Ceylon Nature Expedition Tour with Bird Watching

After breakfast travel north to the Muthurajawela Wetlands, a vast marshland rich in biodiversity. Enjoy a boat safari through mangroves to see herons, cormorants and kingfishers. Continue to Chilaw, check in to your hotel and visit the Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary, a Ramsar wetland famed for its migratory species. Overnight in Chilaw.

Depart after breakfast for Mannar, an essential stop on Sri Lanka’s migratory bird route. En route, stop by scenic wetlands for brief birding breaks. Arrive at your eco-friendly accommodation and rest. In the afternoon, explore Mannar Island, visiting Adam’s Bridge (Rama Setu) and the ancient Baobab Tree. Spot waders, flamingos, and gulls along the lagoons. Dinner and overnight stay in Mannar.

Spend the day birding across Mannar’s lagoons and salt flats. Accompanied by an experienced local guide, identify over 150 bird species, including ibises, plovers, sandpipers, and terns. Learn about the island’s history at Mannar Fort and relax in the evening, surrounded by the call of migratory flocks returning to roost. Overnight stay in Mannar.

After breakfast, drive to Wilpattu, Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest national park. Check in to your safari lodge and rest before your afternoon adventure. Set off on a jeep safari through thick forests and open lakes, spotting leopards, elephants, deer, and wetland birds such as spoonbills and painted storks. Return for dinner and overnight stay near the park.

Travel to Habarana, an excellent base for exploring central Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Enjoy a birding walk around lakes and paddy fields to see endemic species like the Ceylon Junglefowl and Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. In the afternoon, visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can also spot forest birds along the sanctuary trails.

After breakfast, embark on safaris through Minneriya and Kawdulla, two of Sri Lanka’s most famous bird and elephant habitats. Observe pelicans, hornbills, eagles, and large flocks of cormorants. In the dry season, the lakes attract hundreds of elephants—a magnificent sight alongside the avian spectacle. Return to your hotel for dinner.

Journey into the misty Knuckles Mountains, a UNESCO-listed biosphere rich in biodiversity. Trek through forests filled with Yellow-eared Bulbuls, Hanging Parrots, and Blue Magpies. Later, continue to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s cultural heart, for dinner and overnight stay.

Start the day with a tranquil birding walk around Kandy Lake, where you may spot parakeets and barbets. After breakfast, visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, an important Buddhist shrine, and the Royal Botanical Gardens Peradeniya, home to over 300 orchid varieties and numerous bird species. Spend the evening exploring Kandy’s lively markets.

Drive to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s “Little England.” Visit tea plantations and factories, then explore the Galway's Land National Park, where 50 bird species, including endemic flycatchers and thrushes, can be found. End the day with a relaxing walk around Gregory Lake.

Rise early and head to Horton Plains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trek to World’s End, spotting highland species such as the Yellow-eared Bulbul, Dull-blue Flycatcher, and Bush Warbler. Return to the hotel for lunch and a relaxing evening surrounded by tea country’s misty hills.

After breakfast, travel south to Kumana National Park (Yala East), one of Sri Lanka’s top bird sanctuaries. Explore the Kumana Villu Lagoon, a nesting ground for pelicans, egrets, and spoonbills. Stay overnight near the park.

Embark on a full-day safari in Bundala National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for flamingos, pelicans, and crocodiles. Enjoy picnic-style meals and photography stops before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight rest.

Head west to Bentota and experience a boat safari along the Madu River, gliding through mangroves and small islands alive with kingfishers and herons. Spend the afternoon relaxing on Bentota’s golden beaches or enjoying optional water sports. Overnight in Bentota.

After breakfast, transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for departure. Bid farewell to Sri Lanka’s rich landscapes and unforgettable wildlife encounters.