Day 1: Arrive Negombo
Half an hour from the aircraft door to the beach. An early night, and a boat on the lagoon if you land in the morning.
On this day
- Negombo lagoon and Dutch canal by boat
Classic trip · 10 days
Wildlife and Beaches
Ten days of leopards, elephants, whales and reef
At a glance
- 10 days · Classic trip
- West Coast · South Coast · Wilderness & National Parks
- Dec–Apr
- About 12h 55m
- Premium per person
A south-coast and wilderness route for people who would rather look at animals than architecture. Turtles off Hikkaduwa, blue whales at Mirissa, elephants at Udawalawe and two full days in Yala, with Galle Fort at either end to remind you there is a country attached.
Day by day
Driving times are door-to-door estimates for typical road conditions, not routing output. Days over five hours on the road are flagged.
Day 2: South to Hikkaduwa
Around Colombo and onto the expressway, a little over two hours to the island's oldest surf town. Afternoon in the water.
Day 3: Turtles and coral
Snorkel the marine sanctuary straight off the beach, where green turtles feed in water you can stand up in, then a lazy afternoon and a reef break session for improvers.
On this day
- Hikkaduwa reef and turtle snorkelling
Day 4: Galle Fort
Forty minutes down the coast to the ramparts. A guided walk through the fort in the late afternoon, finishing on the wall for sunset.
On this day
- Galle Fort walking tour
Day 5: On to Mirissa
An hour east with a stop at the Koggala stilt fishermen, then the afternoon on the sand and an early night before the boat.
On this day
- Stilt fishing at Koggala
Day 6: Blue whales
Out of the harbour before dawn to the shelf edge for blue whales, sperm whales and spinner dolphins. Back by lunch, and nothing else planned.
On this day
- Blue whale watching from Mirissa
Day 7: Udawalawe
Two hours inland to the open grassland and an afternoon jeep drive among several hundred wild elephants, with the Transit Home feeding session beforehand.
On this day
- Udawalawe elephant safari
Day 8: Into Yala
Ninety minutes east to the park boundary and a thatched villa in the forest. Afternoon game drive into Block 1, then dinner under the trees.
On this day
- Jungle villa on the Yala boundary
Day 9: Dawn in Block 1
First through the gate at 6am for the best hour of the day for leopard, sloth bear and elephant, back to the villa for a long, hot, entirely unproductive afternoon.
On this day
- Yala dawn leopard safari
Day 10: Yala to the airport
A last early drive if you want one, then west along the coast and up the expressway. Allow five hours, so an evening flight suits this day best.
Transfers & vehicle
Tell us if you want to be met at the airport or dropped back, and which vehicle suits your group.
What’s included
Included
- Included: Private vehicle and English-speaking driver throughout
- Included: Nine nights' accommodation, including two on the Yala boundary
- Included: Daily breakfast, plus all meals at the Yala property
- Included: Three jeep safaris with driver-trackers
- Included: Whale watching boat at Mirissa
- Included: Guided snorkelling at Hikkaduwa
- Included: Galle Fort guided walk
Not included
- Not included: International flights and visa
- Not included: National park entrance fees, which are the largest single extra on this route
- Not included: Most lunches and dinners outside Yala
- Not included: Drinks
- Not included: Travel insurance
- Not included: Tips
Where this trip goes
6 destinations, in route order.
Enquire about Wildlife and Beaches
Send us your dates and party size and we will come back with availability, a firm price and anything we would change about the route for your month. It is an enquiry, not a booking — nothing is charged and nothing is committed.