Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon our Arrival in Colombo airport we will meet our local travel-to-nature Asia Tour Leader who will accompany us throughout the tour. Before we proceed to Sigiriya we will drive to nearby airport hotel to freshen up and have a cup of Sri Lanka tre or coffee!

The journey from the airport to Sigiriya is about 145 km and takes approximately 3 hours 30 minutes. On the way we will make several stops looking out for birds and enjoy the first sights of Sri Lanka Nature.

Accommodation: Hotel Sigiriya
Meal: Dinner

After our breakfast we explore Sigiriya sanctuary.

King Kashyapa built his rock fortress in the 5^th century so as to have a bird’s eye view of approaching enemies. Today, from its summit it is birds and wildlife the intrepid visitor sees. Surrounded on all sides by vast man-made water tanks, Sigiriya is rich in interesting species.  From the Asian elephant to a local race of the peregrine falcon, this site never fails to surprise and enchant.

Possible noteworthy species

Barred Buttonquail, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cotton-pygmy Goose, Woolly-necked Stork, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Peregrine Falcon, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Drongo Cuckoo, Blue-faced Malkoha, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Brown Fish Owl, Crested Treeswift, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Large Cuckooshrike, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Black-naped Monarch, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Forest Wagtail, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Grey-breasted Prinia, Jungle Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Green Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Jerdon’s Leafbird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Brown-capped Babbler, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Orange-headed Thrush, Indian Blue Robin, White-rumped Shama, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Baya Weaver.

Afternoon we proceed for jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park depending on the movements of the Elephants.

Minnerya National Park

This area was declared as a sanctuary in July 1938 and was upgraded to a National Park in August 1997. The park is 8,885 hectares in extent and the core of this park holds one of the country’s most diverse natural systems with intermediate forests, bamboo stands, patanas and talawas. The tank supports a wide variety of waterfowl.   The vegetation consists of dry mixed evergreen forests, abandoned chena cultivation lands, grass lands and wet lands. The park is famous for the large numbers of Asian Elephants that can be observed on the dry exposed lake shore referred to as the “gathering” that can be witnessed during the dry season.

Possible noteworthy species

Wild Boar, Asian Elephant, Golden-back Jackal, Indian Palm Squirrel, Sri Lanka Giant Squirrel, Toque Macaque, Grey Langur, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Asian Water Monitor, Land Monitor, Mugger Crocodile, Indian Python, Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Ruddy Turnstone, Gray  Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Black-winged Stilt, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Black-crested  Bulbul, Crimson-fronted Barbet

Accommodation: Hotel Sigiriya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfasts proceed to Kandy en-route visiting a Spice Garden to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. We will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

Afternoon we proceed to Peradeniyaa Botanical Gardens for Birding.

Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya is the site of the world-famous National Herbarium and sanctuary for over 4000 plant species, this historic garden, established in 1821, covers 147 acres in the old royal capital of Kandy.   This popular public park is bordered on one side by the University Of Peradeniya and on the other by the Mahaweli River.

Possible noteworthy species 

Crimson-Fronted Barbet, Jerdon’s Leafbird, Common Tailor Bird, Yellow-Fronted Barbet, White-Bellied Drongo, Yellow-Billed Babbler, White-Breasted Waterhen, Common Hawk Cuckoo. Overnight stay in Kandy.

Accommodation: Hotel Topaz
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

After our breakfast we explore the Udawattakele Sanctuary for Birding.

Udawattakele Sanctury

104 hectares of this forest has been declared as a sanctuary and is protected as a Forest Reserve by the Forest Department. This is a very popular site with the birders in Kandy area. This is a tall, wet evergreen forest. The lake within the sanctuary attracts many species of birds that feed on fish.

Possible noteworthy species

Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Brown Fish Owl, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Alexandrine Parakeet, Layard’s Parakeet, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Crimson-backed Goldenback, Indian Pitta, Black-naped Monarch, Forest Wagtail, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Black-capped Bulbul, Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Dark-fronted Babbler, Green Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch,  Common Hill Myna, Indian Blue Robin, White-rumped Shama, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Forest Eagle Owl.

Afternoon we proceed to Nuwara Eliya en-route visiting a Tea Factory to see the process of making one of our favorite drinks in action. We’ll see every step of the tea making process, from bush to cup and learn tasting tea.

Accommodation: Galway Heights
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

With packed breakfast we should leave Nuwara Eliya early in the morning to increase our chances of seeing some attractive wildlife that are endemic to Sri Lanka. We will spend exploring Horton Plains National Park.

Horton Plains National Park

Preserved for its biological, hydrological and aesthetic values, Horton Plains offers a breath-taking panorama of grassland valleys, high plateaus, mountains crests and forests.  Bakers Falls and World’s End are two of this area’s not-to-be-missed viewpoints.

It consists of ecosystems such as Montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands and aquatic ecosystem. At an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, Horton Plains spreads across over 3,169 hectares of the highest tableland of the island.

Horton Plains, its surroundings, forests and the adjoining Peak Wilderness constitute Sri Lanka’s most important catchment area of almost all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty and conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemic plants and animals representative of the country’s wet and Montane zones. The western slopes support the most extensive area of Montane cloud forest surviving in the island. Horton Plains is not merely a destination for nature tourists. Since the rich biodiversity of Horton Plains is still grossly underexplored, it affords invaluable opportunities to those engaged on educational and research activities. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Possible noteworthy species

Mammals – Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Toque Macaque, Black-naped Hare, Sambar Deer, Leopard, Asiatic Otter,  Dusky Striped Squirrel, Brown Mongoose.

Birds – Legge’s Mountain Hawk Eagle, Black-winged Kite,  Dusky-blue  Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher,Orange-headed   Ground Thrush, Great Tit, Yellow and Grey Wagtail, Sri Lanka Blue   Magpie, Yellow-   eared  Bulbul, Sri Lanka White Eye, Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Bush Warbler, Pied Bush Chat,  Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch.

In the late afternoon, we will also visit the Hakgala Botanical Gardens on the outskirts of the city. Here we would have another chance to meet the Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, which often visit this attractive garden in troops and we might see more species of birds such as Scimitar Babbler, Yellow-eared Black Bilbuls and more.

Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya

This city park was named after Queen Victoria in 1897 to commemorate her 60^th jubilee coronation. An evening walk in this garden can catch you an encounter with the Pied Thrush, Kashmir Flycatcher, Indian Pitta and the Indian Blue Robin besides some endemics.

Possible noteworthy species

Indian Pitta, Forest Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka White-eye, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Green Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Pied Thrush, Indian Blue Robin, Kashmir Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher.

Accommodation: Galway Heights
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we proceed to Yala National Park  en-route birding in Surrey Estate sanctuary.

Surrey Bird Sanctuary

The Surrey Bird Sanctuary rests peacefully on 4 acres of deep forest surrounded by many different varieties of vegetation and tall trees, it is just 1.5 Km away from the Welimada town towards Nuwara Eliya & about a 20 min drive from Nuwara Eliya town.

Possible noteworthy species

Birds – Brown Wood Owl, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Asian Koel, Scimitar Babbler, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Crimson Backed Woodpecker, Brown-Capped Babbler, Yellow-Fronted Barbet, Orange-headed Thrush, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Brown-headed Barbet, Black-naped Monarch, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Loten’s Sunbird, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Pale-billed Flowerpecker.

Accommodation: Chaarya Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

With packed breakfast and lunch (lunch own arrangement) a full day safari to Yala National Park exploring best of wild Yala.

Yala National Park

Yala is among the oldest and best known National Park in Sri Lanka. It is about 1297 sqkm or 129,700 ha. It is the largest accumulation of protected areas in the country. The diverse ecosystems ranging from Moist Monsoon Forest , to Dry Monsoon Forests, Semi Deciduous Forests, Thorn forests, Grasslands, fresh water & marine wetlands, and sandy beaches, possesses a large number of important plant species and smaller animals.

Kumbukkan Oya in the North East and Menik Ganga and tributaries on the West, flow through the Park providing a source of water to the animals even during the driest months of the year.

Yala West (Ruhuna) National Park is well recognized as one of the best parks in the world to observe leopards. The Park covers an area of over 100,000 hectares and is divided into five blocks.

Block one is the most visited area since it contains the highest density of leopards. Yala West consists of scrub jungle, brackish lagoons and stunning rock monoliths scattered throughout the park, its eastern edge is bounded by the South East coast. Yala has well over 200 leopards, probably the highest density anywhere in the world. It is also thought that Sri Lankan leopards are a distinct sub-species from their Indian neighbors, and the largest leopards in Asia.

Possible noteworthy species

Mammals – Toque Macaque, Grey Langur, Black-naped Hare, Sambar Deer, Spotted Deer, Leopard, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Gray Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose,            Asian Elephant, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Golden Jackal, Muntjac, Sloth Bear.

Birds – Barred Buttonquail, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Indian Peafowl, Painted Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Spot-billed Pelican, Darter, Common Kestrel, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Booted Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Eurasian Thick Knee, Great Thick Knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-faced Malkoha, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Oriental Scops Owl, Jungle Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, Crested Tree Swift, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Coppersmith Barbet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Marshall’s Iora, White-browed Fantail, Ashy Drongo, Racket-tailed Drongo, Forest Wagtail, Black-naped Monarch, Forest Wagtail, Jerdon’s Bushlark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Black-capped Bulbul, Grey-breasted Prinia, Jungle Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Green Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Rosy Starling, White-rumped Shama, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill.

Accommodation: Chaarya Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

With packed breakfast and lunch (Lunch own arrangements) we leave for a full day safari to Lunugamwehera National Park.

This National Park was declared in 1995 with the intention of protecting the catchment area of the Lunugamvehera reservoir. Ghostly white dead trees decorate the reservoir and its rotting remains make perfect watch towers for nesting White-bellied Sea Eagles. The recent spike in Leopard populations in this park has made it a sought-out alternative to Yala National Park. Mosaic of scrubland and grassland make up the forest which is home to Sloth Bear, Muntjac, Mouse Deer, Stripe-necked Mongoose and an array of birds including the rare Racket-tailed Drongo and common water birds such as the Grey Heron, Black-headed Ibis, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork and Spot-billed Pelican

Possible noteworthy species

Mammals – Toque Macaque, Grey Langur, Black-naped Hare, Sambar Deer,   Spotted Deer, Leopard, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Gray Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Asian Elephant, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Golden Jackal, Muntjac, Sloth Bear.

Birds – Black-winged Kite, Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Black-headed Ibis, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle,  Changeable Hawk Eagle, Stork- billed Kingfisher, Blue-faced Malkoha, Sirkeer Malkoha, Lesser Adjutant.

Accommodation: Chaarya Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After our leisurely breakfast proceed to Udawalawe NP which takes us approximately 2 hours. This afternoon we go on jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park.

Udawalawe National Park

The land of the elephants, Udawalawe’s mountains look down on the vast spreading reservoir which is home to many fauna and flora. This beautiful landscape is a sanctuary for wild animals which were displaced during the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir.

Possible noteworthy species:

Mammals – Toque Macaque, Grey Langur, Ruddy Mongoose, Asian  Elephant, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Golden Jackal

Birds – Black winged Kite, Plain, Jungle and Grey-breasted Prinia, Barred Button Quail, Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Black-headed Ibis, Greater Racket  Tailed Drongo, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Plum-  headed Parakeet, Oriental Skylark, Paddyfield Pipit,  Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk  Eagle, Stork-   billed Kingfisher, Blue-faced Malkoha,

Accommodation: Grand Udawalawe Safari
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we proceed to the world famous Sinharaja Rainforest.

Afternoon birding in Sinharaja Village

Accommodation: Blue Magpie Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

With packed breakfast and lunch (lunch own arrangement) a full day visit to Sinharaja Rainforest.

Sinharaja Rain-forest

The treasure chest of biodiversity and endemism, Sinharaja is the last remnant of a lowland virgin rainforest in whole of south Asia. Constantly under the threat urbanization this beautiful rainforest has stood its ground and has become one of Sri Lanka’s most sought rainforest for the diverse rainforest birds and the islands endemics.

Possible noteworthy species:

Mammals/Reptiles – Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Indian Palm Squirrel, Giant Grizzled Squirrel, Dusky Striped Squirrel, Layard’s Squirrel, Kangaroo Lizard, Hump-nosed Lizard

Birds –  Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, Spot-winged Thrush, Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Scimitar Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, White-faced Starling, SerendibScops Owl, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Orange-billed Babbler,Legge’s Flowerpecker, Crimson-backed Goldenback Woodpecker, Black Bulbul, Layard’’s Parakeet, Sri         Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Honey Buzzard.

Accommodation: Blue Magpie Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today is our last full-day in Sri Lanka. Before we drive to airport hotel we will visit Ketalapathala Village in Sinharaja Rainforest buffer zone. Afternoon we proceed to a hotel near the Airport.

Accommodation: Vivanta Airport Garden Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer to airport by private vehicle for our homeward-bound flight.

Meal: Breakfast

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