Begin your adventure with a pickup from your hotel in Bibile and head to Nilgala Forest Reservation, part of the 26,000 hectares of Gal-Oya National Park. As you drive, learn about the legend of the 4th-century King Buddadasa, known as the “Medicinal King,” who used the forest as his herbal garden.

Once you arrive, hop into a jeep and set off on a safari through the park. Keep your eyes peeled for rare bird species like the Painted Francolin, Spur Fowl, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Racquet Tail Drongo, and Jungle Bush Quail. You might also spot elephants, bears, leopards, deer, wild buffalo, sambar, and wild boar.

After your safari, trek to Makara, from the banks of Gal-Oya, the main river that feeds the country’s largest manmade reservoir, Senanayake Samudraya. At Makara, see the river disappear under a huge mass of boulders and reappear at the reservoir.

If you choose the optional trek, head to Kahata Aththa Hela, an archaeological site within the buffer zone of Nilgala Forest. Discover an ancient monastic cave complex and evidence of a long-lost civilization. Climb to the summit of Kahata Aththa Hela to see more ancient ruins of a pagoda and enjoy breathtaking views of the peaks surrounding the Gal Oya Valley Region.