



On the Leopard's Trail in Sri Lanka
16 days from £4,130pp
Tour highlights
Track leopard in the Yala National Park.
Explore the rainforest of Sinharaja.
Follow the herds of Elephants in Uda Walawe.
Take a morning excursion to spot the blue whale and dolphins.
Climb Sigiriya Rock, past ancient wall paintings and carved lions feet, before emerging to panoramic views of the Sri Lankan countryside.
Take a train into the heart of the tea growing area.
Price includes
Itinerary idea in detail
Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Colombo.
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On arrival in Colombo you will be met by one of our representatives and introduced to your chauffeur driver who will then take you to the Cultural Triangle.
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This morning you will visit Sigiriya Rock accompanied by your chauffeur guide, who will be able to provide you with the history of the area as you admire the views from the top of the rock. Later in the afternoon you will have a jeep safari, giving you the chance to see a variety of wildlife including elephants, sambar deer, monkeys as well as bird life.
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Enjoy another morning jeep safari, followed by a visit to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second capital. The now ruined city has a mix of both Buddhist and Hindu influence, and is a great place to learn more about the history of Sri Lanka.
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Today you travel to Kandy, en route you will visit the Dambulla Caves, dating back to the 1st century. All of the caves contain varying sizes of statues of Buddha. Additionally several of the caves have impressive ceiling frescos. In the evening you will visit the famous Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
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Explore Kandy - the beautiful botanical gardens, the famous and impressive Temple of the Tooth as well as experiencing a traditional Kandyan dance performance.
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You will be collected from your hotel and taken to the train station in Gampola. You will then board the train for the approximately four hour journey up to the tea country. The rail route rises slowly through the changing countryside. From Hatton the scenery is the most spectacular passing waterfalls and many tea plantations. You will be collected by your driver from Nanu Oya and taken on a tea factory tour on route to your hotel.
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An early morning start is recommended for your trip to Horton Plains as the views tend to be at their best in the morning. The 8km circular route takes you past firstly Little World's End and then World's End view points before passing Baker's Fall, a 20m high waterfall, on your return to the car. You will have the rest of your day at leisure to relax.
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Nuwara Eliya , Yala National Park
Today you will take the drive down from Nuwara Eliya to Yala National Park. It's a long drive that tends to last all day, but there are plenty of places to stop along the way to enjoy some local food.
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Morning and afternoon jeep excursions in the park in search of leopards and other wildlife. In-between, you'll have time to enjoy the hotel's pool and take a walk on the beach.
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Yala National Park , Uda Walawe National Park
You will leave Yala and head for Uda Walawe National Park this morning. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Udawalawe National Park - hopefully you will spot some of the park's elephants.
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Uda Walawe National Park , Sinharaja Biosphere
Visit the elephant transit centre this morning, close to Uda Walawe, before taking the drive over to the Sinharaja Biospheric Reserve. On arrival you will have some time to take a walk in the local area, or simply relax by the pool.
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Morning excursion in the Sinharaja Biospheric Reserve, before travelling down to the coast to Galle. Galle is full of small cafes and shops, making for a wonderful place to stroll in the evening.
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This morning you will be taken on a guided tour of Galle Fort. The ancient city of Fort Galle has a real colonial feel given the previous Portuguese, Dutch and British presence there. The sleepy streets are dotted with some interesting colonial buildings. Your afternoon is at leisure on the coast.
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Your day is at leisure to relax on the coast. You might like to take a tuk tuk to a nearby beach for a swim or do some shopping in Galle's boutiques.
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Galle , International return flight
- Colombo
- Dambulla
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Yala National Park
- Uda Walawe National Park
- Sinharaja Biosphere
- Galle
Contact a specialist
The specialist who designs your trip to Sri Lanka will have explored the country many times and, in some cases, lived there. Their first-hand knowledge gives us the belief that no other travel company can match our expertise in helping you plan your trip. Your dedicated specialist will take the time to understand your preferences and build them into an itinerary to match, working to your budget. He or she will keep perfecting it until you’re completely happy and ready to book.
When to go
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Place | Daily max temperature | Monthly rainfall | ||
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Colombo | ||||
Dambulla | ||||
Kandy | ||||
Nuwara Eliya | ||||
Yala National Park | ||||
Uda Walawe National Park | ||||
Sinharaja Biosphere | ||||
Galle |