Sri Lanka · Bird Watching

Muthurajawela Bird Watching Day Tour from Colombo or Negombo

5 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided in Negombo. Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore Muthurajawela, Sri Lanka’s largest saline coastal peat bog
02 Enjoy a peaceful bird-watching boat ride through the sanctuary
03 Look out for kingfishers, herons, bitterns, and eagles
04 Learn about the wetland ecosystem from Marsh Centre staff
05 Travel comfortably from Colombo or Negombo with private transport

Discover the rich birdlife and tranquil waterways of Muthurajawela on this half-day tour from Colombo or Negombo. One of Sri Lanka’s most important coastal wetlands, this marsh-lagoon ecosystem is known for its scenic beauty, remarkable biodiversity, and long natural history.

Travel to the sanctuary and explore the marsh by boat with guidance from the Muthurajawela Marsh Centre staff. As you glide through the protected wetland, keep watch for birdlife including kingfishers, herons, bitterns, and eagles, while learning more about the area’s ecology and conservation importance.

As you glide through the protected wetland, keep watch for birdlife including kingfishers, herons, bitterns, and eagles, while learning more about the area’s ecology and conservation importance.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

City Negombo

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Muthurajawela, the largest saline coastal peat bog in Sri Lanka, forms an integrated coastal wetland ecosystem with the Negombo Lagoon. This marsh-lagoon complex dates back to around 5000 BC. In July 1996, the northern section of the marsh, spanning 1,777 hectares, was declared a sanctuary under the Fauna & Flora Protection Ordinance. The marsh is a significant attraction for both locals and tourists, offering sightseeing and boating tours. It also supports local agriculture and forestry. To protect the ecosystem, visitors are guided through the sanctuary by the staff of the Muthurajawela Marsh Centre.

The route