Wild Sri Lanka

Wild Sri Lanka

Go wild on this national park-hopping journey of Sri Lanka. We’ll take you to a bird-watering paradise, an elephant herd hot spot and get you off the beaten track. You’ll see the highlights of Sigiriya and Kandy, plus the less-visited National Parks of Wilpattu and Gal Oya, where you’ll feel truly cut off from the world. You’ll stay near Yala, the island's poster-child nature reserve, and the only place where you’ll be able to see the sea and go on safari at the same time. Finish in Galle for some well-earned chill time in one of our favourite forested boutique bolt-holes, and wander the streets of the walled city of Galle, coffee (or cocktail) in hand.

What's Included:

• 2 nights Ula Ulagalla - Anuradhpaura (Half Baord - complimentary upgrade from Room & Breakfast
• 2 nights Jetwing Vil Uyana - Sigiriya (Room & Breakfast)
• 1 night Coffee Bungalow - Kandy (Room & Breakfast)
• 2 nights Gal Oya lOdge - Gal Oya (Room & Breakfast)
• 3 nights Jetwing Yala (Half Board)
• 2 nights Tabula Rasa - Koggala (Room & Breakfast)
• 6 experiences included

Uda Ulagalla Facilities

Restaurants:

With two restaurants, one of them in a pavilion surrounded by rice fields, and imaginative private dining choices, dining at Ulagalla is a joy and a cultural experience in one.

Liyawela The main restaurant has a dining room and an open-air terrace overlooking the pool and lush gardens. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it offers authentic Sri Lankan cuisine alongside international and fusion dishes.

Kamatha Part restaurant, part experience, the 22-seat Kamatha is located in the middle of a working paddy field and serves up traditional dishes from the local region every evening.

Spa & Wellness:

With wattle walls that are barely visible through the greenery that surrounds it, the spa is truly a hidden gem. Here, expertly trained therapists provide a tempting range of pampering global treatments, from turmeric and sandalwood body scrubs to Balinese massages.Private yoga classes are available on request.

The small fitness centre has a selection of cardio and strength-training machines, including a treadmill and an exercise bike. Alternatively, you can get on the provided bicycles to pedal around the 58-acre grounds or the nearby village; test your upper-body strength with an archery session; or go exploring on horseback.

Jetwing Vil Uyana Facilities

Restaurants & Bar:

There are two equally beautifully situated restaurants and a chic bar with décor inspired by Sigiriya fortress, supplemented by various imaginative private dining options.

Aspara At the main restaurant, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking the water with views towards Sigiriya Rock. The menu has an international flavour but also features plenty of Sri Lankan dishes.

Sulang Café This laidback waterside hangout is open all day for drinks, snacks and light meals.

Graffiti Bar Overlooking a pretty pond dotted with blue lotus, this stylish bar serves a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Spa & Wellness:

For those with relaxation on their mind, there’s the beautiful Balinese Ayu Spa surrounded by reed beds, which provides a wide range of Ayurvedic and naturopathy treatments. You can unwind in the steam room and plunge pool before enjoying something from the spa menu, such as the signature four-in-one massage.

Private yoga sessions can be arranged via the spa.

The modern gym, open from 6am to 8pm, has a good range of cardio equipment and weights. Alternatively, there are bicycles to hire on which to explore the local area.

Coffee Bungalow Facilities

Restaurant:

A single fine-dining restaurant, Gilbert’s, is all you need for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the creativity of the chef means dining here is something you’ll find yourself looking forward to. Alongside Sri Lankan and British dishes, expect the opportunity to try some authentic Kandyan food and fusion dishes. A unique collection of coffee based cocktails are offered on the wine list, and an extensive variety of coffees can be served with your meals at an extra cost.

Spa & Wellness:

The boutique proportions of this accommodation mean it doesn’t offer a wide range of fitness facilities. However, a beautiful 14-metre infinity pool overlooks Kandy. Yoga can be arranged at extra cost.

Gal Oya Lodge Facilities

Restaurant & Bar:

Looking out to the swimming pool and onwards to Monkey Mountain, the main lodge hosts the bar and restaurant. It’s the place for cocktails, post-safari chats and a menu packed with local ingredients. Herbs are plucked straight from the hotel’s organic garden, eggs come from their free range chickens and fish is sourced from local fishermen.

Jetwing Yala

Restaurants & Bars:

In the two restaurants and three bars, mealtimes come with sea breezes and magnificent ocean views – and even more so if you opt for a signature dining experience on the dunes.

The Restaurant At the sprawling main restaurant, there’s a vast outdoor terrace where you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner against a scenic backdrop. The only stress will come from deciding what to eat from the various buffets, live cooking stations, set menus and à la carte options.

Thambapanni Serving delicious Asian fusion cuisine, Thambapanni is a chic lunch-and-dinner-only restaurant in a prime spot overlooking the sea.

The Bar Open from 11am to 11pm, the cosy bar has a superb raised position so you can enjoy coastal vistas along with the coffee or cocktail.

Beach Bar This barely there bar, little more than a palm-thatched roof on two poles, provides drinks just a few paces from the ocean.

Pool Bar You hardly need to move from your poolside lounger to sample something from the à la carte menu or just a refreshingly cold drink.

Spa & Wellness:

The wellness-boosting treatments in the small spa – featuring ethical products, of course – are a tonic for the soul. Opt for one of the soothing massage rituals, performed by expertly trained Balinese therapists.

The state-of-the-art gym, open from early until evening time, has glass walls making every workout a visual treat. Otherwise, you can play volleyball on the beach, go dune sliding or, for a gentle workout with an eco edge, you could opt for a ramble through the grounds with the resident bird expert.

Tabula Rasa Resort & Spa

Restaurant & Bar:

Tabula Rasa’s restaurant brings fresh flavours straight to your plate; farm-fresh, home-grown and sustainably caught. The poolside bar serves up drinks among the palms with super views of the ocean, beaches and the lake.

The Dutch Restaurant & Lounge The Dutch is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is known for their seafood platters. The menu is an exciting mix of Western, local and Asian flavours and caters to vegan and vegetarian too. Your setting is cosy among the coconuts, an inside/out venue with sweeping views of palm trees, hills and waves, while enjoying some jazzy tunes.

Spa & Wellness:

Spa Vasanava offers a full range of treatments with views outside where tropical birds tweet all day and cheeky monkeys play in the trees. Yoga in the wild is also a speciality, private sessions taught by professional yogis on a special yoga deck with sensational views.

Accommodation

Ula Ulagalla

• Air-conditioning
• King-size four-poster bed
• Terrace with plunge pool
• Living area
• Flat-screen television
• Wi-Fi
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Minibar
• Bicycles
• Rain shower

Jetwing Vil Uyana

• Air-conditioning
• Fan
• Kingsize bed
• Tea and coffee facilities
• Minibar*
• Telephone
• Flat-screen television
• Terrace

Coffee Bungalow

• Wi-Fi
• Bath and shower
• Kettle

Gal Oya Lodge

• Air-conditioning
• Four-poster bed
• Veranda
• Indoor/outdoor en suite bathroom
• Minibar*
• Tea and coffee facilities

Jetwing Yala

• Air-conditioning
• Balcony or terrace
• Tea and coffee facilities
• Minibar*
• Television
• Telephone
• Wi-Fi

Tabula Rasa Resort & Spa

• Air-conditioning
• Terrace
• King-size four-poster bed
• Tea and coffee facilities
• Minibar*
• Wi-Fi

*Denotes local charge

Itinerary

Days 1 & 2: Anuradhapura (for Wilpattu)

Your first journey takes you from the airport inland to Anuradhapura, one of the three points of the island’s famed Cultural Triangle. But you’re here as it is close to the wonderful Wilpattu National Park. The park is untamed and vast (it’s the largest wildlife sanctuary in the country) with over 100 villus – or lakes – that draw creatures great, small, spotted and feathered. It’s particularly a haven for leopards with over 115 individuals counted in the most recent survey. We’ve set aside a whole day for your visit to this park as, even though only a quarter of the park is open to visitors, there’s still plenty of ground to cover. Alongside keeping a keen eye out at ground level, raise your eyes to the sky every now and again as the park is also famous for its bird life.

Days 3 & 4: Sigiriya

At the next stop Sigiriya, a Cultural Triangle favourite the focus is split between history and nature. Your trip over from Anuradhapura is an easy one so there’s time to reset with some down time at your hotel before your action-packed full day in the area. You’ll start with an ascent of the iconic Sigirya Rock, a soaring granite rock used by King Kashyapa as his capital. Once you’ve made it to the top, wander around the ruins and take in the views. Then it’s on to Minneriya, a national park that’s known for its massive herds of elephants and the extraordinary elephant gathering that happens from May to October. An afternoon in the company of these beautiful creatures is good for the soul.

Day 5: Kandy

Swap rural for urban and nature for heritage in Kandy, a city with a rich heritage, tranquil tropical gardens and a buzzing and busy vibe. We’ve included a city tour that gives you an introductory insight into what makes the city tick.

Days 6 & 7: Gal Oya

This is the day we take you off the well-trodden path. While most people will head head up to the Hill Country towns from Kandy, you’ll be heading east to Gal Oya National Park. It’s a bit of a hidden gem so this visit gives you some serious bragging rights. You’ll be tracking those classic Sri Lankan species like the Asian elephant and leopard, all with a magnificent backdrop of emerald hills and the huge Senanayaka Samudra reservoir. But the most special thing of all about the park? This is one of just a handful of places on Earth where you may be lucky enough to see elephants swimming. Pure magic.

Days 8 & 10: Yala

We’ve saved Sri Lanka’s most famous reserve for last – Yala National Park. The name alone conjures up images of playing hide and seek with elusive leopards (although they’re less elusive here as the park has one of the world’s highest concentrations); elephants wandering sedately in a family line across the grasslands; and a windswept, untouched coastline. We haven’t skimped on time in the park on this holiday – a full-day safari is included to give you the best chance to seek out as much of the wildlife as Yala has to offer.

Days 11 & 12: Galle

From the southeast to the southwest: the final leg of the trip ends in heritage-packed Galle, a stunning spot with a fortified old city. You can pick a peaceful spot to stay about 10 miles from Galle or be right at the heart of the action by choosing a city bolthole. Either way, there’ll be the chance to completely unwind after your jam-packed holiday. Between chill times, we recommend some easy-going exploring along the streets of Galle Fort which are crammed with character boutiques, cafés and locally owned restaurants.

Day 13: Depart to London Heathrow

Depart back to London Heathrow.