Bird watching Sri lanka
Bird watching sri lanka 12 Days | 11 Nights
Are you a passionate birdwatcher or a nature enthusiast seeking an unforgettable wildlife experience? Look no further than Sri Lanka, a tropical island paradise that offers some of the most extraordinary bird watching opportunities in the world. With its diverse landscapes, lush forests, and abundant wildlife, Sri Lanka has become a haven for bird lovers and an emerging hotspot for eco-tourism. Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Sri Lanka tours and wildlife holidays, where you can discover the fascinating avian biodiversity and natural wonders of this beautiful island.
A Birdwatcher's Delight
Sri Lanka boasts over 450 bird species, making it a dream destination for birdwatchers of all levels. From endemic species like the Sri Lanka Junglefowl and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie to migrant birds that visit during specific seasons, there’s a breathtaking array of feathered wonders to observe. Whether you’re an amateur enthusiast or a seasoned birder, the country’s abundance of national parks, nature reserves, and bird sanctuaries promises diverse sightings and thrilling experiences
Explore the Wildlife Hotspots
When planning your Sri Lanka wildlife holidays, make sure to include visits to some of the top birdwatching locations. Yala National Park is renowned for its leopard population, but it’s also a treasure trove for bird lovers, offering sightings of Painted Storks, White-bellied Sea Eagles, and more. Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to rare endemics such as the Red-faced Malkoha and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. Wilpattu National Park, with its stunning coastal wetlands, attracts various waterbirds and migratory species
Highlights
- Sigiriya birding trail (Sigiriya Bird Sanctuary)
- Minneriya National Park or Kaudulla national park
- Sam Popham Arboretum – Dambulla
- Udawattakele Sanctuary – Kandy
- Royal Botanic Gardens- Kandy
- Kitulgala Makandawa Rain Forest
- Hakgala Botanic Gardens
- Hortain Plains National Park – Nuwara Eliya
- Yala National Park
- Bundala National Park (best birding sanctuary in Sri Lanka)
- Udawalawe National Park
- Sinharaja Rainforest (UNESCO world heritage site)
- Thalangama Wetland / Lake
- Aththidiya Bird Sanctuary
- Dutch Canal / Muthurajawela marsh land boat ride
Tour Itinerary
- Ayubowan (May You Live Long!)
- Welcome to Sri Lanka.
- Meet and greet upon arrival at Colombo international airport
- Transfer and check-in to hotel in Habarana
- Relax and unwind after a long flight.
- Night walk to see the Slender Loris (Sigiriya or Dambulla)
- No other activities scheduled for today
- Overnight stay in Habarana
Sam Popham Arboretum is a dry zone arboretum which is home for many birds like the Jungle Magpie Robins, Jungle Fowl, the Red Vented and Black Capped Bulbuls. We recommend Arboretum for bird watching tours, where you will see avian species belonging to the dry zone of Sri Lanka. |
- Transfer to Kandy. (2 Hrs) (UNESCO World Heritage)
- En route visit Dambulla Cave Temple (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Visit Royal Botanic Gardens - Peradeniya
- Overnight stay in Kandy
Royal Botanical Gardens is the oldest of formal gardens in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Kandy. The garden includes more than 4,000 labelled species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees
- Morning visit to Udawattakele Sanctuary Kandy
- Back to hotel and Leave for Kitulgala after breakfast (3 - 4 Hrs.)
- Nature walks in Kitulgala Rain Forest
- Overnight stay at Kitulgala hotel
Udawattakele Sanctuary, often spelled as Udawatta Kele, is a historic forest reserve on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy. The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees.
- Birding trail in Makandawa Rain Forest Kitulgala
- Optional rafting / water based activities in Kitulgala
- Check-out and leave for Nuwara Eliya (2 Hrs)
- Visit Hakgala Botanical Gardens
- Spend some time at Victoria Park – Nuwara Eliya
- Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Makandawa Forest Reserve is one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful and picturesque bird watching locations. The reserve is home to lots of birds, so keep an eye out for endemic birds including the Green-Billed Coucal, Orange-Billed Babbler, Chestnut-Backed Owlet.
Recommended bird watching place in Sri Lanka
- Early morning visit to Horton Plains National Park. (This is 7 KM walk on uneven road)
- Back to hotel by 11.00 AM
- Transfer to Yala (3 Hrs)
- Overnight stay in Yala Hotel
Horton Plains National Park is rich with montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands, and aquatic ecosystems with an area of 3,169 hectares where you’ll witness several endemic flora and fauna during your bird watching tour in Sri Lanka. Over 12 endemic bird species can be seen at Horton Plains.
- Enjoy Full day safari ride at Yala national park
- Back to hotel before dusk
- Overnight stay in Yala
Yala National Park is the most visited national park in Sri Lanka. It combines a strict nature reserve with a national park. It consists of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks and lagoons where thousands of animals find refuge. Yala gives you a wide range of fauna species including birds and recommended park for bird watching in Sri Lanka.
- Visit to Bundala National Park
- Check-out and proceed to Udawalawe
- Afternoon safari at Udawalawe National park (Important Bird sanctuary in Sri Lanka)
- Overnight stay in Udawalawa hotel
Bundala National Park is a perfect destination for bird watchers & nature lovers. It harbours 197 bird species and was declared as a Ramsar wetland site and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. You will witness many species of native & migrant bird species at Bundala National Park during birding tour in Sri Lanka.
- Enjoy jeep safari at Udawalawe National Park
- Transfer to Sinharaja rain forest (2 Hrs)
- Nature walk with your personal guide around the Sinharaja rain forest buffer zone.
- Overnight stay in hotel in Sinharaja
Udawalawe National Park is the third most visited national park in Sri Lanka. It is also considered as the best bird watching site in Sri Lanka which is a habitat for many bird species / herds of elephants, wild buffalo, sambar and spotted deer, and giant squirrels.
Full day at Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Overnight stay in Sinharaja
Sinharaja Rain Forest is a biodiversity hotspot located in the lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka. The reserve is home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of butterflies, mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and very rare amphibians. Sinharaja Rain Forest is a key destination for bird watching in Sri Lanka
Nature walk before breakfast at Sinharaja buffer zone villages.
Transfer to Colombo
Bird watching at Thalangama lake and Attidiya Bird Sanctuary
Thalangama Wetland - Located on the outskirts of Colombo is a rich and diversified wetland habitat. Its collection of ponds, canals, and rice fields makes it a good place in Colombo suburbs for birding tours in Sri Lanka. Also, Thalangama is a fantastic place to photograph dragonflies and colourful butterflies
Enjoy Dutch Canal boat ride at Muthurajawela Wetland
Negombo sightseeing
End of the bird watching holiday in Sri Lanka
Departure
Muthurajawela wetland is a well-known bird watching site in Sri Lanka. The bird-watching walk through the wetland leads to the southern end of Negombo Lagoon, where you can see variety of cormorants, ducks, egrets, herons, storks, eagles, terns, swallows, swifts, kingfishers, and as well as Toque Macaque roaming the lagoon
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Why choose JK Travel?
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- Experience the beauty of Sri Lanka through scenic locations, exciting activities, and cultural discoveries.
- Our team is ready to arrange the best day trips for you, even if you’re short on time.
- Highly professional tourist chauffeurs/guides with top-quality knowledge, ethics, and safety standards for both day and multi-day tours.
- Comfortable transport in luxury, modern vehicles for a smooth, enjoyable experience.
- Best wildlife safaris with experienced drivers who know the national parks inside out.
- Well-maintained jeeps for safe and enjoyable journeys through the parks.
- Flexible communication options: connect with us via email, WhatsApp, IMO, or Viber.