Sri Lanka
The highest density of leopards in the world, then some of Asia's longest waves on the east coast
Sri Lanka
A journey between two wild sides of Sri Lanka: Yala National Park, which claims the highest density of leopards in the world thanks to the absence of competing large predators, then Arugam Bay, an east-coast surf village whose right-hand wave, several hundred metres long, has drawn surfers from around the world since the 1970s.
When
May to Sept
Price
From 2 600€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
6 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-2
The first chapter unfolds at Yala, Sri Lanka's most visited national park but also the one claiming the highest density of leopards in the world, estimated at one individual per barely five square kilometres in some areas. The absence of tigers or other competing big cats on the island has allowed the Sri Lankan leopard, an endemic subspecies, to establish itself as the dominant predator without excessive need for concealment, making daytime sightings more frequent than elsewhere in Asia.
Day 1
A first safari in search of leopards
A 4x4 safari at dawn in Yala park, in search of the Sri Lankan leopard, alongside elephants, saltwater crocodiles, and abundant birdlife around the park's lagoons.
Day 2
An afternoon safari and coastal ruins
A second safari at the end of the day, a favourable time to spot sloth bears, then a visit to the remains of the coastal Sithulpahuwa temple, an ancient Buddhist monastery nestled at the heart of the park.
Days 1-2
The road to Arugam Bay, on the island's east coast, whose Main Point right-hander, several hundred metres long under ideal conditions, has built this fishing village's international reputation since its discovery by Australian surfers in the 1970s. The southwest monsoon season, which makes the west coast unusable, spares the east coast and guarantees optimal conditions between May and September.
Day 1
A surf lesson at Main Point
A surf lesson with a local instructor on the gentler waves of Baby Point, suited to beginners, before watching experienced surfers tackle the Main Point wave at the end of the day.
Day 2
Pottuvil Lagoon and wild elephants
A boat excursion on Pottuvil Lagoon, in search of crocodiles and abundant birdlife, with a chance to spot wild elephants coming to drink at the end of the day.
Other trips built in the same spirit — more to draw inspiration from.
6 nightsKandy to Mirissa: Trains, Tea and Southern Beaches
A train through the tea hills, a beach as epilogue
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5 nightsSri Lanka: The Cultural Triangle, Sigiriya and the Ancient Cities
A fifteen-hundred-year-old rock fortress, surrounded by ancient capitals swallowed by the jungle
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