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Bird Watching Holidays in Sri Lanka & Birding Tours: Sigiriya + Horton Plains + Yala + Sinharaja

Birding Tour of Sri Lanka - Privately Guided

Bird Watching Holidays in Sri Lanka Birding Tours Horton Sinharaja Yala

17 NIGHTS FROM:

$4,250

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

7LPA16C

• Sri Lanka Birding Tours

• Sigiriya & Habarana

• Udawatte Kele, Kandy

• Horton Plains

• Lunugamvehera

• Yala National Park

• Bundala National Park

• Whale Watching

• Sinharaja & Kitulgala

• Bird Watching Holidays in Sri Lanka

Our tailor made bird watching holidays in Sri Lanka explore this beautiful island with a private birding guide. Sri Lanka birding tours usually visit Sigiriya and Kandy, Horton Plains, Lunugamvehera & Yala national parks, the Bundala wetlands & the rainforests of Sinharaja & Kitulgala. Also enjoy a whale watching boat ride in season. All park fees, birding & jeep safaris included.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Colombo Airport and transferred to your hotel situated near the airport.

Colombo is the commercial, industrial and cultural centre of Sri Lanka and located on an ancient trading sea route. Check in and relax in your lush tropical surroundings.

Day 2

This morning your birding guide will collect you from your Colombo hotel and introduce you to the birds of Sri Lanka, as we travel to 4.5-hours to Sigiriya in the heart of the Cultural Triangle, with birding stops along the way.

After checking in to our hotel in this historic region, we enjoy birding in the grounds of our hotel.

Note: Please bring a birding book, small torch, sun hat, sun cream, insect repellent, rain jacket and a good pair of walking shoes. Leech socks will be provided for rainforest walks.

Day 3

This morning we rise early for a birding walk before breakfast.

We then head to Sigiriya Rock - also known as Lion's Rock - a massive 5th century fortress and palace ruins surrounded by extensive gardens and reservoirs. You can climb 1,200 steps to the top of this amazing fortress in the sky that is now a World Heritage Site, with the reward of incredible views. Ancient rock paintings can be seen in one section of your ascent. There is also a small museum located near the entrance.

In the afternoon enjoy birding in Sigiriya Bird Sanctuary and village, which is good for dry zone forest birds. This ancient canopied forest reserve is home to over 65 species of endemic, resident and migratory birds and is a great place to see the endemic Sri Lanka woodshrike. Other species found here include the Sri Lanka small barbet, Sri Lanka brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka lesser flameback, Brown-headed barbet, Oriental white-eye, Black-headed cuckoo shrike, Ashy prinia, Grey-breasted Pinia, Sri Lanka green pigeon, Pygmy woodpecker, Jerdon's leafbird, Stork-billed kingfisher, Common kingfisher, Orange-headed ground thrush, Asian paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta, Indian blue chat, Forest eagle owl, Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Little scops owl, Indian long-tailed nightjar, Jerdon's nightjar, Racket-tailed drongo, Drongo cuckoo, Openbill, Black-capped bulbul, Orange minivet, Small minivet, Orange-breasted green pigeon, Emerald dove, White-rumped shama, Indian black robin, Tickell’s blue flycatcher, Brown flycatcher, Layard’s flycatcher, Malabar pied hornbill, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, Blue-faced malkoha and many more. On these cliffs you can also hope to see raptors such as the Shaheen falcon, White-bellied sea eagle, Grey-headed fish eagle, Crested serpent eagle and Crested hawk eagle.

Day 4

After some early morning birding in the gardens of our lodge, we travel 3-hours to the bustling hill capital of Kandy.

Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site partly due to this temple. Its principal Buddhist complexes have considerable importance – the high priests of the two best known, Malwatte and Asgiriya, are the most important in Sri Lanka and the Asgiriya Maha Vihara has a large reclining Buddha image. Check into your hotel in this religious and ancient capital of kings.

In the afternoon we go on a birding excursion to Udawatte Kele, an unspoilt forest reserve set on a hilly ridge overlooking the city. Highlights here include the following endemics: Greater flameback, Brown capped babbler, Sri Lanka small barbet, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, Layard’s parakeet. You can also hope to see the Alexandrine parakeet, Tickel’s blue flycatcher, Hill myna, Forest wagtail (migrant), Black naped monarch and Yellow-fronted barbet. In addition to the birdlife, you can also see many different plant species, butterflies, monkeys and other small mammals and reptiles.

Day 5

This morning enjoy birding in the woods surrounding your lodge.

We also visit the beautiful Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. Dating back to colonial times, this magnificent property has abundant birdlife, including a bat colony. It also has a rare collection of indigenous tropical flora, including an Orchid House. We suggest you ask your hotel to pack a picnic today, so that you can enjoy it in these gardens.

In the late afternoon we visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth that houses a tooth relic of the Buddha. Religious pooja ceremonies, when the golden casket containing the tooth is revealed, are held daily at 05.00, 09.30 and 18.30 - so this is the best time to visit.

Please dress appropriately when visiting the temple, with shoulders and knees covered.

Day 6

After some early morning birding around our hotel, we leave Kandy and travel 3-hours to Kitulgala Forest Reserve.

Also know as Makandawa Forest Reserve, this 1,155 hectare secondary lowland rainforest covers the catchment area of the Kelani River and receives cascading waters from two monsoon seasons a year - resulting in lush green vegetation and verdant mountains. It is one of the wettest places in Sri Lanka, with access on foot, by boat or dugout canoe, as vehicles are not permitted in the reserve.

Kitulgala is home to many lowland endemic birds, flora and fauna. It also has some lovely waterfalls such as Makulu Ella and Lenakiri Ella.

Day 7

Today enjoy birding in Kitulgala Forest Reserve, which was used as the location for the filming of the movie 'The Bridge on the River Khwai'.

Before breakfast enjoy a short bird watching walk around the hotel grounds. Then after breakfast, if river levels permit, we will be ferried across the river by dug-out canoe or walk across a hanging bridge to explore Kitulgala’s quiet forest trails, which are home to many exciting endemics such as the tiny Sri Lanka hanging parrot, Yellow-fronted barbet, Orange-billed babbler and Sri Lanka grey hornbill. As well as these unique Sri Lankan residents, the area is rich in other birdlife with the shy (but noisy) Black bulbuls, Pygmy and Black-rumped flameback woodpecker, Crested goshawk and Crested treeswift to watch for, as well as Indian swiftlets swirling overhead.

This secondary rainforest is more open than the primary rainforest of Sinharaja, so elusive endemic species such as the Sri Lanka spurfowl, Sri Lanka green-billed coucal and Spot-winged thrush may be easier to see. You can see hope to see the Black eagle, Rufous-bellied eagle, Serendib scops owl, Sri Lanka chestnut-backed owlet, Brown hawk owl, Black-backed dwarf kingfisher, Sri Lanka spur fowl, Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka green pigeon, Sri Lanka Layard’s parakeet, Sri Lanka swallow, Black-capped bulbul, Gold-fronted leaf bird, Green-billed coucal, Sri Lanka frog mouth, Spot-winged ground thrush, Indian pitta, Legge’s flowerpecker, Brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka rufous Babbler, Sri Lanka hill myna, Sri Lanka crested drongo, Purple-rumped sunbird, Loten’s sunbird, Green warblers, Orange minivet and more.

After returning to our hotel for lunch, in the afternoon we visit nearby Kitulagne village for a birding walk.

Day 8

After a short and leisurely bird watching walk around our hotel before breakfast, we leave Kitulgala and travel 3-hours to Nuwara Eliya. Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside with its many tea plantations, as we wind our way through the hill country.

In the afternoon enjoy birding in Victoria Park in the centre of town. Highlights are likely to include the following migrants: Kashmir flycatcher, Pied thrush, Indian blue robin, Indian pitta and Forest wagtail. We will also keep an eye out for the following endemics: Dull blue flycatcher, Yellow eared bulbul and Sri Lanka white-eye. You can also hope to see the Velvet fronted nuthatch and Grey-headed canary flycatcher amongst others.

Day 9

An early morning (5 am) start this morning for our 1-hour drive to Horton Plains National Park - a magnificent landscape of rolling hills covered in cloud forest, with grasslands in the valleys that eventually give way to wetlands.

Enjoy a 5-mile (9.5-km) hike along the scenic circular trail that leads to World's End view point and Bakers' Falls, so wear trainers or walking boots today.

Situated on the highest plateau in Sri Lanka at an elevation of nearly 6,900 ft (2,100 m), this park is home to 87 species of birds - including 20 of the 27 endemic species found on this island. Highlights include the following: Sri Lanka wood pigeon, Dull blue flycatcher, Sri Lanka white-eye, Sri Lanka whistling thrush, Yellow eared bulbul, Sri Lanka bush warbler and Greater flameback woodpecker. You can also hope to see the Grey headed canary flycatcher, Pied bushchat, Common buzzard, the stunning Black eagle and the rare Mountain hawk eagle.

There are also 24 species of highland mammals including the Purple-faced monkey (known locally as the Bear monkey), Sambar deer, Dusky squirrel and Highland giant squirrel.

Afterwards we return to Nuwara Eliya, where in the late afternoon we can do more birding in Victoria Park or around our lodge.

Day 10

Today we leave Nuwara Eliya and travel 5-hours to our hotel situated with reach of Yala National Park.

Along the way we stop at Surrey Bird Sanctuary for a short birding excursion and a cup of tea. This sanctuary is an excellent spot to find the Brown wood owl.

In the late afternoon enjoy a private birding jeep safari into Lunugamvehera National Park, the much quieter Zone 5 of Yala National Park. Yala is the premier game reserve in Sri Lanka covering an area of nearly 400 square miles (1,000 square km). It is famous for having the highest density of leopards in the world, but sightings of these magnificent animals are not guaranteed and you need to take at least 2 or 3 jeep safaris in the much busier Zone 1 for a good chance of a sighting.

Day 11

This morning we depart early (05.00) with a packed breakfast and picnic lunch for a full day private jeep safari in Lunugamvehera National Park.

This national park serves as an important migration corridor for elephants moving between Yala National Park and the Udawalawe Reservoir. Here you can hope to see large water birds such as the Grey heron, Black-headed ibis, Asian openbill, Painted stork and Spot-billed pelican. A variety of raptors such as the Crested serpent eagle, Grey-headed fish eagle, White-bellied sea eagle, Crested hawk eagle, Black shouldered kite and Brahminy kite can also be seen here.

Highlights are likely to include the Drongo cuckoo, Greater racket-tailed drongo, Sirkeer malkoha, Blue faced malkoha, Yellow crowned woodpecker, Sri Lanka woodshrike, Sri Lanka greater flameback, Marshal’s iora, Rufous woodpecker, Yellow crowned woodpecker, Crested treeswift, Brown-capped pygmy woodpecker and Indian roller. At dusk look out for the Indian nightjar and Jerdon’s nightjar.

Animals found in this park include Asian elephants, water buffalo, sambar deer, wild boar, spotted deer and mugger crocodiles. With luck, you may even see a leopard or sloth bear.

Day 12

Rise early today, with a packed breakfast and picnic lunch, for a half day private jeep safari exploring the birds and wildlife of Yala National Park. This is the Sri Lanka’s oldest and most famous national park, comprising of a diversity of habitats including scrub jungle, water reservoirs, brakish lagoons and riverine habitats.

We should have excellent raptor sightings and see many aquatic birds, forest birds such as wild peacock and jungle fowl (the national bird of Sri Lanka), as well as hornbills, orioles, pelicans and the rare black-necked stork. Over 200 different species can be seen, including many that migrate to escape the northern winter such as white-winged black terns, curlews and pintails.

Yala, known locally as Ruhuna National Park, is also home to over 40 different species of mammals. Whilst famous for its over 35 leopards, you can also see water buffalo, elephants, spotted & barking deer, wild boar, sambar, crocodiles, jackals, monkeys and mongoose. Sloth bears are also present but are rarely seen. Early morning and late afternoon is the best time to search for leopards, but be aware that it is very difficult to find them in the wild and sightings are never guaranteed. Best viewings are generally at the end of the dry season (January to April), when the leopards search out the waterholes.

Note: Please be aware that although Yala National Park offers a wonderful wildlife experience, it is a very different experience from a traditional African safari as the park is extremely busy. Be prepared for some rough roads, with the park being especially busy over weekends and festivals. Yala is closed during September and early October, but neighbouring Block 5 (Lunugamvehera) is open all year.

Day 13

This morning we rise early (with a boxed picnic breakfast) and travel 30-minutes for a half day private jeep safari in Bundala National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve which has five shallow brackish lagoons separated by thick low scrubby forest and coastal sand dunes that stretch along the southern Sri Lankan coast for nearly 13 miles (20 km).

The first wetland to be declared a RAMSAR site in Sri Lanka, this bird sanctuary shelters nearly 200 different species - the highlight being greater flamingos, which migrate here in large flocks. This coastal wetland is also a very important wintering ground for migratory water birds that arrive between September and March, which is the best time to visit. The lagoons attract an amazing variety of aquatic birds including ibis, pelicans, painted storks, egrets and spoonbills. You will also see many peacocks perching in the branches of tall rosewood trees. Highlights are likely to include the Greater thickee, Eurasian thicknee, Watercock, Yellow bittern, Black bittern, Ashy crowned sparrow lark, Yellow wattled lapwing, Blue faced malkoha, Grey headed fish eagle, White bellied sea eagle, Crested hawk eagle, Lesser adjutant, Black necked stork and Indian darter.

Bundala is also home to 32 species of mammals including the excitable grey langur monkey, civet, mongoose, wild pig, giant Indian palm squirrel and black-naped hare. There are also a few elephants, lots of land monitors, enormous crocodiles that sun themselves along the lagoons, and five species of turtle that lay their eggs on the beaches. Although it doesn’t have the range of wildlife found in Yala National Park, Bundala offers a much quieter alternative without the crowds. After visiting Kirindi Beach, we return to our hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon we drive 3-hours to the small town of Mirissa, stopping along the way at Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary for some coastal wetland birding. We then continue to Merissa which is situated on the southern tip of Sri Lanka and renowned for its whale watching.

Day 14

In season (November to March) rise early (around 05.30) for a 4-hour Whale Watching boat ride departing from Mirissa Harbour if whales have been spotted (your guide will book your tickets but you must pay locally - approximately $70 per person, depending on the exchange rate).

You can hope to see Blue whale, Bryde´s whale, Sperm whale, Fin whale and sometimes a Killer whale. Blue whales in concentrations not seen elsewhere in the world will be the highlight. Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Spinner dolphin, Risso's dolphin and Striped dolphin are also seen in these clear waters and you may even see turtle, bluefin tuna and flying fish.

Afterwards we leave Mirissa and drive 3.5-hours to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot that is one of very few remaining virgin lowland rainforests in the world and now a World Heritage Site.

Although only 13 miles (21 km) wide, it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka as well as many species of trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. However wildlife is not easily seen here, because of the dense vegetation. In the late afternoon enjoy a birding walk in Sinharaja Village.

Note: Expect the shared boat ride to be fairly chaotic. Private boat rides are available for a substantial supplement. Wear a jacket as it can get cold on the boat and take a sun hat, sun glasses, binoculars, sunscreen, camera & small towel. Take your own snacks & drinks. You will be on the water for several hours in seas that can be rough, so if you are not a good sailor remember to take preventative travel sickness tablets well in advance.

Days 15 To 16

Today explore Sinharaja Rainforest on foot accompanied by your birding guide. This wet zone is the last significant remaining primary rainforest in Sri Lanka and is the single most important site on the island for endemic birds. You wil also encounter spectacular mixed feeding flocks of birds here.

The soaring tropical hardwoods of this evergreen rainforest form a dense canopy that shuts out most sunlight and direct rainfall, creating a dim and intensely humid atmosphere that feels like being in an enormous green house. Its impenetrable expanse of intertwined trees, ferns and lianas are teeming with wildlife and it is home to over 830 endemic flora and fauna species - including many rare birds, trees, reptiles and insects. Its staggering array of flora and fauna places it amongst the top bio-diversity hotspot in the world.

Over 130 birds species are found here, including most of the 33 species that are endemic to Sri Lanka. We have a good chance of seeing the majority of them, although some are easier to find than others. The ground-dwelling Sri Lanka spurfowl requires stealth and sharp eyes, whereas roving flocks of Ashy-headed laughing thrushes and Orange-billed babblers are much more obliging. Sri Lanka hill mynas call loudly and clearly from exposed positions while Sri Lanka hanging parrots shriek past. The exquisite Sri Lanka blue magpie is a real gem and several will be seen here. We will also be keeping a sharp eye open for Red-faced malkoha cavorting around the tangled vines and creepers. Another rare and shy inhabitant of the forest here is the Scaly thrush and we'll listen carefully for the distinctive call that will betray the presence of this remarkable bird.

Highlights are likely to include the following endemics: Green billed coucal, Red faced malkoha, Sri Lanka blue magpie, White faced starling, Orange billed babbler, Ashy headed laughing thrush, White throated flowerpecker, Serendib scops owl, Brown capped babbler, Scaly thrush, Spot winged thrush and Sri Lanka crested drongo to name just a few.

Small mammals found here include the purple-faced langur monkey and the giant squirrel. Sinharaja is also home to the elusive leopard, which is rarely seen. There also a rich reptile population and a myriad of insects.

Note: Please be aware that there are leeches in Sinharaja Rainforest and leech socks are essential (these will be provided).

Day 17

At leisure to relax and enjoy the sparkling Indian Ocean beaches of the warm Southwest Coast.

You can swim in the sea, suntan around the swimming pool or indulge yourself with a spa treatment, as this region is renowned for its yoga and Ayurvedic spa remedies that cleanse body, mind and spirit. Enjoy the local Sri Lankan culture and food, as well as miles and miles of wide sandy beaches, framed by coconut palms.

Optional excursions include a canal boat ride to see water birds, monkeys and water monitors. You can visit a turtle hatchery, as sea turtles nest on these beaches from December to April, and participate in water sports on Bentota Lagoon.

Full day excursions are available to historic Galle Fort, Udawalawe National Park and its Elephant Transit Home, the impressive Mulkirigala Rock Temple, and Koggala where from October to May you can take a flight to see enormous blue whales (these should be booked in advance).

Day 18

Transfer 2.5-hours to Colombo Airport for your flight home.

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