Wildlife of Sri Lanka (10 Days)

About this experience

This 10-day tour is built around Sri Lanka's wildlife and natural history, taking in the southern coast, the island's only rainforest, and its two best-known national parks. Travel is by private air-conditioned vehicle with a chauffeur guide throughout, starting and ending at Colombo airport via Negombo.

The route runs from Negombo down the southern coast to Mirissa, inland to the Sinharaja rainforest, then to Udawalawe and Yala National Parks before returning to Colombo. Highlights include a turtle hatchery, whale watching off Mirissa, Galle's colonial fort and stilt fishermen, a bird-watching hike in Sinharaja, elephant sightings at Udawalawe, a jeep safari in Yala in search of leopard and sloth bear, and a stop at Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary.

Travellers get a mix of marine, forest and savannah wildlife experiences alongside some cultural and coastal stops, suited to those who want nature and conservation as the main focus of their trip rather than an add-on.

Your service advisor

Ashan Executive

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Ashan directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

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What’s included

Included

Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all chauffeur accommodation.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

Hotel Accommodation.
Entry Visa Fees
International / Domestic Airfare.
Any expenses of personal nature.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)

1 Negombo

Day 1 — Airport → Negombo

Arrival in Sri Lanka and transfer to Negombo to begin the tour.

Colombo Airport transfer

On arrival at Colombo Airport you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven by private air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel in Negombo.

2 Mirissa

Day 2 — Negombo → Mirissa

Travel down the southern coast to Mirissa, stopping en route at a turtle conservation centre.

Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Center

Visit this turtle hatchery on the southwestern coast to learn about the five endangered sea turtle species that nest on Sri Lanka's shores and how the Turtle Care Program protects nests to improve hatchling survival. There is a chance to see, touch and feed baby turtles, and sometimes injured adult turtles under the hatchery's care.

3 Mirissa

Day 3 — Mirissa → Galle → Mirissa

A full day combining whale watching at sea with an afternoon exploring Galle and its coastal traditions.

Mirissa whale watching

An early-morning trip with packed breakfast to see whales off Sri Lanka's south coast, including blue, sperm and fin whales, accompanied by a qualified naturalist who explains how to identify the different species. The tour is run with a minimal impact on the whales and their habitat.

Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0

Stilt Fisherman of Koggala

See fishermen perched on stilts in the shallow waters off Koggala, a craft practised for generations, and hear from the fishermen themselves how the technique works and how it came to Sri Lanka. Sunset offers striking photographs of the fishermen silhouetted against the shoreline.

Galle Fort

Explore Galle, once a headquarters of the Portuguese and Dutch, centred on its fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. Visit the Maritime Museum, the Galle National Museum and the lighthouse, and walk the cobblestoned streets that still carry Dutch names.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Sinharaja

Day 4 — Mirissa → Sinharaja

Check out and drive inland to Sinharaja, with time to settle in at the hotel.

5 Sinharaja

Day 5 — Sinharaja → Sinharaja

A day dedicated to exploring the Sinharaja rainforest on foot.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

A bird-watching hike through this UNESCO World Heritage rainforest, Sri Lanka's only remaining stretch of virgin rainforest, with dense evergreen vegetation. Listen for monkeys and look out for colourful forest birds, and possibly a green pit viper winding through the foliage, in one of the island's wildest settings.

Dan Lundberg · CC BY-SA 2.0

6 Udawalawe

Day 6 — Sinharaja → Udawalawe

Travel to Udawalawe and go on an evening safari in the national park.

Udawalawe National Park

A safari through the marshes, forests and grasslands of a park created as a wildlife sanctuary in the 1970s. The park is known for its water birds and Sri Lankan elephants, with further chances to see other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

7 Yala

Day 7 — Udawalawe → Yala

A straightforward drive from Udawalawe to Yala.

8 Yala

Day 8 — Yala → Yala

A full day exploring Yala National Park by jeep.

Yala National Park

A jeep safari through Yala, the second largest national park on the island, on the southeastern coast, with packed breakfast. Known for its Sri Lankan leopards, wild water buffalo and Sri Lankan sloth bears, Yala also holds large herds of elephants and a wide range of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

Ranmith Welikala · CC BY-SA 4.0

9 Colombo

Day 9 — Yala → Colombo

Drive to Colombo, stopping at a bird sanctuary en route, then spend the evening exploring the capital.

Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary

A brackish-water lagoon and mangrove area near Kalametiya beach, home to over 150 bird species including 54 migratory species, as well as around 20 species of mammals, 41 species of fish and 38 species of reptiles. The sanctuary is also known as a haven for weaver birds and their nests.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Colombo city exploration

An evening tour of Colombo taking in landmarks such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple and the National Museum, along with the shops around Independence Square and the Race Course.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

10 BIA

Day 10 — Colombo → BIA

Check out and transfer to the airport for the departure flight.

Please note

Public transportation nearby
Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
The entrance tickets are not included in the price.

Cancellation policy

More than 24 hours notice: full refund
Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 10 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 10 ends at BIA. Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

The base price covers the vehicle and chauffeur guide. In the booking box you can add hotels for all 9 nights at Budget (3★), Standard (4★) or Luxury (5★ and boutique) level, on half board. Hotels we hold contracts with for your dates are named in the price; for any other night our team books a hotel of the same class after you pay.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.