Join us on the hunt for the elusive leopard as we travel through Sri Lanka's national parks in the search for the country's top predator. The chance of seeing a leopard in Yala is similar to that of seeing a tiger in Ranthambhore. There is still a large amount of luck involved, but you can increase your chances by increasing your number of safaris.

Sri Lanka has a lot in common with its close neighbour India; historic cities, fantastic national parks full of wildlife and a warm and welcoming local population. However it also has several advantages over India including numerous idyllic clean beaches, better quality roads with shorter journey times in between national parks, and Yala National Park; the best park in Asia to see the elusive leopard. One moment you can be sunning yourself on the coast of the Indian Ocean and four hours later you are trekking at 7000 feet in montane forest.

As with our tours of India and Nepal our trips are tailor made, its you who decides where you would like to visit and how long you would like to stay. The main focus of our tours is wildlife and we will advise on the length of time you should stay in each park to maximise your wildlife encounters.

Many of the national parks have substantial wild elephant populations, Uda Walawe in particular is a great location to observe these gentle giants as they roam the park in their never ending search for food. If birds are a passion then Sinharaga is a must as the majority of Sri Lanka's endemics can be viewed here in the last undisturbed area of rainforest. A huge number of birds can be sighted from the road as you make your way through Sri Lanka's lush agricultural land. Bundala National Park is also famous for its prolific birdlife, especially aquatic species such as flamingos, which arrive in the month of February to feed in the abundant lagoons.

Ancient ruined cities such as Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa attract visitors interested in Sri Lanka's cultural heritage. These ancient kingdoms of the Sinhalese kings have extensive remains spread over several kilometres and are best visited by bicycle. Sigiriya is another highlight for many visitors, a spectacular rock fortress built in AD 471 by Kasyapa to protect against invasion from his stepbrother. There are in fact seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the 'cultural triangle' affords a surprising diversity of wildlife en route.

Finally many of our clients like to relax after a week of early morning safaris with some relaxation in the hills or on the coast. Hill stations such as Kandy or Nuwara Eliya take you through some incredible scenery, where you can buy tea from source, go hiking and experience important Buddhist sites. Sri Lanka has some of the best beaches in Asia with accommodation to suit all budgets. There are numerous water sports available plus seasonal diving around the coasts including coral and wreck sites. So whether it's a leopard safari, birding trip or cultural holiday, Sri Lanka can provide for everyone's tastes combined in the one trip.