Birds Watching Tours Sri Lanka

Day 1 Airport/Colombo

On arrival at the Colombo International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by our representative, introduce your guide lecture and begin proceed to Colombo the commercial capital in Sri Lanka. You will drive through the commercial area of Fort, so named because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort at this point. Drive past Pettah, a noisy Oriental bazaar with a mix of humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples. You will visit a Hindu and Buddhist Temple and the Jumi Ul Alfar Jumma Mosque. You will continue with the tour through the Wolfendhal Dutch Church, Hulftsdorp Law Courts, through the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens, and on to the Independence Square, Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall.
(Optional: Bird Park at Rajagiriya or Colombo Zoo in the evening.)
There is plenty of nightlife in Colombo. Many casinos, or otherwise also called clubs here, scream for your attention with flashing neon lights. The clubs offer gamblers roulette, baccarat, poker, blackjack, and other games to try their luck as well as complimentary food and drinks, and sometimes music with live bands playing. Entrance is only for those over 18 years and some clubs offer entrance only for foreigners. Be dressed in smart casual for instant admission.
Furthermore, from chic relaxing cocktail lounges, and modern international restaurants – to lively pubs, tapas bars and sports bars boasting snooker tables and large-screen TV’s, there’s something for everyone. With ever-popular karaoke bars, nightclubs showcasing new musical talent, and pulsating discos - the choice is endless.
You're overnight staying at Colombo.

Day 2 Colombo/Kandy

We proceed to Kandy early in the morning and having breakfast on the way. We will visit Kurulukele Bird Sanctuary and Pinnawala elephant orphanage en-route. Widely popular not only in the region but island wide, it is a rich bird sanctuary of both typical and migrants. Accession is easy and many varieties of birds are flying here at any time of the year. The name of the location suggests exactly what it is. Kurulu means birds and Kele means forest.
Pinnawala elephant orphanage for baby elephants was established to feed, nurse & house young elephants found abandoned by their mothers. The feeding and bathing times are the highlights of the day.
Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. Since the Kandyan kingdom came under the British around 1815, the city still retains the living traditions of its sovereign kingdom era. Kandy is an amazing destination for sightseeing. It offers spectacular mountains, beautiful lakes and valleys. Boasting a rich heritage, it is full of surprises for travelers looking for cultural and religious sights. It is also the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of ordinary day-to-day life.
Kandy city tour is in the evening. (Optional 1: Udawattakele forest; Udawattakele Kele Sanctuary or the Royal Forest Park of Kandy is situated on the hillside behind the Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This sanctuary is home to an extensive collection of animals, birds and insects. Birdwatchers will relish the chance to see species such as yellow-fronted barbet, Layard’s parakeet, hanging birds and spot-winged thrush. Optional 2: Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn't be better located. In the Mediterranean climate of Kandy, the gateway to the Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above mean sea-level, were tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli (Great sandy river), the largest river of Sri Lanka. The great lawns & variety of huge trees in tropical climate surrounded by the islands' longest river Mahaweli will surprise your Sri Lanka tour at the Peradeniya Royal Botanical garden. The best known attraction of the Gardens is the famous Orchid House, which house for more than 300 varieties of exquisite orchids from the rare indigenous Foxtail and Vesak orchids, to many natural and hybrid species which have made this one of the best known orchid centers of the world .A spice garden gives you a firsthand introduction to the trees, plants and creepers that produce the special spices of Sri Lanka. The Herbarium grows many of the plants used for the traditional Ayurvedic treatments. )
You're overnight staying at Kandy.

Day 3 Kandy/Knuckles

Breakfast at the hotel and we begin proceed to Knuckles. Knuckles Massif or the Knuckles Mountain Range is part of the Hill Country of Sri Lanka which is also above 3000 Ft or 915 Mts. from sea level and covers an area of about 90 Square Miles or 234 Square Kilometers of land extent. This is also called as Knuckles Range or Knuckles Peaks or simply as Knuckles. The reason to call it Knuckles is because of there is a mountain with five peaks in itself that looks like the knuckles of a clenched fist when seen from Kandy area.
Knuckles mountain range and its forest trails are the most suitable for trekking in Sri Lanka. It has many nature trails cleared through the forest by forest department with campsites. For example Mini worlds end trails in the west and east, Pitawala pathena trail, Ash cave trail, Nitre cave trail, Knuckles summit trail are very exciting. Also there are interconnected footpaths of cardamom planters, toddy tapers, tea plantation workers, farmers and villages.
Here are the activities of there. Agro-Tourism Activities, Bird Watching, Cycling and Mountain Biking, Hiking/Trekking, Nature Trails, Participatory/Luxury/Super Luxury Movable Camping, Special Study Tours for Fauna and Flora.
You're overnight staying at Hotel in Knuckles or Camping site on your choice.

Day 4 Knuckles

Breakfast at your night stay location and start hiking for bird watching or Activities at Camp site.
Night stay at Knuckles.

Day 5 Knuckles/Nuwara eliya

After the breakfast at the hotel proceed to Nuwara Eliya or "City of Light" is the tea capital of Sri Lanka at an altitude of 1889 m and is the most visited hill station of the island.
No wonder, since it means a break from the oppressive heat and humidity that surrounds the rest of Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya also called as ‘Little England’ has a pleasant climate. The average temperature is 15°c (60°f). February and March has much cooler temperature where it could drop up to 8°c (46°f).
Nuwara Eliya was built entirely during the 19th century and its architecture mimics that of an English country town, with red-brick walls, country house like hill club and mock-Tudor half-timbering, Colonial villas, Rose gardens, 18 holes golf course and country-club-styled hotels are the perfect background for an unforgettable stay. We can visit very beautiful waterfalls en-route. There are so many attractions around the Nuwara eliya city. Hakgala Botanical garden, Victoria queens park, Gregory Lake, Horton plains, Nuwara eliya golf club are the main scenic places.
You're overnight staying at Nuwara eliya.

Day 6 Nuwara eliya

After the breakfast at the hotel we proceed to visit another scenic place which is Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. It is an undulating 2000m high plateau 29km south of Nuwara Eliya. The grassy plains, which are interspersed with small patches of forest, are home to leopards, sambur, deer, bear, monkeys and a rich array of birds, including some endemic species. The most dramatic feature of the National Park is `World’s End’ where the plateau comes to an abrupt end and drops nearly 1000m vertically. The best way to explore the park is on foot.
(Optional: Galway’s Land; Galway's Land National Park is a small national park situated within the city limits of Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka. Galway's Land harbors about 20 very rare migrant bird species and 30 native species. Apart from the avifauna, the park has valuable floral species of both native and foreign origin.
Relax at the lake side and you’re overnight staying at Nuwara eliya.

Day 7 Nuwara eliya/ Yala

After the breakfast at hotel and we proceed to Yala. Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public and also adjoining parks. There are recorded number of mammals and highest leopard densities in the world. Yala is also famous for bird life. There are around 130 species of birds that have been spotted at the premises including black necked stork, sandpipers, pelicans, egrets, hoopoes, parakeets and bulbuls. One could spot peacocks as soon as they enter the park unlike the evasive jungle fowl, the national bird of Sri Lanka.
You're overnight staying at Yala.

Day 8 Yala/ Hambantota

After early breakfast proceed to RUK area (Rakawa, Ussangoda & Kalametiya) near Hambantota.
Rakawa is a seaside rural community engaged in fisheries and agriculture. Its long sandy beach and mangrove skirted lagoon gives it a rustic beauty. There is high local biodiversity as, in addition to mangrove forest, the local vegetation consists of scrub jungle, medicinal plants, and fruit trees. Also a wide variety of wildlife, including mammals, reptiles, 150 resident and migratory bird species, and many arthropods and aquatic creatures can be seen here.
Ussangoda national park is a breeding ground for sea turtles and covers both land and sea areas. The red earth forms the soil of the area and the stunted vegetation is a feature resulted by heavy sea breeze. The explanation for red soil is a high concentration of Ferric oxide in the area. In ancient times this area was struck by a meteorite and the barren and unusual landscape stills bears witness to this catastrophic event. It is called Horton plains of Ruhuna also. Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary comprises an area of coastal lagoons and mangroves which is rich in marine and other birdlife.
You're overnight staying at Hambantota.

Day 9 Hambantota/ Udawalawe

After your breakfast you begin to proceed to Udawalawe National park. The park is world famous for elephants. Apart from Elephants, Udawalawe National Park is also home to Sambur, Deer, Jackal and several varieties of birds. Udawalawe National Park is the Sri Lankan national park that best rivals the savannah reserves of Africa. In fact, for elephant-watching, Udawalawe often surpasses many of the most famous East African national parks. The park, which centers on the 308.2-sq-km Udawalawe Reservoir, is lightly vegetated but it has a stark beauty and the lack of dense vegetation makes game-watching easy. It’s certainly the one national park in Sri Lanka not to miss.
Jeep safari will take you around the Park, giving you a wonderful opportunity to view these animals and birds in their natural habitat – an exciting as well as enlightening experience.
(Optional: Udawalawe elephant transit home is a refuge for baby elephants, the majority of which have been affected by the tragic elephant – human conflict (when mothers are often separated from their young or even killed). This incredible project provides foods, medical care, and anything else a baby elephant needs. When the elephants are big and strong enough, they are released back into the wilderness to start living a ‘normal’ elephant life. Visitors can go to the Elephant transit home at specific times in the day to enjoy the feeding hour, when the small elephants rush to drink milk and play with their mates like any other babies, elephant like showing off, especially when spectators are around so the event can become a great source of entertainment.)
You're overnight staying at Udawalawe.

Day 10 Udawalawe/Sinharaja rain forest

Had the breakfast at hotel and we begin to proceed to Sinharaja rain forest. Sinharaja forest is a world heritage site and major eco tourism destination, which can also described as a tropical Lowland rain forest or Tropical wet evergreen forest. Whatever its ‘technical’ name, it is undoubtedly a rich treasure true of nature with a great diversity of habitats and a vast repository of Sri Lanka’s endemic species found nowhere else in the world. BIRD WATCHING in this ecosystem is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka.
You're overnight staying at Sinharaja.

Day 11 Sinharaja/Negombo

We leave from the hotel after the breakfast and heading to Negombo.
Negombo is the Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640. It is referred as ‘little Rome’. The town is dotted with shrines and churches as a majority of Negombo population is Roman Catholic. St. Mary’s church, built in 1874 the biggest of them all is worthy of a visit. Negombo fish market, Dutch fort, Dutch canal are the other highlighted places to visit.
In the evening you can visit Muthurajawela marsh by a boat. The Muthurajawela Marshes are situated just south of Negombo and covers an area of approximately 6,000 hectares inclusive of the Negombo lagoon. The daily high tide brings in seawater from the ocean into the wetland. Continuous mixing of these two waters over thousands of years, has led to a brackish, integrated coastal ecosystem that is biologically diverse and teeming with life. A variety of mangroves and other types of flora including medicinal plants are found alongside numerous types of birds, butterflies and fish, some of which are endemic. Crocodiles, monitor lizards, and Sri Lanka’s largest snake, the Python, are also native.
You're overnight staying at Negombo.

Day 12 Negombo/Airport

After the breakfast you will departure from the hotel to Airport.