A twelve-day specialist birdwatching expedition through Sri Lanka’s most productive avian habitats – from Negombo’s coastal wetlands and Anuradhapura’s ancient tank ecosystems through Wilpattu’s dry zone forest, the Sigiriya wetlands, Minneriya, the Knuckles Mountain Range’s endemic cloud forest birds, Udawalawe’s open-grassland raptors, and the south coast’s lagoon and coastal environments.
Every day is designed to offer a new perspective of this beautiful island. From the cool hills to the warm beaches, experience it all.
Airport arrival and Negombo first evening – an initial birdwatching session along the lagoon introduces Sri Lanka’s coastal waterbird diversity immediately.
Drive to Anuradhapura for a birdwatching focus on the ancient reservoir system – the painted storks, pelicans, and herons that use the tanks, alongside the forest birds of the ancient monastic complexes.
Drive to Wilpattu for an afternoon safari focused on the dry zone forest endemic birdlife alongside the park’s mammal wildlife.
A second Wilpattu safari day focused on the park’s raptor diversity, Malabar pied hornbills, and the endemic forest species of Sri Lanka’s dry zone woodland.
Drive to Sigiriya for birdwatching in the surrounding forest reserves and reservoir wetland habitats.
Minneriya safari with a combined focus on the extraordinary waterbird diversity of the open tank landscape and the seasonal elephant encounters.
Drive to the Knuckles for guided forest birdwatching in the cloud forest habitats that support several highland endemic species difficult to find elsewhere.
A second Knuckles day of guided cloud forest birding through the range’s endemic-rich highland habitat.
Drive to Udawalawe for a safari focused on the open-grassland raptor community, painted storks, lesser adjutants, and the waterbird diversity of the reservoir edges.
Drive to the south coast and coastal lagoon birdwatching along the southern shore.
A full day of coastal birdwatching and wetland exploration along the south coast’s lagoon and mangrove environments.
