On the Leopard's Trail in Sri Lanka

16 days
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USTOA

Private Guided
The cultural triangle, neatly tended tea estates, rose-gold beaches... On a tailor-made holiday to Sri Lanka with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Sri Lanka specialists know the country inside out and can lead yo...
From$5,828
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

What's this trip about?

    The cultural triangle, neatly tended tea estates, rose-gold beaches... On a tailor-made holiday to Sri Lanka with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Sri Lanka specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook. Admire the cave frescos of Dambulla and clamber to the top of Sigiriya Rock’s fortress. Join pilgrims as they stroll the ruins of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Pause at a roadside fruit stall for a fresh banana. Spot elephants, bird life and, if you’re lucky, a leopard, in Yala National Park. Take a traditional mask-making class and compare your skills with those sold in the boutiques of Dutch-colonial Galle. Long stretches of coastline, Colombo’s artisanal markets, a plantation-home stay… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityColombo
End CityColombo

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Sri Lanka

Activities

  • Culture
  • Educational/ learning
  • Game drive
  • History
  • Safari
  • Wildlife viewing

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Itinerary

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Colombo.

Day 2 : Dambulla

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.

Day 3 : Dambulla

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.

Day 4 : Dambulla

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.

Day 5 : Kandy

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.

Day 6 : Kandy

Explore Kandy - the beautiful botanical gardens, the famous and impressive Temple of the Tooth as well as experiencing a traditional Kandyan dance performance.

Day 7 : Nuwara Eliya

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 th...

Day 8 : Nuwara Eliya

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.

Day 9 : 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.

Day 10 : Yala National Park

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.

Day 11 : Uda Walawe

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.

Day 12 : Sinharaja

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.

Day 13 : Galle

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.

Day 14 : Galle

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.

Day 15 : Galle

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.

Day 16 : International return flight

You will be driven from Galle to Colombo airport today for your international onwards flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,828
Price per day$364
Last Updated: 0/12/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Audley Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Our trips don’t come off the shelf. There’s no set recipe. Each itinerary is tailor-made down to the finest detail, built around your tastes and interests. Quite simply, we listen to what you want and then carefully design an individual trip to match, working to your budget and with an absolute commitment to quality.

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As the world adjusts to travel in times of uncertainty, we want you to be able to look ahead to your next trip knowing you can change your plans if needed. And, with specialists who are experts in their destinations and remain your single point of contact before and while you travel, we promise you can book with us in absolute confidence.

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We’ll move your travel dates or switch the value of your booked trip to another destination at no expense to you up to 30 days before you’re due to depart. You’ll receive a 100% travel credit equivalent to the amount you paid toward your original booking.

Valid for new bookings made on or before October 31, 2020, for travel by Dec. 31, 2021. Travel dates may be moved to departures up to December 31, 2022. Excludes select cruises and airfare. Additional charges may be incurred based on changes to your trip such as accommodation and/or seasonality.

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We want to help you navigate the uncertainty that remains around travel by giving you the flexibility to book a trip to any of our destinations in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean this year in complete confidence. With our 14-day cancellation policy, you can cancel your trip up to two weeks before you’re due to depart for any reason and receive a full refund, when you book your trip on or before October 31, 2020 for travel before December 14, 2021**.

Valid on new bookings within the US, Canada or Caribbean made on or before October 31, 2020 for travel by December 14, 2021. Certain policy variations may apply dependent on property selection and dates. Specific details will be provided by your specialist. Any portion of a new booking paid with an existing travel credit will be refunded in the form of a travel credit. Excludes flights and select properties.

 

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Talking face to face with your specialist can be an invaluable starting point for sharing thoughts and ideas as you begin to imagine your next trip. You can take as much time as you need to speak to your specialist and discuss all your plans with one of our video appointments. Just think of it as your own personal webinar — your specialist will share a wealth of insight, aided by images, maps and other visuals, to inspire you and provide advice for your trip, based on what you want to experience.

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Age Requirements
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