The Great Birding Odyssey
A fifteen-day birding expedition across the island: the wetlands of Anawilundawa and Wilpattu, the highland endemics of Horton Plains, the lagoons of Kumana and Bundala, and the rainforest of Sinharaja.
Airport → Negombo → Anawilundawa → Wilpattu → Sigiriya → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Arugam Bay → Kumana → Tissamaharama → Bundala → Sinharaja → Airport
Tour Highlights
What makes this journey unforgettable.
Anawilundawa & Wilpattu
Wetland waterbirds and dry-zone forest species on the road north from Negombo.
Kandy & Horton Plains
Udawattakele's forest birds and the cloud-forest endemics of the high plateau.
Kumana National Park
A full day of birding among the mangrove lagoons and migratory flocks of the east coast.
Bundala's Lagoons
Ramsar wetlands on the southern coast, thick with waders, storks and flamingos.
Sinharaja Rainforest
Sri Lanka's last great lowland rainforest, a UNESCO site of endemic birds and shimmering canopy.
A Specialist Guide
A birder's itinerary paced around dawn and dusk, with expert local guides throughout.
Day by Day
The itinerary, day by day.
Day 01Airport → Negombo
Welcome on arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Negombo, with time to relax by the ocean.
Day 02Negombo → Wilpattu
Birdwatching at the Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary, a chain of shallow tanks and mangrove alive with waterbirds, then continue to Wilpattu for the night.
Day 03Wilpattu → Sigiriya
A morning safari through Wilpattu National Park, where the villus draw elephants, sloth bears and a wealth of woodland birds. Transfer to Sigiriya in the afternoon.
Day 04Sigiriya → Kandy
An early-morning birding walk around Sigiriya with a specialist guide, then transfer into the hills to Kandy.
Day 05Kandy
A morning in the Udawattakele Forest Reserve with a local guide, followed by a relaxed afternoon in the hill capital.
Day 06Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
A leisurely drive through the tea country, checking in to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya with time to rest.
Day 07Nuwara Eliya
An early-morning birding excursion across Horton Plains National Park, home to cloud-forest endemics and the dramatic World's End escarpment.
Day 08Nuwara Eliya → Arugam Bay
Descend from the highlands and cross the island to the east coast, checking in at Arugam Bay and relaxing by the sea.
Day 09Arugam Bay
A full-day birdwatching safari in Kumana National Park, whose mangrove lagoons and tanks host vast seasonal flocks.
Day 10Arugam Bay → Tissamaharama
A coastal drive south to Tissamaharama, checking in and relaxing at your lodge.
Day 11Tissamaharama
A birdwatching safari at Bundala National Park, a Ramsar wetland of lagoons, salt pans and migratory shorebirds.
Day 12Tissamaharama → Sinharaja
Travel west into the wet-zone foothills, checking in near Sinharaja and settling in for the evening.
Day 13Sinharaja
A birding session with an experienced local guide in the Sinharaja Rain Forest, following mixed-species flocks beneath the canopy.
Day 14Sinharaja → Colombo
A leisurely rainforest morning before the drive to Colombo, where you overnight before departure.
Day 15Departure
Transfer to 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 The Great Birding Odyssey.
Every departure is tailored to your dates, pace and interests. Tell us how you'd like to travel and we'll shape the rest.