Tour Overview
The two giants of Sri Lankan wildlife in one trip: the leopards of Yala and the blue whales of Mirissa – the largest animal ever to live. Add flamingos in Bundala and a beach afternoon, and you have a perfect nature break on the south coast.
Where you spend the nights
| Area / base | Nights |
|---|---|
| Yala / Tissamaharama | 3 |
| Mirissa | 2 |
| Total nights | 5 |
Trip at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Tour type | Wildlife & Nature |
| Group size | Private tour: 1–15 guests |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Best season | November – April |
| Approx. road distance | ~740 km |
| Guide languages | English, German and Hindi (others on request) |
| Departure dates | Any date – private tour, all year |
Highlights
- Two safaris in Yala
- Bundala flamingo wetland
- Blue whale watching in Mirissa
- Galle Fort
- Beach time in Mirissa
Itinerary
Every tour is 100% flexible and customizable. This itinerary is a starting point – we can change the order of the days, add or remove nights, swap activities or extend the tour to match your exact dates, pace and interests.
Hotels and accommodation are not included in the standard tour price. You are free to book your own stays, or let us organise a complete accommodation package for you in your preferred hotel tier (guesthouse, 3★, 4★, 5★ or boutique/villa). We work with hotels across the island and can quote your whole trip as one package.
Please contact us before you place a booking so that we can finalise your customised itinerary and your accommodation plan, confirm availability for your dates and send you a final price.
Family, senior and accessibility friendly. We can arrange an elder-friendly set-up (slower pace, shorter drives, ground-floor rooms, lift-access hotels, wheelchair-friendly vehicles and skip-the-climb alternatives such as the Sigiriya museum and gardens or the Pidurangala base viewpoint) and a child-friendly set-up (child and booster seats, family or connecting rooms, hotels with pools, shorter driving days and kid-friendly meals).
Guides and languages. Our chauffeur-guides work in English, German and Hindi, and we can arrange French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese speaking guides on request.
Meals. The meals shown in the itinerary are what we include when we arrange your accommodation on half board. If you book your own hotels, your meals follow your own hotel booking – tell us which you prefer.
Start dates. This tour is private and runs on any date you choose within its season, subject to availability. It operates in January, February, March, April, November, December – outside those months the conditions make it either impossible or much less rewarding, and we will say so and suggest an alternative rather than take the booking. Tell us your arrival and departure dates and we will build the itinerary around your flights.
Contact us before booking: [info@lankaitinerary.com] · WhatsApp [+94 XX XXX XXXX]
Drive south via the expressway (about 4 hours). Evening boat or walk around Tissa Wewa lake, full of birds at sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Yala / Tissamaharama · Travel: 4 hrs · Distance: ~285 km
Spend the whole day in the park with a packed breakfast and lunch, taking the time to wait patiently at waterholes and rocky outcrops where leopards rest. Full-day safaris reach quieter areas of the park and give the best chance of sightings.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight: Yala / Tissamaharama · Travel: Full day in the park · Distance: ~70 km
Take a jeep safari in Bundala National Park, a Ramsar wetland and a paradise for birdwatchers. In winter, greater flamingos, painted storks and thousands of migrant waders arrive. Crocodiles and elephants are also found here.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Yala / Tissamaharama · Travel: 30 min · Distance: ~45 km
Head out at 5:30 am for a morning safari, when leopards are most active. Return for breakfast, then drive west along the coast to Mirissa or Galle, stopping at a stilt-fishing spot in Koggala.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Mirissa · Travel: 2.5 hrs (120 km) · Distance: ~120 km
Set sail at 6:30 am with a responsible operator to look for blue whales, sperm whales, spinner dolphins and turtles off the south coast (best from November to April). Back on land, spend the afternoon on Mirissa beach or climb Coconut Tree Hill for sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Mirissa · Travel: 4–5 hrs boat · Distance: ~40 km
Visit Galle Fort in the morning, then transfer to the airport (about 2.5 hours).
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: — · Travel: 2.5 hrs · Distance: ~180 km
Includes / Excludes
Price Includes
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with licensed English-speaking chauffeur-guide (SLTDA)
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (daily breakfast and dinner as standard)
- Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
- Jeep safaris as listed, including park entrance fees
- Whale-watching boat trip with a responsible operator
- Local SIM card with data for the lead traveller
- Bottled water in the vehicle daily
- All government taxes and service charges
- 24/7 support while you travel
Price Excludes
- Accommodation (not included in the standard price – we can book any hotel tier for you; see 'Accommodation options')
- International flights
- Sri Lanka ETA (visa) – free for 40 nationalities since 25 May 2026; fee applies to others
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Lunches and drinks unless listed
- Camera/video permits at some sites
- Tips for guide, driver and safari trackers (suggested USD 10–15/day for your chauffeur-guide)
- Optional activities (e.g. hot-air balloon, zip-line, extra safaris)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone, shopping)
- Early check-in / late check-out
Frequently Asked Questions
We book operators who tell us they follow the Sri Lanka whale-watching guidelines – keeping the legal distance, limiting the number of boats around one whale and not chasing. The guidelines are voluntary and we cannot police what happens at sea, but we stop using an operator we hear complaints about, and we would rather you told us than left it in a review.
Yes. The tour is private for your group with your own vehicle and chauffeur-guide – you won't share with strangers.
Of course. You can add or remove days, change hotels, upgrade to boutique or luxury properties or swap activities. We'll send a revised quote within 24 hours.
The price is per person based on two adults sharing a room in the hotel category shown. Prices vary by season, hotel choice and group size – request a quote for your exact dates.
Send an enquiry or click Book Now. We confirm availability, then you secure the tour with a deposit; the balance is paid before arrival. [Insert your real deposit and payment terms.]