Overview
Embark on an incredible journey of bird watching in Sri Lanka, where you’ll explore diverse climatic zones and observe some of the island’s most unique avifauna and natural wonders. This short yet comprehensive birding tour focuses on endemic birds in Sri Lanka mostly and offers a rich and immersive experience.
Your adventure begins in Kitulgala, where you can spot fascinating species such as the endemic Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, the White-faced Starling, and the Green-billed Coucal. Next, you’ll head to Nuwara Eliya, where the beautiful Hakgala Botanical Garden awaits, home to the endemic Dull-blue Flycatcher. You’ll then visit the awe-inspiring Horton Plains National Park, which houses the endemic Sri Lankan White-eye.
Then, embark on a birding safari in Bundala Park, Sri Lanka’s first Ramsar site, boasting 197 bird species. Your journey continues to the famous Yala National Park, where you can see 215 bird species along with Sri Lanka’s iconic mammals: the Asian elephant, sloth bears, and leopards.
Spend the final days of your trip in the pristine Sinharaja Rainforest, a biodiversity hotspot where 95% of Sri Lanka’s 33 endemic bird species reside.
Your accommodations will consist of handpicked hotels and glamping sites, minimizing travel time and maximizing your birding experience. This way, you’ll have ample time to enjoy your holiday in Sri Lanka and savor the exquisite accommodations, destinations, and cuisine.
Ideal For
This tour is perfect for bird lovers who don’t have much time but are eager to explore the wilderness and admire the beauty of avifauna, especially the endemic birds of Sri Lanka. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple, friends, or a family with kids and teenagers, this tour caters to small groups of all kinds.
Join us for an unforgettable birding adventure in Sri Lanka and experience the beauty of endemic birding tours in Sri Lanka firsthand.
Highlights at a glance
- Bird watching in Kitulgala for endemic species and nocturnal birds.
- Hill Country birding in Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains National Park.
- Spotting dry zone species in Yala National Park.
- Birding in one of Sri Lanka’s six Ramsar Sites: Bundala National Park.
- Exploring a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site: Sinharaja Rainforest.
- Learning the process of making the world’s finest Ceylon Tea. [ Optional ]
Upon your arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be transferred to Kitulgala which was used as a location in the filming of David Lean’s award-winning film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ and is considered one of the island’s most picturesque locations as well as a hotspot for endemic birds. Depending on your time of arrival, you can choose to rest at your hotel, or do a short bird-watching trail with your personal guide and hope to encounter some of Sri Lanka’s endemic bird species including the Orange-billed Babbler and the Chestnut-backed Owlet that have been recorded here.
After breakfast, enjoy a morning trail in the Makandawa rain forest in Kitulgala which boasts an impressive list of endemic, migratory and resident birds. Many of the wet zone endemics such as the Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Hanging Parrot, Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul and the Spot-winged Thrush can be sighted here. Afterwards, drive to Nuwara Eliya to spot the hill country species in Hakgala Botanical Garden (or Victoria Park) which are considered as the gathering spot for migratory species. Spend your night in a cozy accommodation in the “Little England”; Nuwara Eliya
Before dawn, with packed breakfasts, you will be taken to the Horton Plains National Park in the central highlands of Sri Lanka which is recognized as an Important Bird Areas (IBAs). Horton Plains is home to several resident and endemic species of birds including: the Yellow-Eared Bulbul, Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler and most importantly, the endangered Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and Scaly Thrush. We should also be able to sight the Sambar Deer and the endemic Purple-faced Monkey. Drive to Yala and get ready for the adventures on the following day. You can look forward to your overnight stay at Glamping site in Yala.
Early in the morning you will transfer to the Bundala National Park for a special jeep safari. Bundala has been internationally recognized as an important wintering ground for migratory birds.Bundala National Park is a fantastic wetland sanctuary that shelters thousands of colourful birds ranging from little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed stalks. In total, this wildlife wonderland covering 62-sq-km area, is home to 150 species of birds with many imigrating species arriving between August and April. It’s also a winter home to the greater flamingo, and it is possible to see over 1500 flamingos at once! An evening safari at the Yala National Park is organized with a night birding trail and an overnight stay at the glamping Camp in Yala. Boasting the highest leopard population density in the world, the Yala National Park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts while being widely noted as the best place in the world to film and photograph the Sri Lankan Leopard.
After breakfast you will then be taken to the Sinharaja rainforest, which is recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Another highlight of this forest is the mixed-species of bird flocks, averaging up to 42 individual species, which make this the world’s largest mixed-species bird flock. The mixed-species bird flock study of the Sinharaja forest has been continuing since 1981 and is considered the World’s longest bird flock study. Birding highlights include: the Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White-faced Starling and Scaly Thrush. After lunch, check-in to your hotel in Sinharaja before a bird-watching tour in the forest. We have also planned a night birding trail, where you may spot some of Sri Lanka’s nocturnal species including the Chestnut-backed Owlet and Serendib Scops Owl. Your overnight stay will be at a hotel selected given its close proximity to the forest.
Following an early breakfast, enjoy a day of exploration (with packed lunches) in the beautiful Sinharaja rain forest where we will search for more wet lowland forest birds including endemics. Depending on your interest, our guide will also help you to identify many butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, forest mammals and other wildlife. If you are feeling up to it, you could also do a night-walk along the peripheries of the reserve. At the close of the day, you will spend the night at a hotel close to Sinharaja Forest.
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