Feathers of the Hills
A seven-day birding trail from Kandy's forest reserve to the cloud forests of Horton Plains, the migratory lagoons of Bundala and Kalametiya, and the rainforest endemics of Sinharaja.
Airport → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Horton Plains → Tissamaharama → Bundala → Kalametiya → Sinharaja → Airport
Tour Highlights
What makes this journey unforgettable.
Udawattakele Forest Reserve
Forest birds at first light in the leafy reserve above Kandy.
Horton Plains Endemics
A dawn walk across the cloud forest plateau, home to the dull-blue flycatcher and Sri Lanka white-eye.
Bundala's Shorebirds
An evening safari among the migratory waders, painted storks and flamingos of a Ramsar lagoon.
Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
A quiet coastal wetland of mangroves, lagoons and reedbeds on the southern edge of the island.
Sinharaja Rainforest
Sri Lanka's last great lowland rainforest, a UNESCO site of endemic birds and shimmering canopy.
Local Birding Guides
Each site visited with a guide who knows the resident species and where to find them.
Day by Day
The itinerary, day by day.
Day 01Airport → Kandy
Welcome on arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Kandy, with time to relax and settle in before an evening stroll by the lake.
Day 02Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
Morning birdwatching in the Udawattakele Forest Reserve, followed by the climb into the tea highlands to Nuwara Eliya.
Day 03Nuwara Eliya
An early-morning birding walk across Horton Plains National Park, where cloud-forest endemics feed at first light, followed by an afternoon at leisure.
Day 04Nuwara Eliya → Tissamaharama
Descend from the highlands to the southern plains. An evening jeep safari at Bundala National Park, a Ramsar wetland of lagoons and migratory shorebirds.
Day 05Tissamaharama → Sinharaja
A morning at the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary among mangroves and reedbeds, then transfer inland to Sinharaja and relax at your lodge.
Day 06Sinharaja
An early-morning birding walk in the Sinharaja Rain Forest with an experienced local guide, following the flocks through a UNESCO World Heritage rainforest.
Day 07Sinharaja → Airport
Transfer to Colombo or the airport for your departure flight.
Included
What's in your journey.
- Welcome and assistance on arrival and departure
- Accommodation at 3, 4 or 5-star hotels
- Half-board meal basis throughout stay at the hotels, can be changed to full-board, bed & breakfast or another meal plan. Just tell us when we plan your journey.
- Transport in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle throughout the stay
- Service of an English-speaking chauffeur guide, travelling in another language? We can arrange a guide who speaks your language, just ask while planning.
- Guided birdwatching sessions with specialist and local guides
- 02 bottles of mineral water (500ml) per day per person
- All entrance tickets to sites
- 24/7 customer care & assistance throughout the tour
Not Included
What's separate.
- Air fares & visa fees to Sri Lanka (apply online at eta.gov.lk)
- Binoculars and personal birding equipment
- Extras of a personal nature: beverages (alcoholic/non-alcoholic), laundry, drinking water, telephone calls
- Photo & video camera permits at the sites
Ready When You Are
Let's craft your private version of Feathers of the Hills.
Every departure is tailored to your dates, pace and interests. Tell us how you'd like to travel and we'll shape the rest.