A Journey to Sri Lanka

March 10 – 24, 2012

Few destinations as geographically small as this island nation offer so many cultural treasures and such a great amount of wildlife. Sri Lanka is considered a “super hotspot” for endemism and contains many unique plants, birds, reptiles and mammals. In fact, new species are still being discovered here. With a focus on the central and southern highlands, this journey takes you to several national parks and onto the calm seas off the southern coast.

• Explore several national parks, including an in-depth visit to Yala National Park to search for the elusive leopard.
• Have several opportunities to see wild elephants in their natural habitat.
• Go on whale-watching expeditions to look for blue and sperm whales, which congregate in high concentrations along the Sri Lankan coast.
• Visit important cultural spots, including the rock fortress at Sigiriya and the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
• Stay at lodges and camps in harmony with their surroundings.

Trip Itinerary

Saturday & Sunday, March 10 & 11, 2012: US / Colombo, Sri Lanka
Take an independent flight to Sri Lanka, arriving on Sunday. Transfer to your seaside hotel just north of the capital city of Colombo, spending the afternoon at leisure before gathering for a welcome dinner and orientation. Jetwing Blue Hotel (D)

Monday, March 12: Kaudulla National Park
Following breakfast, depart on a half-day drive to the ancient city of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. We’ll reserve Sigiriya’s cultural splendors for tomorrow; for the rest of the day go out on safari drives in Kaudulla National Park.

Kaudulla is centered around an ancient reservoir called Kaudulla Tank and is home to elephants (including herds of juvenile males), leopards, fishing cats, sambar deer and the endangered rusty spotted cat. Jetwing Vil Uyana (B,L,D)

Tuesday, March 13: Sigiriya
Awake early this morning for an easy walk along nature trails to view birdlife and small mammals in the surrounding forest. Then visit the prehistoric Sigiriya Rock Fortress, also known as the “Lion’s Rock.” This 1,200-foot high granite peak once housed an ancient citadel and palace. Explore the area, making sure to see the famous Heavenly Maidens frescoes and extensive gardens ringing the base of the plateau.

Later, tour the nearby ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993, Polonnaruwa – a temporary royal residence during the 8th century – became the capital. The conquering Cholas constructed monuments to their religion (Brahmanism). While touring the various ruins of great halls, baths and temples, look for the four splendid statues of Buddha and the remains of a renowned temple. See endemic toque macaques and visit the Primate Research Center, too. Jetwing Vil Uyana (B,L,D)

Wednesday, March 14: Peradeniya / Kandy
The Dambulla Cave Temple has been a sacred pilgrimage site for more than 22 centuries, housing magnificent murals and 157 Buddhist statues. Tour the World Heritage Site before driving to Kandy, a lush, easy-going city that was the last capital of the kings’ era. Kandy is home to The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), which is one of the most venerable places for Buddhists in Sri Lanka and around the world. A tooth purportedly belonging to Buddha is thought to be interred within the walls of this famous golden dagoba. Join crowds of usually boisterous locals as they wait in line to peer through a small opening in hopes of glimpsing the tooth; the atmosphere is always festive. Amaya Hills Hotel (B,L,D)

Thursday, March 15: Nuwara Eliya
Drive to the heart of Sri Lanka’s highlands in the morning, arriving in the hill town resort of Nuwara Eliya. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain, Pidurutalagala (8,282 feet), towers nearby. Appearing more like an English village than Asian hill town, Nuwara Eliya produces some of the finest tea in the world. Stop at a tea plantation to observe the teamaking process, from picking to drying to grading. Grand Hotel (B,L,D)

Friday, March 16: Udawalawe National Park
Surrounded by the scenic beauty of various mountain ranges, Udawalawe National Park was created to provide refuge to wildlife displaced by the building of a nearby reservoir. Today it’s an important habitat for water fowl and for herds of Sri Lankan elephants.

Drive to the park in the morning, going out on Jeep safaris and spending the night at a comfortable mobile tented camp. The elephants are undoubtedly the draw here, but other mammal species – spotted deer, water buffaloes, barking deer and jackals among them – are some of the prominent wildlife you’ll likely also see. Udawalawe Tented Camp (B,L,D)

Saturday – Monday, March 17-19: Yala National Park
On Saturday, drive to the Elephant Transit Home during the morning feeding. This is where orphaned elephants are taught to live on their own, eventually being released back into the Sri Lankan wilds. Interactions with humans are kept minimal, helping to ensure the elephants are conditioned to survive on their own.

After the visit, continue on to Yala National Park in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, where you’ll spend three nights in the park’s Ruhunu section. Yala is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants and to go in search of the rare leopard. The smallest of the great cats, the leopard is also the most agile climber and is capable of killing prey much larger than itself. The park hosts a variety of ecosystems, from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands. It’s also the home of 215 resident and migratory bird species, including the rare black-necked stork, the largest bird in the country. Expansive water holes and lagoons support a high density of endangered crocodiles.

Venture out on day and nighttime wildlife drives and enjoy the amenities at the nature resort, which sits on 10 acres of forest along the Indian Ocean. Free-roaming elephants often wander through the grounds, and observation decks allow you to watch for wildlife among the trees and rocky outcrops. Yala Safari Village (B,L,D daily)

Tuesday, March 20: Tangalle
Take a scenic 2 ½-hour drive to the beach area of Tangalle. The objective today is to learn about and search for sea turtles. Visit the Turtle Conservation Project, a nonprofit organization that works on sustainable turtle conservation. After learning about why Sri Lanka is such an ideally situated locale for sea turtles, go on a nighttime beach walk to look for turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. Tangalle Bay Hotel (B,L,D)

Wednesday, March 21: Tangalle / Galle
Continue your explorations of Sri Lanka’s marine life, with the first of two whale-watching outings. Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to whale watch at this time of year. An upwelling at the edge of the continental shelf and nutrient flow from Sri Lanka’s rivers make the ocean here an excellent feeding ground, drawing a reported 23 different species of cetaceans. Blue and sperm whales commonly migrate along the calm seas just a few miles off shore. After a morning outing, continue on to Galle, once the chief port of Sri Lanka. Visit the Galle Fort, a World Heritage site, before checking into the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoying a free evening and dinner on your own. Jetwing Lighthouse (B,L)

Thursday, March 22: Galle
Spend another morning at sea. Accompanied by naturalist guides, look for whales and learn more about what attracts them to this nook of the Southern and Indian oceans. Return to the hotel in time for lunch and to enjoy the resort, which is atop a hillock overlooking the blue waters of the ocean. You’ll have free time to enjoy the beach, go on nature walks or explore Galle’s markets and shops. Tonight, gather for a farewell dinner. Jetwing Lighthouse (B,L,D)

Friday, March 23: Colombo / Depart
Drive from Galle to Colombo. En route, stop at Ambalangoda, a seaside village famed for the manufacture of colorful masks used during exorcist rituals and folk dances. Upon arrival in Colombo, dayrooms will be available, with the remainder of the day free to relax and prepare for your trip home. Transfer to the airport in the evening. Dayrooms at Taj Airport Garden Hotel (B,L)

Saturday, March 24: US
Arrive home.