Capture The Wild

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by a Serene Route representative holding a sign with your name, waiting for you in the arrival’s hall after you clear baggage claim and customs. If you’d like to exchange currency or purchase a local mobile SIM card, our representative will be happy to assist you with that before your tour begins.

You’ll then be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Negombo, where you can unwind after your long journey.

Negombo is the nearest city to Bandaranaike International Airport and is a favored spot for travelers starting or concluding their Sri Lankan experience. This vibrant city boasts beautiful beaches adorned with coconut palms and mangroves. Situated at the entrance of Negombo Lagoon, it is one of Sri Lanka’s largest cities and features one of the island’s busiest fishing ports. Rich in cultural history, Negombo showcases remnants of its colonial past throughout the area.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Negombo.

Transport: Air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide.

Meals: Breakfast only.

After breakfast you will proceed to Wilpattu National Park.

Wilpattu National Park is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national parks. Situated in the northwest coast of the island, the park is close to other tourist destinations such as Anuradhapura, Puttalam and Kalpitiya.  Wilpattu is named after the presence of numerous small lakes, which are called ‘villus’ – there are over 50 of these dotted around the park. These act as natural reservoirs during dry months, ensuring there is water all year round.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Wilpattu. 

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you will experience an Morning + afternoon safari to Wilpattu National Park.

Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest national park with an area of 131,693 hectares was designated as a wild life sanctuary in 1905 and upgraded to a national park in 1938. It has an unique eco system consisting of natural lakes, Scrubland jungle, Grassland and dense forest and it provides a habitat for 31 species of mammal, including elephant, sloth bear, water buffalo, leopard, spotted deer, mongoose, sambhur, moose deer and shrew to name a few, while wetland bird species found here include, painted stork, black-headed ibis, garganeys, pin tails, whistling teals, Eurasian spoonbills, white egret, cattle egret, purple heron, asian open bill, cormorant and a variety of kingfisher species. Reptilian species include, monitor lizard, mugger crocodile, common cobra, rat snake, Indian python, pond and soft-shelled turtles and star tortoise. Butterfly species spotted in the park include the great egg fly, great orange tip, glad-eye bush brown, blue and common Mormon and the common and crimson rose.

Return to the resort in the evening & relax

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Wilpattu 

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast you will proceed to Sigiriya

En-route you will proceed to explore the Yapahuwa Palace and Fortress. 

Yapahuwa Palace and Fortress were built by King Buvanekabahu I in the year 1273. Many hints of ancient battle 

defenses can still be seen, while a decorative stairway, is the biggest showpiece of Yapahuwa. There are remains 

of a stupa, a Bodhi tree enclosure, and a rock cave used by Buddhist monks at the summit of Yapahuwa 

Rock, indicating that earlier this site was used as a Buddhist monastery. Yapahuwa was once the home for the 

Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, before it was carried away to South India by the Pandyas. Tooth Relic was later 

recovered in 1288 by King Parakkramabahu III of Sri Lanka.

Late afternoon you will proceed to experience an off the mud safari in Habarana

These 4×4 mud safaris are specially designed off road experiences which guarantee skilled driving, amazing 

terrains and a true dose of fun. You in the hands of a of a true expert who will not disappoint. You will be in 

the hands of a well experienced jungle lover who is passionate about his work and puts in that extra effort to 

make your experience a memorable one.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed by the pool.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Sigiriya

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast you will proceed to climb Sigiriya Rock.

The Rock fortress of Sigiriya rises almost 370 meters above sea level with the ruins of a palace dating back to the 5th century AD found on the summit of the rock. 1200 steps take you to the top of Sigiriya but the climb is broken up by terraces at regular intervals. Half way up another flight of stairs takes you to the paintings of the Sigiriya maidens. You will also see the mirror wall with its ancient and barely decipherable graffiti. The climb from the Lions Paw to the top of the rock is along a narrow metal stairway with railings but is worth it because of the spectacular views from the summit. For those unable to do the climb a visit to the Sigiriya Museum is highly recommended.

Later you will explore a village tour experience Habarana.

Take a short tuk tuk ride to the Hiriwaduna lake from where you will embark onto a local boat to continue your 

journey to the village. During the leisurely ride you will be able to see a large variety of dry zone bird life and 

vegetable plots of local farmers. Proceed to see the slash and burn (Chena) cultivation travelling by the 

traditional hand tractor. Learn how the farmers take care of their crops from atop a tree house and other 

aspects of their daily life. Ride on a Bullock cart (ox cart) along a dirt track and arrive at the village hut where 

you can see how the locals cook their rice and curry using earthenware pots and firewood for fuel. Enjoy the 

lunch prepared and served on a lotus leaf.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed by the pool.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Sigiriya

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

After breakfast you will proceed to Knuckles 

En-route you will Tamarind Gardens Village Experience.

 Tamarind Gardens, a 10-acre farm, is a community development project based in Digana near Kandy. The project concentrates on agricultural and livestock farming, community support projects and villa-based accommodation. The ultimate objective is for the project to be viable and sustainable in the long-term. Ayesha and Nalin will show you around their farm and you may interact with the locals and observe their daily chores of a rural village such as milking cows, caring for livestock etc. to give you a different perspective of village.

This Mountain Range has been aptly named as the Knuckles Mountain Range, since it bears resemblance to the knuckles of a clenched fist when viewed from several locations, and was named so by British surveyors after realizing the resemblance. It is also known as Dumbara Kanduvatiya, which means mist laden mountain range. The Knuckles massif is located in central Sri Lanka; in the districts of Matale and Kandy and spreads out over an area of 155 square kilometers. It is one of the major eco- tourism spots in the island and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Knuckles.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

After breakfast you will proceed to experience an The Blackpool Adventure.

Take a moderate downhill trek to what is known as the Black Pool Waterfall. Tea fields, valleys, small villages and temples, a forest with stunning trees is some of the things you pass by on this adventure. The pool is located in the middle of a forest. First all you can hear is the water from afar but as the forest opens up you will encounter the well-hidden black pool. Those who travel early will be rewarded. In the early morning hours, the sun shines on the pool making it look even more magical. Feel free to jump in for a swim if you are a good swimmer or just relax by the waterfall. We will prepare coffee, tea and snacks whilst you enjoy the black pool. Afterwards we take a very short trek uphill to a secluded location where we will enjoy a scrumptious lunch in the great outdoors. Our uphill journey will be an adventurous 4×4 jeep drive after which you will meet your chauffeur guide/ guide. 

Spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Knuckles.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early breakfast you will procced to experience a Jeep Safari to the Nitro Caves.

This morning your chauffeur guide/ guide will drop you off at the quirky village of Thangappuwa, where you will meet your ranger host for an adventurous day. We start off with an approx. 1.5 hours safari to the start of the trek. On the way we take a break to catch a stunning view of the Lakegala Rock from a picturesque location. We continue our journey passing through the Corbet’s Gap, which is one of the windiest areas in Sri Lanka. After passing a few quirky villages we enter the town of Meemure where we get off the jeep and start our trek to the entrance of the cave. The climb as we enter the caves is very steep. As we make our way deeper into the cave, we will slowly sink into the soil of deposits, when we start hearing the bat swarms up ahead. We finally encounter the bats as they start to flutter in excitement because of our arrival. After enjoying the moment, we slowly exit the caves respecting the opportunity that mother nature has presented us.  We then walk to a petite waterfall a few meters away from the caves, where we clean up and enjoy a picnic brunch before we return to meet your chauffeur guide/ guide in Thangappuwa. 

Spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Knuckles.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast you will proceed towards Gal Oya National Park.

Farther off the beaten tourist track, Gal Oya National Park is one of the best preserved and least visited of all of Sri Lanka’s national parks, rich in biodiversity and aquatic life on the lake.  Established in 1954, it serves as the main catchment area for Senanayake Samudraya, the largest reservoir in Sri Lanka. The 25,900-hectare park has about 32 species of mammals including elephants, wild boar, deer, jackals, sloth bears, marsh mugger crocodiles and an array of rare exotic birds. One of the aspects that makes this park truly special is that it is the only place where you can take a boat safari in Sri Lanka and, if you are lucky, see the Asian elephant swimming in its natural habitat.

This afternoon you will undertake a Boat Safari to Gal Oya National Park 

Enjoy the only experience in Sri Lanka that allows you to spot wildlife from the water. This Boat Safari is made worthwhile and interesting by the presence of many small islands covered with forest and outcrops which are haven to elephants and birds. Often you may see these Elephants grazing happily and freely without any intrusions. If you are lucky, you may even see these mammoths swimming in the lake heading towards an island.  The boat safari has many surprises awaiting the bird lovers too. The “Kurulu Dupatha” or the Bird Island is one of the islands that are ‘infested’ with birds and a great many varieties of bird’s swarm there.

Return to the resort & spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed by the pool.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Gal Oya.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Early Morning you will proceed to Gal Oya National Park Jeep Safari with a Picnic Lunch in the Park.

Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch prepared by our safari chef next to the Gal Oya River, a waterfall or looking over one of the park’s many breathtaking views, and have the entire place to yourself to while away the hours in one of the park’s most beautiful spots. Next venture on to the Gal Oya National Park Jeep Safari. Within the park exist herds of elephants, wild boar, four species of deer, jackals, sloth bears, marsh mugger crocodiles and an array of rare exotic birds. The jeep safari ventures into the forgotten Nilgala section of the park, once protected by ancient royalty for the abundant medicinal plants and endemic birdlife in this unique ecosystem. Our more intrepid guests can couple the drive with a safari on foot! A hike through the park with an expert naturalist offers a chance to explore hidden corners of the park

In the evening proceed to explore the Gal Oya Lodge animal monitoring program 

We have an ongoing project to record and monitor the lodge’s resident species of animals. In order to understand them better and take necessary steps to conserve these animals, our team of naturalists regularly embark on evening walks around the lodge to set up camera traps. If you wish to partake in our monitoring project or want to learn more about the animals you are welcome to join our naturalists on their evening walk as they do this.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Gal Oya

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Early Morning you will proceed to experience a Trek to Monkey Mountain.

For the intrepid ones, a 2-hour uphill trek first thing in the morning to the top of the cliffs facing the lodge is rewarded with stunning 180 degrees views over the large forested valley we are in. If you set off early enough you can watch the sun rise over the hills in the distance and observe the seemingly never-ending jungle canopy below. Return for a well-earned breakfast and enjoy the view looking back up what you just climbed. 

On completion you can head to the hotel in Yala and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

In the afternoon you will proceed to Pottery Making Experience

Sri Lankan pottery is an intricate art. This is an art that has been passed down through generations of artisans. Learn how to make your own clay pot on a traditional wheel and take it back with you as a souvenir.

Spend the entire evening at leisure by the lake or pool.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Yala.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

After a light breakfast you will proceed to experience to Buffalo Curd Making Experience with Farmer’s Lunch.

Take a cycle ride to a local home in a rural village and learn the secrets of making authentic buffalo milk curd from the true experts. You can even participate in the process and enjoy the freshly made curd with some sweet kithul treacle for dessert! This is your opportunity to taste the best of country cooking, with a sumptuous farmer’s banquet lunch prepared before your eyes. To work up your appetite, join our resident naturalist on a short trek through the surrounding area for some fascinating bird watching. Afterward, enjoy a spicy local fare of traditional rice with freshly ground coconut sambol, fish curry made from the catch of the day, lentils, young jackfruit curry, and the freshest greens. All vegetables and spices are homegrown and prepared with the utmost attention. Followed by desert which consists of seasonal fresh fruits or local curd and treacle.

In the afternoon undertake a half day jeep safari to Yala National Park.

Commence a safari drive through the Yala National Park. Yala has the highest leopard density in the world – for this reason people flock from all over the world here, making it one of the busiest parks during the season. Various other mammals can be spotted during your safari here, including sloth bears, jungle cats, mongoose, wild boar, sambar deer, spotted deer, buffalo and Asian elephants. You can also spot a number of crocodiles near rivers and pools, as well as turtle species near the coastal areas. The birdlife here is also impressive with over 130 species being spotted. The best time to go on safari is early morning or late afternoon.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Yala.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

After breakfast you will proceed to Bentota.

En-route pay a visit to Galle Dutch Fortress – a World Heritage Site, Mask Museum & Turtle Hatchery etc. If you are lucky, you can free a baby turtle by paying a few dollars to the hatchery

Bentota is one of the most popular exotic beaches along the Colombo-Galle coast, located approximately 65 km from Colombo. With an array of luxury hotels, amenities and facilities to cater to foreign tourists. Bentota is an ideal location for extended holidays at the beach. During the season – between December and April – conditions in Bentota are favorable for safe swimming, fun water sports and exciting excursions. In addition to the pristine beach, the area is blessed with a river and lagoon, which is perfect for a host of water sports. You will be spoiled for choice here with water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, wind surfing, parasailing, fishing, wake boarding and canoeing.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure & relaxed by the pool.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

Spend the entire day at leisure & relaxed by the pool.

Accommodation: Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

Transport: A/c Vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

After breakfast transfer to Colombo Airport to catch your flight back home accompanied with all the happy memories of the tropical isle Sri Lanka once known as TAPROBANE