8 Day Best Safari in Sri Lanka

Day 1: Negombo - Sigiriya

Early morning, leave for Sigiriya for a visit to a roof tile factory and pineapple plantation as well as Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, one of the popular attractions that was established as a sanctuary. Here, you are invited to observe and assist the baby elephants as they are fed from giant feeding bottles before they plod down to the river for their daily bath. In the afternoon, you will visit the Sigiriya Fortress, which was a royal palace of King Kassyappa (477 - 495 A.D.). Later, dinner and overnight stay will be in a hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 2: Sigiriya - Anuradhapura

After breakfast, leave for Anuradhapura following the scenic drive passing small green towns, rural villages, and coconut groves to discover the lush green vegetation in the land. En-route stopover along the road to taste a king coconut drink, freshly cut pineapple, mangoes, and a variety of other tropical fruits.

Anuradhapura is the most extensive of the Sri Lankan ancient cities and one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was the national capital for over 1,300 years up to the tenth century A.D. Today, the monuments of Anuradhapura’s heyday survive for you to visit. It is surrounded by the solemn umbrage of trees and an ancient parkland.

During the tour, you will visit an archeological museum, the sacred Bo tree, Brazen Place, the royal palace, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna, and more. After the tour, you will have a dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 3: Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa

After breakfast, leave for Polonnaruwa ancient city, another Sri Lanka's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once the capital of Sri Lanka from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, the city still contains some splendid and spectacular statues, walkways, and palaces among the forestry watched by the wildlife. In the afternoon you will visit, Mineriya National Park and proceed back to your hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 4: Polonnaruwa - Kandy

After a morning elephant ride through the jungle, you will proceed to Kandy and visit Dambulla cave temple, batik factory, and spice garden in Matale on the way. Visit of Temple of The Tooth and traditional cultural dancing show in the evening. Later, dinner and overnight stay will be in a hotel in Kandy.

Day 5: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast, you will visit Royal Botanical garden in Peradeniya and leave for Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is supposed to be one of the coolest places on the island but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. Around Nuwara Eliya, you will see the evidence of British influence such as houses that look like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.

After the tour, en-route visit the famous Ramboda Falls, Sri Lankan tea plantation, and a working tea factory, and also experience a self-tea-plucking session. In the afternoon, dinner and overnight stay will be in a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 6: Nuwara Eliya - Ella

After breakfast, you will have the option to proceed to Ella by train. It is a picturesque driveway through tea plantations and offers the best view of Sri Lanka countryside. The driver will drop you at Nuwara Eliya train station and pick you up from the train station in Ella. Once you check-in to your hotel in Ella, you will climb the Little Adam`s Peak, visit the Rama`s Cave, or just chill by one of the waterfalls Ella has to offer. Later, dinner and overnight stay will be in a hotel in Ella.

Day 7: Ella - Tissamaharama

Proceed to Tissamahama and visit the Buddha standing statue in Buduruvagala on the way following by afternoon safari in Yala National Park. After the safari, you will have a dinner and overnight will be in a hotel in Tissamaharama.

Day 8: Yala National Park - Negombo

After breakfast, proceed back to Negombo via beautiful southern coastal road. Also, you will visit Dondra lighthouse, explore Dickwella, go to Weligama fishing village, and visit turtle hatchery in Unawatuna that will conclude the tour.

• A visit to roof tile factory and pineapple plantation
• Exploring Sigiriya Fortress
• Anuradhapura ancient city tour
• Poḷonnaruwa tour
• Kandy city exploration
• A visit to the spice garden in Matale
• Cultural dancing show in the Temple of the Tooth
• A trip to Royal Botanical garden in Peradeniya
• A tour around Nuwara Eliya
• Sightseeing in Ramboda Falls
• A tour and a self-tea-plucking session in Sri Lankan tea plantation and a working tea factory
• Climbing Little Adam's Peak
• Ravana's Cave visit
• Visiting Buddha standing statue in Buduruvagala
• Sightseeing Dondra Head Lighthouse
• Visiting a blowhole in Dickwella
• Weligama fishing village excursion

This safari holiday will take place in various locations in Sri Lanka. You will visit Minneriya National Park, Yala National Park, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, turtle hatchery in Unawatuna, and more.

Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park is located 182 kilometers away from Colombo, in the North Central Plains of Sri Lanka. The major city closest to Minneriya National Park is Polonnaruwa. The recently renovated, the ancient Minneriya rainwater reservoir irrigates a considerable area of the district of Polonnaruwa and it is the focal point of the Minneriya National Park.

May to October is the best period to visit Minneriya National Park in view of the famous gathering of the wild elephant herds. The gathering is documented as the largest known meeting place of Asian elephants in the world. During the dry season of August to September each year, herds up to 300 elephants can be seen within a few square kilometers of the vast Minneriya reservoir.

This elephant gathering is a thrilling spectacle that would be remembered for rest of the life of all those who were fortunate enough to witness it. 24 species of mammals and over 170 species of birds have been recorded here and out of the 25 species of reptiles recorded in the park, eight are endemic.

Yala National Park

Yala Wildlife National Park or Ruhuna National Park is the second largest but most famous national park in Sri Lanka. It is located about 300 kilometers from Colombo and most diehard wildlife enthusiast will tell you that it is the best place to spot Asian elephants and leopards in Sri Lanka. Over 100 species of birds and 32 species of mammals have been recorded here and the park is considered as a large bio-diversity hotspot.

Yala National Park paths run through a spectrum of terrains from dense to scrub jungle, open savannah-type to semi-arid areas, rock pools, ravines, and freshwater lakes strewn with more than one prominent rocky outcrops. It is also run through a snaking coastline where the wildlife behaves in an unconcerned and truly wild way and has ceased to take alarm and flee at the sight of humans but by no means docile. With over one hundred and fifty square miles of territory, traversing in Yala without a wildlife department guide is prohibited.

The Asian elephant, leopard, black-bear, along with crocodiles are the most common sights. While peacocks, hornbills, and the gray languor monkeys may keep you company along the route with their ceaseless cries. The buffalo, another unsung denizen of Yala National Park, can be unpredictable, easily riled, and extremely dangerous with their sharp horns, which are quite common in the park.

Yala National Park east or better known as Kumana National Park is bird watchers paradise with rarities like Ceylon shamas, paradise flycatchers, red-faced malkoha, great thick-knee, and not so rare peacocks adorning the paths during dawn and dusk.

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Tap water is not safe to drink in Sri Lanka. Also, boiling and filtering water are sometimes done too hastily in some hotels and restaurants. The best solution is to drink bottled water. There are many brands available mostly using spring water from the highlands of the island. Make sure that the bottle carries an SLS certification and that the seal is broken only in your presence.

Beware of ice unless you are satisfied it has not been made from tap water. Also, please remember that the tap water you may be tempted to use to rinse out your mouth after brushing your teeth is unsafe. Keep a bottle of water in your bathroom for this purpose.

• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage visit
• Game drive in Minneriya National Park and Yala National Park
• An elephant ride through the jungle
• Visiting Turtle hatchery in Unawatuna
• A visit to the spice garden in Matale
• Exploring Sigiriya Fortress
• A visit to roof tile factory and pineapple plantation
• Exploring Dondra Head Lighthouse, Dickwella, Weligama fishing village
• Option for a train drive from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
• Cultural dancing show in the Temple of the Tooth
• A trip to Royal Botanical garden, Ramboda Falls, Little Adam's Peak, Ravana's Cave, and Buddha standing statue
• A self-tea-plucking session in Sri Lankan tea plantation and a working tea factory
• Anuradhapura, Poḷonnaruwa, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya city exploration
• Daily breakfast and dinner
• 7 nights' accommodation
• Air-conditioned vehicle with English speaking driver
• Driver accommodating and meals, fuel, and taxes
• All entrance fees

• A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.