Terraced tea estates covering the hillsides near Nuwara Eliya

Highlights of Sri Lanka

National Parks and private safaris

Sri Lanka holds the highest density of leopards anywhere, and Yala is where you look for them. Udawalawe is the reliable elephant park, and neither is worth doing in a shared jeep at a fixed departure time.

When to go

February to July is the dry season in the south-east, which concentrates the animals around water and makes Yala worth the early start. Udawalawe is good all year; the northern parks are at their best from May to September.

2 destinations we plan around

Feb – Jul

Yala National Park

We use a specialist tracking vehicle on a private basis and book two drives, because a single afternoon is a gamble.

Best time: February to July
Ideal stay: 2 nights

Include Yala National Park in your journey Sri Lanka Grand Tour

A Sri Lankan elephant standing in open grassland

All year

Udawalawe Elephant Country

A far more reliable elephant sighting than most parks, and it pairs naturally with an ethical transit-home visit.

Best time: All year
Ideal stay: 1 night

Include Udawalawe Elephant Country in your journey Sri Lanka Highlights — 7 Days

Journeys that include National Parks

Build a journey around National Parks

Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. A specialist plans the region around your dates and replies with a written proposal — nothing is charged and there is no obligation.