Sri Lanka · Bird Watching

Sinharaja Bird Watching Day Tour from Colombo

13 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Colombo. Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Full-day bird watching tour to Sinharaja Forest Reserve from Colombo
  • 02 Explore a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest with an English-speaking guide
  • 03 Look for endemic bird species including the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie
  • 04 Discover one of Sri Lanka’s richest biodiversity hotspots
  • 05 Travel in a comfortable A/C vehicle with private transport included
  • 06 Spot additional rainforest wildlife such as butterflies, reptiles, and amphibians

Discover the extraordinary biodiversity of Sinharaja Forest Reserve on this full-day bird watching tour from Colombo. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Sri Lanka’s most important rainforest habitats, offering a rewarding experience for nature lovers and birdwatchers alike.

Travel into the lush forest with an English-speaking guide and look out for endemic birdlife such as the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Red-faced Malkoha, and Green-billed Coucal. Along the way, you may also encounter butterflies, reptiles, amphibians, and other rainforest wildlife that make Sinharaja such a remarkable natural treasure.

With private transport from Colombo, bottled water, and a full day immersed in one of Sri Lanka’s richest ecosystems, this tour is a great choice for travellers seeking a deeper connection with the island’s wild side.

Discover the extraordinary biodiversity of Sinharaja Forest Reserve on this full-day bird watching tour from Colombo.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 13 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Colombo, Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Sinharaja Rain Forest, UNESCO named a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka. Is an ideal day trip for nature enthusiasts who visit Sri Lanka. The trip starts at 6 am from Colombo and will take 3 hours to reach the entrance of Sinharaja Rain Forest. You can decide on how faryou are going to walk inside the jungle depending on your capacity. You can have your lunch once you come out of jungle or ask our driver to organise you a picnic meal so you can enjoy the meals during the picnic.

Visiting Sinharaja Rain forest during Sinharaja day tour - Sinnharaja Forest Reserve is a national park and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as Kingdom of the Lion.

The reserve is only 21 km (13 mi) from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km (4.3 mi) from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. There are about 3 elephants and the 15 or so leopards are rarely seen. The most common larger mammal is the endemic Purple-faced Langur.

An interesting phenomenon is that birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the noisy Orange-billed Babbler. Of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species all occur here, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie.

Reptiles include the endemic Green pit viper and Hump-nosed vipers, and there are a large variety of amphibians, especially tree frogs. Invertebrates include the endemic Common Birdwing butterfly and the inevitable leeches.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided in Colombo. 2 cities · 13 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • English Speaking Guide
  • Comfortable A/C Vehicle
  • Fuel Charges
  • Mineral Water Bottle
  • All Government Tax & Charges

What's Not Included

  • Entrance Fees
  • Any Other Tour Service Not Mentioned Above

Know before you go

  • PASSPORT REQUIRED
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for people with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided in Colombo.
Tour start
Pickup service provided in Colombo.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 13 hours finish where they began, in Pickup service provided in Colombo..

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