Sri Lanka’s Natural History Highlights in comfort
Tour Introduction
We have picked for you the best luxury small hotels and lodges and chosen exceptional locations that epitomise the country’s wealth of natural attractions. During this journey, you will explore the uncrowded national parks of the north and venture deep into the unrivalled Cultural Triangle. Climbing into the highlands, you will explore high plateaus and colonial towns, and stay in an old tea factory converted into a luxury hotel. The Yala National Park provides thrilling encounters with leopards and elephants whilst Weligama offers Indian Ocean beaches and sightings of blue whales. Come on this trip and combine the best of Sri Lanka’s natural attractions to warm the heart with special accommodation to delight the soul.
Full Itinerary
Arrive Colombo and pick up by your private English-speaking driver cum guide. Transfer north to Ulagalla, close to the ancient Buddhist city of Anuradhapura. Free afternoon to settle into your 850 square foot private chalet, take a dip in your private pool, enjoy a luxury spa treatment or explore the 58 acres of gardens and paddy fields.
Staying at Ulagalla Private Chalet. Includes Breakfast.
A free day to relax and explore (your private driver will remain at your disposal throughout your stay). Perhaps visit the ancient capital of Anuradhapura by bicycle or visit some of the other sites of the Cultural Triangle such as Sigiriya, Dambulla or Polonnaruwa. Of wildlife interest is Wilpattu National Park with its healthy leopard population plus Minneriya where there is an annual gathering of hundreds of elephants. Let us know if you wish to visit any of these optional locations.
Staying at Ulagalla Private Chalet. Includes Breakfast.
Another day to relax and explore.
Staying at Ulagalla Private Chalet. Includes Breakfast.
Drive south through the Cultural Triangle and visit a spice plantation en route to the pleasant colonial town of Kandy. Check-in to your beautiful boutique hotel overlooking the city.
Staying at Theva Residency. Includes Breakfast.
Morning guided tour of Kandy including the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic and Peradeniya Botanical Gardens: 146 acres of spice plants, palms, orchids and giant tropical trees, totalling 4000 species. Continue into Sri Lanka’s hill country with many stops for views and photographs along the way. Arrive at Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lankan and the home of vast tea estates. The English-style buildings, old clubs with their panelled billiards rooms and dining rooms, the cool climate and the misty glens reminded past colonials of Britain. Settle-in to your luxury hotel built in a converted tea factory.
Staying at The Tea Factory. Includes Breakfast.
Early morning visit to Horton Plains National Park on Sri Lanka's highest plateau, over 2100m above sea level. Enjoy spectacular views from the aptly-named Worlds End and look for the distinctive flora (with a high level of endemism), colourful butterflies, many rare endemic, resident or migratory birds and several species of mammal.
Staying at The Tea Factory. Includes Breakfast.
Continue driving south through Sri Lanka’s wonderful hill country and down to the southwest coast next to Yala National Park.
Staying at Cinnamon Wild. Includes Breakfast.
Enjoy two thrilling days of morning and afternoon private game drives in Yala National Park. Yala has some of the highest leopard densities in the world and the animals are particularly habituated to people meaning that this is one of the world’s best parks for spotting and photographing these magnificent cats. One may also see elephant, sloth bear, sambar, spotted deer, wild boar, stripe-necked mongoose, black-naped hare and several civet species. In the water holes you may see mugger crocodile, painted stork, lesser whistling teal, black-headed Ibis, Eurasian spoonbill and the rare black-necked stork. Palu trees dominate the monsoon forest vegetation of the park, while Manilkara hexandra and thorny bushes dominate the thick undergrowth.
Staying at Cinnamon Wild. Includes All Meals.
Another day to explore Yala National Park.
Staying at Cinnamon Wild. Includes All Meals.
Drive along Sri Lanka’s beautiful southern coast , stopping to see iconic fishermen perched on stilts over the water, before arriving at your fine beach hotel located on a beautiful white sand beach in the idyllic Weligama Bay.
Staying at Weligama Bay Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Within season (December to April) you can enjoy a morning’s whale watching to see blue whales, Bryde's whales and large pods of spinner dolphins.
Staying at Weligama Bay Resort. Includes Breakfast.
Explore the colonial city of Galle to see the Dutch fort and other historical buildings.
Staying at Weligama Bay Resort. Includes Breakfast.
An early start as you drive back to Colombo and check in for your flight home.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Ulagalla Resort
Overview
Part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World chain, Ulagalla Resort is a beautiful property sitting amongst 58 acres of native forest and rice fields near Anuradhapura. The property offers outstanding personal service and truly luxurious accommodation in detached, spacious chalets that feature private outdoor Jacuzzis. The main building, an elegantly restored British colonial mansion, houses the fitness centre, an excellent a la carte restaurant and reception, and outside there is a huge swimming pool. The spacious private chalets are a considerable distance from each other to provide maximum privacy, and have comfortable four poster beds, a lounge and dining area, walk in showers, TV, minibar, air-conditioning, and bicycles are provided on which to explore the estate and there is an on-call butler to attend to your every need.
Spa treatment is offered to all guests and a full range of activities can be arranged including nature walks and birdwatching, sightseeing tours in the Cultural Triangle, cycling, horse riding, archery and kayaking. The restaurant serves delicious a la carte meals, mostly Sri Lankan and continental cuisine.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant, private chalet, restaurant, large swimming pool, private Jacuzzi, air-conditioning, free WiFi, TV, minibar, concierge service, complimentary bicycles, room service, laundry service,
Optional Activities
Sightseeing tours in the cultural triangle including; Sirigya, Anaradhapura and Polunawurra, activities offered by the hotel include horse riding, cycling, archery, nature walks and kayaking.
Weligama Bay Resort
Overview
Weligama Bay Resort is nestled between Galle and Matara in the centre of Weligama bay on Sri Lanka’s south coast and overlooks the scenic sandy beach in front.
Rooms are divided between ten superior rooms in the main building, two garden bungalows, six garden villas adjacent to the beach and four junior and family suites. All rooms are spacious and have quirky décor and furnishings.
Each room is fitted with an LCD TV with DVD player and satellite channels, minibar with freezer, free high speed WiFi, air-conditioning, safety deposit box, telephone, hair dryer, espresso machine and a private terrace.
There is a large swimming pool close to the beach with separate children’s pool and a Jacuzzi on a raised wooden deck. In the main building there is a good restaurant serving an a la carte menu featuring local seafood, traditional Sri Lankan curries and some more international cuisine throughout the day. Meals can be taken outside on the terrace, in the dining room, brought to your room or you may dine romantically on the beach. There is also a cocktail bar and laundry service, and a good ayurvedic spa that offers an extensive range of healing treatments.
Between November and April the bay attracts blue whales, and boat trips and airplane rides are available for whale watching.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Private bathrooms, restaurant, cocktail bar, swimming pool, jaccuzi, TV, DVD player, mini-bar, telephone, ceiling fans, conference room, free WiFi, room service, laundry service and currency exchange.
Optional Activities
Whale watching (November to April) snorkelling and scuba diving.
Cinnamon Wild Yala
Overview
The recently refurbished and award-winning Cinammon Wild Yala is located just outside the world renowned Yala National Park boundary and borders a beautiful golden beach in Kirinda.
The lodge blends wilderness and luxury living without damaging the existing flora and fauna. The theme of the lodge is ‘in harmony with wildlife’. The hotel has 68 well-appointed deluxe air-conditioned bungalows with verandahs scattered around ten acres of woodland, some with beach views.
All rooms are equipped with minibar, satellite TV, international direct dial telephone, safety deposit box, electric kettle with tea and coffee, hair dryer and have free WiFi.
The Tuskers Restaurant in the main lodge offers an good selection of a la carte dishes and there is a friendly bar and plenty of living areas including a rooftop terrace around the property in which to enjoy a beverage. There is a large swimming pool with sun lounging terrace for relaxation between safaris.
The lodge is ideally located for early morning and evening game drives in Yala and also offers birdwatching and bush walks and night safaris with infra-red light giving opportunities to see elusive nocturnal species. Even around the grounds of the hotel it is not unusual to see a diversity of wildlife including wild boar, squirrels, deer, scorpions, civets and hear elephants in the distance.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurant and bar, swimming pool, LCD TV, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, hair dryer, safety deposit box, laundry service, room service, free WiFi, currency exchange, luggage storage and gift shop.
Local Wildlife
Yala has some of the highest leopard densities in the world and the cats are particularly habituated making it one the world’s best parks for spotting and photographing these magnificent cats. One may also see elephant, sloth bear, sambar, spotted deer, wild boar, stripe-necked mongoose, black-naped hare and several civet species. In the water holes you may see mugger crocodile, painted stork, lesser whistling teal, black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill and the rare black-necked stork. The monsoon forest ecosystem of the park is dominated by Palu and Manilkara hexandra trees and thorny bushes create a dense understory.
Optional Activities
Game drives, elephant back safaris, night drives, guided walks and cultural tours.
Heritance Tea Factory
Overview
Half an hour’s drive from Nuwara Eliya stands Heritance Tea Factory, a former working tea factory built in the 1930s on the edge of a huge tea estate and now an elegant boutique hotel.
There is a choice of superior rooms and suites, all expertly designed to provide ample luxury. Each room features an extra-large bed, wide view windows with fantastic views across the tea plantations, a large bathtub, seating area and bedside tables and telephone, digital safe, free WiFi and satellite television. 24-hour room and laundry service are also available. Facilities also include a gym, library and massage room.
The hotel’s restaurant provides a buffet of Sri Lankan, and international cuisine. There is also the option to dine in a converted 1930s train carriage where and a la carte menu is offered. The Hethersett Bar provides lighter snacks and international beverages, while the Goatfell Bar is the place for a cup of local tea.
Excursions to several sites nearby are possible, including visits to Nuwara Eliya and the high altitude Horton Plains plateau with World’s End. Other activities offered include a tea picking tour with an opportunity to pick, make and taste your own tea and other cultural excursions and guided nature walks.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Restaurants, gym, massage room, TV, 24hr room service, digital safety deposit box, telephone and en suite room.
Optional Activities
Tea plantation and cultural tours, nature walks and excursions to Horton Plains National Park and World's End.
Route Map
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Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Sri Lankan Airlines direct flight from London to Colombo
Best Visited:
January to January
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
This tour can operate throughout the year: however, December to April is the best time for whale watching. Create the feel of a romantic safari by switching to a luxury camping option at Yala, which also enables earlier access to the park
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
[Our guide] was brilliant. Always on time and very helpful. All transfers were great. The bird watching trip was excellent and our guide was great at spotting birds. The elephant orphanage was also great.
