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Tour Type

Private Tour | Experience the unparalleled thrill of bird watching in Sri Lanka
Admission Fee

Included
Accomodation

Standard Room with Dinner & Breakfast included.
Best Season

Year Around
Peak Period Supplements

Included
Important (about rates)

Beyond solo travellers, rates are given as a total, not per person.
Guide

Your own English speaking private chauffer guide will be at your service throughout the tour.
Language

Guides speaking other languages are available for an additional fee
Free Cancellation

Yes. Up to 45 Days.
Hotel Transfer

Included
Meeting Point

Hotel
Mineral Water

Through all the day
Payment Method

Only 10% to confirm
Check Rates & Availability

Yes
Transportation

Car/Van with A/C
What more to add

Airport Transfer on Arrival / Departure
Pre & Post - Excursion services
Unique Stays

Stay at an eco-friendly resort
Difficulty

Easy

Overview

Experience the unparalleled thrill of bird watching in Sri Lanka with our exciting three-day birding tour from Colombo to Waikkal. This carefully curated adventure promises unforgettable encounters with the island’s stunning birdlife, featuring an exhilarating boat tour and an immersive nature walk.

Begin your birding journey with a boat tour in Waikkal, where you’ll glide through untouched terrains, offering a unique glimpse into the natural habitats of various bird species. Look out for the Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Purple Coot, Painted Stork, and the majestic Stork-Billed Kingfisher.

Explore the Muthurajawela Sanctuary by boat and uncover a remarkable variety of birds within its diverse ecosystem.

The adventure continues with a nature walk in the Anawilundawa Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a haven for hundreds of bird species, serving as their nesting and breeding ground. During the walk, you might spot the White Ibis, Egret, Stork, Open-bill, Great Cormorant, Purple Swamp-hen, and the Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Migrant birds are typically seen between October and April, while endemic and resident birds can be observed year-round.

The tour concludes with your return to Colombo or to your next destination, enriched with unforgettable birding experiences. This birding tour in Sri Lanka is an exceptional opportunity for avid bird watchers to immerse themselves in the rich biodiversity of both endemic and migrant bird species. Join us for an unforgettable bird watching tour in Sri Lanka, and witness the avian wonders of this beautiful island.

Highlights at a glance

Bird watching in Waikkal in search of avifauna near Ginoya River
Birding Watching Boat Ride in Muturajawela Marshlands
Birding in one of the 6 RAMSAR wetlands in Sri Lanka; Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary

Day 1 :

Discover Waikkal's Avian Wonders

Waikkal, located in the Puttalam District, is a haven for bird watching in Sri Lanka. Surrounded by diverse ecosystems such as marine, coastal, estuarine, mangroves, marshland, and man-made habitats, Waikkal boasts incredible avifaunal diversity. Over 60 species of birds can be observed here, making it a prime location for birding tours in Sri Lanka. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy an evening bird-watching trail with your personal guide.

Hotel Stay

Day 2 :

Morning Boat Tour and Muthurajawela Marshland Expedition

Start your day with a pre-breakfast birding tour on a boat in Waikkal, spotting species such as the Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Purple Coot, Painted Stork, and Stork-Billed Kingfisher. After breakfast, relax at the hotel or explore the nearby village. At 3:00 PM, head to the Muthurajawela Sanctuary for an evening birding excursion. Known for its rich biodiversity, the sanctuary is home to a dazzling array of birds, mammals, reptiles, and flora. With 209 fauna varieties, including 17 endemic and 26 nationally-threatened species, this birding excursion in Sri Lanka is a must for nature enthusiasts. After the tour, return to Waikkal for your overnight stay.

Breakfast

Hotel Stay

Day 3 :

Immersive Nature Walk at Anavilundawa Sanctuary

Choose to have an early breakfast or take a packed meal as you head to the Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary. This sanctuary, one of six RAMSAR Wetlands in Sri Lanka, offers a unique ecological geography with its proximity to the coast, freshwater, and mangroves. It’s a perfect spot for a nature walk, providing habitat for hundreds of bird species, including the White Ibis, Egret, Stork, Open-bill, Great Cormorant, Purple Swamp-hen, and Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Migrant birds can be seen between October and April, while endemic and resident birds are visible year-round. The sanctuary also hosts diverse wildlife, such as the Rusty-spotted cat, Fishing cat, Indian otter, Slender loris, and Toque monkey, along with 74 species of butterflies. After your nature walk, return to the hotel before continuing to your next destination.

Join us on this short birding holiday in Sri Lanka for an extraordinary bird watching tour, and discover the rich avian diversity of this beautiful island.

Breakfast

Expand all

What happens after I confirm the tour?

When it comes to the accommodation, all the reservations are subject to availability at the time of confirmation, and as soon as we have received the payment, our Tour Operations Team will take in charge of your tour and proceed with the reservations. In case a hotel mentioned in your itinerary has no availability, we will find you an alternative. No changes will be done without your approval!

Will I receive a schedule with exact timings for my tour?

We will make a rough day-by-day schedule for your tour, but won’t set you exact timings for each and every activity – unless there is a an activity which start at a specific time. Since you will be traveling by private vehicle, with a knowledgeable driver-guide, we want you to have your part in decision making. With the help from him, you may tune the schedule to your rhythm.

Am I allowed to do any extra stops or visits?

Along the destinations included in your itinerary, you are free to take as many stops as you want to. When it comes to additional visits and destinations that are located out of the original route, the extra kilometers will be taken in consideration. For your journey, we will calculate a total mileage that is sufficient for the whole tour and mentioned in your itinerary. If this limit is exceeded, we will charge a supplement according the extra mileage.

Am I allowed to do any changes to my itinerary during the tour?

We’ll do our best to accommodate the programme in your needs and wishes, if something urgent occurs during your tour. In a situation that requires changing the accommodation, the cancellation policies of the hotels concerned are to be taken on account.

Will I need a visa?

Since the 1st of January 2012, all travelers must be in possession of a visa when arriving in Sri Lanka. Citizens from Singapore and The Maldives are the only exempt. Visitors can apply for the official Electronic Travel Authorization (visa) via www.eta.gov.lk, or upon arrival at the airport. There is a small fee to pay, and you must have at least six months left on your passport at the time of travel to obtain one.

Are credit cards widely accepted?

MasterCard and Visa are widely used and accepted by many local shops, restaurants and hotels, but it’s always better to double check. Other major cards such as AmEx and DinersClub are accepted often also.

Overall Trip Rating:

😀

4.5

- Based on 2 travel reviews

😀 Excellent

🙂 Very Good

😕 Average

🙁 Poor

😡 Terrible

A Well-Organized Tour, But Not for Endemic Birding

By Mark
from Australia
January 23, 2025
The tour was well-organized, and the locations were great for general birdwatching. We saw plenty of fascinating species, and the guide’s expertise really added value to the experience. However, if you’re specifically looking for Sri Lankan endemics, this may not be the best choice—I wasn’t able to spot any. That said, it’s an excellent option for those wanting a quick, diverse birding trip close to Colombo.

Date of Experience: January 06, 2025
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A Fantastic Birding Experience Close to Colombo!

By David & Claire
from United Kingdom (UK)
November 20, 2024
This was the perfect birdwatching adventure just a short drive from Colombo! The diversity of birdlife was incredible—we spotted a stunning variety of species, from kingfishers to raptors, in their natural habitats. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, making it easy to identify birds and understand their behaviours. The trip was well-paced, with comfortable accommodations and great food. It’s amazing how much we could experience in just three days! Highly recommended for any nature or bird lover looking for a convenient yet immersive birding tour in Sri Lanka.

Date of Experience: November 07, 2024
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