Northern Sri Lanka: Wildlife, Snorkelling and Ancient Heritage
Tour Introduction
The best time to experience this superlative itinerary is late November to end March when many migrant species – notably greater flamingos in their thousands – can be seen in the wetlands and flats of Mannar Island and the nearby mainland of far north-western Sri Lanka. The area is very different from other parts of the country, with its Tamil and Catholic heritage, baobab trees, feral donkeys, palm forests, sandy coastline and vast flat vistas, including the beginning of Adam’s Bridge. Also known as Rama Setu, it is a long line of low-lying islands connecting Sri Lanka with India through the shallow Palk Strait.
From Mannar, venture to the country’s largest nature reserve, Wilpattu National Park, and stay in a “tented” lodge offering high comfort and plunge pools. On morning and afternoon – or full day – safaris into the forests of Wilpattu, you have the chance to spot leopard, elephant, wild boar and a host of other mammal, bird and reptile species. From Wilpattu, head eastwards to Trincomalee for a spot of seaside relaxation, snorkelling at Pigeon Island and perhaps even dolphin watching. Snorkelling with up to three species of great whales (blue, sperm and Bryde’s) is possible mid-March to mid-April: an unparalelled marine wildlife experience. Your coastal accommodation is in a top notch, discreet boutique resort set amongst littoral forest ranged along an unspoiled stretch of sandy beach.
After the sun, sand and sea, travel southeast to the Cultural Triangle and reside in a fabulous resort set in man-made wetlands where at night slender loris and fishing cat can be spied, while during the day visiting the World Heritage Sites of Dambulla, Sigiriya and Pollonoruwa. Return to Colombo for a night at a colonial hotel near the airport before heading home, replete with memories of the natural and cultural attractions which make Sri Lanka such a fabulous all-round destination.
Full Itinerary
After arrival, you will be met at the airport and then transfer to Wallawwa Hotel, just a 15-minute drive away. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps making the most the swimming pool or the various spa services and treatments on offer.
Staying at Wallawwa. Includes Breakfast.
Returning to the airport after breakfast, you will board a flight to the city of Jaffna on the northern tip of Sri Lanka. Private transfer to Palmyrah House on Mannar Island, where you will be spending the next two nights.
*This day of the tour must fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, due to domestic flight schedules.
Staying at Palmyrah House. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
This morning, a naturalist will take you on a guided birding excursion to Vankalai Sanctuary. The reserve has a diverse range of habitats and you can hope to spot species including northern pintail, greater flamingo, Eurasian wigeon and a large number of other aquatic birds and rare migrants. In the afternoon, your guide will drive you south to observe the ruins of the Doric Bungalow, in Arippu, the residence of the first British Governor of Ceylon. You may also visit other sites on Mannar such as the Dutch Fort and Adam's Bridge.
Staying at Palmyrah House. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
After an early morning birding tour on Mannar Island, transfer with your guide to Thamaravila, a luxury tented camp based just outside of Wilpattu National park. Enjoy your first game drive into the reserve in the afternoon.
Staying at Thamaravila. Includes All Meals.
Morning and afternoon game drives into Wilpattu National Park. Early mornings and late afternoons/evenings are your best times to go looking for Wilpattu’s more elusive mammals, such as leopard, Asian elephant, sloth bear, spotted deer and barking deer.
Staying at Thamaravila. Includes All Meals.
Morning and afternoon game drives into Wilpattu National Park.
Staying at Thamaravila. Includes All Meals.
Drive with your private guide to Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s beautiful east coast. Your private guide will take you to see the Hindu temple and Fort Frederick in town, before heading north to your hotel for the next three nights, set behind a glorious white-sand beach.
Staying at Uga Jungle Beach. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
A day of leisure for you to spend how you wish. You may choose to take an optional boat excursion out to Pigeon Island, where there are fine snorkelling opportunities. The waters off Trincomalee are a hotspot for cetaceans such as dolphins, pilot whales and great whales. For whale watching trips, blue whales can be seen in the season from March to August.
Staying at Uga Jungle Beach. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Day at leisure. Enjoy the beach, the hotels grounds and facilities, or look to take a whale and dolphin watching boat tour.
Staying at Uga Jungle Beach. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
This morning your guide will drive you to the Sigiriya area, famous for its monolithic, ancient rock fortress. You will check in to the Jetwing Vil Uyana where you will be staying for the next three nights. The sumptuous accommodation has been built on a man-made wetlands system, harmoniously integrated into the surrounding landscape, where birds, reptiles and nocturnal mammals thrive.
Staying at Vil Uyana. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
In the morning, visit one of the cultural wonders of Sri Lanka, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sigiriya. Climb the ancient rock fortress which dates back to 477 AD. Take your time to appreciate the historical remnants, sculptures and frescoes, and savour the majestic views from the summit. In the afternoon you will have a private cultural excursion with your private guide, which could include a visit to the Dambulla Cave Temple or the ancient monastic ruins of Ritigala.
Staying at Vil Uyana. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
After a relaxing breakfast, join your guide for a half-day tour of the ancient capital city of Pollonaruwa. Return to Vil Uyana and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Staying at Vil Uyana. Includes Breakfast and Dinner.
Return to Colombo and check in to the Wallawwa for your final night of this tour.
Staying at Wallawwa. Includes Breakfast.
Transfer to the international airport and check in for your flight home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Wallawwa
Overview
Just 15 minutes from Colombo airport, and 30 minutes from downtown Colombo, this beautifully renovated country house hotel is the perfect place to begin or end your Sri Lankan adventure.  The house itself has a rich history, being home to the district’s chieftains since the 18th century, and the owners have striven to preserve the historical prominence whilst updating the amenities to a luxuriously modern standard.
The hotel’s Verandah restaurant is an open air dining area serving all three meals and afternoon tea. Focusing on Asian fusion cuisine, the menu offers many Sri Lankan flavours alongside popular international dishes, catering to all tastes. Many of the fruits, vegetables and herbs are served fresh from the hotel’s impressive kitchen garden. A good selection of wines, beers, cocktails and spirits is on offer to complement the menus. The Z spa offers a bubble of peace and tranquillity for guests to unwind, predominantly featuring a blend of traditional Asian treatments with Ayurveda. There are no set opening times, allowing you to indulge in a treatment whenever you would like.
There are four room classes available: The Wallawwa bedroom; Garden suites which are slightly more spacious, Family suites (two interconnecting garden suites) and finally the Mountbatten suite – named after the Commander-in-Chief of the South-East-Asian command of the RAF, who resided here during the Second World War – boasting two bedrooms, a private plunge pool and spacious lounge area. All of the rooms are tastefully designed to give a light and airy feel, whilst displaying beautiful local furnishings.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
All rooms have king sized beds, air conditioning and fans, ensuite bathrooms, tea and coffee facilities, hairdryer, safety deposit box, widescreen TV and minibar. Verandah Restaurant and Z Spa.
Optional Activities
Take a trip to the local town of Negombo, where the busy fish market, colonial churches and beautiful golden beach can be explored on foot with a local guide. The towns lagoon also stretched into the Muthurajawela Wetlands which are rich in wildlife and can be experienced via a boat tour.
A short drive will take you to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s extraordinary capital, where there is a plethora of sites to explore. visiting the city’s colonial fort area or Pettah market district are fascinating, as are artistic tours of the galleries and religious buildings. Further afield, trips can be arranged to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, the Buddhist Pilikuttuwa Rajamaha Temple, or to visit a small tea factory.
Palmyrah House
Overview
Palmyrah House is a beautiful central Mannar Island luxury boutique hotel with easy access to the rest of the island. The hotel consists of fourteen stylish and spacious rooms for maximum comfort.
All rooms are air conditioned, with their own private deck, adjoining bathrooms with hot-and-cold showers, access to WIFI, a television, a desk and additional seating outside on the deck. One of the guest buildings houses six bedrooms, with two on the upper deck and four on the lower deck. In addition, there are four chalets, with two rooms each.
The restaurant is very accommodating. They will tailor make the food for you to your preferences and you can choose to eat your meal either in the restaurant or at your own private deck. The restaurant food is prepared from the freshest ingredients from each day’s sea catch as well as the best organic produce from a local farm.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
A restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool with a traditional well bath, a gym, a private beach, bicycles and snorkelling equipment for rent, Free WIFI, a library with board games, wheel-chair accessible, en-suite bathrooms with hot/cold showers, complimentary tea & coffee stations, USB charging ports, individually controlled A/C, and front desk tour booking assistance.
Local Wildlife
Bird watching on Mannar island is one of the best spots in Sri Lanka for spotting migratory birds, as well as other animal species. Birdwatching is very popular, particularly from November through to February, during which time the Northern hemisphere winter migrant species make the long hard journey across thousands of kilometres to enjoy the tropical climate of Mannar. In Mannar you will see birds such as Greater Flamingos, Black Tail Godwits, Gargneys, Pintail Ducks, Gulls, Plovers, Terns all in flocks of several hundreds. So many Raptors: White Bellied Sea Eagles, Brahamin Kites, Black Kites, Common Kestrels. In addition you can see Crab Plovers and Pied Avocets.
Wilpattu National Park is about 1 hours drive away and one of the best places to see leopards and barking deers.
Optional Activities
Birdwatching, hire a bike, rent a boat to visit the legendary Adam’s Bridge, relax at the private beach, go fishing around the magnificent Giant’s Tank, go snorkelling amongst the beautiful coral reefs or the seagrass beds found in the surrounding waters. As the winds are strong around Mannar, activities like windsurfing and kitesurfing are highly recommended.
Thamaravila
Overview
Thamaravila consists of five luxury tented chalets, each built on stilts, with thatched roofs and open air decking and verandas. It is situated just outside of Wilpattu National Park’s boundary, offering a superb location from which to explore this marvellous reserve from.
Wilpattu, the largest and one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka, has nearly sixty villus – natural, sand-rimmed water basins that attract abundant wildlife. The park currently attracts very few tourists and remains wonderfully unspoilt.
Every stay is on an ‘all-inclusive with game drives’ basis. This includes daily game drives into Wilpattu in both the morning and afternoon, in its customised safari viewing vehicles, along with all park entry fees. Additional inclusions on this basis are: Refreshments during game drives; breakfast, lunch & dinner; water, fruit juices and soft drinks; wines, beer & spirits; tea, coffee and snack.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Each of the chalets includes a spacious living room, bedroom, bathroom, hot-tub, outdoor shower, king-size bed, private deck, luxury in-room amenities, hot water, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi.
The Suite chalets are for a maximum of four guests, and the Deluxe chalets for three guests.
Local Wildlife
Leopard, elephant, wild buffalo, wild boar, fishing cat, sloth bear, sambar, spotted deer, land and water monitor lizards and hundreds of bird species including rollers, bee-eaters, fishing owl, adjutant stork, serpent eagle, grey and pied Malabar hornbills, jungle fowl and various kingfishers
Optional Activities
Game viewing drives into Wilpattu National Park
Uga Jungle Beach
Overview
The most luxurious accommodation available to the north of Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s east coast, Uga Jungle Beach occupies a wild, secluded stretch of sandy beach with no other nearby resorts. Most of the three categories of luxury chalets are linked by wooden walkways and built within the littoral forest so as to be hardly visible from the road or beach. The large detached cabins feature air-conditioning, TV, iPod dock, DVD player, minibar, tea/coffee facilities, hair dryer, king-size bed or twin beds, rain shower bathroom, safe, WiFi, bath robes and 24-hour room service.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, swimming pool, air-conditioning, massage service, laundry service, luggage storage, safe.
Local Wildlife
On shore, the wildlife will mainly consist of sea and shore birds and some reptiles, while offshore there is good snorkelling at Pigeon Island, dolphin watching and whale watching in season.
Optional Activities
Snorkelling, swimming, whale and dolphin watching, jet skiing, sailing, visit the hot springs at Kannya, Lover’s Leap (named after the suicide of a young colonial Dutch woman whose fiancé broke off their engagement), and Koneswaram temple, perched atop a 400ft cliff and sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
Vil Uyana
Overview
With Vil Uyana, the hotel’s umbrella group, Jetwing, have hit the bullseye in finding a perfect blend of eco-consciousness and luxury, with neither being compromised by the other. Harmony. The architecture has taken elements of traditional design to fit beautifully into the surrounding landscape that flows through the site.
Just a 15-minute drive away from the Sigiriya rock fortress. This stunning, boutique retreat exudes both seclusion and style.
A diverse range of habitats encourage good birdlife in the immediate vicinity, the spacious verandas allowing for convenient viewing opportunities. The five room types: Forest, Marsh, Paddy, Garden and Lake, are aptly named according to the sort of habitat in which they are located.
The resident naturalist leads early morning bird watching excursions, while in the evenings you can join a guided walk searching for nocturnal creatures like slender lorises. An Ayurvedic doctor provides treatments in the spa. The restaurant, Apsara, provides exquisite all day dining, while you can gaze out to the distant view of the ancient Sigiriya rock fortress.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, bar, laundry service, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, room service, parking, Wi-Fi
All room types have air conditioning, ceiling fan, cable TV, minibar, Wi-Fi
Local Wildlife
Fishing cat, grey slender loris, tufted grey langur, marsh crocodile
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Best Visited:
December to March
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Alan Godwin
Area Specialist
If you can time your stay at Jungle Beach to be within mid-March to mid-April, when the sea is becalmed and the water clear, you have the chance to snorkel with up to three species of great whale: blue, sperm and Bryde’s. On six-hour boat rides far out to sea you get into the deep ocean to observe the leviathans gliding by beneath you.
You can choose full day safaris into Wilpattu with a packed lunch, obviating the need to return to the lodge for lunch.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Our guide was excellent being knowledgeable, interesting, trustworthy and a good travel companion. I would unhesitatingly recommend him to your future clients. Yala was undoubtedly the highlight of the tour and from a wildlife point of view exceeded our expectations. My wife and I have had a thoroughly enjoyable two weeks in Sri Lanka. Everything ran smoothly and there were no major faults. Astounding scenery and wildlife, friendly people and delicious food.
We will certainly consider using Reef and Rainforest again. Thank you for putting together a wonderful itinerary which covered all our needs in the time available. A return visit to see other parts of the island will be on our list!
