Elephants + Tea Plantation + Waterfalls + Night Life + Train Ride + Ella Two Days Excursion

Early morning departure from the hotel and drive along a picturesque route among palm plantations, rice fields, inaccessible stretches of jungle, Sri Lankan villages and towns to Udawalawa – an elephant sanctuary and national park for a jeep safari.

Currently, in the area of ​​the Udawalawa National Park with an area of ​​approx. 30 thousand hectares, there are over 800 Indian elephants. These are both wild animals and those that, despite the possibility of living in a natural environment, still need human care. Herds of Indian elephants consist of females and their offspring and can number up to 100 elephants (Elephanus maximus maximus), but the largest of the herds reach 300 individuals, while males choose a solitary lifestyle, or wander in pairs or several individuals. It should be assumed that one adult individual can eat up to 200 kg of green mass and drink 200 liters of fresh water per day, hence the migrations in search of food are uninterrupted. Elephants born in the Pinnawala orphanage or those that were rescued by people in various circumstances are fed by the park staff, who also take care of the health and condition of these majestic mammals. There are also daily shows of feeding baby elephants with milk and palm leaves at the Elephant Transit Home at 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00. It should be noted that the efforts of people involved in restoring elephants to their natural habitat have resulted in about 100 happy elephants fed by humans and now living wild and completely unrecognizable from others born in the wild. Bravo!

Asian elephants are the biggest attraction of Udawalawe Park and a visit to this park gives you almost a 100% chance of seeing them in their natural habitat. You can see other animals here, including: leopards (very rarely), rusty spotted cats, tarajas, chital deer, Indian chevrotains, water buffalos, golden jackals, muntjacs, monkeys, including macaques and colobus monkeys. Ornithologists can observe cuckoos, woodpeckers, marabou storks, ibises, herons, pelicans, kingfishers, bee-eaters or the ubiquitous and loud peacocks, etc. A
jeep safari around the national park will take about 3 hours, while a visit to the elephant care centre is about 40 minutes (optional).

From Udawalawa we will go to the mountains to visit the second largest waterfall on the island of Diyaluma. In Sinhala, Diyaluma or Diya Haluma means “fast flow of water” or can be translated as “liquid light”. It is a spectacular waterfall, at the top of which there are cascades and depressions where you can safely swim, jump into the water from rock ledges or approach the edge of this captivating creation of nature to take unforgettable photos. There are several trails leading to the top of the waterfall, and some of the not too strenuous climbing in temperate climates can be replaced by a tuk tuk ride. While reaching the peak (approx. 45 min), we will travel along narrow paths on the slopes of the mountains, we will pass through tea plantations, we will see several primitive houses of local inhabitants, mainly Tamils, we will cross the dense jungle to enjoy a bath in clean and fresh, but not cold waters. waterfall with numerous local residents arriving there. Fabulous scenery is the main attraction of this place located far from the beaten tourist trails.

After playing in the pools and cascades of the waterfall, we will take a picturesque mountain route to a unique town in Sri Lanka – Ella. On the way, we will stop at the Rawana Falls, where herds of ubiquitous macaques – thieving monkeys will be watching visitors closely, waiting for absent-minded tour participants to steal a hat that can be exchanged with the monkey for a banana. Ella, a small town, is an extraordinary place on the island, where tourists from all over the world come not only to enjoy one of the most comfortable climates in Ceylon, where the temperature is usually 20-25 degrees Celsius, but also to be a base for trips to Little Adam’s Peak (Punchi Siri Pade) as well as a historic bridge from the period of World War I built from stone by the British due to the lack of steel. “9 arch bridge” is picturesquely situated among tea plantations, dense tropical jungle and connects two hills with a monumental construction from the ground up. The purpose of building the bridge was to lead the railway line that is still in operation today, connecting important urban centers. With a bit of luck, we can witness the passage of the famous blue train that suddenly appears in the tunnel in front of the bridge.

Ella surprises with the diversity of building forms that stands out among the plainly monotonous architecture of Sri Lanka, including many that were constructed using a building material rare on the island – bamboo. This town is especially appreciated by lovers of nightlife, because there are night clubs here, where you can spend time until dawn in a chill-out atmosphere of international clientele, try a variety of dishes from around the world, or relax in hammocks or swings installed in local clubs.

Before sunrise, we will go to Little Adam’s Peak, and after breakfast at the hotel, we will set off from the railway station by train to Nuwara Ellia, one of the highest towns in Sri Lanka, the capital of tea plantations, a Victorian city called Little England – Nuwara Elia. The train journey will take approximately 3.5 hours. The railway line runs through pine forests, eucalyptus groves, tea plantations, terraced arable fields, and through many tunnels and railway bridges – it is an opportunity to get acquainted with the colorful crowd of natives traveling by this popular means of transport in the mountains. Sri Lankans make the journey more enjoyable by playing drums and singing local songs, and often invite people to join in the fun by offering local alcohol – the popular coconut arrack. This route has been recognized by travelers as one of the most spectacular railway lines in the world.

By train we will reach Nanuoya, the closest town to the city of lights – Nuwara Ellia. In Nuwara Ellia we will be able to look at the Victorian buildings of the city, go to the famous Baal Bazaar, or browse the local bazaar offering a whole range of exotic fruits. A horse racing track built by the British or one of the best golf courses in Southeast Asia are other attractions of this city. The local color is complemented by Victoria Park or the summer residence of the President of Sri Lanka as well as a colorful promenade with shops offering soap and jam.

From the city located at an altitude of 1893 m above sea level we will go through mountain serpentines to the Tea Castle, where you will not only be able to observe the tea production process, participate in tasting different types of this most popular drink on Earth after water, but also buy the best quality Ceylon tea at bargain prices. On the way we will stop at the next Devon and St. Clair waterfalls to reach the hotel on the beach in the evening.