Wildlife Encounters
15 Days
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Personalized Service of One Travel World Representatives
- Meals: Breakfasts at the hotel from Day 2 to Day 15.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking naturalist chauffeur guide
- 4X4 Jeep (or similar) for wildlife safaris inside National Parks
- Private Whale Watching Expedition
- Bottled water in the vehicle for transfers
Tour Overview
COLOMBO • THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE • KANDY • THE HILL COUNTRY • YALA NATIONAL PARK • GALLE
This luxury eco wildlife tour of Sri Lanka is designed for travelers seeking immersive nature experiences combined with refined comfort. Covering wetlands, rainforests, national parks, highlands and marine ecosystems, this journey showcases Sri Lanka as one of Asia’s most diverse wildlife destinations uncovering the Big5 in Asia.
Tour Highlights
- Discover hidden colonial gems and the vibrant markets of Colombo on foot
- Visit ancient monastic complexes and venerated stupas in Anuradhapura
- Climb up to the summit of the Sigiriya rock fortress
- Take a relaxed bicycle ride through the striking ruins of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval capital city
- Visit a working spice garden and attend an evening ‘Pooja’ at the sacred Temple of the Tooth
- Stay in a colonial-style planter’s bungalow in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country
- Search for leopards and sloth bears inside Yala National Park, Sri Lanka’s premier wildlife reserve
- Take an early morning boat safari in search of blue whales and sperm whales
- Relax in a stylish beach-front resort before returning home
- VIP meet and greet on arrival at Colombo airport
Pricing Notes & Information
*Price guideline, per person, based on two people sharing.
This Wildlife adventure is a private tour operating throughout the year based on arrival in Colombo on any day of the week, accompanied by naturalist chauffeur guides, expert in ornithology.
All prices are subject to availability at the time of booking. Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a room and require a minimum group size of two. International flights are not included. Please contact us should you wish to get a quote.
Single room supplements will apply.
Itinerary

Ayubowan! A Warm Welcome to Sri Lanka!
On arrival, you will be met and greeted by your personal chauffeur guide, before being driven to your chosen hotel in Negombo, a coastal town surrounded by lagoons rich in birdlife. This gentle introduction to Sri Lanka’s ecosystems allows guests to relax while observing water birds, fishing communities and mangrove habitats.
Overnight stay in Negombo (1 Night)
Sapphire: Villa Hundira (Deluxe Room)
Diamond: Jetwing Lagoon (Deluxe Room)

Begin with a private guided boat safari through the pristine Muthurajawela Wetlands, drifting past mangroves and reed beds alive with kingfishers, herons, monitor lizards and crocodiles. Travel onward to Wilpattu and check in to a luxury tented safari lodge where sustainability meets understated elegance, surrounded by untouched wilderness.
Overnight stay in Wilpattu
Sapphire: Mahoora Tented Camp (Elite Camp)
Diamond: Leopard Trails (Deluxe Suite)

Enjoy immersive morning and afternoon jeep safaris in Wilpattu National Park, renowned for its scenic natural lakes (villus) and elusive leopard sightings. Accompanied by expert naturalists, track elephants, sloth bears, deer, crocodiles, and a rich variety of endemic birdlife. Between safaris, unwind at your lodge and savor gourmet cuisine inspired by local flavors, thoughtfully crafted to complement the serene forest surroundings.

Journey to Sigiriya, where nature and culture blend seamlessly, with a scenic stop en route at Popham’s Arboretum, a pioneering dry-zone forest restoration project offering tranquil walks amid native trees and birdlife. After dusk, embark on a guided nocturnal wildlife walk to observe the rare Grey Slender Loris, along with owls, civets, and tree frogs. This intimate night experience reveals a fascinating side of Sri Lanka’s lesser-seen wildlife and deepens your appreciation of its rich biodiversity.
Overnight stay in Sigiriya (2 Nights)
Sapphire: Wildgrass Nature Resort (Deluxe Villa)
Diamond: Jetwing Vil Uyana (Paddy Dwelling)

The morning is free to explore cultural sites like the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Polonnaruwa Ancient Capital or explore the local village to gain a first-hand experience to local life and farming in the countryside.
In the afternoon, explore Minneriya National Park, a landscape of open grasslands and ancient reservoirs, best known for the Elephant Gathering, one of the world’s greatest wildlife phenomena. During the dry season, hundreds of wild elephants converge around the Minneriya Tank in search of water and grazing, creating an unforgettable natural spectacle. Travel through elephant corridors and forest edges in a private jeep, observing herds of elephants alongside birds and other mammals in their natural habitat, while expert guides share insights into the delicate balance between wildlife conservation and Sri Lanka’s centuries-old irrigation systems.

Travel east into the remote wilderness of Gal Oya, one of Sri Lanka’s most exclusive and least-visited national parks, where untouched landscapes and quiet lakes define the experience. In the afternoon, enjoy a private and respectful visit with the Veddah indigenous community, as elders share ancestral stories of forest life, traditional hunting practices, and their deep spiritual connection to the natural world and wildlife that surrounds them.
Overnight stay in Gal Oya (2 Nights)
Sapphire: Wild Glamping Gal Oya (Deluxe Tented Lodge)
Diamond: Gal Oya Lodge (Lodge Bungalow)

Begin the day with a rare and unforgettable boat safari across Senanayake Samudraya, Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir, where elephants are often seen swimming between forested islands, one of the few places in Asia where this extraordinary behavior can be observed. Glide quietly across calm waters while watching elephants, crocodiles, water birds and raptors in a remarkably peaceful setting.
Later, continue with a jeep safari through Gal Oya National Park’s forested terrain, exploring open grasslands and dense jungle habitats. Along the way, spot deer, wild boar, monkeys and a rich variety of birdlife, all while enjoying the park’s tranquil, crowd-free atmosphere that sets it apart as one of Sri Lanka’s most pristine and untouched ecosystems.

Ascend into the misty central highlands, arriving in Nuwara Eliya. Visit a working tea estate and enjoy a private conversation with tea planters who share fascinating insights into wildlife encounters within plantation landscapes, including leopards, birds and endemic species adapting to human-altered environments.

Embark on an early morning guided walk through Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore rolling grasslands and cloud forests home to sambar deer, endemic birds, and unique alpine flora. The walk culminates at the dramatic World’s End, offering breathtaking views across the southern plains.

Travel south with a meaningful stop at the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, where you can observe rehabilitated elephant calves during their feeding time, an inspiring insight into Sri Lanka’s dedicated conservation and rehabilitation efforts. Continue onward to Yala, and settle into a luxury eco-lodge on the edge of the national park, where refined comfort blends seamlessly with the surrounding wilderness, setting the stage for immersive wildlife experiences.
Overnight stay in Yala
Sapphire: Kulu Safaris (Tent)
Diamond: Wild Coast Tented Lodge (Cocoon Suite)

Set out on early morning and late afternoon safaris in Yala National Park, renowned for having one of the highest leopard densities in the world, offering exceptional chances to encounter this elusive big cat. As you explore Yala’s diverse landscapes, keep watch for sloth bears, wild elephants, crocodiles, and other wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. The park is also a haven for birdlife—spot vibrant species such as the Malabar pied hornbill and crested serpent eagle—while mammals like toque macaque monkeys add lively moments to this thrilling wildlife experience.

Begin the day with a morning safari in Bundala National Park, a Ramsar-listed wetland and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for its rich diversity of migratory and resident birdlife, including flamingos, pelicans, storks, and shorebirds. The park’s lagoons, scrublands, and dunes also support crocodiles, elephants, and small mammals.
Continue to the laid-back coastal town of Tangalle for a period of seaside relaxation, enjoying its palm-fringed beaches and tranquil atmosphere. Later, experience a peaceful boat ride through Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, gliding through mangroves and calm lagoons teeming with waterbirds, fish, and occasional marine life, offering a gentle and scenic conclusion to the day.
Overnight stay in Tangalle
Sapphire: Buckingham Place Hotel (Deluxe Room)
Diamond: Uga Prava (Suite)

Set out early on a luxury whale watching cruise along Sri Lanka’s southern coast, where nutrient-rich waters offer exceptional opportunities to spot blue whales, the largest mammals on Earth along with sperm whales, pilot whales and playful pods of dolphins. The experience is guided by marine experts, ensuring both insightful interpretation and responsible wildlife viewing.
In the evening, travel to Rekawa Beach, one of Sri Lanka’s most important turtle nesting sites, to join local conservationists on a guided turtle-watching experience. Observe endangered sea turtles such as green, loggerhead, olive ridley and occasionally leatherback turtles—as they come ashore to nest, all within a carefully managed, low-impact setting that prioritizes protection and sustainability.

Travel to the Sinharaja Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Sri Lanka’s last remaining primary lowland rainforest, celebrated for its extraordinary biodiversity and high level of endemism. In the evening, enjoy a guided birdwatching walk with a specialist naturalist, observing endemic species and the famous mixed bird flocks that move through the forest. Along the way, learn about the rainforest’s unique ecology, rare flora and fauna, and the ongoing conservation efforts and challenges faced in protecting this vital ecosystem.
Overnight stay in Sinharaja
Sapphire: Boulder Garden Hotel (Standard Room)
Diamond: Rainforest Eco Lodge (Chalet)
Transfer to Colombo International Airport and check in for your onward flight.
What's Included
- Accommodation
- Personalized Service of One Travel World Representatives
- Meals: Breakfasts at the hotel from Day 2 to Day 15.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking naturalist chauffeur guide
- 4X4 Jeep (or similar) for wildlife safaris inside National Parks
- Private Whale Watching Expedition
- Bottled water in the vehicle for transfers











