Culture & Wildlife Expedition

Welcome to Sri Lanka! The land like no other! 

In keeping with Sri Lankan tradition, all of us here at Walkers Tours would like to extend to you our heartiest “Ayubowan!” (Traditional Sri Lankan greeting wishing long life to the other)  

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met by our representative from Walkers Tours & transfer to your hotel in Negombo. 

Transfer Time Approximately 30 minutes.  

Overnight stay at Jetwing Blue, Negombo (or similar) - Deluxe Room on Full Board Basis 

Check-out from the hotel at 12:00noon and drive towards your campsite located near Wilpattu National Park. 

Transfer Time Approximately 4 hours.  

Add-On: Pre Booking Required - If you are planning to visit between the months of November and April, you will have the option of joining a Dolphin Watching Excursion in Kalpitiya. The drive time from your hotel to Kalpitiya is approximately 1.5 hours (US$ 120.00 Per person including the transportation + Private Boat Hire + Wildlife Department Surcharge+ Applicable taxes). Kalpitiya is crowned as a territory of dolphins that sets the northeastern seas of Sri Lanka in motion attracting many visitors to its shores of delight. Arrive at the base by 0730hrs and be met by your local Dolphin Specialist who will guide you on board our dolphin watching vessels. Take an average of 2 hours boat excursion to see Spinner Dolphins. If you are lucky, you may have a school of over 200 dolphins spinning and jumping out of the water to give you an official welcome to Sri Lanka! Several species of whales too have been spotted in the area though sightings are rare.   
*(Monsoon conditions only allow this excursion between the months of November and April).    

Return to shore relax and enjoy the beach before heading to Wilpattu for an adventure of camping.  

Overnight stay at Mahoora by Eco Team, Wilpattu (or similar) - Elite Tent (Non Air-Conditioned) on Full Board Basis

Today, visit the largest National Park in Sri Lanka for a morning Game Drive. 

Hop on board a specially modified 4x4 safari jeep and head into a national park like no other in the world. Drive along winding paths through different habitats that make the park unique. Namely Willpattu National parks name translates into the land of the Villus (Lakes). The park contains numerous limestone depressions in the ground that holds fresh and brackish water, that form the characteristic habitat of the park. Driving along the sandy road of the park keep an eye out for some of the island’s iconic wildlife. Leopards roam the sandy roads; Sloth bears dig up the rain-soaked termite mounds, Elephants enjoy the plush water plants in the villus and buffalo graze on the green grass. Heading deeper into the park towards the western boarder you come across a unique stretch of shoreline where the sand is red in colour. Reminisce the amazement that Prince Vijaya the founder of the Sinhala race had when he landed on these red sandy beaches. The Villus which are the only natural large water bodies in the island together with the wildlife, History and culture of Willpattu national park make it interesting for the avid nature lover and history buff alike. 

Drive back to the campsite and spend the rest of your day at leisure. 

Add-On: Pre Booking Required (Optional) - Evening Jeep Safari into Wilpattu National Park = US$ 120.00 per person (Including Jeep Hire-shared Jeep, Park Entrance fees for 2 + Safari guide) 

Overnight stay at Mahoora by Eco Team, Wilpattu (or similar) - Elite Tent (Non Air-Conditioned) on Full Board Basis 

After breakfast, spend the morning hours at leisure and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

Proceed to Polonnaruwa to conduct a safari at The Minneriya National Park in the evening, which hosts one of the largest Elephant gatherings.  

Transfer Time Approximately 2 ½ hours 

Minneriya National Park is one of the very few places in the world to witness the ‘Elephant Gathering’. Visitors can witness this rare occasion at Minneriya National Park nestled on the plains of North Central Province. The 8890 hectares of the National Park is an ideal eco-tourism location consisting of mixed evergreen forests and scrubs, favourites such as Sambar Deer, Leopards and Elephants. However, the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank. During the dry season June to September, this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze on the grasses as well as the huge flocks of birds that come to fish in. Twenty-four species of mammals in the island have been reported from this park whilst the most important of them is the wild elephant (Elephant maximus) with a population of 150-200. Between the seasons of July – October elephants assemble on the banks of the Minneriya Reservoir during the dry season. According to wildlife authorities, the Minneriya gathering is the largest grouping of wild Asian elephants at any given time. 

Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (or similar) - Standard Chalet on Full Board Basis 

After breakfast, you will visit The Polonnaruwa Ancient City where you will encounter a range of monkeys’ endemic to Sri Lanka.  

Transfer Time Approximately 1 ½ hours.  

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

Walking among the ruins of a once magnificent city will take you back in history to a time when the city of Polonnaruwa was the capital city of the island nation. Torque Macaques Purple Faced and Gray Langurs monkeys are observed mainly inside the Polonnaruwa archeological site and within the surrounding forests.  

Drive back to the hotel and spend the rest of your day at leisure. 

Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (or similar) - Standard Chalet on Full Board Basis 

Enjoy an early breakfast and head towards The Sigiriya Rock Fortress also known as the 8th World Wonder.  

Transfer Time Approximately 30 minutes per way. 

Imagine walking through the mouth of a Lion lying a top a 200-meter-tall rock to enter a king’s fortress like no other. That’s what it would have felt like for King Kashyapa and his fellow followers who entered the fortress of Sigiriya. With a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape it was the perfect location for a fortress of a king anticipating an invasion. The king surrounded his fortress with a boulder and water garden that host an ancient irrigation system the continues to baffle the modern engineer, which to date sprouts water on a rainy day. The frescos painted on to the rock are ones not to miss as they show off the mastery of the artists of old. Termed as the 8th wonder of the world this complex used as fortress and as a monastery is true marvel of architecture, design and art and is a UNESCO world heritage site and is something that should not be missed by the anyone traveling to the island. 

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

Thereafter proceed to Kandy.  

Transfer Time Approximately 3 hours.  

Kandy surrounded by scenic mountains and tea plantations is a majestic city with much pride as the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings. Kandy was declared as a World Heritage site as it is home to the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Today, it is the centre of Buddhism, arts, crafts, dancing, music, and culture. Kandy is renowned for its Esala Perahera (usually held in July or August) which is a must-see event featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and lavishly decorated elephants. 

Overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy (or similar) - Deluxe Room on Full Board Basis 

After a leisurely breakfast, you will visit a Tea Plantation & a Tea Factory. 

Transfer Time Approximately 3 hours.  

Tea is a huge industry in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Tea is world-famous for its taste, quality and health benefits as well. You will see how the tea pluckers with their baskets and bags pluck tea leaves from the plantations. With women of various ages engaging in this activity, seeing the tea plucking activity is fun and exciting. The trick is to pluck the right tea leaves with the correct properties. These tea leaves are then taken into the factories where the selection process starts. The fresh and best leaves are put into the machines for processing. The rolling, withering, processing is all done with the help of the machines and a lot of helping hands gather around to do the packaging, storing activities as well. You will also get the chance to taste a fresh cup of tea straight from the factory and you will love it. 

Check in and enjoy lunch at the hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. 

Overnight stay at The Golden Ridge, Nuwara Eliya (or similar) - Deluxe Room on Full Board Basis 

Early morning, you will trek through Horton Plains National Park.   

Rolling grasslands shrouded in mist, mountain towering above the clouds, breath taking views of the valleys below, herds of Sambar deer dot the open plains and numerous birds found nowhere else on earth call from the short stubby trees. There is only one place in the island that you can experience all the above and that’s on a walking trek at Horton Plains. Great herds of sambar roam the plains, while fluffy leopards adapted to the highlands stalk the herds through the long grass, endemic bear monkeys swing among the trees and a variety of lizards and rodents some found only within the boundaries of this park scurry along the tiny paths in the grass. Apart from the fauna and flora, if you’re brave, ignore the vertigo and peek down worlds end, a sheer drop that on clear days gives breath taking views of the green tea fields below. The best time to visit is in the early hours of the day (From 6 am to 10 am) as the stunning views will be misty. The 9.5km round trip takes a leisurely three hours.   

Return to your hotel for lunch and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.  

Overnight stay at The Golden Ridge, Nuwara Eliya (or similar) - Deluxe Room on Full Board Basis

After breakfast spend the morning at your leisure and later proceed to your campsite located near Yala National Park.  

Transfer Time Approximately 5 ½ hours  

Check in and spend the rest of the day at your leisure.  

Overnight stay at Mahoora by Eco Team, Yala (or similar) - Elite Tent (Non Air-Conditioned) on Full Board Basis

Early this morning hop onboard a rusty jeep and drive through bumpy roads of Yala National Park (shared jeep). 

She stalks through the shadows, avoiding the touch of light, creeping ever closer before pouncing on her unsuspected victim. The leopard who is the master of stealth has made Yala National Park the most popular park in the island. Situated along the southeastern coast of the island, the park consists of habitats that are perfectly suited for its vast leopard population. Rocky outcrops, grasslands, scrub jungle and large hard wood trees makes a perfect combination of habitats for the island’s apex predator. The word around the forest is that block one of the national park, holds the highest density of leopards in the world. Head out on a safari along the winding roads of the park in search of this magnificent cat. The leopard maybe the highlight of your safari, but the diverse habitats of the park are home to, herds of Asian Elephants, Spotted Dear, elusive Sloth Bears, Sambar Deer, and scruffy Wild Boar. A note to remember is we are in a jeep on dirty roads tracking wild animals so it’s not always guaranteed that you will see something, but we will make sure all our knowledge and best efforts are always given.  

Thereafter drive back to the campsite for a late breakfast and spend the rest of your day at leisure. 

Add-On: Optional - Evening Jeep Safari in to Yala National Park = US$ 120.00 per person (Including Jeep Hire-shared Jeep, Park Entrance fees for 2 + Safari guide) 

*(The main block at Yala National Park is generally closed from 1st September till 30th October (Annually) but only confirmed by the authorities in August. The closure is to allow the animals some peace during the drought period and to allow regeneration. However, all the hotels will remain open. During the Yala Closure period, Game drives are possible in Yala blocks 3, 5 & nearby Lunungamvehera National Park and Bundala National Park.) 

Overnight stay at Mahoora by Eco Team, Yala (or similar) - Elite Tent (Non Air-Conditioned) on Full Board Basis

After breakfast, check out and transfer to your hotel near Sinharaja Rain Forest. 

Transfer Time Approximately 5 hours. 

Upon arrival, check-in to the hotel and relax. 

Overnight stay at Rainforest Eco Lodge, Deniyaya (or similar) - Standard Chalet (Non Air-Conditioned) on Full Board Basis 

Rise early and join with the in-house naturalist for a bird watching walk around the hotel premises. Starting time 6.30 am – shared trek – Duration 2 hours. 

Optional: Nature Main Trail = US$ 20.00 per person (Start Time 10:00 am – Duration 3 hrs.) 

Optional: Waterfall Trail = US$ 20.00 per person (Start Time 3:00 pm – Duration 2 ½ hrs.) 

All these trails are combined trails (Other in-house guests will join)  

Sinharaja Forest Reserve – one of the least disturbed and biologically unique primary lowland rain forests in Sri Lanka, covering an extent of over 11000 hectares. Of international significance and declared a Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) in 1978 when UNESCO included it in its international network of Biosphere reserves. It was subsequently designated a national wilderness area in 1988 and received full status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989. Situated in the lowland wet zone of the country with an average temperature of 23.6C and an annual rainfall of more than 2500mm the high level of endemism makes it an international rarity. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and it is home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Of Sri Lanka's endemic birds, all 22 rainforest species are seen here, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. 

Spend the day at your leisure.

Overnight stay at Rainforest Eco Lodge, Deniyaya (or similar) - Standard Chalet (Non-Air-Conditioned) on Full Board Basis

This morning, drive towards Weligama for a short beach break. 

Transfer time approximately 4 hours. 

Check into the hotel and enjoy your lunch. 

Overnight stay at Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa (or similar) - Superior Sea View Room on Full Board Basis 

Spend you day at leisure (No transportation) 

Overnight stay at Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa (or similar) - Superior Sea View Room on Full Board Basis 

Transfer time approximately 3 hours.