South Western Tour of Sri Lanka

Looking forward to exploring the beautiful paradise island? The ‘South Western Tour of Sri Lanka’ is the tour you should be going on to witness and experience the charming, magnificent, picturesque, awe-inspiring and intoxicating Sri Lanka. Prepare yourself for the ultimate travel plunge to a land of unforgettable experiences, whilst you witness a blend of history, culture, traditions, architecture and landscapes at each of our picked destinations.

You will have many one-of-a-kind experiences to take back home from this island, from admiring the soaring hills, valleys weaving through lush green mountains, learning the history of the magnificent temples, trekking to admire incredible panoramic views, adrenaline-packed jeep safari into the wild, to keeping up with the exciting happenings of the city and much more. Sri Lanka is home to a bounty of spectacular destinations and scenic attractions, each with a story of its own. Embark on our carefully curated tour with signature experiences from start to finish, exclusively designed with you in mind.

  • 10 Days 09 Nights
Itinerary

Soon after you touchdown in Sri Lanka, an NKAR representative will welcome you at the airport. Here’s to an exciting and exclusive tour ahead, and you will be spending the first day in Veyangoda – This city is situated in the Gampaha district of the Western Province of Sri Lanka. After a 30 mins drive, you will arrive at your hotel in Veyangoda to check-in

Evening visit Dunagaha Village where you will experience weaving done at homes which is a self-employed domestic industry and very old fashion of handloom. If there is a mood to buy a nice scarf, there is good value for money.

Overnight stay at hotel in Veyangoda.

Kick start your day with early hotel breakfast and thereafter proceed to Sinharaja forest via Ratnapura. The journey via Ratnapura known as the ‘Gem City’ is a very scenic drive via winding roads passing fantastic country views with a glimpse of the busy city. Ratnapura is a major city in Sri Lanka and is the capital city of Sabaragamuwa Province. Once you reach the Sinharaja forest reserve, you will engage in an exciting trek into the woods.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is the best-kept rain forest in the nation. It has been recognized as a key biodiversity hotspot drawing thousands of enthusiastic trekkers and travelers each year. The forest reserve is a tropical rain forest in the southwestern part of Sri Lanka and is bordered by Galle, Matara, and Ratnapura districts. The total area of the forest reserve is 18,900 acres or 7,648 hectares and ranges in altitude from 300m to 1,170m. It is popular as a main eco-tourism attraction and an evergreen forest in Sri Lanka. You can also go bird watching and further explore the forest.

The Sinharaja forest was identified as a world biosphere in 1978 and recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1978. It is a great place to study flora and fauna as it is home to clusters of endemic species, plants, and a variety of well-known and rare plants. It is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka’s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Be prepared to be amazed by the fascinating beauty of the forest and capture as many pictures you like!

After the exciting forest trek throughout the day, you will head to the hotel in Sinharaja for a relaxed overnight stay.

Overnight stay at hotel in Sinharaja.

After breakfast you will proceed to Balangoda which is a large town in the Ratnapura District and Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Once you reach Balangoda, you will visit the iconic Samanala Wewa.

Surrounded by rocky mountain sceneries, the still serene waters of the Samanalawewa reservoir is a perfect spot for canoeing or kayaking. The reservoir’s name is derived from the Sinhalese word ‘samanala’ that means ‘butterfly’ and this refers to the great number of butterflies in this area and also denotes the shape of the reservoir. Whether you want a relaxed little paddle for a couple of hours or venture out more into the river or spend more time exploring the reservoir, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience. A well-experienced guide will provide you with the right technics, safety instructions and modern life jacket.

Next, you will visit a beautiful waterfall called ‘Duwili Ella’. The height of the waterfalls is about 40 m (130 ft) and the name describes the sparkling spray of water emanating from the waterfall. After admiring the cascading waterfall, you will head to Udawalawe to spend the night by a scenic river campsite. (Typically, a village style accommodation with good quality)

Overnight stay in Udawalawe.

Your day starts early today with an early breakfast, as you will embark on an adrenaline-packed jeep safari at the Udawalawe National Park – a famous tourist attraction, renowned for its outstanding scenic beauty and wealth of faunal and floral species, predominantly mammals and birds. Situated in the dry zone with unique vegetation and outstanding geographical features, the key ecosystem of the park is made up of forests with scattered grasslands and thorny shrubs. Capture as many pictures you can of the rare wildlife sightings and cherish each moment in the wilderness. After this safari, you will visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home.

Since inception in 1995, the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home has helped care for injured, sick and orphaned baby elephants from all over Sri Lanka. You will be able to observe a lively group of 20-30 young and teenage elephants who are fed four times a day. The resident animals are looked after until they are considered fit enough to be released back into the wild. Following this, you will enjoy a mouthwatering lunch at the Athgira river campsite. Athgira River Camp is located at the doorstep of Udawalawe National Park with fantastic views of the Rakwana River.

In the evening, you will engage in a village walk. Take a small village tour through the rustic rural community accompanied by an expert guide. You will witness the village lifestyle, culture and hospitality. After an interesting village walk, you would have experienced true Sri Lankan hospitality filled with warmth and big smiles! You will wind up for the day with an overnight stay at the river campsite under the star-studded skies.

Overnight stay in Udawalawe.

After breakfast, your wildlife expedition continues today at the Yala National Park as you will take part in the jeep safari that starts in the morning. The Yala National Park is a sprawling forest with watering holes, and home to an abundance of wildlife including leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds and much more. Yala is home to one of the best leopard spotting places on the planet, with the highest population density of leopards in the world. If you want to see a leopard, there is no better place! So, do appreciate what you see and capture the rare sightings as much as you can!

In the evening you will visit the Kirinda beach to enjoy the glorious sunset. It is a quiet town nestled away from the hustle and bustle of major towns and known for its historic sites and breathtaking sceneries. The secluded Kirinda Beach is an ideal spot for you to enjoy a long evening walk on its long stretch of white sand and splashing waves. Prepare for sweeping views of the isolated coast, and marvel at the long stretch of dunes and the ocean beyond. After this visit, you will end the day with dinner followed by an overnight stay at a hotel in Yala.

Overnight stay in Yala.

Today you will travel to Kataragama after breakfast to visit the Kataragama Dewalaya. Kataragama is a pilgrimage town sacred to Buddhist, Hindu and indigenous Vedda people of Sri Lanka. The Kataragama temple ‘pooja’ is a colourful and enigmatic prayer done amid chanting worshippers. The legendary worship place has mysterious legends about the Kataragama god and is an example of Sri Lanka’s racial unity and has mysterious legends about the god residing in Kataragama.

Next, you will visit the Situlpawwa Buddhist Monastery, an ancient hermitage believed to date back to the 2nd century BC. The monastery includes a collection of rocky outcrops and caves deep in the heart of the Yala National Park. The solitude and serenity of the monastery carry a quiet and calming spiritual vibe that confirms its original name – ‘hill of the quiet mind’. After an exciting day, you will return to Yala for a comfortable overnight stay.

Overnight stay in Yala.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Dry Zone Botanic Gardens, ‘Mirijjawila’. It is one of the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka and is the first Dry Zone botanic gardens in the country. The garden is beautifully landscaped and has an extensive collection of blossoms for viewing.

Thereafter proceed towards your beach destination En route visit the Ussangoda

Ussangoda National Park is the 21st national park established in Sri Lanka, with the intent of safeguarding the area’s biological, archaeological and geographical values. Ussangoda differ from other destinations of Sri Lanka because of the exclusive soil structure and flora. There are several beliefs regarding the unique reddish color of the soil.

The soil structure has some residuals like a meteoroid hit and is complemented with high concentration of minerals and metals. Due to the Martian look of the ground, it seems like we are on a Mars planet! According to the Ramayana Legend, Ussangoda is the place where King Ravena’s airport was constructed, and his big peacock shaped aircraft landed.

Thereon stop to visit the Hummanaya Blow Hole, it’s a natural wonder that sprays a jet of sea water into the air between two giant rocks; sometimes reaching heights of over 80 – 100 feet and should be added to your list of things to see while you stay with us in Mirissa. The best time to see this is during high tide, as you can experience the salty spray on your skin as seawater jets towards the sky and falls back on its wide-eyed audience.

Next, you will be heading to Dondra Head and the iconic Coconut Tree Hill in Mirissa. Standing at the Southernmost point of Sri Lanka, the Dondra Head Lighthouse was built by the British in 1889. Octagonal in shape and painted in white, the Dondra Lighthouse stands 54m tall and is one of the four international lighthouses in Sri Lanka and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. The Lighthouse is still active and helps to guide ships and boats and is carefully positioned at a vital point in the Maritime route. The Dondra Head Lighthouse also transmits radio wave signals to surrounding lighthouses in Sri Lanka.

You will also visit the iconic ‘coconut tree hill’ – a well-known place in Mirissa. You can watch the infinite sea and Mirissa bay area from the top of this amazing place. It is a unique cliff located at the end of a beach which is covered in palm trees. You will conclude the day with an overnight stay at a resort in Ahangama.

Overnight stay in Ahangama.

The beach resort in Ahangama is blessed with a beautiful beach frontage offering you the perfect island getaway from the busy city life. It is the ideal place to unwind, relax, refresh and experience the heritage, culture, nature and the way of life in southern Sri Lanka by the beach. You can indulge in a spa treatment or take a dip in the azure pool if you wish. You will enjoy a delicious spread of breakfast here before heading for a village cookery experience.

For the local cookery and culinary experience, You will visit the local market, interact with the village vendors and together with the tour guide you will buy your provisions to prepare your lunch. Next, you will visit a village where you will engage in preparing your village lunch together with village folks. You will also meet and interact with the village families as they share their lifestyles and stories with you so that you can feel the pulse of the rural people and the village life of Sri Lanka. After relishing your own cooked Sri Lankan style lunch, you will bid farewell to the villagers and head back to the hotel. You will end the day with a fantastic spread for dinner followed by an overnight stay at the beach resort in Ahangama.

Overnight stay in Ahangama.

After breakfast, you will travel to Galle via a 30 minutes train journey. Upon reaching Galle, you can take part in a city tour to witness the charming colonial town on the Southern coast. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a 300-year-old fort, a maritime museum and a historic lighthouse that you can visit to learn more of Sri Lankan history. You will also visit the lace factory in Galle. In fact, lace-making is a popular craft in the city of Galle and one the most popular and artistic is one is ‘Beeralu Lace Making’. This art is believed to have been passed down from either the Dutch or Portuguese and has now grown into one of the most popular crafts in the country.

After the Galle city tour, you will get back to the beach resort in Ahangama to relax the evening. You will enjoy a fantastic spread for dinner followed by an overnight stay in Ahangama.

Optional – If Weather permits will arrange dinner at the Beach

Overnight stay in Ahangama.

Today is your last day on the paradise isle. Indulge in a lavish spread of breakfast before leaving to the airport for departure.

This brings you to the end of an exciting, fun-filled and memorable trip in Sri Lanka!

Route Map
Included
  • Accommodation on DBL sharing on (HB basis) Breakfast & Dinner at hotels specified or at hotels of similar standard.
  • Services of English Speaking chauffer.
  • Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entrance Fees for the below
  • Sinharaja rain forest
  • Udawala national park safari with a jeep
  • Yala national park safari with a jeep
  • Elephant transit home
  • Royal botanical garden
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