Tour Overview
Sri Lanka is Asia’s best-kept safari secret: leopards, elephants, sloth bears and more than 400 bird species on an island you can cross in a day. This tour visits four national parks – Wilpattu, Minneriya, Udawalawe and Yala – with a naturalist guide and comfortable lodges close to the park gates.
Where you spend the nights
| Area / base | Nights |
|---|---|
| Wilpattu | 2 |
| Sigiriya / Habarana | 2 |
| Udawalawe | 1 |
| Yala / Tissamaharama | 2 |
| Total nights | 7 |
Trip at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 days / 7 nights |
| Tour type | Wildlife & Nature |
| Group size | Private tour: 1–10 guests |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Best season | February – September (Yala closes Sept–Oct) |
| Approx. road distance | ~1,040 km |
| Guide languages | English, German and Hindi (others on request) |
| Departure dates | Any date – private tour, all year |
Highlights
- 4 national parks & 6 safaris
- Leopards in Wilpattu and Yala
- The elephant 'Gathering' in Minneriya
- Elephant Transit Home, Udawalawe
- Full-day safari in Yala
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
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, May, June, July, August, September, October – 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 north along the coast to Wilpattu (about 3.5 hours). Check in at a safari lodge near the park and enjoy a sunset walk with the lodge naturalist.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Wilpattu · Travel: 3.5 hrs · Distance: ~135 km
Wilpattu is Sri Lanka's largest and least crowded national park, famous for its 'villus' (natural lakes). Spend a half day on safari looking for leopards, sloth bears, elephants, spotted deer and many birds, then return to your lodge for a relaxed afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Wilpattu · Travel: Park safari 4–5 hrs · Distance: ~60 km
Drive east to Sigiriya. In the afternoon, take a jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla to see large elephant herds.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: 3 hrs · Distance: ~130 km
Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the cool of the morning with your guide, who brings the story of King Kashyapa, his frescoes and water gardens to life. Rest at the hotel through the midday heat. In the late afternoon, hike Pidurangala Rock (about 45 minutes, with a short scramble at the top) for the best view of Sigiriya itself – a favourite with photographers at sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner · Overnight: Sigiriya / Habarana · Travel: Short local drives · Distance: ~25 km
A long but scenic drive south through the hills (about 5.5 hours) with lunch stops. Evening at your lodge.
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
Early bird safari in Bundala wetland to see flamingos and storks, then drive to the airport via the Southern Expressway (about 4 hours).
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: — · Travel: 4 hrs · Distance: ~285 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
- 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
Block 1 of Yala usually closes from early September to mid-October for the dry season. During this time we use Udawalawe, Wilpattu or Kumana instead.
In Yala and Wilpattu, most guests on 2–3 safaris see at least one leopard, but sightings are never guaranteed.
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.]