After breakfast, journey north from Udawalawe into the central highlands. The route climbs steadily, passing farming villages, forested ridges, and tea-covered slopes as the climate cools.

Stop at Ravana Falls and view the Nine Arches Bridge before continuing to Nuwara Eliya. The evening is spent at leisure.

An early start takes you to Horton Plains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its high-altitude grasslands and cloud forests. The hike follows well-marked trails across windswept plains, where sambar deer often graze in the open.

The walk leads to World’s End, a dramatic escarpment plunging nearly 900 metres, offering panoramic views across the lowlands on clear mornings. Continue on to Baker’s Falls, framed by moss-covered rocks and montane forest. Birdlife includes highland endemics such as Sri Lanka whistling thrush and yellow-eared bulbul, while the cool, misty atmosphere adds to the sense of elevation and remoteness.

Return to Nuwara Eliya by early afternoon for rest and relaxation.

Today’s walk follows Stage 22 of the Pekoe Trail, one of the most scenic sections of Sri Lanka’s long-distance hiking route. Beginning near Kandapola, the trail winds through rolling tea estates, forest patches, and quiet village paths, offering constant views across layered hills and plantation country.

The hike ends near Pedro Tea Estate, where a visit to the factory provides insight into the production of Ceylon tea from plucking to processing, followed by a tasting. The afternoon is spent back at the hotel, allowing time to relax after consecutive hiking days.

Descend from the central highlands toward Sri Lanka’s southeast coast. The drive passes through dry forests, paddy fields, and open plains before the Indian Ocean comes into view near Potuvil.

In the late afternoon, head out for an evening safari in Kumana National Park. Known for its lagoons and wetlands, Kumana supports large concentrations of birdlife including painted storks, pelicans, spoonbills, and egrets. Mammals such as elephants, spotted deer, wild boar, and mugger crocodiles are also regularly seen, with occasional leopard sightings.

Return to the coast for dinner, with the sound of the ocean close by.

Spend the day on a full-day safari in Kumana National Park, allowing time to explore deeper sections of the park. Its mosaic of lagoons, mangroves, grasslands, and forest edges creates ideal conditions for birdwatching.

Expect to encounter large flocks of waterbirds, raptors soaring above open plains, and mammals moving between feeding areas. The slower pace of a full-day safari increases chances of varied sightings and extended observation.

Return to the lodge by late afternoon for relaxation.

Travel west toward the Sinharaja Rainforest, passing through coconut plantations, rubber estates, and spice gardens. As the terrain becomes steeper and greener, rainforest vegetation begins to dominate.

Arrive near the forest edge by afternoon. Later, enjoy a gentle walk through nearby village lanes and forest margins, where cicadas, frogs, and bird calls signal the transition into rainforest country.

Set out early with a specialist naturalist for a guided trek inside Sinharaja Rainforest, Sri Lanka’s most important biodiversity hotspot. Dense canopy, towering dipterocarp trees, and constant bird calls define the experience.

Sinharaja is famous for mixed-species bird flocks, with chances to see Sri Lanka blue magpie, red-faced malkoha, orange-billed babbler, and Sri Lanka drongo. The forest floor supports amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and a remarkable diversity of plant life.

Return to the lodge by afternoon for rest.

Begin the day early with a guided morning birding walk near the forest edge of Sinharaja Rainforest, when activity is at its peak and mixed-species feeding flocks move through the canopy. Accompanied by an experienced naturalist, scan forest paths and clearings for some of Sri Lanka’s most sought-after endemics, often detected by sound before they are seen.

After breakfast, depart Sinharaja and travel west toward Sri Lanka’s coastline. The drive transitions from dense rainforest and spice gardens to plantations, towns, and finally the coastal belt, arriving in Negombo by afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure, offering time to relax after days of trekking and wildlife exploration.

Wake to the sound of the ocean and enjoy a relaxed final morning at Jetwing Blue, set directly along Sri Lanka’s west coast. After days spent hiking through highlands, tracking wildlife in national parks, and exploring rainforest ecosystems, this final pause by the sea offers time to reflect on the journey.

Enjoy breakfast overlooking the Indian Ocean, with the option for a short walk along the beach or a quiet moment by the pool before departure. The calm coastal setting provides a gentle contrast to the wilderness experiences that defined the days before.

At the appropriate time, transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for onward travel, concluding a journey that has moved through Sri Lanka’s grasslands, mountains, wetlands, rainforests, and coastlines, offering a deeply layered exploration of the island’s natural and cultural landscapes.