Things to do in Yala

After being picked up from your hotel in the local area or Park Entrance you will enter Yala National Park to explore the light forests, scrubs, grasslands, lagoons, and magnificent range of animals. With your private 4WD Jeep and expert guide, the ‘Golden Hours’ of the day will be used to focus on leopard spotting, either the first 2 hours or the last 2 hours of the day. Throughout this safari, you will search for the world’s most concentrated number of leopards, sloth bears, and elephants, as your knowledgable guide and driver expertly navigates the vast area and roads. The morning tour will begin at 5am from your hotel, to take in sunrise as the park opens at 6am. Whilst the afternoon option allows you to explore from 2pm until sunset when the park closes at 6pm. Situated on Sri Lanka’s south-east, hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala is a wildlife sanctuary and home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species. Leopards, elephants, water buffalo, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted deer, peacocks, and crocodiles can all be found in this rich environment.

Head off on a wildlife and nature adventure on a Jeep safari tour in Yala National Park. Keep an eye out for indigenous animals, including sloth bears, jackals, and more. Learn about Sri Lanka's most-visited park from your local guide. After your hotel pickup in Bentota, sit back and relax in your car as you make your way to Yala National Park. The park is Sri Lanka's second-largest wildlife park and an important nature reserve for around 50 butterfly species and many bird species. Upon arrival, embark on your safari drive by Jeep, keeping an eye out for local leopards and elephants in their natural habitat. Spot other indigenous animals, such as sloth bears, jackals, mongoose, axis deer, buffalos, wild boars, sambar deer, and hares. After the safari, journey back to Bentota to be dropped off back at your accommodation.

Day 01 7:30: You will be picked up from your hotel in Negombo or other selected cities ( see the departure point) and driven approximately 4 hours to reach Belihuloya. 12:00: Arrive at Tree House Chalets and check in for lunch. After lunch, you will enjoy the surrounding of the hotel and spend couple of hours at leisure. 15:00: You will start your walking trail to the village with your guide. You will walk through beautiful paddy fields and the friendly welcoming breeze that blow through. (Unpaved muddy path and possible leech bites can be expected) Meet the villagers and peep into the rural village life. Enjoy a tea session with them before say goodbye! 18:00: Arrive back at your hotel refresh with worm water shower before enjoying your BBQ dinner at roof terrace. Spend the overnight Stay at Tree House Chalet. Day 02 Wake-up early in the morning and experience the sunshine over the mountains whilst discovering the wonder of nature surrounded by the chalet. 7:30: Enjoy your breakfast. 8:30: Your guide will take you through another memorable walking trail to Pahantudawa Falls, a marvelous creation of nature in a mini canyon like geographical setting nowhere can be seen in Sri Lanka, located about 1.5 km from the hotel (Involves a somewhat adventurous, challenging short climb walks) 10:30: Arrive back at the hotel and get refreshed before leaving to Yala. 12:00- 13:00 You will enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant on the way to Yala. 15:00: Arrive at Yala Junction where you will start your evening game drive at Yala National park to experience the wildlife treasure in one of the best homes for Leopards and other animals in Asia. 18:30: Check in to Leopard Nest Campsite and enjoy your private Alfresco shower followed by drinks and appetizers around the campfire. 21:00 Dinner will be served at one of many locations available through the camp. Dine under the stars for an unforgettable evening meal in the jungle experience. Stay overnight at Leopard Nest. Day 03 Wake up around 5:00 am to freshly brewed Ceylon tea or coffee. Leave the campsite at 05:30 am and start to trek through thick bushes with a pathway access to a wonderful lake which offers breath-taking views and bird watching opportunities. If you are fortunate enough, you will encounter wildlife like elephants; Deers; palm squirrels; wild boars; etc. Also, you will confront both endemic and migratory birds; butterflies and lizards and land monitors slithering around the lake. Capture the splendid views of wildlife and nature to take back home. Don’t forget to ask your naturalist to share his adventures in the wild during the trek. Enjoy breakfast at a private location by a lake whilst listening to the singing of birds and feeling the fresh breeze. Return from the nature trail and check-into the campsite to refresh your souls before leave. You will check out at 11:00 am and be transferred back to your hotel.

Your experience begins with a pickup from your hotel in Colombo and Suburbs areas. From there, relax on your drive to Yala National Park. Upon arrival you'll go for a safari drive by Jeep, keeping an eye out for local leopards and elephants in their natural habitat. Other indigenous wildlife which are able to be spotted in this park includes sloth bears, jackals, mongoose, spotted deers, buffalo, wild boars, sambhur, and hare. Now the most-visited park in Sri Lanka, Yala is also an important nature reserve for 50 species of butterflies and many species of birds. After the safari, journey back to your point of origin to be dropped off back to your accommodation.

Get picked up by a tuk-tuk from your hotel in Yala or Tissamaharama by your local guide, then set off towards the starting point for your village tour. Start the route by riding around the beautiful lakes where you can stop at scenic locations to capture the breath-taking views. Keep your eyes peeled for monitor lizards and different bird species. Then, proceed to a local pottery where you can witness how clay pots are made. Make your own clay pot on a traditional wheel and take it back as a souvenir. Next, head over to see how curd is made in Tissamaharama. Discover how curd making is one of the main livelihoods of people here and meet a lady in her village house who will teach you the secrets of making a delicious curd pot. At the end of the demonstration, enjoy a tasting of fresh curd with honey.  Finally, be driven back to your hotel where you will be dropped off and your village tour concludes.

Head out onto Tissa Lake in a boat and watch the sunset. Cruise around for a couple of hours admiring the scenery and taking some fantastic pictures before settling down on the beach for dinner and drinks. Enjoy a convenient pick-up from your hotel in Yala or Tissamaharama and go out on the water for a bird-watching excursion at sunset. Explore the lake's small islands on your way to a great spot to watch the sunset. Snap some great photos of the sun going down before going to a private beach at Yala for a BBQ with torches and lanterns. Listen to the sounds of the sea in the evening with a chilled beer.

DAY 1 Meet and greet by Seerendipity tours representative and drive to Yala national park, en-route stop at Bentota for a river safari. After the River safari continues to Yala national park, in the afternoon Yala national park safari. After the safari proceeds to the hotel and leisure. MADU RIVER SAFARI In the global context, the ecological importance of this site has garnered it the ‘Ramsar Wetland’ status in 2003 being the second largest wetland in Sri Lanka with a colossal 915 hectares with 23 islands inhabited by nearly 300 families. The River Sanctuary is now a Tourist Development Area and a Special Area Managed (SAM) by the Coast Conservation Department. Balapitiya is where the ‘Madu Ganga’ makes its home. YALA NATIONAL PARK SAFARI Yala is one of the best places to witness leopards in the world. There were 17 ½ leopards in every 100 square kilometres in Yala national park. Block 1 of Yala National park could be home to the densest population of leopards in the world, the densities in this tiny area has maintained around a leopard every 2 sq. kilometres. Unlike most other national parks where leopards can be seen in the dark Sri Lanka leopards are in motion during the day as well. Yala is one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka same time it is one of the biggest national parks in Sri Lanka with 97880 hectares extent. Initially, it was used as a hunting ground during British rule in Sri Lanka. Yala is declared a national park in 1900 and became a safe place for animals. Yala is divided into 5 zones. Yala is a famous high density of wildlife such as Leopards, Elephants, Deer, Wild boars, bears, monkeys etc. Overnight stay in a hotel in Udawalawe DAY 2 Early morning leave for a Udawalawe national park jeep safari, the jeep safari lasts about 4 hours and later drive to the Sinharaje rainforest for a guided rainforest trek and learn about the fascinating fauna and flora of the rainforest. Later drive to the hotel. UDAWAWE NATIONAL PARK SAFARI Udawalawe is an important habitat for Sri Lankan elephants, which are relatively hard to see in its open habitats. Many elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir, with a herd of about 250 believed to be permanently resident. The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home was established in 1995 for the purpose of looking after abandoned elephant calves within the park. A total of nine calves, on two occasions in 1998 and 2000, with another eight calves in 2002, were released in the park when old enough to fend for themselves. SINHARAJA RAINFOREST Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve 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. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. 50% of Sri Lankan's endemic species of animals (especially butterflies, amphibians, birds, snakes and fish species). It is home to 95% endemic birds.

Day 1: Bentota-Weherahena-Yala Upon starting your journey at 4:00 AM from your hotel in Bentota, you will be met by your designated chauffeur guide. After exchanging formalities at your hotel, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle in which you will proceed to Yala. En-route, visit the Mirissa fisheries harbor, and partake in a whale watching tour. Whale watching in Mirissa is one of the most sought-after activities in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is one of the best places to spot blue whales after a short period of time from the harbor. Mirissa is one of the best places to see not only blue whales but also sperm whales and dolphins. Visit Weherahena Poorwarama Raja Maha Viharaya is situated in the Matara District of Sri Lanka, about 6 kilometers from Matara town. This unique temple is known as the first tunnel temple in the world. The temple hosts a massive 130-foot Buddha image that was built following the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa eras. It also consists of all the main features of a Buddhist temple, such as the pagoda, a sacred bo-tree and a Samadhi Buddha statue. Following this tour, you will proceed to Yala National Park, one of the best national parks in the world to spot leopards. Here you find a large concentration of leopards in a small geographical area. Yala is home to many species of wild animals such as leopards, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys.  Day 2: Yala-Galle-Hikkaduwa Early in the morning, you will proceed to Yala National Park to go on a lovely jeep safari. Yala National Park is the second largest on this island based off the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. You will get a chance to see the famous Sri Lankan leopards, indigenous wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan Sloth Bears and large herds of Sri Lankan Elephants. The park is also home to many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Later, visit the Galle Fortress and Hikkaduwa Beach. Galle Fortress is the best preserved Dutch fort in Asia, and it is one of the 7 UNESCO world heritage sites on the island. The Dutch Fort is a fortified city built in the 1600's and is home to hundreds of houses, palaces, shops, churches, museums, bars, pubs, hotels and much much more. On completion of this day, you will begin your journey back to your hotel in Hikkaduwa.

Make your trip easy with a one-way private transfer from the Yala or Tissamaharama area and your accommodation in Colombo or Negombo. Avoid unnecessary stops with a direct transfer service. Meet your driver at your accommodation in Yala or Tissamaharama. Be greeted by your driver and get help with your bags. Sit back and relax in a comfortable vehicle on your 4-5-hour journey. Arrive at your destination faster with a driver that is familar with the area. Feel free to let the driver know if you need to stop for refreshments or emergencies. Once you arrive at your destination, get help with your luggage.

Day 1 Kandy / Mahiyanganaya 6 AM: Leave Kandy and proceed with your driver for two hours to reach Mahiyanganaya. 8:30 AM: Arrive at Mahiyanaya and start trekking with a local guide to explore the hidden waterfalls. Pass by countryside attractions including paddy fields and canals. Enjoy the sounds of the waterfalls and the songs of the birds. Visit two beautiful hidden waterfalls and explore the surrounding nature's flora and fauna. 12:30 PM: Be driven to your hotel in Mahiyanganaya. 2 PM: Arrive at a four-star luxury hotel and spend some time at your leisure. 3:30 PM: Leave to visit the Wedda village of Dambana. Learn more about the fascinating lifestyle of forest dwellers and how they have adapted to the changing times. 6 PM: Arrive back at the hotel and enjoy the hotel facilities including dinner with wine and beer. Stay overnight at Keven’s Casa hotel Mahiyanganaya. Day 2 Mahiyanganaya / Your next Destination 5:30 AM: Leave the hotel to witness the dawn of a new day, as the sun rises over the horizon of the beautiful Sorabora Lake. Listen to the birds chirping away as you breathe in the fresh morning air and enjoy the true beauty of nature. 6 AM: Do a scenic, hour-long boat tour across the 1440-acre body of water in Sorabora Lake and enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful views of the blue waters. If lucky, catch the moment when a diving bird plunges into the water for a fishy snack. Watch as the local fishermen use a traditional form of fishing to enclose the fish and bring it ashore. 7:30 AM: Enjoy breakfast with a view. Head over to the top of the Sorabora Rock where your chef will await your arrival to cook up a freshly prepared, delicious breakfast. 8:30 AM: Try your hand at milking the friendly yet mischievous cows in Mahiyangana. Learn about the procedure from a local villager and get hands-on experience milking a cow. 9:30 AM: Enjoy swinging at the edge of the lake or try mountain biking to explore more of the surroundings. 11 AM: Check out from the hotel and proceed to your next destination (Transportation will be provided to Ella, Yala, Pasikuda, Polonnaruwa, Habarana, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, and Nuwara Eliya free of charge)