On landing at Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to Waikkal for your first night in Sri Lanka.

Accommodation: Waikkal (en suite room). Meals: D

We start the day with an early boat cruise in the waterways near Ranweli in search of herons, bitterns, kingfishers and other waterbirds. We then leave for Wilpattu in the dry north-west of the island. Wilpattu has one of the largest populations of Leopard on the island, and we will take a safari in Wilpattu National Park, also known as ‘the land of the lakes’. 

Accommodation: Resort at Wilpattu (en suite room). Meals: B, L, D

We spend today on a full day safari in the dry scrub forest and seasonal wetlands of Wilpattu NP, where we will look for Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Jackal, Sambar, Spotted Deer and Mugger Crocodile. Over 250 species of birds are also here, including Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Indian Peacock, Crested Serpent Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Painted Snipe, Emerald Dove and Asian Paradise Flycatcher.

Accommodation: Wilpattu. Meals: B, L, D.

After early morning birding around the Sinharagama lake, we leave for Anuradhapura and spend the afternoon exploring the island’s first capital - between 5th century BC and 11th century AD. We will bird in the grounds of Anuradhapura - Brown-backed Needletail, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Black-headed Orioles, as well as Three-striped Palm Squirrels and Long-winged Tomb Bats - and see some of the most famous and tallest dagobas of Sri Lanka, remains from palaces, temples, monasteries, ceremonial baths, and the temple of the holy Bo-tree. The Bo-tree tree was grown from a sapling of the very tree under which, more than 2500 years ago, the Buddha found enlightenment. 

Accommodation: Sigiriya (en suite room). Meals: B, L, D.

Early morning birding in Sigiriya Sanctuary will yield dry-zone species. Afterwards, the energetic have the opportunity to climb the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, where Shaheen Falcon (subcontinental race of the Peregrine Falcon) can often be spotted. At the top of the massive 200-metre high rock are the palace ruins of King Kassapa. In the afternoon, we go on a birding walk looking for winter migrants including Orange-headed Thrush and Indian Pitta and resident species including the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Brown-capped Babbler (endemic), Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (endemic) and Coppersmith Barbet. After dinner, there will be a night safari in Habarana exploring the forest and numerous lakes. We look for the three smaller wild cats – Fishing Cat, Jungle Cat and the extremely elusive Rusty Spotted Cat along with Otter, Grey Slender Loris, Golden Palm Civet, different species of Owls and Nightjars.

Accommodation: Sigiriya. Meals: B, L, D.

After dawn birdwatching in the hotel gardens, we will drive to Nuwara Eliya high among the tea plantations in the hill country. We will stop en-route at the Dambulla Cave Temple, famous for its rock paintings and among the best preserved monastic temple cave complexes in Sri Lanka. Dambulla’s origin as a place of worship dates back to the reign of King Valagamba in the 1st century BC, who took refuge in these caves when driven out of Anuradhapura by Chola invaders. Once he regained the throne, the king had the interior of the caves transformed into magnificent rock temples. More paintings and statues were added over time by later kings.

Accommodation: Nuwara Eliya (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

An early start today, with breakfast taken with us to Horton Plains National Park, set on a plateau in the central highlands. We will look for a variety of wildlife including endemic Rhino-horned and Hump-nosed Lizards, and highland bird species including the Sri Lanka White-eye, Dull-blue Flycatcher and Yellow-eared Bulbul, as well as montane vegetation. Horton Plains is one of the few known locations where elusive highland endemics such as the ‘Arrenga’ or Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler can be observed. There is also the option of going on a nature walk to the Mini-World’s End viewpoint.

Accommodation: Nuwara Eliya. Meals: B, L, D. 

An early morning visit to Victoria Park give us a chance of the dapper Pied Thrush and Kashmir Flycatcher, which breeds in the Himalayas and overwinters in the upland forests of Sri Lanka and southern India. After breakfast, we leave for Tissamaharama, a few kilometres inland from the SE coast, where we will look for owls. Barn Owl, Jungle Owlet and Collared Scops Owl can be seen regularly in day roost sites in this area. If we have time, we will also go birding at Tissamaharama wetlands, where elusive species such as the Water Cock may be encountered.

Accommodation: Tissamaharama (en suite room). Meals: B, L, D.

Today we spend a full day on safari in Yala National Park. Yala National Park is the country’s premier destination for wildlife viewing. Yala’s star attraction is the Leopard and Yala Block I is believed to have the world’s greatest concentration of these big cats. It is also one of the few places in the country where the endangered shaggy coated Sloth Bear can be seen. Asian Elephants are also encountered here, along with Sambar, Spotted Deer, Buffalo, Wild Boar and Grey Langur. Yala is also an excellent birding destination with close to 300 species recorded. Among the species seen regularly are Indian Peafowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Painted Stork, Malabar Pied-hornbills, and the stunning Chestnut-headed, Asian Green and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters.

Accommodation: Tissamaharama. Meals: B, L, D

In the early morning, we visit Bundala National Park for dry-zone species, rare migrants and waterbirds. The park is an internationally recognised RAMSAR wetland and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It contains five shallow, brackish lagoons that are a haven for migratory birds and waders. These lagoons are home to the freshwater Mugger, as well as the occasional Saltwater Crocodile, the largest species of reptile in the world. Late morning, we leave for Galle, where we will have lunch and then go on a guided walk around the 17th century Dutch built Galle Fort. Afterwards, we will check in at our beachfront accommodation at Weligama and spend the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Weligama (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

This morning, we will take a cruise from Mirissa Fisheries Harbour to go whale watching. The main highlights are Blue Whales and pods of Spinner Dolphins. Other marine mammals seen occasionally are Bryde’s Whale, Orca, Sperm Whale, Pilot Whale, Risso’s Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin. We will also keep an eye out for seabirds. Afterwards, we travel back up into the hills to our next destination, the biodiversity hotspot of Sinharaja. Late afternoon, time permitting, we will bird around the property. Endemics found here include the exquisite Sri Lanka Blue Magpie and Yellow-fronted Barbet.

Accommodation: Sinharaja (en suite rooms). Meals: B, L, D.

We will spend two days birding in Sinharaja, exploring both the nature trails bordering the reserve and the Sinharaja Forest itself. The largest tract of natural rainforest in Sri Lanka, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve contains a wide variety of endemic flora and fauna. 28 of Sri Lanka’ 34 endemic species have been recorded in Sinharaja including the recently discovered Serendib Scops Owl and other rarities such as the Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, and White-faced Starling. The mixed species bird flocks found moving through the rainforest canopy within Sinharaja are believed to be the largest in the world. These flocks are popularly dubbed the Sinharaja Birdwave. Other species of fauna that might be encountered during rainforest walks include Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Giant Squirrel, Kangaroo Lizard, Hump-nosed Lizard and Sri Lanka Keelback.

Accommodation: Sinharaja. Meals: B, L, D.

After one last early morning birding walk in the periphery of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, we will checkout and leave for Bandaranaike International Airport for our journey home.

Accommodation: None. Meals: B