Founders Notes…
“Sri Lanka is a World’s Biodiversity Hotspot.
Around 160 million years ago, Sri Lanka was part of the ancient Gondwanaland and was located adjacent to the African continent. When the Deccan plate (comprising India and Sri Lanka), broke away from Gondwanaland, it drifted northwards and collided with the Asian plate. These zoogeographic, climatic, topographic and edaphic factors have shaped the faunal and floral assemblage seen in Sri Lanka. The wet zone of Sri Lanka along with the Western Ghats of India is designated as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Sri Lanka has the highest species density (number of species present per 10,000 sq. km) for flowering plants, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals in the Asian region. A tropical island of 65,610 km2 in the Indian Ocean which is a haven for photographers, with an array of unique landscapes - both aquatic and terrestrial habitats of coastal, savannah, cloud forests – easily reached within a few hours.
Sri Lanka has 34 Endemic birds and around 530 bird species as at 2024 & counting...Around 60% of the subcontinent birds can be spotted within easy reach across a two-week birdwatching and wildlife tour travelling across all climatic zones of the country. With its compact size and great road network Sri Lanka is one of the best bird watching destinations in Asia.”
Chamintha, Co-Founder
SRI LANKA BIRD WATCHING Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Negombo
Days 2 and 3: Sigiriya
Days 4 and 5: Kandy
Days 6 and 7: Nuwara Eliya Cloud Forests
Day 8: Kitulgala Forests
Days 9 and 10: Sinharaja Rainforest
Days 11 and 12: Yala and Bundala National Parks
Day 13: Colombo Wetlands
- Duration: 13 days or tailor-made
Map
Click here to view a map of the route.
Privately Guided
Private driver and specialised birdwatching Naturalist will accompany throughout.
Pricing
All trips are tailor-made and private, based on individual client needs and are priced accordingly.
FAQs on birdwatching and wildlife trips
What is the best time to do a birding trip to Sri Lanka?
Ideal time is between October to March as the highest bird species count can be observed with hundreds of winter migrants arriving on the island and good weather in the key birdwatching sites. Resident and endemic birds can be observed throughout the year.
What is the best time to do a birding trip to Sri Lanka?
Ideal time is between October to March as the highest bird species count can be observed with hundreds of winter migrants arriving on the island and good weather in the key birdwatching sites. Resident and endemic birds can be observed throughout the year.
How many bird species can I see?
During October to March, depending on the number of days you spend on the island, the skill of your Naturalist Guide and the key birdwatching sites tailor made into your trip - you can expect to see around 160 species including the 34 endemics on a 9 day trip and around 260 species including all 34 endemics if you extend the trip to 17 days which will cover the northern regions.
What other animals can be seen on a general wildlife trip?
Sri Lanka’s Big 7 - the Leopard, Elephant, Saltwater Crocodile, Sloth Bear, Blue Whale, Black-necked Stork and Leatherback Turtle. Other animals include; Primates, Mongoose, Slender Loris, Spotted Deer, Land Monitor, Jackals, Fishing Cat, Rusty Spotted Cat. You can also observe Butterflies, Dragonflies, Amphibians, Lizards & other reptiles, and Turtles.
“We have returned to Australia after an extraordinary birding trip and safari experience in the jungle. Birds were in abundance and photographic opportunities innumerable.”
Jill Forer-Harrisberg and Brian Harrisberg, Australia
Images courtesy Brian Harrisberg @birdsnatureworld
What you can experience on this tour:
In the Dry, Mixed Evergreen Forests
Explore the lush surrounds and small lakes near the Sigiriya Rock in search of the resident and migrant species of the Peregrine Falcon, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Ceylon Woodshrikes, Oriental Scops Owl, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Blue-faced Malkoha, Ashy and Grey-breasted Prinia and more.
In Kandy and the Botanical Gardens
Search for endemics along a tributary of Sri Lanka’s longest river - the Mahaweli; visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya to search for the beautiful Alexandrine Parakeet, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler, Rose-ringed and Plum-headed Parakeets.
In the Central Highlands
Visit the Victoria Park to spot the Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush, Forest Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Yellow-Eared Bulbul, Indian Blue Robin among others and the cloud forests of Horton Plains at dawn to tick off the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler and Sri Lanka White-eye and more during a wonderful day of trekking.
In the Rainforests
You will explore the forests and surrounds of Kitulgala, where across the river lies the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve for a glimpse of the Chestnut-backed Owlet, Green-billed Coucal, and the Serendib Scops Owl and possibly to tick off the Red-faced Malkoha and Blue-faced Malkoha, the Golden-fronted Leafbird, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Spot-winged Ground-thrush and Legge’s Flowerpecker. Inside the World Heritage Site of the Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Reserve and nearby village tracts is our chance to look for the Ceylon Frogmouth, Malabar Trogon, Ceylon Hill-Myna, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Ceylon Spurfowl, Ceylon Junglefowl, Red-Faced Malkoha and many more, especially if you chance upon the mixed-species feeding flock.
In the Southern Wildlife Parks
You could choose to visit one or both National Parks in the deep south. Yala, is wonderful to observe the Painted & Black-Necked Stork, the Plovers such as the Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Little-Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover, Great Thick-Knee, Brown Fish Owl, Rosy Starling and a host of other species that dot the Park amidst Sambur, Leopard, Elephant, Sloth Bear, and Giant Squirrels; but can get crowded during peak seasons. Bundala National Park is quieter and wonderful to spot the Waders, Garganey, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Curlew Sandpipers, Marsh Sandpiper, Watercock, Small Pratincole, Yellow-Wattled & Red-Wattled Lapwing, Oriental Skylark, Ashy-Crowned Finch-Lark.
In the Wetlands
You will have a chance to visit two wetlands. In Tissamaharama, search for water birds, Terns, Gulls, the Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow Bittern, Black Bittern, Brahminy Kite, Shikra, Streaked and Baya Weavers, while those who need a shorter tour can visit the Wetlands in Colombo.
Wow Moments
On this tour, you have the option to include guided visits to several highlights of Sri Lanka if you wish. Optional excursions could include a trek to the Sigiriya Lion Rock and the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a walk around the Dutch Fort in Galle with a 5th generation resident or a privately guided safari to observe the behaviour of elephants in the wild. If you have some time, enjoy our ‘Other-Side-of-Colombo’ Street Food Tour ending at sunset.
Stylish Accommodation that works well with this itinerary:
Birdwatching requires crack of dawn starts and the choice of hotels for birdwatching trips will always be more about convenience with the right level of comforts.
We work closely with a range of stylish properties across the island. All hotel and villa recommendations are independent of any affiliations and are based on the finer details of each, to make your holiday just right.
CEYLON CONCIERGE BY AYU
We are redefining the concept of exceptional private travel.
To start planning a Sri Lanka holiday with Ayu in the Wild, complete the contact form and we’ll respond within 24-48 hours