nature enthusiasts of any age and with a good sense of fun. Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity and untouched natural habitats have been carefully protected and nurtured for generations. Both ancient and contemporary Sri Lankan rulers have continually made it a priority over time to preserve the land and its wildlife, where there are hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles and birds that all call the island home.

MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS

Inspired by what you see? Remember we design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something that is entirely you. If we need to start from scratch, lets start with a conversation.

START PLANNING HERE

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Easing into your adventure, start with a stay in Kalpitiya, a small fishing village that’s free from the hustle and bustle of city life. It offers an ideal gateway for your next step – a jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park, which, among its abundant array of wildlife, is also renowned for its leopard population. Explore the tranquillity of the hill country with a trek in the Knuckles Mountain Range. With an experienced trekker, an outdoor enthusiast and knowledgeable naturalist accompanying you, experience jaw-dropping cliff views on the surreal Horton Plains National Park trek, where you are very unlikely to see another soul along the way.

EPIC

The last half of your journey encompasses a few more national parks after an epic scenic train journey to Ella. A second jeep safari in both Yala and Udawalawe National Parks gives you the opportunity to see herds of elephants and possibly even leopards. The chances of witnessing a herd of Sri Lankan elephants is extremely high, particularly near the rivers and the reservoir of Udawalawe. Less crowded with tourists is Bundala National Park, an important area for coastal wetlands and an important wintering ground for migratory birds.

OCEAN & RAIN FORESTS

Then, continue on to Mirissa for an exciting whale watching experience before heading off to Sinharaja Forest Reserve for an eco-friendly rainforest trek. As a biodiversity hotspot, this tropical rainforest is believed to be home to almost 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic wildlife, which are well worth looking out for and listening to during this amazing trek. As your adventure slowly draws to an end, Galle offers a fascinating insight into the city’s mixed past whilst in Colombo you will surely reminisce about all the highlights and those moments to cherish!

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU

JEEP SAFARIS IN WILPATTU, YALA & UDAWALAWE NATIONAL PARKS I KANDY WALKING TOUR I TREK THE KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN RANGE I TEA EXPERIENCE A TREK IN THE HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK I TRAIN JOURNEY TO ELLA I MIGRATORY BIRD VIEWINGS IN BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK WHALE WATCHING EXPERIENCE I RAINFOREST TREK IN SINHARAJA FOREST RESERVE I TOUR OF GALLE I COLOMBO STREET FOOD TOUR

OTHER EXPERIENCES YOU MAY LIKE

 
VIEW MORE
 

Didn’t see anything for you? No worries. Let us know what your dream trip is and we’ll help you create it.

Exit mobile version
%%footer%%