Rare Earth, Sri Lanka
Experience the natural and cultural richness of Sri Lanka on a journey that highlights the positive impact of travel. This itinerary focuses on meaningful stays and experiences that support local communities, protect natural environments, and help sustain cultural heritage in an authentic way.
Journey highlights
-
Enhance your trip with a visit to the Minneriya elephant conservation project, where you’ll learn about ongoing efforts to protect these gentle giants
-
Embrace a plethora of unique and meaningful experiences throughout the itinerary, from village community projects, kayaking and hiking, village cooking classes and much more
-
Sink into serenity staying at elegant lodges and camps that have conservation and community projects at their core
-
Immerse yourself in exceptional privately guided game drives throughout Sri Lanka getting under the skin of Wilpattu National Park, Minneriya National Park, Gal Oya National Park
- Active itinerary:Our Active Journeys let you get under the skin of a destination by hiking, biking or kayaking your way through it, while unwinding in some of the finest hotels around
Speak to an expert to personalise this tour
Our team of travel specialists are waiting to help you book your dream adventure.
Enquire Now
Itinerary
Fly into Colombo
-
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
-
At a Glance
Bid farewell to Wilpattu as you embark on the next stage of the exceptional itinerary. Arriving in the north of the Cultural Triangle. Ulagalla lets you escape to another era, where you will immerse yourself in culture, history and nature at this enchanting sanctuary, where new villas have been combined with a beautifully restored wallawwa, a traditional Sri Lankan manor house. This is one of the leading eco-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka, with their commitment to carrying out extensive work within their elephant research centre.
During your stay you will get to enjoy several ethical local experiences, including a morning with a resident host to experience the unseen life of the Hiriwadunna Village, followed by an afternoon spent at the Minneriya National Park where you will spend time with the elephant conservation expert, and learn about ongoing efforts to protect these gentle giants. You will also have the option to take part in a day's Kayaking trip at Malwathuoya. Embrace the sensational local cuisine while you enjoy a dinner at the Ulagalla’s Kamatha Restaurant – a rice paddy dining experience serving traditional dishes by home cooks showcasing their favourite recipes. The chefs are sisters from the local village, incorporating vegetables harvested from the hotels organic farm, fish from the lake and free-range meat sourced locally. The breads and rice are harvested from Uglagalla’s paddy fields."Conservation isn’t just about protecting wildlife, it’s about creating a world where both people and animals can thrive together. At SLWCS, we believe that the true success of conservation lies in empowering local communities to see wildlife as an asset, not a threat. We’ve witnessed firsthand how conservation can transform lives, providing sustainable livelihoods, reducing human-elephant conflict, and restoring vital ecosystems. Every traveller who joins our mission becomes part of this positive change.”
Shared with us by Chinthaka Weerasinghe - Head of Field Operations at SLWCS
Where to stay
Uga Ulagalla (3 nights)
Alternative Places to Stay Nearby
Fly Home
Our tailor made journeys include:
- Your dedicated Travel Consultant who will take care of arrangements
- Private international airport transfers in destination and your own private, English-speaking local guides
- Unique experiences, hand-picked by our Journeys team
- Entrance to must-see local sites
- Dedicated 24/7 team providing in-country support and guidance
When to visit
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
The Maha monsoon blows from October to January, bringing rain to the North and East, while the dry season is from May to September. The North and East are comparatively dry, with around 1000mm of rain annually. There is also an inter-monsoonal period in October and November when rain can occur in many parts of the island. Out-of-season travel has its advantages – not only do the crowds go away but many airfares and accommodation prices drop right down. Nor does it rain all the time during the low season.
Price Guide: (Per Person based on double occupancy and excludes international flights)
| Departing |
Price from*
|
Deposit from * | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | £8,500 | £1,300 | plan your trip |
| September 2026 | £7,100 | £1,100 | plan your trip |
| October 2026 | £7,100 | £1,100 | plan your trip |
| November 2026 | £7,100 | £1,100 | plan your trip |
| December 2026 | £8,500 | £1,300 | plan your trip |
| January 2027 | £8,500 | £1,300 | plan your trip |
| February 2027 | £7,100 | £1,100 | plan your trip |
| March 2027 | £7,100 | £1,100 | plan your trip |
| April 2027 | £7,100 | £1,100 | plan your trip |
| May 2027 | £5,600 | £800 | plan your trip |
| June 2027 | £5,600 | £800 | plan your trip |
| July 2027 | £8,500 | £1,300 | plan your trip |
-
August 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£8,500
Deposit from*£1,300
-
September 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£7,100
Deposit from*£1,100
-
October 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£7,100
Deposit from*£1,100
-
November 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£7,100
Deposit from*£1,100
-
December 2026
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£8,500
Deposit from*£1,300
-
January 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£8,500
Deposit from*£1,300
-
February 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£7,100
Deposit from*£1,100
-
March 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£7,100
Deposit from*£1,100
-
April 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£7,100
Deposit from*£1,100
-
May 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£5,600
Deposit from*£800
-
June 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£5,600
Deposit from*£800
-
July 2027
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
£8,500
Deposit from*£1,300
We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itineraryis a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. Call us on 020 8682 5060 to start planning your holiday.
