Combine two of Sri Lanka's best national parks with four nights unwinding on the south coast. This 11-day tailor-made holiday takes you from the elephant herds of Udawalawe to the leopards of Yala, with a stop at the historic Galle Fort on the way to the beach. Every hotel, safari and night can be adjusted to suit your budget and travel dates.
Duration: 11 Days
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Itinerary Highlights:
Depart London Heathrow in the afternoon and fly overnight to Colombo. You'll be met on arrival and transferred straight to Negombo beach, a relaxed coastal town that's the perfect place to shake off the jet lag before heading inland.
This morning you'll transfer to Udawalawe National Park, set beside the Udawalawe reservoir and river. The park is best known for its large herds of elephants, which gather here in greater numbers and with more reliability than almost anywhere else in Sri Lanka - alongside spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, water buffalo and jackal. In the evening, head out on your first jeep safari to see them in their natural habitat.
After a final morning safari at Udawalawe, continue on to Yala in time for an evening safari. Yala is Sri Lanka's largest national park and has one of the highest densities of leopards anywhere in the world, alongside wild elephants, wild boar, wild buffalo, sloth bears, deer and crocodiles. Large flocks of migratory and resident birds make it a rewarding stop for birdwatchers too.
A full day to explore Yala, with both a morning and an afternoon jeep safari. Splitting the day this way, rather than one long drive, gives you the best chance of catching the park's wildlife at its most active, around dawn and dusk.
A final morning safari, then head to your beach resort in Ahungalla, breaking the journey with a visit to Galle. Originally built by the Portuguese and later extensively fortified by the Dutch, Galle Fort is one of the best-preserved colonial sea forts in Asia, with cobbled streets, a Dutch museum and church, and shops selling intricate lace and ebony carvings.
Four nights at your chosen beach resort to properly unwind — swap between sunbathing, swimming and exploring the coastline at your own pace.
Transfer to Colombo Airport for your flight back to the UK.
subject to change - call us for live pricing and availability
Recommended Hotels :
All our Indian Ocean tailor-made holidays are sourced using the best available accommodation for your budget and package, along with the best ground services. Below are our suggested hotels along with the price guide line. Hotels and itineraries can be tailormade to suit the individual. We assure the best possible value for money with a very personalised service. Call us on 01635 551 011 for more details or email : holidays@chartertravel.co.uk
All our holidays are tailor-made and can be adapted by changing hotels durations and destinations to suit the individuals tastes and requirements – please do get in touch so we can start planning.
The dry season, roughly February to June, gives you the best safari conditions in both Udawalawe and Yala - waterholes shrink, so animals gather in more predictable spots, making sightings easier. Yala's main safari zone usually closes for several weeks of maintenance around September and into October each year, with exact dates varying, so it's worth confirming availability with us before booking if you're travelling in that window. The beach days in Ahungalla work well year-round.
No safari can ever guarantee a sighting, since these are wild animals - but Yala has one of the highest densities of leopards anywhere in the world, and this itinerary includes three safaris over two days, which gives you a strong chance. Dawn and dusk drives, both included here, are when leopards tend to be most active.
Yes. UK passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before flying, valid for a 30-day stay with double entry. As of May 2026 the ETA fee has been waived for UK travellers, though this is set by the Sri Lankan government and can change, so we'd always recommend checking the current requirements closer to your travel date. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
Yes, completely. This sample itinerary is just a starting point. We can extend your time in Udawalawe or Yala, swap in different hotels at any stage, lengthen or shorten the beach stay, or add on somewhere like Sigiriya or the cultural triangle if you'd like to see more of the island. Just let us know what matters most to you and we'll build the trip around it.
Beyond elephants and leopards, both parks are home to wild boar, wild buffalo, sloth bears, crocodiles, sambar and spotted deer, jackals and grey langurs, plus an excellent range of birdlife - Yala alone has recorded over 200 species, including painted storks, eagles and peacocks.
Generally, yes. Safari jeep drives are usually fine for children from around five years old upwards, though they do involve a few hours on bumpy tracks, so it's worth pacing the day around younger travellers. The beach resort in Ahungalla offers plenty of downtime to balance out the more active safari days. Let your travel advisor know the ages of everyone travelling and we can tailor the pace and hotel choice accordingly.
