Today you will travel from Hunumulla to Sinharaja. Travel time is approximately 3 ½ hours.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short rainforest trek in Sinharaja Rainforest. Where time stands still. This is a treasure trove of natural wonders encased by sheer wilderness waiting to be discovered. Here you will be welcomed by thick air of humidity, incessant noise of birds and insects, and endless canopy of tall trees. Sinharaja Rainforest National Park is a (UNESCO World Heritage Site) primary tropical rainforest and biosphere and regarded as a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. In Sinharaja you can spot endemic mammals, bird species, butterflies, insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.

Along the way you will visit a remote community cut off from the rest of the world. There are more than 20 communities that live in Sinharaja Rainforest and their livelihood is dependent on this forest. You will be able to enjoy the Kitul ‘palm syrup’ made by these communities.

Location: - Kalawana Hotel: Jansen’s Bungalow Room: Standard Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you will travel from Sinharaja to Ahangama. Travel time’s approximately 3 hours.

En – route, you will discover the Dutch Fort in Galle. It is situated in the southern Sri Lanka. The Galle fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the natural harbour, the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island. Galle offers a unique opportunity to create a visible demonstration of the conservation of its inheritance. There are many boutique shops along the narrow streets of the fort as well as antiques, arts, and craft shops.

Location: - Ahangama Hotel: Garton’s Cape Room: Ocean Deluxe Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Early in the morning around 06:00am you’ll leave your hotel to see the Blue Whales in Mirissa.
It is the most reliable site in the world for seeing the difficult and desired Blue Whale. It may also be the best place for seeing Sperm Whales too. Blue whales are the largest animals ever lived on earth growing up to some 33 meters long, weighing up to some 150-180 metric tons. They live individually or in very small pods or groups and frequently swim in pairs. Large Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales also come within sight of the shore. The calm ocean is abundant with krill which Blue Whales feed. From December through to April, there is an outstanding wide opportunity for observing Blue Whales and Sperm Whales close to shore.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Location: - Ahangama Hotel: Garton’s Cape Room: Ocean Deluxe Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will travel from Ahangama to Kalametiya. Travel time’s approximately an hour.

In the afternoon you will take a boat trip around the Kalametiya: As the sun rises, the calm and quite habitat of endemic and migratory bird species on the wetland will make you soaked in as the seeking adventure begins.
Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary is an extensive area of wetland with brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps, clear grassland, and pockets of scrub jungle. The sanctuary is with common wetland birds. You will be able to see some of the best lotus ponds around here. You can spot some of the sought after bird species such as Slaty breasted Crake, Watercock and Black Bittern and Glossy Ibis may be present with thousands of waders. The most likely to be seen mammals are grey mongoose, Hanuman Langur, and water buffalos along the journey.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Location: - Kalametiya Hotel: Turtle Bay Room: Superior Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will experience the eye catchy safari at Bundala National Park. This is one of the best national parks for bird watching with over 193 recorded bird species including migratory birds. Thousands of migrant birds reach the island every year, including flamingos. This makes Bundala an ideal place for bird lovers. The Park features a series of lagoons which are an important habitat for wintering water birds. Considering this factor, Bundala was declared as Sri Lanka's first Ramsar wetland.

The best time to visit the Bundala National Park is between August and April when shore birds can reach as high as 20,000. Bundala is a mix of scrub jungle and sand dunes bordering the sea. Its beaches are important nesting sites for turtles. 383 species of plants, including six endemics and 7 endangered species. It is also home to 32 different species of mammals, five of which are classified as endangered. These include the Sri Lankan Elephant, Sambar, Barking and Spotted Deer. Bundala is also the only national park where you can see both marsh and estuarine crocodiles on the same safari drive.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Location: - Kalametiya Hotel: Turtle Bay Room: Superior Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will travel to Yala. Travel time’s approximately ½ hours.

In the afternoon, you will experience the safari at Yala national park. Jeep Safari in Yala is one of the best national parks in Asia for spotting and photographing elusive and prowling leopards in the wild. The best times to spot these magnificent creatures roaming freely in the park are early in the morning and in the evening. Evaluators state that there are between 500 – 650 leopards living in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Leopard is a recognized subspecies of the Indian Leopard and is the largest leopard living in Asia making this wildlife safari as one that is not easily forgotten.

Yala is home to 32 recorded species of mammals and is abundant with birds of migratory and non-migratory birds. Some of the mammals are sloth bears, Leopards, wild elephants, Water buffalos, Wild boars, spotted deer, Sambars, and Golden jackal. You will also be able to spot Mugger Crocodiles, Estuarine Crocodile and giant lizards that are left over after ages. There are 130 species of birds recorded at the park. The brilliant blue Peacocks can be found on every corner of Yala.

Location: -Yala Hotel: Flameback Eco Lodge Room: Deluxe Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will travel from Yala to Gal Oya. Travel time’s approximately 4 hours.

In the afternoon, you will take a boat safari to watch the birds and wildlife of Gal Oya. This is the only park in Sri Lanka where you can take a boat trip to watch the wildlife and swimming elephants. The lake is at its fullest with stunning afternoon views of clouds engulfing mountains and wildlife.

Gal Oya National Park lies south-east of Kandy in the eastern district. The Park was closed during the war for three decades and was established to protect the catchments area of the Senanayake Samudraya (lake). The wildlife richness this wetland with natural habitat for a wide range of fauna and flora. About 45% of the vegetation is evergreen forest, 33% savanna, 9% grassland, 2% chena cultivations and the balance is water bodies dominated by Senanayake Samudraya. The Park is host of medicinal shrubs and trees, while a few locally known trees such as Vevarana, Halmilla, Veera, Palu, Ebony and Mahogany are found in great numbers. The Park with its thick green canopy is a haven for species of birds including migratory birds such as Painted Storks, Pelicans, Cormorants and Teals. January to May is the green season, with the chance of afternoon and night-time showers. June to December is the dry season, as the year goes on the lake subsides and exposes the lake floor where fresh grass grows and attracts large herds of elephants where the days are hot, and nights are cooler.

Location: - Gal Oya Hotel: Gal Oya Lodge Bungalow Board: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

** Please note that there is no Wi-Fi or mobile coverage in the area due to the remote location**

In the afternoon you will walk with Veddhas (indigenous people of Sri Lanka) (1:30-2 hours), the last remaining communities of the Veddhas – the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of Sri Lanka. We can invite the village Chief to take you on a walk through the jungles of his ancestors. Discover and learn about local nature as he brings the forest alive, explaining his tribe’s use of medicinal plants, ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings. It’s a fascinating insight into how the hunter-gatherers lived in the jungles of Gal Oya.

Location: - Gal Oya Hotel: Gal Oya Lodge Bungalow Board: Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

* * Please note that there is no Wi-Fi or mobile coverage in the area due to the remote location **

Today you will travel from Gal Oya to Habarana. Travel time’s approximately 4 hours.

In the afternoon experience the safari at Kaudulla National Park – This National Park is the most recent to be added to the list. Famous for its large herds of Asian elephants and bird population, the species includes the nation’s largest bird, the Lesser Adjutant, and the Pompadour Green Pigeon. The Park was Built around the year 300 AD, then Tank slowly fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in 1959, and with its variety of plant life, it has now become home to 24 species of mammals, 25 species of amphibians and countless varieties of birds. The endangered Rusty Spotted Cat can be spotted in the park, as well as the elusive leopards and both Sambar and Axis Deer.

Location: - Habarana Hotel: The Other Corner Room: Chalet Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Early in the morning around 5:30 – 6am, Climbing to the top of Sigiriya rock on staircases to see sunrise with scenic views of jungles is quite challenging but an amazing experience.

The 8th wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sigiriya, a massive rock in the green scrub jungle, is perhaps the most astonishing place for the visitors with unique views between human imagination and nature. The site was known from ancient times as a hermitage for Buddhist monks. A well-planned monastic complex included caved temples, bathing pools, lovely ponds, and Asia's oldest surviving landscape gardens. The "Lion stairway", the "mirror wall" and the "water gardens" are its other highlights. The ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kashyap I (477–95) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high (the 'Lion's Rock', which dominates the jungle from all sides).

In the afternoon, walk around the hotel premises to wander around the dark shady trees discovering the little birdies and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

Location: - Habarana Hotel: The Other Corner Room: Chalet Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will travel from Habarana to Wilpattu. Travel time’s approximately 3 hours depends on the road traffic.

In the afternoon you will experience afternoon safari at Wilpattu National Park. The largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka consisting of 140,000 hectares of mostly dry zone evergreen forest. This is one of best places to see fierce leopards in Sri Lanka alongside Yala National Park. The open grassy plains are set within the thick dense scrub jungle. The wetland includes around 48 shallow natural lakes known as Villus, natural basins that are filled with rainwater and two saltwater lakes. These natural lakes are the most important parts of the complex ecosystem in the park.

The Park is home to elusive Leopards, wild Asian elephants, Sloth bears, Water Buffalos, Mugger Crocodiles, Spotted and Barking Deer, Wild Boar and Pythons. Alongside these wild animals you will be able to see many endemic birds including the Ceylon Jungle fowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Ceylon Wood shrike and Black-capped Bulbul in riverine habitats. Butterflies recorded include the Great Egg fly, Great Orange Tip, Glad-eye Bush brown, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose and Crimson Rose. You will see the wild animals, particularly elephants, near lakes early in the morning and late afternoons. The wildlife is abundant around lakes and coastal belts such as White Ibis, Open Bills, Painted Storks Spoonbills, Egrets, Whistling Teals, Kingfishers, and you can also see the water buffaloes, monitors and crocodiles.

A quiet late evening walk accompanied by the hotel resident naturalist to find loris takes you through the streams and bamboo bridges of our lush forest eco-system to the Loris Information Centre and Conservation Site. The hotel shares a habitat with the elusive Grey Slender Loris, a nocturnal primate hidden in the scrublands beyond your dwelling. Known for its protruding eyes and nimble limbs, the Loris scavenges for insects and berries above the trees on a moonlit trail that has been carefully designed for you to observe the rare creature in its natural habitat, your silent search may even be prized with a close-up encounter of this fleeting species.

About the size of a chipmunk, between 6 to 10 inches in size with long, pencil-thin arms and legs has a round head dominated by two large, close-set brown eyes that seem as big as dinner plates on its small face. These peepers flank a little, long snout, which ends in a heart-shaped nose and relatively big round ears poking out of its grey fuzz, all adding to its appeal

Location: -Wilpattu Hotel: The Ibis Room: Deluxe Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you will travel from Wilpattu to Makandura. Travel time’s approximately 3 hours.

En – route, you will visit Golden Rock Cave Temple in Dambulla. It is a vast isolated rock mass of 500ft high and 1.6 km around the base which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The impressive Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC is found here. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne, he built the most magnificent Rock Temples to be found on the Island. The complex consists of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings. It is the largest area of paintings found in the world. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 14 meter long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the ceiling date back to the 15th - 18th Centuries. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of Gods from the Buddhist religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Location: - Makandura Hotel: The Notary's House Room: Standard Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will travel to Colombo Airport for the flight back. Travel time is approximately an hour depending on the road traffic. You will fly home.