EXPLORE SRI LANKA - 11

Kithulgala – Udawalawa – Hikkaduwa – Colombo (4Days/3Nights)

Day 01 – Arrival at Colombo airport – Kithulgala – Udawalawe

Stop 01

Whitewater Rafting Kithulgala

Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. Kitulgala is also a base for white-water rafting. Rafting & Whitewater rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use on inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done whitewater or different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk is often a part of the experience. Feel the thrill while indulging in activities like; White water rafting, Trekking, Rock sliding, Hiking, and Confidence jumping.

Moving to Udawalawe

Stop 02

Udawalawe Dam

The Udawalawe Dam is a large irrigation dam in Udawalawe, in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The dam consists of an embankment section and a gravity section, combining the total dam length to approximately 3.9 km. The recreation center, which fixates on the 308.2-sq-km Udawalawe Reservoir, is gently vegetated.

Stay Night in Udawalawe camping site or Athgira river camping

Day 02 – Udawalawe – Galle

Stop 01

Udawalawe National Park

In general, the best time to travel to Uda Walawe is from January to March, when rainfall is at its lowest and daytime temperatures average a comfortable 26°C (79°F).

Park entrance fees of $15 / £11.50 per adult and $8 / £6 per child (under 6 are free) plus a LKR 250 (£1) jeep charge, all plus 15% tax. The park is 165 kilometers (103 mi) from Colombo. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan elephants. It is a popular tourist destination and the third-most visited park in the country.

Stop 02

Udawalawe Transit Home

The primary objective of the facility is to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves to ready them for life in the wild. The elephants are made familiar with the surrounding habitat of the facility to familiarize them with their natural habit but are given access to food and medical care. Although human visitors are welcome at the facility specially to view their feeding, stringent efforts are made to minimize human contact to prevent the orphaned elephant calves from being acclimated to humans. The elephants are being taken care of until they are around 5 years old, before being released to the wild habitats of the Udawalawe National Park.

The elephants are never chained, but are free to roam around – and play! – as they wish. Human contact is kept to a minimum in order to maximize their chance of survival when they are returned to the wild. There is no touching, washing or posing alongside them for photos.

Moving to Galle

Stop 03

Galle Dutch Fort

The story of the Galle Dutch Fort; a UNESCO World Heritage Site reverberates through all traveler’s photos and captions. Initially built by the Portuguese in the 16th century during their conquests, the fort was later fortified and conquered by the Dutch in the 17th century, until it later fell to the might of the British. The old town of Galle was once used as a trading port for spices and other goods for over 200 years. However, today, the fort has been transformed into a place of history, romance and beauty where travelers are warmly welcomed to dive head first into the exotic stories and be a part of this heritage site.

Stay Night in Galle

Day 03 – Hikkaduwa

Stop 01

Hikkaduwa Coral Reef

The Hikkaduwa coral reef or National Park consists of a network of fringing reefs around the southern area of the island, specifically near the city of Hikkaduwa. The Hikkaduwa beach is a popular destination for both locals and tourists and the reef are a wonder all in itself. The best times to visit the Hikkaduwa coral reef would be when the water is clear and there is less chance of storms, particularly between the months of April and November. Snorkeling and scuba tours are the most common excursions here while one can also charter glass-bottomed boats. There are 170 species of reef fish found at Hikkaduwa coral reef. Many ornamental saltwater aquarium species like sea goldies, damselfish, butterflyfish, angelfish and species of wrasse make their home among the corals. Gobies, dragonets, eels and blennies hide under the sand in generally coral-free areas while others live in cracks and crevices within the coral skeletons.

Stop 02

Ariya Pala Mask Museum

A modern-built traditional museum with a splendid collection of traditional masks and other related artic crafts is the main attraction that awaits you at Ariya Pala Masks Museum. Here nearly 120 unique masks used in the traditional dance rituals and religious festivals are displays on show and there would be English speaking staff explaining the procedure and culture to you. The Museum has a retail store, workshop, and library inside where you have books and pamphlets to delve deep into their strange tradition.

Stop 03

Madu River Boat Safari

The Madu River area surrounding the river are all swampy marshlands covered in mangrove forests. The forest covers over 61 hectares, that is over 150 acres. 14 of the 24 species of mangroves are found in this area. Over 300 species, 19 of which are endemic, have been discovered so far. The largest animal in the region is the wild boar. There are other smaller animals such as monkeys, a variety of squirrels, etc. When it comes to birds, cormorants and kingfishers are a common sight. For avid bird watchers, the mangrove forests are a dream coming true. There are over 111 bird species identified to inhabit the region. There are 31 types of reptiles, namely snakes, lizards, and crocodiles. There are also over 50 kinds of butterflies and 25 kinds of mollusks found in the Madu River zone.

Madu River Fish Therapy

Madu ganga boat tours provides you natural foot massage from hundreds of fish. The Madu Ganaganga boat rides are popular among local and foreign visitors to the area. This ride gives you several memorable experiences and this natural fish therapy is one of them.There are several fish spas located in within Balapitiya, Madu Ganga areas. They setup several artificial cage ponds in the natural river the doctor fish are grown there. You can get in to the floating stage from your boat and sit and put your legs in to the pond. Hundreds of Fish comes and gently nibble the dead skin of your legs. They provide fish food also. Once you feed them, hundreds of them comes and fight for it. The setup contains several ponds, they can support visitors from several boats also. There are different types of doctor fish available there to choose from. Visitors who are going for Maduganga boat ride, should never missed this opportunity of getting tingling massage from fish.

Stay Night in Madu River

Day 04 – Colombo

Colombo City Tour

Departure

Transfer to Airport for departure flight.

Tour Includes

• Accommodation on sharing a double/twin/triple room at the hotels specified in hotel collection.

• Include Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all Chauffeur accommodation, cost of fuel, parking & highway tolls.

• Private Transport with airport transfers in an Air-Conditioned Vehicle throughout the tour

• Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.

Tour Excludes

• Entry Visa Fees, please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more details

• International / Domestic Airfare.

• Any expenses of personal nature.

• Tips & Portages.

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