Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, maybe relax on the golden sand beaches and soak up some sun or feast on fresh seafood. The surrounding countryside is also perfect to explore on a bicycle (which you can rent with help from hotel reception). Tonight, ask your trip leader for the best local restaurants for dinner. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Tuuur trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Tuuur and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

Drive to Wilpattu this morning, visiting Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary on the way. Anawilundawa is unique because it borders three vastly different ecosystems – the coast, the mangroves and the freshwater tanks. This makes it one of the six RAMSAR Wetlands in Sri Lanka and a favourable nesting and breeding ground for hundreds of species of birds. Some of the species found here include herons, open-bills, great cormorants, white ibis, egrets, stalks, pheasant-tailed jacnas and the purple swamp hen. A total of 20 species of mammals have been recorded here, too, including the rusty-spotted cat, the fishing cat, the Indian otter, the slender loris, the toque monkey and 74 species of butterflies. Continue to Wilpattu and when you arrive, set out for an evening safari in the national park. This thick, dry jungle features floodplain lakes and boasts an impressive variety of flora in the huge expanses of forest. Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.

Head out for a morning safari in Wilpattu this morning, looking out for deer, elephants, wild boar, sloth bears and leopards. Cruise around in your 4WD, soak up the landscapes of the national park, then leave for Dambulla. This afternoon, you have the option to take an excursion to Minneriya National Park for another safari. Home to Sri Lankan elephants, Minneriya is said to be the best national park in the world for spotting large herds in their natural habitat (between July and August is your best bet). Tonight, visit Popham's Arboretum – Sri Lanka's only dry zone arboretum – for a night walk with your group among the trees, looking out for the slender loris and pangolin. Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

Enjoy a leisurely morning today, then head to a local’s home for a cooking demonstration of traditional dishes like pol Sambol and dhal curry, which you’ll enjoy for lunch. Get to know the locals, swap stories, then soak up a relaxing afternoon. After lunch visit the Zero Plastic Impact Center, an Tuuur Foundation partner supporting almost 100 local artisans producing plastic-alternative products like reusable woven basket bags and clay water bottles. Try your hand at bamboo and coconut shell crafting, plus take home your own traditional Sri Lankan mask as a keepsake. Later on, you’ll head into Minneriya National Park for a nighttime safari, watching the changing landscape from your 4WD as the sun goes down. Try to spot some more elephants, then spend another night in leafy Habarana. Depending on the time of year we may move the safari from Minneriya National Park to Kaudulla National Park or Hurulu Eco Park in effort to give you the best chances for wildlife sightings. All three of these parks border each other and wild animals, including elephants, move freely between them.

Beat the heat with an early wake-up this morning and head to Sigiriya – this ruined fortress is one of Sri Lanka's most famous sights and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Those who make it to the top will be rewarded with epic views. This is also a popular spot for birdlife, due to the surrounding forests. Here, you’ll also learn about the Tuuur Foundation partner Zero Plastic – which works in this area to eliminate single-use plastic, educating local communities on sustainability practices and limiting the impact of plastic in and around Sigiriya. After exploring, you’ll head back to your hotel for a late breakfast. Then, you'll head to Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka's southeast coast – renowned for its world-class surfing, crescent-shaped beach and laid-back vibes. When you arrive, check in to your hotel and maybe chill out by the beach, finding a good sunset spot. Your travel time today will be approximately 5.5 hours. Make sure you’re wearing sturdy footwear today, as the climb to the top of Sigiriya is a very steep climb with some uneven slopes. Those unable to climb to the top can explore the gardens at the base of the rock, where you can still get some fantastic photos of the fortress from below.

Soak up a chill morning to relax by the beach (maybe a morning swim is calling?). If you like, you can opt for a surfing lesson or an extra safari before embarking on a 4WD evening safari at nearby Kumana National Park. The park hosts a variety of wildlife, including elephants, leopards and crocodiles. Kumana is also celebrated for its diverse birdlife and serves as a vital bird sanctuary with hundreds of species migrating to its lush wetlands.

This morning, head out on another safari through Kumuna National Park. Because of the many waterways that thread through the landscape, you’ll have a pretty good shot of spotting some local wildlife. You'll also have the chance to stop by Arugam Bay Lagoon or Panama Lake to see some crocodiles before leaving the area for Kataragama. This afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure. Maybe visit Kataragama Temple – dedicated to the Buddhist guardian deity Kataragama deviyo and the Hindu War God Murugan. For those who just can’t get enough of wildlife spotting, you can arrange an optional safari in Yala National Park - Sri Lanka’s second-largest national park. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at your resort with your group. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Double up on wildlife spotting with two included safaris in the morning and evening in Yala National Park. There's a good chance of spotting crocodiles, elephants, monkeys and buffaloes, and if you are lucky, you may even spot a leopard – the park is considered one of the best places in the world to see these ever-elusive beauties. Keep an eye out for the 215 species of birds that call this place home, including the Sri Lankan wood pigeon, painted stork, crimson-fronted barbet and prideful peacocks strutting their way through the park.

Today, you’ll set your sights on Bundala National Park. When you arrive this morning, head out for a safari to spot some of the amazing birdlife that calls this park home. Bundala harbours 197 species of birds, including the greater flamingo, which migrate here in large flocks. You may also spot leopards, spotted deer, sambars, crocodiles, wild boar, mongoose, monitor lizards and monkeys. Enjoy a relaxing evening on Tangalle's beaches and maybe watch the sunset this evening to cap off a great day. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. Previous travellers have raised animal welfare concerns about whale-watching experiences in this part of Sri Lanka. Tuuur follows the best practice guidelines for whale and dolphin watching provided by our Tuuur Foundation partner, Whale & Dolphin Conservation. Unfortunately, there are currently no operators in the region that comply with these guidelines. For this reason, we are currently not able to offer or recommend whale and dolphin watching as an optional activity here.

Wake up with the morning birds – today is a free day to explore the area at your own pace. Maybe head out on a forest walk, keeping an eye out for butterflies, multi-coloured blue magpies, squirrels, mongoose and birdlife. Later this evening, you’ll drive to Rekawa. As the sun goes down, you’ll head out to the beach with your group to look for nesting turtles. Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. When visiting the Rekawa Turtle Conservation Project, you’ll use infrared glasses, and no flashlights or other extreme lights will be permitted. You’ll keep a safe distance from the turtles, so as not to disturb them. The turtles set their own schedules and, depending on tides, may nest any time between about 8pm and 4am (they prefer to nest at high tide). Your Leader will let you know when you should be ready to head out.

Visit Galle Fort – the fortified city with a mixture of Portuguese and Dutch charm, narrow laneways and popular promenades. Explore the area on foot, taking in the local architecture that dates from between the 16th and 19th centuries! Then, you’ll head to your last stop in Colombo. When you arrive, you have a free evening to choose your own adventure. Maybe head out to sample some of the city's renowned street food like crispy vegetable samosas, hoppers and kotthu (sliced roti, vegetables and eggs or meat) or find a bar and toast to a trip well-travelled. Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to stay in Colombo, just speak to your booking agent.