Welcome to the beautiful greenery island known as Sri Lanka! Let us welcome you with a salutation of “Ayubowan” which means “May you live long and healthy”. Tours that take you from the commercial capital Colombo to the Up Country; to the sights and sounds of the crowded towns of the deep Down South; to the sacred cities located in the Cultural belt and to the Northern coastal areas where the rich cultural heritage of our island.
Come and take a look at the variety of tours on offer and we at Leopard holidays will be happy to be of assistance!
Kandy, more popularly known as the hill capital of Sri Lanka, is an attractive tourist destination. Its history dates back to the 15th century, when it was the last royal capital of the country. The city is 115km from Colombo and is the second biggest city in Sri Lanka. Kandy has an abundance of culture around it; the Temple of the Tooth being the most popular attraction. The centre of the city is situated in a valley which is elevated at 600m above sea level. Kandy Lake is an artificial creation by one of the past rulers and today, it is a scenic centre piece of the town. Also, home to an international cricket stadium, Kandy brings in thousands of cricket fans. Sports, religion, history and culture, Kandy has it all! A Day tour of Kandy should not be missed out on your tour of Sri Lanka.
Colombo is the hustling capital city of Sri Lanka and is a centre for visiting beaches in the south of the island. Its history involves successive governing by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, and it was a major port on the east-west trade routes during that era. Nowadays,it consists of shopping malls, sky-scraping buildings, and towers.The commercial side of Colombo includes stylish theatres, cinemas, restaurants, cafes, museums and galleries. Colombo city tour is a desirable item on your agenda either on the start or finish to your Sri Lankan tour.
Galle, 119km from Colombo, is a major city situated at the tip of the South Western coast of Sri Lanka. Being a coastal area, it is quite hot and humid but has an adorable coastal line which can be found in every district including Galle. The Galle Fort was built by the Portuguese, reinforced later by the Dutch and is well preserved till today. In addition to the Portuguese and Dutch remains, you will also find many British mansions left behind. As for beaches, the Unawatuna Bay provides you many fun activities including surfing and diving. In case there is a delay in your departure, try using the Southern Expressway, a recently built highway that can take you to Galle in half the time.
Have you ever been on a safari in a jungle that is ruled by the leopards? The Yala National Park is your best choice! With 130,000 hectares of landscape, this Park is situated in the city of Yala, 260km SouthEast of Colombo, and is a combination of a National Park as well as a draconian ecology reserve. According to Forbes Magazine, one of the main tourist attractions in Sri Lanka is its wildlife and Yala National Park is the most visited wildlife Park in the isle. Along with the wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles, you will experience great pleasure with this flora and fauna . Some of the most seen animals include leopards, elephants, sloth bears, jackals, peacocks, and crocodiles. Book your day tour of the Yala Jeep Safari now.Your experience will be extraordinary!
The rich and unique animal and plant diversity in the Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve is the reason why it was marked as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. Presently, the reserve spans 8864 hectares and the country plans to quadruple the size of the area to respect the ecological significance of the region. The Sinharaja Rain Forest provides habitat for endemic species like; mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and of course, an abundance of trees and insects.Specially known for bird watching, an interesting incident here is that birds move in mixed feeding flocks, led by the great Racket-tailed Drongo and the noisy Orange-billed Babbler. 20 of the 26 endemic bird species in Sri Lanka are seen at the Sinharaja Rainforest. In addition to birds, more than 60% of the plants are endemic, many of which are rare.Possible wildlife sightingsBirds Sri Lankan Blue Magpie Grey Hornbill Red Faced Malkoha Scaly Thrush Wood Pigeon Yellow Eared Bulbul Dusky Blue Flycatcher Mammals Giant squirrel Dusky Striped Giant Squirrel Badger Mongoose Purple Faced Leaf Monkey Torque Macaque Reptiles Green Pit Viper Hump-nosed Viper Torrent Toad Wrinkled Frog Sri Lankan Reed Frog Due to opaque flora, animal spotting is a challenge. This kind of atmosphere is a real treat to wildlife enthusiasts though who are breathlessly waiting to travel deep into the forests in search of rare wildlife. The amazing flora and fauna that beautifies this forest reserve are those that live in temperatures ranging from 19-34 degrees Celsius. The average height of trees varies between 35m-45m within the rainforest.Things you should know before you visit Sinharaja Beware of leeches. For protection, leech socks are available for purchase at the entrance offices. Carry some salt just in case one of the leeches got you even through the socks. An experienced, English speaking guide is advisable to show you around and educate you on the flora and fauna. There are three entrances to the park, each offering different experiences to guests. Carry water, rainproof jacket, binoculars, a camera and some snacks with you.
A trip to the city of Monaragala in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka will bring you to the Udawalawe National Park. This park is the third most visited park in all of Sri Lanka and presents visitors with a blending of flora and fauna. Herds of elephants, buffalos, deer and leopards are what you are intended to see on your day tour of the Udawalawe Jeep Safari. The park is located at the midpoint of the Udawalawe reservoir, which allows for marshes, grasslands and forests. Being a representation of many of the East African National parks, Udawalawe Park owns 12 species of amphibians, 33 species of reptiles, 43 types of mammals, 21 kinds of fish and 184 varieties of birds.
Enjoy an experience of a lifetime as you feel the adrenaline rush while drifting off over breathtaking views of the tropical paradise of Sri Lanka. The climb may go unnoticed but in a few seconds, just look down and you will be floating above rugged mountains, lakes, rivers, cultural attractions, and green trees. Let the excitement grow as your pilot lets you touch treetops, close-up on a bird or watch an animal walking in daybreak. Unlike traditional air travel, hot air ballooning is a completely different experience where you feel absolutely no movement after you take off from the ground. You are left in complete silence to indulge in the surroundings of peace and serenity. Hot air ballooning in Sri Lanka is conducted by handpicked pilots who have the necessary qualifications and plenty of experience. Balloons are registered and the crew is fluent in English so as to explain safety measures to passengers in the best possible way. If the weather is even slightly unacceptable, they will not take off the ground. In case of a flight cancellation, guests will be refunded their money. The hot air balloon flight is a complete morning experience, with the meeting point being at Heritance Kandalama hotel at sunrise – as early morning rides offer the best landscape views. The actual ride is about an hour or so but with the time taken from pick up to transfer to the preparation of the balloon, flight briefing, takeoff, the flight itself, landing & retrieval and transfer back to the hotel, the entire affair takes about 4 hours. On most days, the launch point is at Kandalama but sometimes, depending on the direction and speed of the wind, pilots cans change the launch site. Standard pickup points for guests going on the hot air balloon day tour are Habarana, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandalama. Depending on your location, you will be picked up at anywhere between 4.45 a.m – 5.15 a.m.Due to the high demand for hot air balloon rides in Sri Lanka, Leopard Holidays strongly advice guests to make their reservations well in advance in order to avoid disappointment.
Sri Lanka is one of the best destinations for whale watching in Asia. Sperm Whales and Blue Whales are a common occurrence off the southern coast, particularly at Dondra Point – close to the town of Mirissa, Sri Lanka.The blue whale is an absolutely impressive animal that swims in the ocean – elegant, mysterious, beautiful, and deserves our respect by all means. Imagine having just a second of eye contact with this majestic figure – evokes a feeling of awe that adds to life’s precious moments. Sperm whales are another equally amazing, captivating and wonderful animal of the ocean
Being the second-largest kingdom in Sri Lanka, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa has much in store for archaeologists, history lovers, and those who simply want to learn more about Sri Lanka. Today, the city is one of the best planned archaeological relic sites across the country, standing as evidence of the greatness and discipline of the first rulers of Polonnaruwa. UNESCO declared Polonnaruwa as a World Heritage site, thereby making it a popular tourist attraction in Sri Lanka.When you visit Polonnaruwa, you will see why it is one of the most beautiful and green cities in the country. It is home to stunning ancient constructions hospitable people, the huge man-made lake from 1200 A.C. (Parakrama Samudraya), the stone colossal statue of Buddha and the Lankathilaka Temple.Religious Significance of PolonnaruwaGroups of Buddhist pilgrims visit Polonnaruwa for its ruins, temples, stupas and Hindu Kovils.Rankot Vihara – largest stupa in the city at 180 ft high.Lankathilaka Gedige – built during Parakramabahu’s reign.Kiri Vihara – was surrounded by forests; rediscovered in the 19th century.Shiva Devale – Hindu Temple built in the 13th century.History of PolonnaruwaWhen the armies of the Tamil Cholas invaded and looted Anuradhapura in AD 993, Polonnaruwa became the country’s capital and remained so for 77 years. From its outlook, Polonnaruwa has a cosmopolitan mix of cultures – Indian Hindu and Sinhalese Buddhist. In 1073, King Vijayabahu drove the Cholas away but kept Polonnaruwa as his capital city. For the next forty years, bloody civil war continued and King Vijayabahou dies in 1161. King Parakramabahu then captured Polonnaruwa, assuming he uithen controlled the entire island nation. He was known as the last great king of Sri Lanka as a result of the series of building works and expansion in Polonnaruwa.In 1293, Sri Lanka was taken over by the armed forces of South India, abandoning Polonnaruwa to the jungle.
Sigiriya, an ancient palace, was once nominated as the 8th wonder of the world. Today, Sigiriya and Dambulla are a UNESCO recognized heritage site and a major tourist attraction. The city of Dambulla is 148 km north-east of Colombo, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is home to an ancient cave Temple also known as the Golden Rock Temple, which is a popular tourist attraction. Approximately 25kms from Dambulla is Sigiriya, which is where you will find the “Lion’s Rock”. This is a 220 metre high rock, at the top of which an ancient King built his Palace. In addition to being a well maintained model of ancient urban life, Sigiriya is also an adventure of rock climbing for many. A day tour of Sigiriya and Dambulla will suffice for you to explore Sri Lanka’s Majestic past. Leave from Colombo at about 6.00 a.m., enjoy the scenic four hour drive to your destination, explore the two cities, and be back to Colombo by midnight.