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Southern Sri Lanka
Negombo to Negombo
9 Days
From
US$ 775
+ Local Payment of US$140.00
View Tour Notes
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.
About this tour
- Type of Travel: Private Transport
- Group Size: Normally 4-19. Average 10.
- Recommended Age: 18-65
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Physical Rating:
- Country: Sri Lanka
Itinerary
Collapse all 
Day 1 to 1 - Arrive Negombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! You are free to arrive today at your leisure.
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. In fact, due to the many ornate Roman Catholic churches scattered throughout, Negombo is sometimes known as "The Little Rome". It also has a huge and rather inviting white sandy beach!
Around 6 pm you will meet the local Tucan Travel representative for your pre-departure meeting and if not too tired after your flight you can join him for an evening meal.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Camelot Beach Hotel or similar 
Day 2 to 2 - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, we head inland away from the coast towards Nuwara Eliya, located in the heart of Sri Lankan hill country where the higher altitudes and cooler climate offers the perfect environment to grow the world-renowned Sri Lanka tea. Also today we may meet some new faces as we combine with other Tucan Travel customers arriving from the North of the island.
Optional Excursions
Adam's Peak - early morning trek for sunrise at 2,243m on top of one of Sri Lanka's most famous landmarks - $18 per person, Hiking through the tea plantation (free)
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Windsor Hotel or similar
Meals
1 Buffet Breakfast(s)
Day 3 to 3 - Nuwara Eliya & Tea Plantations Excursion
Today we enjoy an included tour to enjoy the velvety green tea plantations carpeting the rolling hills and to visit one of the local plantations and tea factory. The rest of the day offers time to be spent at your leisure, and a chance to relax and enjoy the cooler climes.
Included Excursions
Sight Seeing Tour in Nuwaraeliya
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Windsor Hotel or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 4 to 4 - Ella Gap & Horton Plains National Park
Early in the morning we leave the hotel and head towards the impressive Horton Plains National Park. The park is home to many species of wildlife, including the sambar deer, macaques, leopards, wild boar and mongooses. 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 visit Baker's Falls for panoramic views of the waterfalls, 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.
Included Excursions
Entry & trek in Horton Plains National Park, Scenic Train ride to Ella
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Hotel 88th ELLA or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast Box
Day 5 to 5 - Yala National Park
This morning we enjoy a short 5km trek to Little Adam's Peak. After watching the sunrise we will visit Nine Arch bridge breakfast, followed by the Ravana Waterfalls.
We then continue to 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.
Included Excursions
Ella Rock or Little Adam's peak, Nine Arch Bridge and Ravana waterfalls,Game drive at Yala NP
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Rain Tree Resort or similar
Meals
1 Buffet Breakfast(s)
Day 6 to 6 - Unawatuna & Elephant Sanctuary
We depart this morning heading towards Unawatuna. On the way we visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, an important sanctuary that aims to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for release back into the wild.
Upon arrival you are free to explore or 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 onto 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.
This evening we enjoy a Sri Lankan cooking class.
Included Excursions
Visit to Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, Sri Lankan cooking class including dinner
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Sanmira Renaissance or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Dinner(s)
Day 7 to 7 - Unawatuna
Today we include a city tour of nearby Galle, an old fortified city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century, and later expanded by the Dutch.
There are also a number of optional activities to enjoy in and around Unawatuna, and with two nights here, there's plenty of time to explore or simply take the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings and relax at the end of your enjoyable, activity-packed adventure.
Included Excursions
Galle City Tour
Optional Excursions
Whale watching – US$65
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Sanmira Renaissance or similar
Meals
1 Buffet Breakfast(s)
Day 8 to 8 - Negombo
On route back to Negombo we visit a Turtle hatchery 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.
Included Excursions
Turtle Hatchery, Moonstone Mine, Cinnamon Cultivation and Colombo City Tour
Optional Excursions
Madhu Ganga River Cruise – US$10
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels at Camelot Beach Hotel or similar
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 9 to 9 - Depart Negombo
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
What you need to know
- We will try to run your tour as close to the itinerary as conditions will allow. On very rare occasions, local events may affect the way your itinerary operates. We ask for your flexibility and understanding in these situations.
- Many countries have strict rules on the age and quality of foreign cash. We therefore recommend you bring only new, unmarked and undamaged bank notes. This includes your Local Payment on tours where required.
- 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.
- The first day of your tour is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities. You will meet your Tucan Travel rep at 18.00 for the pre-departure meeting. In order to allow time to relax and see some of the sights you may wish to add pre-tour accommodation.
- This tour includes a compulsory Local Payment that needs to be paid to the Tour Leader on Day 1 of your tour. For more information on our Local Payments please click here.
What's Included
Excursions & Activities
- Sight Seeing Tour in Nuwaraeliya
- Entry & trek in Horton Plains National Park, Scenic Train ride to Ella
- Ella Rock or Little Adam's peak, Nine Arch Bridge and Ravana waterfalls
- Game drive at Yala NP
- Visit to Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, Sri Lankan cooking class including dinner
- Galle City Tour
- Turtle Hatchery, Moonstone Mine, Cinnamon Cultivation and Colombo City Tour
Accommodation
8 night(s) in hotels
Transportation
Private Vehicle
Meals
3 Buffet Breakfast(s), 4 Breakfast(s), 1 Breakfast Box, 1 Dinner(s)
Other
Tucan Travel Tour Leader
What's Not Included
- Visas and travel insurance
- Spending money – budget for meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras
- International flights to/from the start/end of your tour and departure taxes
- Tips on excursions, visas, travel insurance, personal items and single rooms.
- Optional excursions - On each trip, you may find there are some excursions that are not included. This might be because they are not to everyone's taste or there may be various options of differing value to choose from. More information on the excursions we recommend is listed under each day of your itinerary though prices may vary. If you are after something in particular, don't hesitate to ask your tour leader.
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