Visit areas of stunning natural beauty, national parks boasting some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in all of Asia and wander through bustling towns and cities. Southern Sri Lanka has many hidden gems and surprises.
Negombo is situated by the shores of a lagoon by the same name. Once a Portuguese and Dutch trading port, popular attractions here include the Old Dutch fort gate built in 1672, the Dutch Canal, and the old churches and fishing villages which surround the area. It also has a huge and rather inviting white sandy beach.
The Kotchchikade area comes to life at dusk with many handicrafts for sale, boutiques, shops, gem shops and restaurants for you to explore.
Early in the morning you leave for visiting the impressive Horton Plains National Park. Once a haven for elephants they no longer inhabit this area, however it is possible to witness many other species of wildlife. The area is surrounded by the country's highest mountains, shrouded in cloud and rivers. This is the only National Park in Sri Lanka in which visitors are allowed to walk around freely so we will take the opportunity for a trek through the high mountain vegetation and lakes.
Our goal is 'Worlds End' where the 2000 metre plateau comes to an abrupt end, plunging 700-1000 meters to the valley floor. On the way we will see a great deal of wildlife, including with purple­faced langurs, wild boar and barking deer as well as a small number of leopards. We board a train from Nuwara Eliya and enjoy the slow pace through the mountain scenery as we head to Ella. Ella is a sleepy village in Sri Lanka's Hill Country.
Leaving Ella we stop at the Ella and Ravana Waterfalls before reaching Yala National Park where we will spend a night just outside of the park. We will take a game drive for your best chances to see elephants, leopards and bears. Yala National Park was established in 1900 and has one of the densest populations of wildlife in Asia. The park has two important pilgrimage sites, Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vilhara and has been the center of past civilisations.
In Unawatuna we visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, an important sanctuary that aims to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for release back into the wild. There is also time to relax on some of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka. Off the coast, there are excellent diving opportunities, with a number of coral reefs and shipwrecks to be explored. Turtles come on to the beach at night to lay their eggs. There are a number of optional activities here to enjoy, and with two nights in Unawatuna, there is plenty of time to make the most of the surroundings.
On route back to Negombo we visit a Turtle harchery. Upon arrival to Colombo, expect a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings. Enjoy driving through the Commercial area or the 'Fort', so named because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort here. We drive past 'Pettah', a hectic bazaar full of ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples, then visit a Hindu temple and drive past Jumi-UL Alfar Jumma Mosque. We continue through the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to Independence Square and Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall.
Most temples require you to wear modest clothing and walk around barefoot. Remember to pack shoes that you can slip on and off easily and clothes that cover the knees and shoulders.