Cost of the tour:(14 Nights & 15 Days)

Sri Lanka – The Ultimate Island Safari 13 nights/ 14 days tour experience with Jetwing Eco Holidays. Day 1: Route: Airport > Galle Drive Time: Approx: 3 ½ hrs Hotel: Jetwing Lighthouse Room Type: Deluxe Main Attractions: Galle fort Arrival in Sri Lanka and transfer to Galle for two nights Evening visit Galle fort. Dutch Fort-Galle is a UNESCO world heritage site. Visit the Bastians including the Sun, Moon, Star, Zwart (with the old water-gate and hidden entrance identified as the Santa Cruz Bastion of the Portuguese), Akesloot (where the first Breadfruit tree was planted by the Dutch), Old Gunpowder Magazine, Aeloes, Triton, Neptune and other Bastians. Walk in the narrow streets, including the Lighthouse Street (Zeeburg Street), Leyn-Baan Street (Lijnberg meaning rope walk), and Modarabaay Street (Modderbaai meaning Mud bay) see the Old Dutch Houses, private Museum where Dutch period antiques could be seen and part of the Old sewage system that emptied to the sea with the high/low tide.

Day 2: Route: Galle > Mirissa > Galle Hotel: Jetwing Lighthouse Room Type: Deluxe Main Attractions: Dolphin & Whale Watching Morning, drive to the Mirissa Fishery's Harbour and start your journey out to sea in a spacious and comfortable boat. Blue Whales in concentrations not seen elsewhere in the world would be the highlight of the day. A concentration of Blue Whales of this nature is something which whale watchers can only dream about. During the migration, Blue Whales are seen relatively close to shore as the continental shelf is narrow to the South of Dondra.

Day 3: Route: Galle > Sinharaja Drive Time: Approx: 3 hrs Hotel: Blue Magpie Lodge

Jetwing Eco Holidays "Specialists in Birding & Wildlife Travel” For the latest in wildlife sightings visit our blog www.jetwingeco.com

1

Room Type: Standard Main Attractions: Sinharaja Rainforest After breakfast leave for Sinharaja for two nights. Evening birding at Sinharaja rainforest

Day 4: Route: Sinharaja Hotel: Blue Magpie Lodge Room Type: Standard Main Attractions: Sinharaja Rainforest Full day birding at Sinharaja Rainforest (A UNESCO World Heritage Site) for lowland endemics and mixed species bird flocks. According to a study of the mixed species bird on average 42 individual birds occur in the flocks, which makes this world’s largest mixed species bird flock. The mixed species Bird flock study of Sinharaja forest has been continuing since 1981 and is considered as the World’s longest studied bird flock study. Birding highlights include Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White-faced Starling and Scaly Thrush.

Day 5: Route: Sinharaja > Yala Drive Time: Approx: 4 hrs Hotel: Jetwing Yala Room Type: Superior After breakfast leave for Yala for three nights.

Day 6 & 7: Route: Yala Hotel: Jetwing Yala Room Type: Superior Main Attractions: Yala National Park Morning & Afternoon jeep safari to Yala National Park. According to the Leopard Research, under the Jetwing Research Initiative Yala Block 1 has the highest density of Leopards in the world. Yala therefore offers one of the best chances in Asia to see Leopards. You may also see Elephant, Sloth Bear, Sambhur, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Stripe-necked, Brown & Ruddy Mongooses, Black-naped Hare & several civet species. In the water holes you may see Mugger Crocodile, Painted Stork, Lesser Whistling Teal, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great, Median & Little Egrets & the rare Black-necked Stork. Also drive up to the Buttuwa Tank to see the rare winter visitor, Bay-backed Shrike. The migrant bird species that you are likely to see include Indian Pitta, Brahminy Myna & large flocks of Rosy Starling flying for roost. The monsoon forest vegetation of the park is dominated by Palu Trees. (Manilkara hexandra) and the thick undergrowth is dominated by thorny bushes.


2

Day 8: Route: Yala > Nuwara Eliya Drive Time: Approx: 5 hrs Hotel: Jetwing St. Andrews Room Type: Superior Main Attractions: Hakgala Botanical Gardens After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya for two nights. En-route visit Hakgala gardens. The Hakgala Botanical Gardens was originally an experimental Cinchona plantation established in 1860. Cinchona is the plant from which the anti-malarial drug quinine is obtained. The gardens today enjoy a reputations for its roses and ferns. Although small in relation to Peradeniya, it is nonetheless is a charming place and deserves a visit for those who want a holiday at a leisurely pace. Botanists should take a look at the orchid house. The gardens look pretty much what you would expect from a botanical garden with neat lawns, drive ways and landscaped collections of plants from all over the world. But of course this is a tropical botanical garden and it has a few surprises like Bear Monkeys (purple faced leaf monkey - mountain race) and Horned Lizards, all wonderfully wild.

Day 9: Route: Nuwara Eliya > Horton Plains > Nuwara Eliya Hotel: Jetwing St. Andrews Room Type: Superior Main Attractions: Horton Plains National Park Morning, visit Horton Plains National Park. Walk though the grasslands and Cloud Forests to a popular viewpoint know as World’s end, which is an escapement with a 870 m drop. The park sensational view points and no better place you would have asked for if you’re a couple who enjoy the beauty of superb landscapes. Horton Plains offers excellent opportunities to photograph Sambar, Sri Lanka’s largest species of deer which are seen near the entrance. We look for montane endemics Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka White Eye, Dull Blue Flycatcher and if lucky the scarce montane endemic, Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush. Also look for Indian Blue Robin, Zitting Cisticola, Pacific Swallow, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Crested Goshawk and Indian Pied Bush Chat. In the forest patches we look for the endemic Bear Monkey and Dusky Squirrel.

Day 10: Route: Nuwara Eliya > Kandy (Approx: 3 hrs) > Sigiriya (Approx: 2 hrs) Hotel: Aliya Resort & Spa Room Type: Deluxe Main Attractions: Temple of the Tooth After breakfast leave for Sigiriya for three nights.


3

En-route stop at Kandy to visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth.

Day 11: Route: Sigiriya Hotel: Aliya Resort & Spa Room Type: Deluxe Main Attractions: Sigiriya Rock Fortress Morning, climb Sigiriya Rock. Evening birding around the Sigiriya Sanctuary, which will be your chance to look for dry zone birds. Look for Orange-headed Thrush, Purple Sunbird, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama and Shahin. Look for also see the rare Blue-eared Kingfisher around the Sigiriya Moat. Afternoon at leisure

Day 12: Route: Sigiriya > Polonnaruwa > Minneriya > Sigiriya (Approx: 1 ½ hrs each way) Hotel: Aliya Resort & Spa Room Type: Deluxe Main Attractions: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park After breakfast leave to visit Polonnaruwa (A UNESCO World Heritage Site), the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Visit the world famous rock-cut Buddha statues of Gal Vihara and the Parakrama Samudra (‘Sea of Parakrama’) a 2500-hectare man made reservoir built by King Parakramabahu I (1153 –1186 AD) with a capacity of 134 million cubic meters. Birding highlights include seeing a large colony of Rose-ringed Parakeets which holds the Lion's share of the nest holes found on the tall Colon Trees (Adina cordifolia). We also look for the endemic Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, well-camouflaged Blue-winged Leafbird, highly vocal Large Cuckooshrike and the beautiful songster White-rumped Shama. In the afternoon visit Minneriya National Park by safari jeeps. Minneriya National Park is dominated by the Minneriya tank. The tank, surrounding flood plains, forest and wooded hills cover an area of 8889 hectares and extend north from the Sudu Kanda mountain range. In 1997, this area was declared a National Park to protect the fauna and flora within the reservoir. For the role as a wetland, the reservoir and the surroundings have played; it has been included in the list of Asian wetlands of international importance. The tank provides water to 8900 hectares of paddy field and is thriving with fresh water fish. As well as providing water for irrigation, this tank and its environs have provided the necessary resources to harbor many wildlife and plant life. Many small streams that converge at the reservoir feed the tank. This abundance of water attracts a variety of wild animals to the park. The 'Gathering', the largest concentration of Elephants in Asia, happens when over 300 gather on the grassland that sprouts on the receding shores of Minneriya Lake. The Gathering at Minneriya is now ranked sixth amongst the world's greatest wildlife spectacles by Lonely Planet and occurs every year from around June to October, with numbers peaking from August onwards.


4

Day 13: Route: Sigiriya > Colombo Drive Time: Approx: 4 hrs Hotel: Villa Talangama Room Type: Kings Main Attractions: Talangama Wetland After breakfast leave for Colombo for two nights. In the evening, visit Talangama Wetland and surrounding paddy fields for an assortment of brilliant red Dragonflies such as Elusive Adjutant, Eastern Scarlet Darter and Spine-legged Redbolt and with luck two rare gomphids. Around the lake and canals we find many pond damselflies including endemic species of Gems, Sprites, and Threadtails.

Day 14: Route: Colombo > Airport Drive Time: Approx: 1 ½ hrs Transfer to airport for departure

THE ABOVE PRICE INCLUDES:  Accommodation  Meals on HB basis (Dinner & Breakfast)  Transportation in an A/C car  English speaking chauffeur guide  Entrance Tickets  Jeep Safaris  Dolphin & Whale Watching Charges  Government taxes THE ABOVE PRICE EXCLUDES:  Flights & Visa  Lunch & Beverages  Expenses of a personal nature  Tips and porterage PAYMENT POLICY. We require a 15 % advance payment as soon as the tour is confirmed and the balance payment 30 days prior to the date of arrival. You may pay us by the following methods.


5

1.By Telegraphic Transfer (Senders bank charges to be borne by client). Account no (USD Account): 8010001543 Beneficiary: JETWING ECO HOLIDAYS (PVT) LTD Name of the Bank: COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON LTD., Address of the Bank: 21 BRISTOL STREET, COLOMBO 01, SRI LANKA. Swift Code: CCEYLKLX 2. Credit Card (3% handling fee applies)

CANCELLATION POLICY: For cancellations informed 30 days prior to the tour, we will refund the full amounts received less the bank charges. For cancellations informed in less than 30 days of the tour, our refund to you will depend on those individual hotels’ cancellation policies

Contact details Andrew de Bond, Tour Executive, Jetwing Eco Holidays “Jetwing House” 46/26, Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02 Sri Lanka Phone: +94 11 2345700 (general), +94 11 2381201 (direct), Fax: +94 11 4 627743 Email: [email protected] Website: www.jetwingeco.com


6