Wild Sri Lanka in Style

Tour Code: LKA07

A deluxe 14-day holiday exploring Sri Lanka's wildlife and cultural highlights in the utmost comfort and style, plus an optional extension to Sinharaja Forest.

14 days from
£5,495 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£4,995
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

We begin this tour with visits to the famous rock fortress at Sigiriya, the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa and then the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy. Whilst enjoying these cultural gems we’ll look for such birds as Brown Fish Owl, white-phase male Paradise Flycatcher, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot and Layard’s Parakeet. We’ll then spend a day on the Horton Plains, where the bromeliad forests and moorlands are home to Purple-faced Langur and birds such as the endemic Arrenga, before travelling to Yala National Park. Wildlife abounds here and each drive is likely to provide sightings of Asian Elephant, Spotted Deer, Sambar and often Leopard, as well as a profusion of birdlife. For the last stage of this holiday we head to Galle, where we’ll look for Blue Whales and other cetaceans.

  • Enjoy large numbers of wintering Siberian waders & Himalayan passerines
  • Stay in luxurious accommodation throughout the tour
  • Visit the Hill Country, Horton Plains & tea plantations
  • Look for endemic birds such as Hill White-eye & Yellow-eared Bulbul
  • Winter visitors include Blyth’s Reed Warbler & Pied Ground Thrush
  • Visit Yala National Park - one of the best places in the world to see Leopards
  • Tour includes two morning whale-watching cruises to look for Blue Whales
  • Pantropical Spotted, Spinner & Striped Dolphins often seen
  • Extension to Sinharaja Forest, home to over 80% of the island’s endemic birds!
  • Led by expert naturalist guides

 

 

Grading

This is a luxury wildlife and cultural holiday that includes no strenuous walking. A couple of optional longer walks are, however, included at Horton Plains and Sinharaja.

A 14-day holiday in search of the rich culture of Sri Lanka, Leopards of Yala National Park, Blue Whales off Sri Lanka’s south coast, and wildlife of the Horton Plains (Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau), all enjoyed in the utmost comfort and style, plus an optional extension to Sinharaja Forest.

This deluxe tour combines the opportunity to enjoy wildlife-viewing in Sri Lanka’s finest national park, with a quest to see Blue Whales and visits to some of the country’s great archaeological sites. We have timed the tour to coincide with the large numbers of birds which visit the island during the winter, including waders from Siberia and passerines from the Himalayan region. We use some of Sri Lanka’s very best hotels and lodges for this tour, so you can swap the cold of a British winter for wildlife-watching based in luxurious accommodation on this beautiful tropical island.

We begin with a glimpse of the island’s past at Sigiriya, famous for its towering rock fortress and ancient wall frescoes; and there’s an impressive panorama for those energetic enough to reach the summit. On the following day we visit the remains of the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa, where we may be lucky enough to find one of the resident Brown Fish Owls. We’ll be based for two nights at the luxurious Heritage Kandalama Hotel designed by Sri Lanka's famous architect, Geoffrey Bawa who conceived it `as an austere jungle palace'. Kandalama is luxurious and widely adored. The minimalist interiors and the building itself are cleverly designed to blend into the landscape without interfering with the tranquil surroundings. Bawa's design allows magnificent views of the ancient Sigiriya Rock, the surrounding mountains and the Kandalama Tank (reservoir). We’ll explore the forests surrounding Sigiriya’s famous rock fortress in search of some of the more retiring bird species and endemics. In particular we will hope to see the magnificent white-phase of the male Paradise Flycatcher, their tails like white streamers as they fly from perch to perch.

Travelling south through the island’s main spice-growing region we continue to Kandy for a 2-night stay at Cinnamon Citadel Hotel overlooking the Mahaweli River. Once the capital of an autonomous kingdom until captured by the British in 1815, Kandy marks our ascent into the picturesque Hill Country, and is surrounded by forests in which we should find such endemic birds as the charming Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot and Layard’s Parakeet. We’ll then penetrate deeper into the hills to stay for two nights in colonial splendour at the Heritance Tea Factory Hotel near Nuwara Eliya, a favourite hill station of the British. This area is the heart of the island’s tea industry and we will visit one of the many estates en route from Kandy. Yet more endemic birds occur at this increased elevation, amongst them Yellow-eared Bulbul and Hill White-eye, plus such winter visitors as Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Pied Ground Thrush. We will spend one day exploring the wild expanses of the Horton Plains which epitomise the uniqueness of the Hill Country with its strange forests of stunted trees festooned in bromeliads, and stretches of moorland leading to the aptly named World’s End where a sheer escarpment drops to the plains far below. This is the haunt of the handsome highland race of the Purple-faced Langur and a great diversity of plants and birds including the endemic Arrenga, Blue Magpie and Sri Lanka Woodpigeon.

Descending to the arid south of the island we next visit a number of freshwater ‘tanks’ or lakes, crowded with birds, before reaching the endless palm-fringed beaches which characterise the Indian Ocean coastline. Our next destination is Yala National Park where in recent years diurnal Leopards have been a regular attraction, and we’ll make early morning and afternoon game drives in search of these iconic cats and the wealth of other mammals and birds that the park supports. Wildlife abounds in Yala and each drive is likely to produce sightings of Asian Elephant, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sambar, mongooses, crocodiles and lizards as well as a stunning profusion of colourful birdlife. During our three days at Yala we will be staying at the very comfortable and luxurious Cinnamon Wild Yala Hotel just outside the park; with no fences to constrain the inhabitants it is by no means unusual to see a Wild Boar wander through the grounds or even to find an Asian Elephant browsing in the garden!

After many memorable experiences in Yala we next transfer to the comfortable Light House Hotel in Galle for a 2-night stay. From here we will enjoy two morning whale-watching cruises from a nearby port. Blue Whales will be our main target here, but we may also see Bryde’s and Short-finned Pilot Whales, plus Bottlenose, Pantropical Spotted, Striped and Spinner Dolphins which should provide a fitting finale to our Sri Lankan holiday. For those who wish to stay longer on this beguiling island, we recommend a post-tour extension to Sinharaja Forest. Over 80% of the island’s endemic bird species occur in the forest and resident species include the spectacular Blue Magpie, Red-faced Malkoha and Orange-billed Babbler; 60% of the trees are found nowhere else in the world, and most of the other flora and fauna has a similarly high level of endemism.

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London.
Day 2/3
Sigirya.
Day 4/5
Kandy.
Day 6/7
Nuwara Eliya.
Day 8/10
Lunugamvehera and Yala National Parks.
Day 11/12
Galle.
Day 13
Colombo.
Day 14
Fly London.
cloud_downloadDownload Full Itinerary
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: A range of Sri Lanka's finest deluxe hotels and lodges, all with private facilities.
  • Food: All meals are included at Yala and Sinharaja. Elsewhere main meals are not included: allow ?145.
Reviews
Extensions

Extensions

Sinharaja Forest extension

3 days from £1,195
View Details
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 6th Jan – Sun 19th Jan ENQUIRE £5,995
Contact Us Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£5,495
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,495
Mon 3rd Nov – Sun 16th Nov SPACES £5,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,695

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 5th Jan – Sun 18th Jan SPACES £5,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,695
Mon 2nd Nov – Sun 15th Nov SPACES £5,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,695 
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Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists


The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.


Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours


We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.


The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:



Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection


Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.


 




Our specialist recommends...






"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader




  


 


All Birdwatching Tours

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Mammal Watching Holidays


Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.


Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours


Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.


Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:



Bargain mammal selection


We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.




Our specialist recommends...







"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager




  


All Mammal Watching Tours

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Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

Allow our experts to create a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices to suit you.

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!