Udawalawe and Galle from Colombo (2 Days)

About this experience

This two-day private tour runs from Colombo to Udawalawe National Park and on to the historic fort town of Galle, built for travellers with limited time who still want a real chance of seeing wild elephants alongside Sri Lanka's colonial heritage.

Your chauffeur guide drives you south for two half-day jeep safaris in Udawalawe, tracking elephant herds across open grassland and around the reservoir, plus the chance to spot buffalo, deer and birdlife. From there, continue to Galle Fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia, where ramparts, a lighthouse and cobbled streets trace centuries of Dutch and Portuguese rule.

Travel is in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking chauffeur guide throughout, with a litre of water provided per person each day. Accommodation for the overnight stay, meals, entrance fees to Udawalawe National Park and gratuities are arranged and paid separately.

Your service advisor

Mahesh Consultant

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Mahesh directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

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What’s included

Included

Transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
2-half day Jeep Safaris in Udawalawe National Park.

Not included

Accomadation for the overnight stay.
Food and beverages.
Entrance fees to visiting sites. (Udawalawe National Park)
Gratuties.
Any expenses of personal nature.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)

1 Udawalawe

Day 1 — Colombo → Udawalawe

Travel south from Colombo to Udawalawe National Park for a three-hour jeep safari.

Udawalawe National Park

Explore the marshes, forests and grasslands of this park, established as a wildlife sanctuary in the 1970s. It is famed for its water birds and Sri Lankan elephants, and also shelters other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

2 Colombo

Day 2 — Udawalawe → Galle → Colombo

Start with an early morning safari in Udawalawe before heading to the coastal town of Galle and returning to Colombo.

Udawalawe National Park

Set out early for a half-day morning safari in the park, a further chance to spot elephants and other wildlife.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

Galle Fort

Discover Galle, where the Portuguese and later the Dutch made their headquarters. Walk through the fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia, and its cobblestoned streets with their Dutch names.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

Maritime Museum

View the Maritime Museum within the fort grounds.

Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 3.0

Galle National Museum

Visit the Galle National Museum to learn more about the area's history.

Galle Lighthouse

See the lighthouse before continuing back to Colombo.

A.Savin · FAL

Please note

Public transportation nearby
Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Comfortable clothes and hats recommended.
Your hotel in Colombo

Cancellation policy

More than 24 hours notice: full refund
Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 2 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo and day 2 ends at Colombo. Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

The base price covers the vehicle and chauffeur guide. In the booking box you can add hotels for all 1 nights at Budget (3★), Standard (4★) or Luxury (5★ and boutique) level, on half board. Hotels we hold contracts with for your dates are named in the price; for any other night our team books a hotel of the same class after you pay.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.