Features
Overview
This 13-day, 12-night Bird Watching Tour takes you deep into Sri Lanka’s most famous wetlands, rainforests, highlands, and dry zone parks. From the rich waterbird habitats of Talangama to the UNESCO-listed Sinharaja Rainforest, Horton Plains’ cloud forests, and the iconic Wilpattu National Park, this itinerary is crafted for passionate birders and wildlife lovers. You’ll spot a wide array of endemic, migratory, and rare species while experiencing Sri Lanka’s breathtaking landscapes, cultural highlights, and warm hospitality. Expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and carefully selected birding sites ensure you have the best chance to see Sri Lanka’s diverse avian life.
What's Included
- Expert, English-speaking tour guide
- Tour Guide
Itinerary information
Day 01 – Colombo ➝ Talangama
Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and transfer to your hotel. If arriving in the morning, enjoy an afternoon birding session at Talangama Wetlands where over 50 species have been recorded. Highlights include Cinnamon, Black and Yellow Bitterns, and endemic Ceylon Swallows. As evening falls, look for Brown Hawk Owl and Collared Scops Owl.
Overnight: Jetwing Villa Talangama
Meals: Dinner
Day 02 – Talangama ➝ Sinharaja
After breakfast, travel to Sinharaja Rainforest. En route, stop at Bodhinagala Forest Reserve, famous for the rare endemic Green-billed Coucal. Continue to your accommodation near Sinharaja.
Overnight: Jansen’s Bungalow, Sinharaja Rainforest
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 03 – Sinharaja Rainforest
Spend the day birding in Sinharaja, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for mixed-species flocks and endemics like Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White-faced Starling, Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, and Sri Lanka Frogmouth. Watch for Chestnut-backed Owlet and Serendib Scops Owl at day roosts.
Overnight: Jansen’s Bungalow, Sinharaja Rainforest
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 04 – Sinharaja ➝ Kitulgala
Enjoy some local birding before departing for Kitulgala. In the afternoon, cross the Kelani River by dugout canoe to explore the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve, rich in lowland endemics.
Overnight: Hotel Wild Grass
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 05 – Kitulgala
Full day of birding at Kelani Valley Forest Reserve, focusing on endemics and owl watching.
Overnight: Palmstone Retreat, Kitulgala
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 06 – Kitulgala ➝ Nuwara Eliya
Travel to Nuwara Eliya. In the afternoon, explore Victoria Park for highland species like Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka Hill White-eye, and Dull-blue Flycatcher. Visit a nearby wetland for Black-throated Munia, Paddyfield Pipit, Pied Bush Chat, Pintail Snipes, and more.
Overnight: Jetwing St. Andrew’s
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 07 – Nuwara Eliya
Morning visit to Horton Plains National Park’s cloud forests to spot montane fauna and Rhino-horned Lizard. Afternoon at Hakgala Botanical Garden for montane endemics including Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Hill Mynah, and Dull-blue Flycatcher.
Overnight: Jetwing St. Andrew’s
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 08 – Nuwara Eliya ➝ Kandy
Drive to Kandy. Afternoon birding at Udawattakele Forest Reserve for Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, and Brown-capped Babbler.
Overnight: Cinnamon Citadel Kandy
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 09 – Kandy ➝ Sigiriya
After breakfast, transfer to Sigiriya. Afternoon visit to Kaludiya Pokuna near Kandalama Lake for dry lowland endemics. Optional night safari.
Overnight: Cinnamon Wild
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 – Sigiriya & Minneriya
Morning exploration of Sigiriya, a UNESCO site, known for Rose-ringed Parakeets, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, and Blue-winged Leafbird. Afternoon jeep safari at Minneriya National Park, home to elephants, freshwater fish, and diverse birdlife. Possible Loris sightings.
Overnight: Jetwing Vil Uyana
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 – Sigiriya ➝ Wilpattu
Drive to Wilpattu and spend the day at leisure exploring on your own.
Overnight: Cloud Nine, Wilpattu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12 – Wilpattu National Park
Enjoy a full-day safari in Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s oldest national park. Look for elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and abundant birdlife including painted storks, black-headed ibis, openbills, spoonbills, cormorants, kingfishers, serpent eagles, Malabar Pied Hornbills, Crested Hawk Eagles, and Sri Lanka Junglefowl. Reptiles like water monitors and mugger crocodiles are also common.
Overnight: Cloud Nine, Wilpattu
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 13 – Departure from Katunayake
Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
