Sri Lanka · Bird Watching

Bird Watching Sri Lanka

9 Days Round trip from Katunayake Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 9-day bird-watching journey across Sri Lanka
  • 02 Explore Sinharaja Rain Forest and its bordering villages
  • 03 Bird-watch in Horton Plains National Park
  • 04 Visit Hakgala Botanical Garden and Victoria Park
  • 05 Search for endemic, migratory, and resident birds in Sigiriya Sanctuary
  • 06 Discover the wetlands of Anawilundawa, a RAMSAR-listed birding site
  • 07 Accommodation included throughout the tour
  • 08 Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with guide service

Discover Sri Lanka’s rich birdlife on a 9-day journey through wetlands, rainforest, highlands, and sanctuary landscapes. From Negombo and Sinharaja to Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Habarana, Sigiriya, and Anawilundawa, this itinerary is designed for travellers who want to experience a wide variety of habitats and spot both endemic and migratory species along the way.

Enjoy guided bird-watching walks in some of the country’s best-known natural areas, including Sinharaja Rain Forest, Horton Plains National Park, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Victoria Park, Sigiriya Sanctuary, and Anawilundawa Wetlands. With accommodation included, daily breakfast, and private air-conditioned transport, this multi-day tour offers a comfortable way to explore Sri Lanka’s birding highlights.

Discover Sri Lanka’s rich birdlife on a 9-day journey through wetlands, rainforest, highlands, and sanctuary landscapes.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya, Habarana, Katunayake, Horton Plains National Park, Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Airport to Negombo Meet & great at the Airport

 Proceed to Negombo – 20 minutes drive approximately

 Visit the Negambo City & Beach area

 Negombo is located approximately 37 km north of the commercial capital of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. The major beach resort in the West Coast is Negombo. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the main attractions of Negombo and it is perfectly located within 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, Sri Lanka.

 Overnight at the Hotel Negombo

Paradise Beach Hotel or Similar in Negombo

2
Day 02

Negombo to Sinharaja Breakfast at the hotel

 Transfer to Sinharaja Rain Forest near Kudawa entrance

 Walk for bird watching in a bordering village of Sinharaja Rain Forest to see birds such as Munias, Flower peckkers, sunbirds, fly catchers, Mynas, Babblers, Monarchs, Wabblers, Prinias, Bul Buls, Wagtails, Drongos, Orioles, Lea, Woodpeckers, barbets, Pigeons, Nuthatchs, Hornbills, Blue Magpie, Owls and Coucals

 Overnight at the Hotel in SinharajaBlue Magpic Hotel or Similar in Sinharaja

3
Day 03

Sinharaja Rain Forest Early breakfast at the guest house

 Full day bird watching in Sinharaja Rain Forest in search for birds such as Munias, Flower peckkers, sunbirds, fly catchers, Mynas, Babblers, Monarchs, Wabblers, Prinias, Bul Buls, Wagtails, Drongos, Orioles, Lea, Woodpeckers, barbets, Pigeons, Nuthatchs, Trogans, Hornbills, Blue Magpie, Frogmouths, and Coucals

Overnight at the Hotel in SinharajaBreakfast and DinnerBlue Magpic Hotel or similar in Sinharaja

4
Day 04

Sinharaja to Nuwara Eliya Morning bird watching village walk by the border of Sinharaja Rain Forest to see birds such as Munias, Flower peckers, sunbirds, fly catchers, Mynas, Babblers, Monarchs, Wabblers, Prinias, Bul Buls, Wagtails, Drongos, Orioles, Lea, Woodpeckers, barbets, Pigeons, Nuthatchs, Hornbills, Blue Magpie, Owls and Coucals Proceed to Nuwara Eliya – Overnight at the Hotel in Nuwara EliyaAshley Resort or Similar in Nuwara Eliya

5
Day 05

Nuwara Eliya Proceed to Horton Plains National Park

 Early morning bird watching walk in Horton Plains National Park to see bird such as Pigeons, Parrots, Barbets, Minivets, Cisticolas, Priniyas, Green Wabblers, Thrushes, Chats, Flycatchers, sunbirds, flower peckers, bul buls and White Eyes (Picnic breakfast will be provided during the walk)

 Proceed back to Nuwara Eliya

 Afternoon bird watching walk in Hakgala Botanical Garden to see birds such as Mainas, Bul buls, Pigeons, Parrots, Woodpeckers, Shrikes, Blue Magpie, Drongos, Prinias, Warblers, Mynas, Thrushes and flycatchers

Overnight at the Hotel in Nuwara EliyaAshley Resort or Similar

6
Day 06

Nuwara Eliya to Habarana Breakfast at the hotel

 Bird watching walk in Victoria Park Nuwara Eliya to see birds such as Parrots, Pigeons, sunbirds, flower peckers, fly catchers, Chats, Thrushers, Wabblers, and Wagtails

Proceed to Habarana Overnight at the Hotel in Habarana

7
Day 07

Habarana Breakfast at the hotel

 Morning jungle walk in Habarana to see birds such as migratory birds, resident birds, eagles, water birds, swifts and swallows

 Late afternoon bird watching in Sigiriya Sanctuary to see endemic birds, migratory and resident birds, eagles, water birds, swifts, swallows and Falcons

Overnight at the Hotel in HabaranaNice Place Dabulla or Similar Hotel

8
Day 08

Habarana to Negombo Breakfast at the hotel

 Morning bird watching in Sigiriya Sanctuary to see endemic birds, migratory and resident birds, eagles, water birds, swifts, swallows and Falcons

 Transfer to Anawilundawa –

 Afternoon bird watching in Anawilundawa Wetlands which is one of the two most important birding sites in Sri Lanka named by RAMSAR. In Anawilunda Wetlands you would be able to see birds types such as Cormorants, ducks, egrets, herons, storks, eagles, terns, swallows, swifts, kingfishers and other resident birds

Overnight at the Hotel in NegomboParadise Beach or Similar Hotel

9
Day 09

Negombo to Katunayaka Breakfast at the hotel

 Transfer to Airport for departure

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Katunayake 8 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Breakfast
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • All Fees and Taxes

Know before you go

  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • INFANTS MUST SIT ON LAPS
  • PASSPORT REQUIRED
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • We Pick up any Hotels of Colombo Negombo & Katunayaka

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Katunayake, LK
Tour start
Katunayake, LK
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 9 days finish where they began, in Katunayake.

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