9 Nights / 10 Days
Wildlife · Birding · Nature Photography
Negombo → Habarana → Kumana → Yala → Bundala → Udawalawe → Kitulgala → Colombo
Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to Negombo, a coastal town near the airport. Settle into your hotel and, if time allows, explore the Muthurajawela Wetlands or the Negombo Lagoon, where a variety of wetland birds such as herons, egrets, and kingfishers make their home. Overnight stay in Negombo.
After breakfast, depart for Habarana, located in Sri Lanka’s dry zone and surrounded by forests, tanks, and grasslands ideal for birding. En route, visit Kandalama Lake or enjoy birdwatching around the Habarana jungle area. Spot species such as Indian pittas, chestnut-headed bee-eaters, and grey hornbills. Check in at a nature lodge and enjoy the evening with cameras ready. Overnight stay in Habarana.
Early morning birding near Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a hotspot for forest birds including the brown-capped babbler and crested serpent eagle. Later, visit the wetlands around Minneriya Tank, home to both resident and migratory water birds. Keep an eye out for painted storks, pelicans, and cormorants. Optional jeep safari in Minneriya National Park for elephant and bird sightings. Overnight stay in Habarana.
Depart early and head toward the East Coast, arriving at Kumana National Park, one of the island’s premier bird sanctuaries. En route, pass Arugam Bay—you may catch glimpses of waders and wetland birds along the lagoons. Check in at your eco-lodge near the park and prepare for an evening of birding. Overnight stay near Kumana.
Today, enjoy a full-day birding safari in Kumana, known for its coastal lagoons, mangroves, and nesting colonies. Capture species like the rare black-necked stork, Eurasian spoonbill, yellow-footed green pigeon, and many more. Kumana is also home to elephants and jackals, adding to the photographic variety. Return to your lodge for a peaceful night under the stars. Overnight stay near Kumana.
Drive south toward Yala National Park, famous for leopards and rich biodiversity. En route, stop at salt pans and lagoons that attract waders like flamingos and sandpipers. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxed birding walk near your lodge or a jeep drive for wildlife and bird photography. Overnight stay near Yala.
Head out early for a jeep safari in Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka’s first Ramsar Wetland. This park is a haven for bird photographers with species like greater flamingos, black-winged stilts, and the rare red-necked phalarope. Its scrubland also attracts blue-tailed bee-eaters and white-bellied sea eagles. Return to Yala or continue to Udawalawe, depending on timing. Overnight stay in Yala or Udawalawe.
Travel to Udawalawe, one of the best places to observe elephants in the wild. Take a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park, where open grasslands provide excellent opportunities to photograph birds of prey such as crested hawk-eagles, serpent eagles, and white-bellied fish eagles. Visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned calves are rehabilitated. Overnight stay in Udawalawe.
Head into the lush lowland rainforest of Kitulgala, a biodiversity hotspot perfect for photographing endemic birds. Go on a guided nature walk in the Makandawa Rainforest Reserve, keeping a lookout for the Sri Lanka blue magpie, chestnut-backed owlet, and green-billed coucal. You may also spot amphibians, butterflies, and forest reptiles in this humid ecosystem. Overnight stay in Kitulgala.
After breakfast, drive back to Colombo, wrapping up your journey through Sri Lanka’s birding and biodiversity treasures. Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy a short city tour or time to review your photo collection before your transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for departure.