14 Day Sample Tour

Day 01

Arrival and transfer to hotel in Colombo Dinner and overnight stay at Galle Face Hotel.

Day 02
Drive to Ratnapura. On the way you see egrets, babblers in paddy fields and rubber plantations. At Gilimale you are in the foothills of the web zone and will see birds of this region.

Dinner and overnight stay at Ratnaloka Tour Inn.

Day 03
To Sinharaja early morning - Sri Lanka's lowland tropical rain forest, home of many endemics. A special feature here is "flocking" - several species living and feeding together at different canopy levels.

Dinner and overnight stay at Ratnaloka Tour Inn.

Day 04
Leave for Yala in the dry south-east.
Safari to Yala National Park - see wild elephant, leopard, herds of buffalo, spotted deer, peafowl, water birds, colourful jungle fowl, raptors.

Dinner and overnight stay at Priyankara Hotel.

Day 05
To Bundala nearby, home to a variety of migrant and native ducks and shore birds stilts, plover and flamingoes. Inland to Kuda Oya (tented camp) in time for lunch. Take and afternoon trek to Debera Ara to see elephant in the scrub jungle, after settling in.

Dinner and overnight stay at Kuda Oya camp.

Day 06
Early morning take a trek across fields and reservoirs bird watching - minivets, fly catchers, parakeets, weaver birds and their nests. Return to camp for a leisurely breakfast before leaving for Bandarawela in the mountains. Unwind in the cool mid-country hill station.

Dinner and overnight stay in Bandarawela Hotel.

Day 07
Walking through forested hills or grassy "patna" you will see swifts and hill mynahs. Leave for Nuwara Eliya (5200 ft., the famous mountain resort - past vegetable gardens, pinus and tea fields, tree rhododendrons and ferns in mountane jungle.

Dinner and overnight stay at Windsor Hotel.

Day 08
To Horton Plains 7000ft. above sea level, with its unique trees, birds and butterflies of the mountains. Back for lunch in Nuwara Eliya, and onto Kandy, down Ramboda Pass, passing verdant tea gardens and numerous waterfalls. Stop briefly at a tea factory and enjoy tea, freshly manufactured.

Dinner and overnight stay at Thilanka Hotel.

Day 09
Visit Udawattekelle - noted for its birds, hear the lora and see the flash of colour of the Orange Minivet and Paradise Flycatcher. Stroll in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens with its unique collection of tropical flora. Visit also the Temple of the Tooth during the evening pooja.

Optional: See a Kandyan dance recital.
Dinner and overnight stay at Thilanka Hotel.

Day 10
To Sigiriya, the 600 ft. rock fortress in the north central plain. Climb the rock, to see the 5th century frescoes and spectacular views. Explore the water, herb and rock gardens at the base.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Sigiriya.

Day 11

Take an early morning walk around to see the birds of the scrub jungle - Indian Pitta (migrant), Fantails, Black robin, bee-eaters. To Bentota, the seaside resort on the south west coast.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Lihiniya Surf.

Day 12-13
At leisure. Or take a boat ride around the lagoon to see water birds and their nests: lapwings, cormorants, pelican, herons, jacana.

Day 14
Leave for Mount Lavinia, Colombo's beach resort. Visit the marshes in Attidiya to watch marsh birds - darters, king fishers and jacanas. Stop off at Bellanwila temple.

Dinner and overnight stay at Berjaya Mount Royal.

Day 15
Early morning transfer to the airport for departure.