
Nature in Bentota
Sri Lanka rainforest two-day tour in Sinharaja Eco Lodge
Misty mountains and green valleys surround this retreat in southern Sri Lanka. The setting of these eco lodges is pretty hard to beat when you want to get away from it all and reconnect with nature. They're surrounded by six waterfalls and acres of the Sinharaja Rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Day one begins with a tour of Galle city, a coastal city with a bucketload of history and culture. There's a 16th-century colonial-style fort, a lighthouse and a mish-mash of spiritual sites including a Dutch church, an Islamic mosque and a Buddhist temple. By mid-morning you'll leave the city behind and be on your way north, through rolling valleys and into the heart of the rainforest.Check into your chalet and spend the afternoon exploring the sights and sounds of the rainforest. Sip a warm cup of Ceylon tea on your private deck and soak it all in before dinner is served in the restaurant. Wake up to the sound of birdsong and head out on an early morning hike to spot your brightly feathered new neighbours. A local naturalist will be your guide through the forest to help you spot Sri Lanka blue magpies and the red-faced malkoha. After breakfast back at the lodge, you'll have free time to make the most out of the viewpoints and waterfalls before checking out and heading back towards the beach and your hotel.
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Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka's Highlands with lunch
Take on the Sri Lankan highlands on this full-day guided hiking tour that follows stage 15 of the Pekoe Trail. You'll kick off your 13-kilometre trek, starting your journey in a pine forest. Your path takes you through plenty of photo-worthy landscapes, and you'll get a peek into Sri Lanka's history as your guide tells you about the ancient dwellings found here. Artifacts dating back over 25,000 years have been found here, many of which showed exactly how people during those times lived in the area.As you climb towards the summit of the hike, Ella Rock viewpoint, one of the region's iconic sites, you'll be treated to panoramic views – on a clear day, you can soak up the vistas of the surrounding valleys, tea plantations and distant mountains. Then, you'll take a different route down, passing through traditional Sri Lankan villages, as you follow the scenic railway track back to Ella. Here, you'll stop to recharge with a well-deserved lunch, before your returning to your hotel.
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Kandy and Nuwara Eliya two-day tour with train ride
Double up on Sri Lankan jewels on this two-day adventure. You'll spend a jam-packed day sightseeing around Kandy, visit a tea and spice plantation, enjoy a scenic train ride through the Central Highlands and end with a look around the town of Nuwara Eliya. What's more, transport and all meals are included, as well as overnight accommodation in either single or shared rooms.Day one is dedicated to what's best known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy. After visits to a spice garden, tea factory and the Royal Botanical Gardens, you'll venture into the city for a guided tour and some time for shopping. Among the sights you'll see is the Tooth Relic temple – a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's home to a relic of Buddha's tooth. You'll end the day with a show and the evening at your disposal.Day two begins with a train ride to Nanuoya, through rolling hill and country scenery. Continue to the photogenic town of Nuwara Eliya, known as ‘Little England.' Here, you'll find cooler weather and British colonial architecture, and you can spend time admiring long views over waterfalls and distant valleys.
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Adam's Peak two-day tour with sunrise hike
The summit of Sri Pada – or Adam's Peak – is the best seat in Sri Lanka to watch the sunrise. Climb the slopes of this important religious pilgrimage with an experienced guide on this overnight tour from the coastal regions of Sri Lanka, including Bentota, Negombo, or Galle, as you make your way into Sri Lanka's highlands. Jaw-dropping views greet you at the top, from where you'll watch daybreak with a 360-degree view. You'll travel to Nallathanniya late afternoon and check in at your hotel to grab some sleep before you start your hike. It's an early start, but some things are worth getting out of bed for. As a string of lights lead the way, your guide will give valuable insights into what is known as the 'Sacred Footprint'. Once you've made it, you'll be rewarded with sensational views and a chance to rest while you wait for nature's show to begin.With grandstand views of the surrounding highlands and valleys, sit back as the sun rises with the sky painted a hue of warm tones. And – if the weather conditions allow – experience the peculiar phenomenon known as 'shadow of the peak' – where a triangular shadow of the mountain is cast onto the clouds below. Once the sun is up, you'll descend the mountain to rest those tired legs and tuck into a well-deserved breakfast at the hotel, before heading back.
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Yala National Park 4x4 safari with a local guide
With the world's highest concentration of leopards, Yala National Park should be on any animal-lovers' holiday wishlist. Add more than 300 elephants and 42 other species of mammals and it becomes a must-visit. Nadeesh, one of our expert local guides, says, "They may not be as famous as the leopards, but Yala is home to more than 200 bird varieties including the Sri Lanka grey hornbill, painted stork, and black-capped bulbul. A safari here is so much more than looking for leopards – it is likely to be a highlight of your holiday."It's a fairly long journey so there's a break en route and a stop for lunch in Tissamaharama. On arrival at Yala, you'll set out on a safari in search of Sri Lanka's ‘big four' – leopards, elephants, sloth bears and buffalo. Touring in a 4x4, enjoy pit stops to observe storks and crocodiles in the wetlands or monkeys in the treetops. The park encompasses a variety of ecosystems, including grasslands, shrublands, forests, and coastal lagoons. This diversity supports the impressive array of flora and fauna.Hopefully, with a bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of the rare Sri Lankan leopard. There are about 100 of them known to live within Yala National Park, but despite boasting one of the highest concentrations of these magnificent felines on the planet, spotting them is by no means guaranteed. They are solitary animals - notoriously shy and elusive, but with such a wealth of wildlife in Yala you are sure to see some memorable creatures nevertheless.
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Udawalawe National Park full-day tour with 4x4 safari
If there's a single word that defines Sri Lanka, it's ‘wild'. This is a destination famous for its wildlife, particularly elephants. Udawalawe National Park, home to some 500 elephants, is considered the best park to spot them in the country. On this tour, you'll visit the park's Elephant Transit Home to see orphaned young elephants being fed and then tour the park in a 4x4 safari. Dilini, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘As well as being a top spot for elephant spotting, the park is great for bird enthusiasts, with over 180 avian species recorded. Keep your eyes peeled for various eagles, owls, herons, and waterfowl.'First up, we'll visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are cared for after rescue from the wild. You'll arrive at feeding time so you can watch the little ones bottle-feed from a viewing platform just metres away. Once the elephants have been rehabilitated, they are released back into the wild, often straight into Udawalawe where they can rejoin the existing wild herds.Udawalawe National Park is centred on a huge reservoir and features vast open grasslands, making wildlife spotting relatively easy as you set off by 4x4 vehicle on safari. It's a great place for spotting elephants, and the lack of tall vegetation makes it perfect for other animal-watching, too. In addition to elephants, you can expect to see water buffaloes, various deer, wild boars, macaques and crocodiles. And, if you're lucky, there's also the elusive Sri Lankan leopard to look out for. To top it off, lunch is included.
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