Bird Watching in Sri Lanka - 17 Days Specialist Wildlife Tour

Bird Watching in Sri Lanka - 17 Days

$3000.00/

per person
  • 1 Days / 0 Nights
  • Max People : 6
  • Colombo, Galle, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Yala National Park, Negombo, Mirissa, Ella, Udawalawe National Park & Horton Plains National Park

Day 1-2: Airport arrival and transfer via Gampaha Botanical Garden (first rubber tree plantation in Asia) to Negombo beach and fisherman village. Day 3: Drive to Wilpattu National Park via Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary (bird watcher's haven with 150+ species) for wildlife and leopard safaris. Day 4-5: Transfer to Habarana. Explore Kaudulla and Minneriya National Parks (Asian elephant gatherings and wetland birds) and climb Sigiriya Lion Rock and Pidurangala Rock. Day 6: Drive to Kandy via Dambulla Golden Cave Temple and Temple of the Tooth Relic. Day 7: Full-day guided bird watching and mountain trek in the Knuckles Range (Heeloya village home-cooked lunch, waterfalls, and endemic bird species). Day 8-9: Mountain drive to Nuwara Eliya via Ramboda Falls and tea factory tours. Explore Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Seetha Amman Temple, Lake Gregory, and Horton Plains National Park (World's End & Baker's Falls). Day 10: Descend to Kitulgala Forest Reserve for rainforest birding trails, natural rock pool sliding, and confidence jumps. Day 11: Transfer to Udawalawe National Park for a game drive and baby elephant milk feeding at the Elephant Transit Home. Day 12-13: Drive via Yala National Park leopard safari to Tissamaharama, followed by Bundala National Park (Ramsar wetland and greater flamingos). Day 14: Journey southeast to Kumana National Park (premier bird nesting and breeding sanctuary with 255+ bird species). Day 15-16: Coastal transfer via UNESCO Galle Dutch Fort, Meetiyagoda Moonstone mine, Ambalangoda mask factory, Madu River safari, and Kosgoda turtle hatchery to Colombo. Day 17: Morning breakfast and private transfer to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for flight departure.

Highlights of the Tour

  • Representative welcome at Colombo airport
  • Early morning departure to Wilpattu
  • Transfer from Wilpattu to Habarana
  • Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress & Pidurangala Rock
  • Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy via Dambulla Golden Cave Temple
  • 7:00 AM transfer to Knuckles Range trekking trailhead
  • Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via Ramboda Falls
  • Early morning trek at Horton Plains National Park
  • Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Kitulgala Adventure Camp
  • Transfer from Kitulgala to Udawalawe
  • Transfer from Udawalawe to Tissamaharama / Yala
  • Morning game drive in Bundala National Park Ramsar wetland
  • Transfer from Tissamaharama to Kumana National Park
  • Transfer from Kumana along southern coastal road
  • Transfer from Ambalangoda to Colombo
  • Full day leisure in Colombo
  • Leisurely breakfast at hotel

Itinerary

Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) and meet representative. En route to Negombo, visit Gampaha Botanical Garden (Henarathgoda), home to Asia's first planted rubber trees. Check in at Negombo hotel.

Early morning departure to Wilpattu. En route visit Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary, a birder's haven with 150+ bird species. Afternoon safari game drive in Wilpattu National Park.

Drive to Habarana. Morning birdwatching and elephant safari in Kaudulla National Park. Afternoon wildlife safari game drive in Minneriya National Park tracking wild elephants and water birds.

Conquer the 5th-century Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress and Pidurangala Rock. Experience traditional Habarana village tour with bullock cart ride, catamaran lake safari, and traditional lunch.

Drive to Kandy. En route visit Dambulla Golden Cave Temple (UNESCO World Heritage). In the evening, explore the Sacred Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and watch a cultural dance show.

Guided mountain trek in the Knuckles Range via Heeloya village. Hike through pine forests, tea estates, waterfalls, and terraced rice fields observing endemic bird species. Enjoy home-cooked village lunch.

Drive to Nuwara Eliya ("Little England") through winding tea hills. Stop at Ramboda Waterfalls, tour working tea plantations and factories, visit Hakgala Botanical Gardens and Seetha Amman Temple.

Early morning excursion to UNESCO Horton Plains National Park. Trek to World's End cliff and Baker's Falls observing endemic highland bird species. Visit Ambewela Dairy Farm and strawberry plots.

Drive to Kitulgala Forest Reserve, a secondary rainforest beside the Kelani River. Enjoy natural rock pool sliding, confidence jumps, and an evening guided rainforest birding trail.

Drive to Udawalawe National Park. Visit the Elephant Transit Home at noon to watch orphaned baby elephants being fed milk. Afternoon 4x4 safari game drive in Udawalawe National Park.

Drive to Tissamaharama / Yala. Afternoon 4x4 wildlife safari game drive in Yala National Park tracking leopards and sloth bears. Evening visit to sacred Kataragama Hindu temple.

Explore Bundala National Park, an international Ramsar wetland and biosphere reserve famous for wintering migratory water birds and flocks of greater flamingos.

Drive southeast to Kumana National Park (formerly Yala East). Explore the premier bird nesting and breeding sanctuary featuring 255+ recorded bird species, lagoons, and thorn forests.

Drive along the southern coast via Galle Dutch Fort, Meetiyagoda Moonstone Mine, Ambalangoda Mask Factory, Madu Ganga mangrove boat safari, and Kosgoda turtle hatchery.

Drive north to commercial capital Colombo. City sightseeing tour visiting Gangaramaya Water Temple, Galle Face Green terrace, Old Parliament Building, and shopping malls.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Colombo for last-minute souvenir shopping, exploring local street markets, or relaxing at the hotel before departure.

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before your comfortable private transfer to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight departure.

Included

  • • Stelaran tour guide service (English speaking guide acting as driver + expert site guides in Anuradhapura.
  • Polonnaruwa.
  • Sigiriya.
  • Kandy.
  • Nuwara Eliya) • Accommodation for 16 Nights in luxury star & boutique hotels on HB basis (Breakfast & Dinner included) • Free first-night arrival lunch / bottled water courtesy of Stelaran Holidays • Air-conditioned comfortable vehicle with fuel.
  • parking.
  • highway tolls.
  • and driver allowances • Airport Pick-up & Drop-off transfers.

Excluded

  • • Entrance & activity tickets (safari jeeps in Yala.
  • Wilpattu.
  • Minneriya.
  • Kumana.
  • Bundala; botanical gardens.
  • national parks.
  • temples) • International/Domestic flight tickets and Visa fees • Personal shopping.
  • laundry.
  • minibar.
  • and telephone charges.

Tour Days Summary

  • 1 Airport Arrival via Gampaha Botanical Garden to Negombo
    Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) and meet representative. En route to N...
  • 2 Negombo to Wilpattu via Anawilundawa Wetland
    Early morning departure to Wilpattu. En route visit Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary, a bird...
  • 3 Wilpattu to Habarana via Kaudulla & Minneriya
    Drive to Habarana. Morning birdwatching and elephant safari in Kaudulla National Park. Aft...
  • 4 Sigiriya Lion Rock & Pidurangala Climbs
    Conquer the 5th-century Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress and Pidurangala Rock. Experience tradi...
  • 5 Sigiriya to Kandy via Dambulla & Tooth Temple
    Drive to Kandy. En route visit Dambulla Golden Cave Temple (UNESCO World Heritage). In the...
  • 6 Knuckles Mountain Range Guided Birdwatching Trek
    Guided mountain trek in the Knuckles Range via Heeloya village. Hike through pine forests,...
  • 7 Kandy to Nuwara Eliya via Ramboda & Tea Plantations
    Drive to Nuwara Eliya ("Little England") through winding tea hills. Stop at Ramboda Waterf...
  • 8 Horton Plains National Park World's End Trek
    Early morning excursion to UNESCO Horton Plains National Park. Trek to World's End cliff a...
  • 9 Nuwara Eliya to Kitulgala Rainforest Adventure
    Drive to Kitulgala Forest Reserve, a secondary rainforest beside the Kelani River. Enjoy n...
  • 10 Kitulgala to Udawalawe National Park Safari
    Drive to Udawalawe National Park. Visit the Elephant Transit Home at noon to watch orphane...
  • 11 Udawalawe to Yala Safari & Kataragama Temple
    Drive to Tissamaharama / Yala. Afternoon 4x4 wildlife safari game drive in Yala National P...
  • 12 Yala to Bundala Ramsar Wetland Bird Sanctuary
    Explore Bundala National Park, an international Ramsar wetland and biosphere reserve famou...
  • 13 Tissamaharama to Kumana National Park Bird Sanctuary
    Drive southeast to Kumana National Park (formerly Yala East). Explore the premier bird nes...
  • 14 Kumana to Galle Dutch Fort & Madu River Safari
    Drive along the southern coast via Galle Dutch Fort, Meetiyagoda Moonstone Mine, Ambalango...
  • 15 Ambalangoda to Colombo City Tour
    Drive north to commercial capital Colombo. City sightseeing tour visiting Gangaramaya Wate...
  • 16 Colombo Leisure & Last-Minute Shopping
    Enjoy a full day at leisure in Colombo for last-minute souvenir shopping, exploring local...
  • 17 Colombo Airport BIA Departure Transfer
    Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before your comfortable private transfer to Colombo B...