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Big Five of Ceylon

Wild Life in Sri Lanka is known to be one of the most exciting and experiential kind of holidays that any nature lover would dream of. Sri Lanka is the only nation outside of Africa that can boast of “The Big Five” that includes the Sri Lanka Elephant, the Leopard, Sloth Bear, The great Blue Whale and Sperm Whale. This specialized travel program will not only set your mood for an extravaganza of wild life experiences that will make your stay not only memorable and a journey of a life time.

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Tour Details

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Day - 01
Airport > Katunayake

  • Drive : About 20 minutes
  • Hotel : The Walawwa, Katunayake
  • Highlights :
    Wallawwa Bedrooms, Bed and Breakfast basis

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Please clear immigration & visa formalities, collect your baggage and proceed to the arrival lounge through the green channel if you do not have goods to be declared to customs. We will page you by your name. Thereafter you will be assisted with a transfer to Kotugoda, check in at the hotel, overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day - 02
Katunayake > Ritigala > Anuradhapura

  • Drive : About 5 hours
  • Hotel : Ulagalla Resort, Anuradhapura
  • Highlights :
    Ulagalla Chalet with Pool, Bed and Breakfast Basis

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Anuradhapura, en-route stop at Ritigala Monastery; a strict nature reserve, which is a pre-historic Buddhist monastery that has many tales of the ancient civilization that once lived at the site. The ruins are still to be seen and this would be an exclusive experience for any guest interested in pre-historic masterpiece.
Continue the journey towards Anuradhapura, check in at the hotel, and relax the evening at leisure. Overnight stay will be at the hotel close to Anuradhapura.

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Day - 03
Anuradhapura > Wilpattu > Anuradhapura

  • Drive : About 2 ½ hours
  • Hotel : Ulagalla Resort, Anuradhapura
  • Highlights :
    Ulagalla Chalet with Pool, Bed and Breakfast Basis

Early morning with packed breakfast at the hotel proceed to Wilpattu National Park for a game ride at the park. Enjoy the morning game drive from 6:00am to 9:00am. The special feature in this Park is the large number of Villus (lakes) where you can watch wild life and many species of birds. Leopards were the most famous animals in this Park and Wild Elephant herds. You also have the option of extending your trip for a whole day safari at the park (optional).
In the evening enjoy a relaxed swim at the hotel pool, spend the evening at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel close to Anuradhapura.

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Day - 04
Anuradhapura > Dambulla

  • Drive : About 1 hour
  • Hotel : Heritance Kandalama, Dambulla
  • Highlights :
    Superior Rooms, Bed and Breakfast Basis

After breakfast at the hotel enjoy a city tour in the sacred city of Anuradhapura; – a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the north central part of the Island was the first capital (5th century BC – 9th century AD), the center of the island’s Buddhist civilization and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. The oldest historically documented tree on earth (over 2,200 years old) – The Sri Maha Bodhi, brought as a sampling of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the island’s oldest Buddhist shrines – some dating back to the 3rd century BC, impressive white ‘dagobas’ (relic chambers) and monuments embellished with handsome stone carvings or sculpture, pleasure gardens, beautifully executed stone baths and ponds and a superb irrigation system of reservoirs and canals are the main attractions of Anuradhapura.
Continue the journey to Dambulla. Check in at the hotel in Dambulla, overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day - 05
Dambulla > Kandy

  • Drive : About 2 ½ hours
  • Hotel : Mountbatten Bungalow, Kandy
  • Highlights :
    Bungalow Rooms, Bed and Breakfast Basis

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel enjoy a quick visit to the Dambulla Rock Cave temples; that consists of five different caves dedicated for many Gods and Goddesses. The cave is said to be one of the only remaining cave temples in the Island and has identical painting on the cave walls and ceiling that are identical to the Ajanta Caves of India.
Continue the journey to Kandy; you have the option to enjoy a quick visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Kandy, believed to be the house of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Tooth Relic was found and the temple was built by King Wimaladharmasuriya the first and ever since the pre-historic pageant of “Esala Perahera” takes place every year in July/August for ten days. You also have the option of enjoying a cultural dance show in the evening.
Spend the evening at leisure, overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day - 06
Kandy > Mahiyanganaya > Kandy

  • Drive : About 5 hours
  • Hotel : Mountbatten Bungalow, Kandy
  • Highlights :
    Bungalow Rooms, Bed and Breakfast Basis

After a mouthwatering breakfast at the hotel (would suggest Sri Lankan breakfast) proceed to Dambana, learn and experience the way of life of “Veddha” the aboriginal tribe of ancient Ceylon!!! You will get to sit and talk to the Chief Veddha how ancient Ceylon has evolved over time and how commercialization has threatened the continuation of the “Veddha”, visit the museum, experience and enjoy some of the daily activities of “Veddhas”.
In the evening relax by the hotel, spend the evening at leisure, alternatively you have the option to enjoy a relaxed walk in the vibrant markets of Kandy, stop at a Batik or Antiques shop. Gem shops are famous in Kandy selling the best of Sri Lankan gems, spices, cuisine stops are some of the best in Kandy region. Overnight stay will be in Kandy.

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Day - 07
Kandy > Nuwara Eliya (Kandapola)

  • Drive : About 2½ hours
  • Hotel : Scottish Planter Glendevon Bungalow, Nuwara Eliya
  • Highlights :
    Crawford Rooms, Half Board Basis

After breakfast at the hotel you have the option to catch the first class or the observation carriage train tickets to leave to Nuwara Eliya (needs to be pre-booked to secure seats). Re-live the moments in the truly magical and misty mountains with tea carpeted valleys and breathe taking waterfalls that adds color to your journey. Your chauffer guide will pick you from the station in Nuwara Eliya (Nanu Oya station) and drive you the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Enjoy the cold climate of Nuwara Eliya; relax the afternoon at leisure, overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day - 08
Nuwara Eliya > Yala

  • Drive : About 5 hours
  • Hotel : Chena Huts, Yala
  • Highlights :
    Cabin with Pool, All Inclusive Basis

After breakfast at the hotel enjoy a morning visit to Horton Plains National Park; known to Sri Lankans as Mahaeliya, it became Horton Plains after Sir Robert Horton, British Governor from 1831- 1837. Horton Plains became a Nature Reserve in 1969 and upgraded as a National Park in 1988 due to its unique watershed and bio-diversity values. Its flora has high level of endemism. The hills are covered with diverse wet low evergreen forest with even large trees grown flattened to the ground on the higher windswept slopes. Horton Plains harbors 52 species of resident birds and 11 species of migrant birds. More than 2,000 to 3,000 Sambar, Bear Monkey, Leopard, Barking Deer, Giant Squirrel, Fishing Cat, Wild Boar and Hares roam in the forests and grasslands but only seldom they could be seen other than the Sambar in the evening and morning. Check out at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya and proceed to Yala; check in at the hotel, relax the evening at leisure, overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day - 09
Yala

  • Hotel : Chena Huts, Yala
  • Highlights :
    Cabin with Pool, All Inclusive Basis

With packed breakfast at the hotel proceed to Yala National Park for a safari at the park. Yala – Sri Lanka’s most known National Park is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. 97,800 hectares in extent, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometer. Vegetation is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth while several salt and fresh water lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. Areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide. Enjoy an evening safari at the Yala National Park as well to increase your chances of spotting a Leopard. Overnight stay at the luxury resort.

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Day - 10
Yala > Tangalle

  • Drive : About 2 hours
  • Hotel : Anantara Tangalle, Tangalle
  • Highlights :
    Premier Beach Access Rooms, Bed and Breakfast Basis

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed to Tangalle, en-route stop at Tissamaharama Temple and Kataragama Shrine, two most sacred worship places in Sri Lanka. Arrive at the resort in Tangalle, Anantara Peace Haven is an appealing and inviting place of charm with modern amenities and facilities to create the perfect atmosphere for a beach stay. Spend your time at the resort, relax by the pool and visit the beach of Tangalle as well. Overnight stay in Tangalle.

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Day - 11
Tangalle

  • Hotel : Anantara Tangalle, Tangalle
  • Highlights :
    Premier Beach Access Rooms, Bed and Breakfast Basis

With packed breakfast at the resort, early morning you have the option to enjoy a visit to the beautiful waters of Mirissa for a Whale and Dolphin watching excursion into the deep blue sea, provided that your flight is late in the night. The whale and dolphin watching excursion is from 6:00am to 9:00am.
Sri Lanka being the only country outside of Africa that can boast of five charismatic mammals provides the Big Five Experience for wild life lovers and nature lovers that include Sloth Bear, Leopard, Elephant, Sperm Whale and Blue Whale. Overnight stay in Tangalle.

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Day - 12
Tangalle > Airport

  • Drive : About 3½ hours
  • Highlights :
    Departure

After breakfast at the resort, as all good things come to an end, your chauffer guide will safely drive you back to the Bandaranaike International Airport for your flight home. Departure.

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Where can you stay

Walawwa

Relax and de-compress at The Wallawwa, our 18 bedroom beautifully renovated country house hotel

Ulagalla

Once the ancestral estate of Anuradhapura nobility; this hotel features a 150-year-old mansion

Mountbatten Bungalow

Royal service need not only be reserved for royalty. Step into the Victorian era of grace and b

Scottish Planter

Situated amidst the lush green tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, Glendevon is a quaint stone bun

Chena Huts by Uga

Being the latest addition to the luxury boutique hotels in Yala is located by the beach where s

Anantara Tangalle

Hidden on a rocky outcrop along a secluded stretch of Sri Lanka’s southernmost coastline, Ana

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