Wilpattu NP
Home to sloth bear, leopard, birdlife and elephant in one of Sri Lankas oldest national parks.
Embark on a wildlife journey of Sri Lanka’s varied national parks seeing the landscape through the eyes of expert guides. Spot leopard in lush jungles, whales breaching off the coast and lake swimming elephants – Sri Lanka is a perfect destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
Over 12 days visit four national parks offering a wonderful chance to experience the wealth of wildlife and birdlife on offer in Sri Lanka. Explore by foot, boat, jeep or bike before ending with some time on the coast. Dotted with leisurely wanderings through ruined ancient cities and staying in hotels offering a sense of place, this holiday suits the most curious traveller with a fascination for nature and wildlife.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
2
Boat Safaris
Witness wild elephants swimming while crocodiles bask on the shores of Gal Oya Lake.
Coastal Sri Lanka
Explore historical Galle and spot whales between November and April.
4
Leopard Sightings
Spot leopard and support conservation efforts in Yala National Park.
Why Steppes?
Rated Excellent
on Trustpilot
One of the World's Top 5
Travel Specialists
Transparent and
Accountable
-
Day 1
Colombo (The Wallawwa)
-
Day 2
Colombo - Wilpattu National Park (Leopard Trails)
-
Day 3
Wilpattu National Park
-
Day 4
Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya (Vil Uyana)
-
Day 5
Sigiriya
-
Day 6
Sigiriya - Gal Oya National Park (Gal Oya Lodge)
-
Day 7
Gal Oya National Park
-
Day 8
Gal Oya - Yala National Park (Kulu Safaris)
-
Day 9
Yala National Park
-
Day 10
Yala National Park - Thalpe, Galle (The Why House)
-
Day 11
Thalpe, Galle
-
Day 12
Galle - Colombo
Day 1
Colombo (The Wallawwa)
On arrival, transfer 30 minutes to your accommodation.
Day 2
Colombo - Wilpattu National Park (Leopard Trails)
Transfer approximately three hours to Wilpattu National Park – home to birds, sloth and, if lucky, leopard.
Day 3
Wilpattu National Park
Spend the day based at your camp, enjoying game drives with expert guides within Wilpattu National Park.
Day 4
Wilpattu National Park - Sigiriya (Vil Uyana)
After a final game drive transfer approximately two and a half hours to the Cultural Triangle and Vil Uyana, stopping to climb up the impressive giant rock fortress of Sigiriya.
Day 5
Sigiriya
Explore the former Sri Lankan capital of Polonnaruwa and Minneriya National Park. Minneriya is well known for the elephant population and migration during the summer.
Day 6
Sigiriya - Gal Oya National Park (Gal Oya Lodge)
Transfer approximately four hours to Gal Oya National Park, home to a lesser visited region of Sri Lanka and particular worthwhile for birds, lake safaris and elephants.
Day 7
Gal Oya National Park
Spend a peaceful day discovering hidden Vedda villages, birds and spotting elephants while travelling on the lake by boat.
Day 8
Gal Oya - Yala National Park (Kulu Safaris)
Leave the peace of Gal Oya behind and transfer approximately three hours south to Yala National Park.
Day 9
Yala National Park
Full day of leopard safaris, exploring with the specialist camp guides. Time can also be spent walking from the camp or canoeing on local rivers. Yala is a diverse and fascinating park.
Day 10
Yala National Park - Thalpe, Galle (The Why House)
After a final game drive transfer approximately two and a half hours to the south coast. Home to The Why House and long stretches of beach.
Day 11
Thalpe, Galle
Spend the day relaxing and visiting Galle which is home to stylish restaurants, historical architecture and fort walls. Spot whales between the months of November and April.
Day 12
Galle - Colombo
Transfer north along the coast for around two hours, arriving into Colombo for onward travel.
More Details
Life on Land
Sri Lanka's National Parks
Sri Lanka is home to some beautiful National Parks covering diverse landscapes, ranging from dry plains to wetlands and two annual monsoons plus a wide range of altitudes, gives Sri Lanka a range of biodiversity normally found across an entire continent. The picturesque lakes of Gal Oya are perfect for elephants, crocodile while Yala offers the best chance of spotting leopard. Sri Lankas oldest National Park. Wilpattu is predominantly made up of lush forests peppered with lakes and all are home to a wealth of wildlife from sloth bear to Asian elephant and abundant bird life.
Apex Predator
Leopards
As Sri Lanka’s only large predator, the leopard thrives in the countries national parks. With a population of up to 800, Sri Lanka offers a real chance of spotting this elusive and endangered cat. Good guiding with a sensitive approach is how to view leopard, offering a positive impact and support to conservation efforts.
Life on Water
Marine Wildlife
Between the months of November and April the waters around Sri Lanka are home to whale species including sperm, humpback and Brydes minke. Blue whale can also be seen off the south coast of the island, when the waters there are rich in krill. Add to this large pods of dolphin plus five of the seven sea turtle species being regularly found along the coast.
How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
-
-
-
Gal Oya Lodge have installed a wildlife training and research facility on site which is used by in house naturalists and local conservation organisations to monitor and protect wildlife within the park. The WWCT began research here in 2017 in a bid to understand how leopards and other wild cats use patch rainforest and corridors such as Gal Oya.
Kulu Safaris Yala is powered by renewable energy, generating around 70% of their power from solar panels. Their fully organic waste management system turns organic matter from the hotel into usable fertiliser for their gardens.
Teardrop Hotels, of which The Walawwa is a member, have created their own charitable foundation CARE which supports local community causes. Your stay here will contribute to providing food, medicine and reading glasses to low-income families across Sri Lanka. The charity has strong ties to a local orphanage and helps some of the older children find work, with one currently being trained to work at the Wallawwa.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
Start planning your trip
Send us an enquiry
Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.
Review Contact Form
A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
This Itinerary
Price
From £6,995 Per person
When to travel
Sri Lanka in January
Sri Lanka benefits from generally good weather all year round and experiences a tropical climate with the best and most popular to visit being during our winter months, from January to April.
Sri Lanka in February
Visit the Southern and Western coast of Sri Lanka to experience the hot and humid climate in coastal areas or visit the mountainous regions for cooler temperatures with less humidity.
Sri Lanka in March
In Northern and Central Sri Lanka, temperatures will start to rise, and these regions will become more humid with March being generally a dry month for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka in April
Overall, April is a very good time to visit Sri Lanka, with most of the island experiencing high temperatures and lots of sunshine, all before the first monsoon rains of the year begin in the South.
Sri Lanka in May
From May to August, the country experiences the first of its two annual monsoon seasons in Southwest Sri Lanka. Therefore, during these months it is best to visit Northeast Sri Lanka including Batticaloa and Passekudah.
Sri Lanka in June
Rainfall with continue in the South during the monsoon season whereas in Northern Sri Lanka, June is one of the best times to visit this area with a warm climate and high temperatures throughout.
Sri Lanka in July
In Northern Sri Lanka, the months of June and July are particularly good times to travel to the area, with minimal rainfall, particularly high temperatures and long days of sunshine.
Sri Lanka in August
Throughout the country, you can expect excellent climate conditions. August is an ideal month for those wanting to experience both the Northeast and Southwest regions of the island, typically quite unusual due to Sri Lanka’s monsoon seasons.
Sri Lanka in September
September will start to see the end of the monsoon season in the Southwest and whilst rainfall and thunderstorms are less frequent, are still likely across the region.
Sri Lanka in October
Prior to the monsoon season, rainfall is likely throughout the country and can sometimes be unpredictable, meaning disruptions in travel are likely.
Sri Lanka in November
From November to February, Northeast Sri Lanka will experience one of two annual monsoon seasons. Whilst most days will experience rainfall, it is a great time to travel to experience the lush, green countryside.
Sri Lanka in December
Due to the monsoon in the Northeast, it is best to visit the southwest coast of Sri Lanka prior to the second monsoon reaching this area in May. Experience high levels of sunshine, perfect for Sri Lanka’s beaches.
Holiday Inspiration
Our experts have created and curated these tailor-made holiday ideas to get you started. Take the time to search through them and find something that is the spark for your unique adventure.
Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?
Featured in the press
