The island's range, in one journey. The blue whale, the leopard, the cloud forest at World's End where the land simply stops, and the tea country in between.
The island's range, in one journey. The blue whale off the south coast, the leopard in the dry-zone scrub, the cloud forest at World's End where the land simply stops, and the tea country in between. Coast to highlands and back to the sea, with a naturalist the whole way.
From USD 1,950 per person, two sharing. USD 3,900 for two travellers. Half board · twin/double.
At a glance
Best for: Couples wanting the range
Pace: Balanced
Travellers: Private tour
Guide: Private naturalist guide
Transport: Private A/C vehicle · jeep · boat
Highlights
Blue whale off Mirissa
Yala leopard country
Horton Plains & World's End
Working hill-country tea estate
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival, down to the coast
Colombo › Mirissa · ≈ 3 hours
Met at the airport and driven south to Mirissa. The afternoon is the beach. An early night before the boat.
A boat leaves Mirissa harbour before first light, onto one of the few stretches of ocean where the blue whale feeds close to shore. Spinner dolphins in the hundreds, and a sperm whale is not unusual. The afternoon is yours.
After breakfast, the coast road east to Tissamaharama, the town that serves Yala. Settle in and rest before an early start.
Overnight: Jetwing Yala · Half Board
Day 4 · Yala, a full day in the park
Tissamaharama / Yala
Into Yala at first light, with breakfast and lunch packed. One of the highest leopard densities recorded anywhere, read through the alarm calls rather than the radio. Elephant, sloth bear, and a long bird list besides.
Overnight: Jetwing Yala · Half Board
Day 5 · Up into the hill country
Tissamaharama › Nuwara Eliya · ≈ 4 hours
Leave the dry zone and climb into the highlands, the air cooling with every bend, to Nuwara Eliya at 1,868 metres. The cool air and half-timbered bungalows earned it the name 'Little England'. The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: The Grand Hotel · Nuwara Eliya · Half Board
Day 6 · Horton Plains and World's End
Nuwara Eliya / Horton Plains · ≈ 1 hour to the park
An early start with a picnic breakfast for Horton Plains, montane grassland and cloud forest at over two thousand metres. The walk leads to World's End, where the escarpment falls away nearly a kilometre, and to Baker's Falls. Sambar deer graze the open ground; the endemics are here for those who look.
Overnight: The Grand Hotel · Nuwara Eliya · Half Board
Day 7 · Tea country, and down to the coast
Nuwara Eliya › Negombo · ≈ 5 hours
A morning on a working tea estate, the leaf followed from the bush into a colonial-era factory and tasted at the end. Then the long descent to the coast and a last night near the sea, in easy reach of the airport.
Overnight: Jetwing Blue · Negombo · Half Board
Day 8 · Departure
Negombo › Colombo · ≈ 1 hour
A slow morning by the sea, then the short transfer to the airport.
Where you sleep
Jetwing Lighthouse · (Galle) · 2 nights · Bawa's lighthouse on the rocks, wave-song at night.
Jetwing Yala · (Yala) · 2 nights · Beach hotel on the ocean, minutes from the park gate.
The Grand Hotel · (Nuwara Eliya) · 2 nights · Half-timbered colonial dame, tea served on the lawn.
Jetwing Blue · (Negombo) · 1 night · Beachfront rooms, a last coast night before the flight.
What the price covers
Private naturalist guide and A/C vehicle (8 days)
Full-day Yala safari with jeep, tracker and fees
Whale watching boat trip and Horton Plains
Tea estate visit and all entrance fees
Included
Accommodation throughout on half board (breakfast and dinner) in a double or twin room at hand-selected boutique properties.
Sri Lanka ETA application and processing.
Private A/C vehicle with an English-speaking naturalist guide for the journey.
A 4×4 jeep with tracker and all park fees for the full-day Yala safari.
Picnic breakfast and lunch on the safari day.
Whale and dolphin watching boat trip from Mirissa harbour.
All entrance fees in the itinerary, including Yala and Horton Plains National Parks.
A guided visit to a working tea estate and factory in the hill country.
Meet-and-greet on arrival and assistance at departure.
Bottled drinking water in the vehicle each day.
All government taxes and service charges.
Not included
International flights to and from Sri Lanka.
Travel, medical and cancellation insurance — we recommend arranging this before departure.
Lunches and any meals not stated in the itinerary.
Beverages, laundry, and personal expenses.
Camera and video permits at certain sites, where applicable.
Gratuities for guide, driver and hotel staff, at your discretion.
Good to know
All wildlife viewing is by nature unpredictable; sightings cannot be guaranteed. Safari jeeps are open-sided and not air-conditioned.
Horton Plains is best walked at first light, when World's End is clearest. The circuit is roughly 9 km on undulating ground; comfortable footwear is recommended.
Blue whale watching off Mirissa is at its best from November to April and is weather dependent.
Hotels listed are indicative and confirmed at the time of booking.