Magical Big Five

A warm welcome to Sri Lankan hospitality! On arrival at the Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA), you will be met by a Magical Paradise tour coordinator for a quick formality before proceeding to the historically important beach town of Negombo, ten kilometers away from the airport.

Unwind at the hotel or go sightseeing and shopping in the Negombo town.

Overnight stay in Negombo.

Engage in thrilling water sports and proceed to the Udawalawe national park.

With herds of elephants, wild buffalo, sambar deer, and leopards, Uda Walawe national park is the Sri Lankan national park that best rivals the savannah reserves of Africa.  In fact, for elephant-watching, Udawalawe often surpasses many of the famous East African national parks. It is the third most visited park in Sri Lanka.

An exciting elephant Safari awaits in the evening.

Overnight stay in Udawalawe.

After breakfast, visit the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) at Udawalawe.

It is best to visit the ETH combined with a visit to Udawalawe national park. This provides a wonderful opportunity to see the orphans being fed and cared for while also observing wild elephants in a stunning setting.

You may even see some animals that were rescued by the ETH now roaming in the park.  The orphans at the ETH can only really be seen at feeding time intervals of 9.00 am, 12.00 pm, 3.00 pm, and 6.00 pm.  During these times they can be watched from the viewing platform for about twenty minutes while they are given milk.  The rest of the time they spend in the national park, out of view of visitors.

Afterword, let’s proceed to the Sinharaja rain forest.

The Sinharaja forest reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka.  It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forest ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve’s name means the ‘Lion Kingdom’.

The only way to get about the reserve is by foot, and the experienced park guides will lead you along trails pointing out the wealth and diversity of stunning plants, birds and animal-life.

Overnight stay in Sinharaja.

After the Sinharaja rain forest trekking in the morning, proceed to Yala.

Yala national park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka.  It is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka.  Yala harbours 215 bird species including six endemic species including one of the highest leopard densities in the world.

Overnight stay in Yala.

A morning safari is the best time to observe animals.  Do the morning safari and proceed towards Mirissa.

Mirissa is one of the most picture-postcard perfect beaches on the south coast.  This secluded crescent shaped beach is the perfect place to sit back and relax overlooking the amazing Indian ocean.  Optional visits to an ancient Buddhist temple, Snake farm etc. can be arranged as well as trying out  surfing off the Mirissa coast.

Be at harbor at 7 am to go for whale/ dolphin watching.

Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa is one of the most exciting water activities you can do in Sri Lanka during your holiday. Whale watching season starts in July and ends in April. Ocean is warm and calm during these months.

Mirissa is the best place to start your whale and dolphin watching tour in Sri Lanka. In the warm Indian ocean you can see Blue whales, Sperm whales, Fin whales, Killer whales (on occasion), and dolphins, including Bottlenose, Spinner, and Striped varieties. Sometimes you can see turtles and various fish species, such as Bluefin tuna and flying fish.

As your holiday in Sri Lanka winds down, it’s time to proceed with happy memories back to the airport to catch your flight back home.

En-route, if you wish to take a look at the conservation of turtles, a visit can be arranged.  The turtle hatcheries are open from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm on most days.  If you wish to release a freshly hatched three-day old turtle into the ocean, this is the place.

It is also possible to stop en-route to visit the Galle Dutch Fort.

The Galle fort is situated in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka.  The fort was built initially in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards.

It is a historical, archaeological, and architectural heritage monument that even after more than four centuries continues to maintain a polished appearance.  Extensive reconstruction and preservation work on the Galle fort has been undertaken by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.