Tour Overview
A tour designed around light, not a checklist. Travel with a photographer-naturalist, use private safari jeeps with beanbags and extra time at sightings, and plan every shoot around golden hour.
Photograph leopards in Wilpattu and Yala, elephant herds in Minneriya, the Sigiriya landscape from Pidurangala and blue whales off Mirissa. Evening image reviews help you improve your technique.
Where you spend the nights
| Area / base | Nights |
|---|---|
| Wilpattu | 2 |
| Sigiriya / Habarana | 2 |
| Udawalawe | 1 |
| Yala / Tissamaharama | 2 |
| Mirissa | 2 |
| Total nights | 9 |
Trip at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Tour type | Special Interest |
| Group size | Small group: 2–6 photographers |
| Difficulty | Easy – Moderate |
| Best season | February – April |
| Approx. road distance | ~1,040 km |
| Guide languages | English, German and Hindi (others on request) |
| Departure dates | Any date – private tour, all year |
Highlights
- Private jeeps with camera beanbags
- Photographer-naturalist guide
- Golden-hour safaris in 4 parks
- Sunrise shoot from Pidurangala
- Blue whales in Mirissa
- Evening image-review sessions
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 February, March, April – 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]
Transfer to a lodge at the edge of Wilpattu. Evening briefing on camera settings for safari photography.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Wilpattu · Travel: 3.5 hrs · Distance: ~135 km
A full day in Wilpattu with packed meals, waiting at the villus for leopards, sloth bears and birds in the best light of the morning and evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner · Overnight: Wilpattu · Travel: Park safari 4–5 hrs · Distance: ~30 km
Drive to Sigiriya and photograph elephant herds in soft evening light in Minneriya.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: 3 hrs · Distance: ~130 km
Climb Pidurangala in the dark to photograph sunrise behind Sigiriya, then explore the rock fortress. Afternoon village and landscape photography.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: Short local drives · Distance: ~30 km
Drive south through the hills, stopping at photogenic viewpoints and tea estates.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Udawalawe · Travel: 5.5 hrs · Distance: ~275 km
Drive to Udawalawe National Park, where herds of elephants graze against the backdrop of the hills. Udawalawe's elephants are resident rather than migratory, so herds are seen on almost every drive – though no operator can guarantee a sighting. After the safari, visit the Elephant Transit Home at feeding time, where orphaned baby elephants are cared for and later released into the wild (an ethical alternative to captive attractions).
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Yala / Tissamaharama · Travel: 2.5 hrs · Distance: ~60 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
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
Enjoy a final morning by the sea before the transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport via the Southern Expressway (allow 3 hours).
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: — · Travel: 3 hrs to airport · Distance: ~150 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
- Photographer-naturalist guide
- Private safari jeeps with camera beanbags
- 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
A body with a telephoto lens (at least 100–400 mm or 150–600 mm) is ideal for wildlife, plus a wide-angle lens for landscapes. We provide beanbags in every jeep.
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.]