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.

How likely are leopard sightings?

In Yala and Wilpattu, most guests on 2–3 safaris see at least one leopard, but sightings are never guaranteed.

Is this tour private?

Yes. The tour is private for your group with your own vehicle and chauffeur-guide – you won't share with strangers.

Can I customise this itinerary?

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.

What is the price based on?

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.

How do I book and pay?

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.]

Sri Lanka Wildlife Safari – 8 Days

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

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

Tour summary – arrival to drop-off

Day	Route (arrival → drop-off)	Night stay	Destination & main points	Distance	Meals
1	Airport (CMB) → Wilpattu	Wilpattu	Arrival & Transfer to Wilpattu	~135 km	Breakfast, Dinner
2	Stay in Wilpattu	Wilpattu	Wilpattu National Park Safari	~60 km	Breakfast, Dinner
3	Wilpattu → Sigiriya / Habarana	Sigiriya / Habarana	Wilpattu to Sigiriya – Minneriya Safari	~130 km	Breakfast, Dinner
4	Stay in Sigiriya / Habarana	Sigiriya / Habarana	Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Sunset at Pidurangala	~25 km	Breakfast, Dinner
5	Sigiriya / Habarana → Udawalawe	Udawalawe	Sigiriya to Udawalawe	~275 km	Breakfast, Dinner
6	Udawalawe → Yala / Tissamaharama	Yala / Tissamaharama	Udawalawe Safari & Transfer to Yala	~60 km	Breakfast, Dinner
7	Stay in Yala / Tissamaharama	Yala / Tissamaharama	Full-Day Safari in Yala National Park	~70 km	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8	Yala / Tissamaharama → Airport (CMB)	— (departure)	Morning Bundala Birding & Departure	~285 km	Breakfast

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

Expand all

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.

Any start date. All tours are private and run on any date you choose, all year round, subject to availability. 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]

Day 01 :

Arrival & Transfer to Wilpattu

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

Day 02 :

Wilpattu National Park Safari

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

Day 03 :

Wilpattu to Sigiriya – Minneriya Safari

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

Day 04 :

Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Sunset at Pidurangala

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

Day 05 :

Sigiriya to Udawalawe

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

Day 06 :

Udawalawe Safari & Transfer to Yala

Drive to Udawalawe National Park, where herds of elephants graze against the backdrop of the hills – sightings are almost guaranteed. 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

Day 07 :

Full-Day Safari in Yala National Park

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

Day 08 :

Morning Bundala Birding & Departure

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

Sri Lanka Wildlife Safari – 8 Days

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