Sri Lanka

Day 1:  Colombo to Kandy

Arrivals into Colombo international airport this morning. From here we drive inland to the ancient capital Kandy for the night.  Spend the afternoon exploring the extensive grounds of our lodge, where we expect to encounter our first endemics, possibly Red-faced Malkoha, Crimson-backed Flameback, Layard’s Parakeet and Crimson-fronted Barbet as we enjoy an introduction to the islands’ rich birdlife.

Days 2-3: Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains National Park

On day 2, we will drive into the central highlands for a two-night stay in the former colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya at 1,868m.  In the afternoon, we will explore patches of montane rainforest around the town that provide shelter to some of the most restricted range Sri Lankan endemics confined solely to these high elevations. In particular, we'll look for Dull-blue Flycatcher and the skulking Sri Lanka Thrush, as well as some sought after migrants from the subcontinent, notably Pied Thrush and Kashmir Flycatcher.  On day 3 a pre-dawn start will ensure we arrive at Horton Plains National Park by first light, to spend the day exploring the native montane grasslands and atmospheric stunted cloud forests unique to these higher hills. Here, we will search for Sri Lanka Whistling-Thrush, the skulking Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Sri Lanka White-eye and Sri Lanka Woodpigeon as well as Alpine Swift and Legge’s Hawk-Eagle. We will also encounter some interesting mammals, perhaps the highland races of Grizzled Giant Squirrel and of three endemic primates, Toque Macaque, Purple-faced Langur and Red Slender Loris.

Days 4-5: Kitulgala and Kelani Valley Forest Reserve

We leave the highlands in the morning of day 4, travelling back into the tropical lowlands to the wet zone of the island’s southwest corner for a two-night stay at Kitulgala.  We will arrive by midday to begin our exploration of Kelani Valley Forest Reserve, a productive patch of native forest along the Kelani River.  This is a stronghold of lowland endemics and we can expect to see several during our time here, notably Green-billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill and Chestnut-backed Owlet. These will be complemented by a host of subcontinental endemics including Malabar Trogon, Jerdon’s Leafbird and Indian Pitta as well as a diverse selection of more widespread forest birds such as Black-naped Monarch and Pied Flycatcher-shrike.

Days 6-8: Sinharaja Forest Reserve

On day 6 we drive to Sinharaja Forest Reserve for a three-night stay in the largest remaining patch of lowland forest in Sri Lanka.  Saved from excessive logging by sheer inaccessibility, Sinharaja’s spectacularly lush primary forest is home to virtually all the island’s endemics.  Many associate in lively mixed feeding flocks, known to be the largest in the world, and our birding here will be fast-paced and exciting as we work through these bird waves sweeping noisily through the forest.  Key species we hope to encounter here include Sri Lanka Drongo, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughingthrush, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Myna and White-throated (Legge’s) Flowerpecker, with the chance of the secretive Sri Lanka Spurfowl.  The reserve also hosts an enticing selection of night birds, notably Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Sri Lanka Bay-Owl and recently discovered endemic Serendib Scops Owl, as well as plentiful butterflies including the endemic Ceylon Tree Nymph and spectacular swallowtails such as Common Birdwing.

Day 9: Sinharaja to Udawalawe

We leave Sinharaja this morning, travelling into the drier southeast to Udawalawe National Park for the night.  This afternoon, we will take a safari drive in open-topped jeep(s) into the reserve’s scrub jungle. The habitat here will be a stark contrast to the humid rainforests of Kitulgala and Sinharaja, and we can expect a good selection of birds that favour these conditions and are new to the tour, in particular Sri Lanka Woodshrike and Sri Lanka Swallow, together with Barred Buttonquail, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Indian Silverbill, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle and Changeable Hawk-Eagle, and abundant mammals including Asian Elephant, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, Tufted Grey Langur, Golden Jackal, Asian Palm Civet, and the Sri Lanka subspecies of both Sambar and Chital.

Day 10-12: Tissa, Bundala and Yala

After a final morning game drive into Udawalawe on day 10 we will drive to the town of Tissa, close to the island’s southern shore, our base for exploring two of the country’s finest reserves. On each of these three days we will take a game drive into either Yala or Bundala National Parks. In the monsoon forest and thorn scrub of Yala we will look for Leopard, found here in one of its highest densities anywhere in the world among an array of smaller mammals including the endemic Golden Palm Civet and a good diversity of birds in the mosaic of habitats, perhaps including Green Imperial-Pigeon, Sri Lanka and Orange-breasted Green-Pigeons, Alexandrine Parakeet, Malabar Pied-Hornbill, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher and Loten's Sunbird. At Bundala, shallow brackish lagoons form an internationally important wintering ground and vital wetland habitat within the otherwise dry landscape where we can expect a great selection of waterbirds and shorebirds, including Greater and Lesser Sandplovers, Greater Pinted-Snipe, Yellow Bittern, Greater Flamingo and Asian Openbill. In between these game drives, we will spend time at the 'tanks' of Tissa, ancient tree-lined irrigation reservoirs where we will look for Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Grey-headed Swamphen, Great Thick-knee, Cinnamon and Black Bitterns, Watercock and Whiskered Tern. We will return to Colombo in the afternoon of day 12 for the night.

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Day 13: Depart Colombo

Departures from Colombo international airport today.

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Post-tour extension: Blue Whale

Main Tour Day 12 / Post-tour Extension Day 1: Mirissa

Those joining the tour extension will drive to the fishing port of Mirissa in the afternoon of day 12 for a two-night stay at the island’s southernmost point. 

Day 2-3: Mirissa

Over these two days we will take morning pelagic excursions beyond the edge of the narrow continental shelf in search of the magnificent Blue Whale.  A wide selection of cetaceans has been recorded here and we may also come across Sperm, Bryde’s and Short-finned Pilot Whales and large pods of Long-snouted Spinner Dolphins, together with a selection of seabirds such as Caspian, Great and Lesser Crested and Gull-billed Terns and Heuglin’s Gull.  Return to Colombo in the afternoon of day 3 for the night.

Day 4: Depart Colombo

Departures from Colombo international airport today.