Outside Africa, no other country or even continent for that matter can boast of the five big and enigmatic creatures with an exceptional strike rate of sightings as Sri Lanka can. During your Sri Lanka voyage you will have the chance to be greeted a blue whale approaching your boat to give out a snort, catch a sperm whale as it flips, be surrounded by a herd of elephants protecting their eager calfs, follow a bear before he slips behind a boulder and of course, watch a leopard yarn as it lazes on a rock.
Route : Colombo
Drive : 1 hour
Hotel : Cinnamon Lakeside
At the airport you will be greeted by your very own chauffeur guide and Jetwing Travels airport representative. After completing formalities at the airport, head to Colombo, check-in to the hotel and rest and relax to recover from any jet lag.
Route : Colombo > Sinharaja
Drive : 3 – 4 hours
Hotel : Rainforest Edge
Make your way to your residence for the next two nights – Rainforest Edge. Relish the journey as you drive pass busy cities and villages as locals go about their day to day activities. Once at the comforts of your hotel rest and relax.
Route : Sinharaja
Hotel : Rainforest Edge
Highlights : Trek in the Sinharaja Rain Forest
You are based in the midst of Sinharaja, Sri Lanka’s last surviving area of primary tropical rainforest. More than sixty percent of the flora is endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over fifty percent of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies as well as many varieties of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Enjoy both a morning and evening private bird watching trek in the Sinharaja Rain Forest led by a naturalist guide.
Route : Sinharaja > Galle > Mirissa
Drive : 4 and 1/2 hours
Hotel : Mandara Resort
Highlights : Dolphin & whale watching boat cruise (December – April)
We suggest you break the journey to explore the local wonders of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the 17th century Dutch fort. The ancient port city of Galle is Sri Lanka’s oldest living city and retains a unique old-world atmosphere.
Get immersed in the old colonial feel in this maze of cobbled pathways lined by petite town houses.Continue south to the bay of Mirissa. During the drive witness a curious feature – the stilt fishermen of Weligama who carefully balance themselves before casting their fishing lines.
Route : Mirissa > Yala
Drive : 4 hours
Hotel : Jetwing Yala
Highlights : Evening Leopard Safari
Set off early morning on your expedition accompanied by the naturalist guide – Anoma. As you set off on the boat cruise, listen to the cacophony of tunes created by spinner dolphins, travelling in pods. In the deeper waters, you will spot the blue whales travelling in groups.
As you venture further out are the sperm whales that travel in solitude. This makes Sri Lanka arguably the best place in the world to sight both blue and sperm whales together. Don’t forget your camera to catch their tails flip.
Route : Yala
Drive : Jeep Safari: 3 hours
Hotel : Jetwing Yala
Highlights : Morning & Evening Leopard Safari
Set out again on a morning and evening jeep safari accompanied by a naturalist guide to cover other areas of the extensive Yala National Park such as the five lakes. The five lakes are namely Yoda Wewa, Tissamaharama Wewa, Debara Wewa, Pannagamuwa Wewa and Weerawila Wewa. This safari is a unique opportunity to observe rural agrarian life which is revolving around these water bodies. This visit will enlighten you on the traditional irrigation methods, including intricate canals, channels, locks, some of which are centuries old.
Route : Yala > Udawalawe
Drive : 4 hours
Hotel : Luxury Camping
Highlights : Evening Elephant Safari
Venture to the depths of the island to Udawalawe National Park. Udawalawe National Park covers an area of 30,821 hectares, and includes a large reservoir, the Udawalawe Tank, which is fed by the Walawe Ganga. The park is home to an estimated 500 elephants, best spotted by the river or streams and reservoirs. Other wildlife includes wild buffalo, sambar deer, mongooses, bandicoots, foxes, water monitors, crocodiles, and even the occasional sloth bear and leopard.
Route : Udawalawa
Drive : Jeep Safari: 3 hours
Hotel : Luxury Camping
Highlights : Morning Elephant Safari, Elephant Transit Home Visit & Evening Elephant Safari
Relish your stay in the jungles where you will have unlimited time to take both morning and evening game drives. During the day drop by the Elephant Transit Centre, where orphaned and injured elephants are cared for until they are able to return to the park.
Route : Udawalawa > Colombo
Drive : 5 hours
Hotel : Taj Samudra
After settling in, it is time to explore the city of Colombo. Visit some interesting features such as the old city of Fort, the main markets of Pettah, the Hindu Temple at Sea Street, the Dutch Church at Wolfendal, the historic Davatagaha Mosque, the Colombo Museum amongst others. Another option is to indulge in some shopping whether it is value for money clothes or impressive antiques. Later on in the day we would recommend dropping by the Checkerboard at the Galle Face Hotel for drinks while watching a picturesque sunset over the Indian Ocean.
Route : Colombo > Airport
Drive : 1 hour
As all good things must come to an end, your chauffeur guide with comfortable take you back to the international airport for a safe journey home.
Alternatively, you could always soak up some sun on Sri Lanka’s pristine beaches which are as close as an hour away from Colombo.
