| NEGAMBO
Bustling Negambo town is a historically interesting place strongly
influenced by the Catholic Church. The narrow strip of land between
the lagoon & the sea and the many canals make for a good exploring.
The Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640, lost it
again in the same year, then captured it again in 1644. The British
then took it from them in 1796 without a struggle. Negambo was one
of the most important sources of cinnamon during the Dutch era,
and there are still reminders of the European days.
WAIKKALA is located in the Puttalam
District, which falls into the dry zone category. Waikkala is in
the midst of marine, coastal, estuarine, mangroves, marshland and
man made habitat systems. All of these have contributed to the avifaunal
diversity visible in the immediate surrounding. Much of the avifauna
is characteristically wetland.
SCHEDULE
• Arrival & transfer to a hotel in Waikkala or Negambo.
• At leisure after a long flight.
• Dinner & night stay over at Negambo. Value – Hotel Sunset
Beach or similar / Standard – Browns Beach or similar / Deluxe –
“The Beach” Hotel or similar.
| Day 2 - Waikkala / Negambo (FB) |
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| Bird watching trail followed
by Breakfast. |
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| More than 60 species of birds
can be observed in Waikkala.
Eg: Common sandpiper, little ringed plover, Purple coot, Painted
stork, Stork billed king fisher, little green heron etc.
SCHEDULE
• Bird watching trail in Waikkala followed by Breakfast.
• Launch back at the hotel.
• Evening at leisure or optional activities.
• Dinner & night stay over at Negambo. Value – Hotel Sunset
Beach or similar / Standard – Browns Beach or similar / Deluxe
– “The Beach” Hotel or similar.
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| Day 3 -Waikkala / Negambo
– Muthurajawela – Bodinagala – Ingiriya – Kaluthara
/ Wadduwa (FB) |
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| Leave for Muthurajawela, Bodinagala
for bird watching. |
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MUTHURAJAWELA
is located south of Negombo in the Colombo district.
A vast area of marshland and mangrove vegetation with
an extent of 3100 hectares of which 1000 hectares is
declared as sanctuary. This important wetland habitat
is home to 85 resident birds.
BODINAGALA – INGIRIYA
This is a forest reserve belonging to the western zone
category, with an extent of about 50 acres and is situated
at Ingiriya in the Kalutara district. This reserve being
a natural rain forest is home to many species of endemic
flora and fauna and being close to Colombo holds a specific
importance.
The bird life of this area has the highest species diversity,
with 151 being recorded, of which 9 are endemic. The
most important record was the identification of the
Green- billed Coucal, which is regarded as one the rarest
endemic birds in Sri Lanka.
SCHEDULE
• Leave for Muthurajawela with packed breakfast for
bird watching.
• Lunch at a hotel or restaurant.
• Leave to Bodinagala for Bird Watching Tour after lunch.
• Dinner & night stay at a hotel in Wadduwa or Kalutara.
Value – Chayanika Beach Hotel or similar / Standard
– Villa Ocean View or similar / Deluxe – “The Blue Water
Hotel or similar.
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| Day 4 - Kalutara / Wadduwa
- Adams Peak - Singharaja (FB) |
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| Leave for a Bird Watching
Tour at Peak Wilderness & then proceed to Singharaja. |
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PEAK WILDERNESS
– GILIMALE OR SRI PADA (ADAM’S PEAK)
A very large strip of wet zone rain forest with an extent
of 22,379.9 ha. lying within the Ratnapura District
this sanctuary ranks among the few areas with highest
bio diversity in the country. This is the only wet zone
rain forest with an elephant population. Another very
important factor is that world famous Sri Pada mountain
lies within this sanctuary.
Eg: - Ashy Headed Laughing Thrush. Yellow
Fronted Barbet. Blue Magpie White-faced Starling, SL
Wood Pigeon Black Throated Munia.
SINHARAJA RAINFOREST is a
world heritage site, which can also be described as
a Tropical Lowland Rainforest or Tropical Wet Evergreen
Forest. Whatever its ‘technical’ name, it is undoubtedly
a rich treasure trove of nature with a great diversity
of habitats and a vast repository of Sri Lanka’s endemic
species found nowhere else in the world. Bird Watching
in this ecosystem is particularly interesting because
it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka!
Named as a world heritage site in 1989, this lowland
evergreen rain forest is steeped in deep legend and
mystery. The word ‘Sinharaja’ means, Lion (Sinha) King
(Raja), and it is popular belief that the legendary
origin of the Sinhala people is from the union between
a princess and the lion king who once lived in the forest!
‘KUDAWA’ ECO TEAM
CAMP is located on a peninsula in the forest
and surrounded by two rivers (deep enough for swimming)
and just beyond a tea plantation (where you will see
the traditional tea pluckers in action). Even without
leaving the camp itself, so much can be seen – so let
the nature come to you!
The peaceful camp is an ideal location
for early morning Bird Watching before a fascinating
nature trail through the forest. Forget any ideas about
cramped tents and sitting on the ground for meals –
this is camping in style! The camp is set up prior to
your arrival, transporting in comfortable tents, a fully
equipped kitchen, chairs and tables, hammocks, flushable
toilets, showers and even cold beer. On your return
from the afternoon nature trail, you will be welcomed
with a hearty barbecue meal in a magical setting – the
whole area is lit up with traditional flame torches
and a roaring campfire. So sit back, relax and let our
experienced staff cater to your every need.
SCHEDULE
• Leave for Peak Wilderness sanctuary for bird watching
after breakfast at the hotel.
• Packed lunch will be provided at a suitable location.
• After lunch leave to Singharaja Rainforest.
• Dinner & night stay at Singharaja. Value – Singharaja
Lodge or similar / Standard – luxury camping / Deluxe
– Boulder Gardens or similar.
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| Leave for
Bird watching in Sinharaja after early
Breakfast. Full day bird watching. |
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| SINHARAJA
rain forest, which is a world heritage site,
may be described either as a Tropical Lowland
Rain Forest or Tropical wet evergreen forest.
Birding in this ecosystem is very interesting.
95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka have
been recorded in Sinharaja.
Sinharaja is the best location to observe
the flock behavior of birds
Eg: SL Spur fowl, SL Jungle
fowl, Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha,
Blue Magpie, Spot-winged Thrush etc.
SCHEDULE
• Leave for a bird watching tour after breakfast
with packed lunch.
• Full day bird watching.
• Packed lunch will be provided at a suitable
location.
• Dinner & night stay at Singharaja.
Value – Singharaja Lodge or similar / Standard
– luxury camping / Deluxe – Boulder Gardens
or similar.
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| Bird watching
in Sinharaja after early breakfast. |
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| SCHEDULE
• After breakfast, bird watching in Singharaja
in the morning.
• Back at the relevant stay for lunch.
• Evening at leisure or optional bird watching
trail back at the forest.
• Dinner & night stay at Singharaja. Value
– Singharaja Lodge or similar / Standard – luxury
camping / Deluxe – Boulder Gardens or similar.
|
| Day 7 - Singharaja
- Udawalawe (FB) |
|
| Leaving to Udawalawe
National Park. |
UDAWALAWE
NATIONAL PARK is located approximately
200 km south-east of Colombo city. The 30,821
hectare dry zone game park has an annual
rainfall of 1,524 mm and an average temperature
of 29.40C. It is most famous for the many
elephants that live there (about 400 in
total). During a visit, it is not unusual
to see whole herds – adults and young, feeding
and bathing or playing in the water! In
addition to this main attraction, the park
is home to many water buffalo, water monitor
lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional
leopard, as well as being an exciting location
for bird enthusiasts. A 4WD open-top safari
is the only way to see all the wonders this
protected reserve has to offer, and our
experienced and knowledgeable nature guides
will make this an unforgettable experience.
The endemic species of bird called Red Faced
Malkoha has its favorite habitat in the
192 square km parkland. Serpent Eagles,
Hawk Eagles, White Bellied Sea Eagles, Black
Eagles, Black Capped Bulbuls, Racket Tailed
Drongos, Malabar Pied Horn Bills, White
Necked Storks, Open Bills, Ibis, Shama -
The forest Nightingale, Strol Billed Kin
Fishers and peacocks are found in fair numbers.
Among the migrant birds are
the forest wagtails, Indian Pitta, Whiskered
Terns, Osprey Sand Pipers and Terns.
SCHEDULE
• Finishing breakfast proceed to Udwalawe
National Park.
• Guests will arrive in time for lunch.
• After lunch & a Short break evening
safari & bird watching at the park.
• Dinner & night stay at Udawalawe /
Embilipitiya. Value – Centauria or similar
/ Standard – luxury camping / Deluxe – supper
luxury camping.
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| Day 8 - Udawalawe
- Kalamitiya/ Bundala/ Yala (HB) |
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| Leave the camp
after breakfast to Kalamitiya, Bundala National
Parks for visits. |
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| BUNDALA
& KALAMITIYA.
The high species richness of birds in the
Bundala National Park
resulted in it being declared as Sri Lanka’s
first Ramsar site in 1990. A wetland of
international importance for migratory waterfowl.
The park consists mainly of dry thorny scrub
land and lagoons. The highlight of Bundala
is the migratory Greater Flamingo, which
visits in large flocks of over 1000 individuals,
from Rann of Kutch- India. In particular
we may find Indian Cormorant, Yellow Bittern,
Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons. The
area is also famous for crocodiles.
Kalametiya sanctuary is situated
in the Hambantota District and falls into
the dry zone category. Major habitat types
are lagoons, mangroves and scrub lands.
These lagoons support breeding colonies
of pelicans, herons, egrets and open-billed
stork and large wintering populations of
migratory ducks and shorebirds.
SCHEDULE
• Finishing breakfast proceed to Kalamitiya
& Bundala National Parks.
• Lunch on the way at a hotel or restaurant.
• Dinner & night stay at Yala / Tissamaharama.
Value – Chandrika or similar / Standard
– Tissamaharama Resort or similar / Deluxe
– Yala Village Hotel or similar.
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| After early breakfast
a safari tour at yala. |
|
YALA PARK
lies 24 km northeast of Tissamaharama and
290km from Colombo on the southeast coast
of Sri Lanka and spans Southern and Uva provinces.
The park consists of 97,878ha. The altitude
is 90m from sea level. The vegetation in this
park comprises secondary forest, possibly
a few hundred years old at the most. It is
predominantly semi-arid thorny-scrub, interspersed
with pockets of fairly dense forest. Small
patches of mangrove vegetation occur along
the costal lagoons. Yala is renowned for the
variety of its wildlife and its fine coastline
and associated coral reefs.
A large number of important cultural ruins
bear testimony to earlier civilizations and
indicate that, much of the area was populated
and well developed.
SCHEDULE
• Finishing breakfast a safari tour at Yala
National Park.
• Finishing the safari back for lunch at
the hotel.
• Evening at leisure.
• Dinner & night stay at Yala / Tissamaharama.
Value – Chandrika or similar / Standard
– Tissamaharama Resort or similar / Deluxe
– Yala Village Hotel or similar.
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| Day 10 - Yala
- Belihuloya (FB) |
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| Leave Yala after
an early breakfast to Belihuloya. A late lunch
on arrival at river Garden. |
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BELIHULOYA
This is a climatically transitional area,
which links the dry and wet zones at an
altitude of less than 1500m. As a result,
the vegetation in consists of moist semi-evergreen
forests, tropical savanna forests, dry patana
grasslands and montane temperate forests.
The vegetation in this environment has made
this location an exciting one for the serious
as well as the casual nature lover. The
average temperature in the area is about
28.3 degrees Celsius and the mean annual
rainfall is between 1,875 and 2,500mm.
Bird watching
trail in the evening.
RIVER
GARDEN RESORT
Located probably on one of the best scenic
sites in the Island. Besides the white waters
from the Horton Plains, provides trekking
paths for bird watchers to roam for hours
on observing more than 100 species including
many endemic.
Field Ornithology
group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) the local representative
of ‘Bird Life International’ has recognized
this property as a bird friendly location
& provides the necessary professional
backing to improve as a service provider
for International & local bird watchers.
SCHEDULE
• Leaving to Belihuloya after an early breakfast
at the hotel.
• Arrival at River Garden Resort in time
for a late lunch.
• After lunch a short break & then an
evening bird watching trail.
• Dinner & night stay at Belihuloya.
Value – Camping / Standard – Cottages or
similar / Deluxe – Eco Lodge or similar. |
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| Day 11 - Belihuloya - Horton
Plains – Bamabarakanda – Belihuloya (FB) |
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| Leaving to Maha Eliya
(Horton Plains) trekking for bird watching. |
HORTON PLAINS
Most certainly one of the world’s best nature
reserves, which consist of famous “World’s
End”, “Bakers Falls”, “Chiminini Pool” etc.
Horton Plains Nature
Reserve, which is approx. 10,000 Hectares
in extent. A sheer drop of 3700ft, World’s
End offers one a fantastic and awesome view.
A remote, high (2000m) plateau supports
grassland fringed and interspersed with
patches of dense montane cloud forest. This
locality is very famous among the bird watchers
to record The SL Whistling Thrush.
SATAN’S
STEPS TRAIL STARTING FROM THE HORTON PLAINS
ENTRANCE.
You have two options where you can travel
in the vehicle for about 6 km up to “Udaweriya”
estate junction & then start trekking
or start the trek from the gate entrance
itself. Distance to the Bambarakanda Falls
from the junction is 14km. Along this trail
you will cover Kingslyn estate, West Haputale
estate then Bambarakanda Falls. From the
falls you can either trek for another 6km
& get in to your vehicle at Kalupahana
to be driven to River Garden or get in to
the vehicle near the falls itself.
BAMBARAKANDA FALLS
Within a majestic basin-shaped valley bordered
by huge steep rocks and dark green forests
of pines and tropic trees the highest waterfall
of Sri Lanka [240.8m] plunges with two silver
ropes over a vertical dark gray wall from
the green saddle between Mt.Welihena and
Mt. Bambaragala into a deep pool only 500m
walking distance from the trail.
SCHEDULE
• After an early breakfast or packed breakfast
leaving to Horton Plains in a vehicle.
• Bird watching inside the park.
• Lunch at a suitable location.
• Continue bird watching through Satan’s
Steps & Bambarakanda trail.
• Dinner & night stay at Belihuloya.
Value – Camping / Standard – Cottages or
similar / Deluxe – Eco Lodge or similar. |
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| Day 12 - Belihuloya
- Kandy (FB) |
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| Leave for Kandy after early breakfast.
|
| KANDY
was the last stronghold of the Buddhist political
power against colonial powers. It is also
the home of the Temple of the Tooth relic.
Its architectural monuments date mainly from
the 19th century, when Vikrama Rajashinha
went on a building spree, the cost of which
hastened the downfall and eventual surrender
to the British forces. EVENING
BIRD WATCHING IN HANTHANA MOUNTAIN
This beautiful mountain is a prominent feature
in the Kandy area. It consists of a secondary
forest with many streams flowing down. The
mountain is a famous habitat for the Tree
Todd King Fisher and many other bird species.
SCHEDULE
• After breakfast proceed to Kandy.
• Lunch at a hotel or restaurant.
• Evening bird watching at Hanthana Mountain.
• Dinner & night stay at Kandy. Value
– Gem Inn or similar / Standard – Suisse
Hotel or similar / Deluxe – Earls Regency
or similar. |
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| Proceed to Colombo after breakfast
& a city tour. |
COLOMBO
Like many capital cities in developing countries,
the face of Colombo is quickly changing.
Skyscrapers now tower over the streets where
old buildings once stood and modern shopping
malls attract locals and foreigners alike
in search of a bargain. However, in some
parts the ‘Old World’ charm is retained,
such as the 100-year-old clock tower and
several British built colonial buildings.
Other places of interest include the Pettah
markets, the old Parliament in the Fort
district, the new parliament in Thimbirigasyaya,
and a wide variety of churches, mosques
and temples that are sentiment to the many
different religions that dominate the country.
In terms of shopping, there is a wide range
of colourful fabrics, batiks, handicrafts
and other souvenirs. Clothes are also especially
good value and there are a number of specialized
outlets sure to satisfy the most serious
of shoppers!
SCHEDULE
• After breakfast proceed to Colombo.
• Lunch at a hotel or restaurant in Colombo.
• Evening Colombo city tour.
• Dinner & night stay at Colombo. Value
– Grand Oriental Hotel or similar / Standard
– Galle Face Hotel or similar / Deluxe –
Trans Asia Hotel or similar. |
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| Day 14 - Katunayake
Airport |
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| DEPARTURE. |
| - End of Programme - |
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03
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Naturally our ready made programmes will come cheaper than the tailor make programmes. How ever we are flexible enough to do minor changes to the ready made itineraries, with out any charge. ? Please write to us.
Do you own programme – Visit the location and activity pages on our site and you will come across mini tours in all of those pages. By combining them you can design your own tour. We will complete it by adding on the hotels and other cultural locations you may require.
Your tour will be handled by an experienced travel consultant who will provide a personalized service.
Our programmes are offered in the following 3 standards. Accommodation options have been selected after careful evaluation.
Standard -Value: Basic but clean. With a typical Sri Lankan touch , relaxed atmosphere and personalized service at Small family / enterprise run operations.
Standard - 3 Star equal: Better comforts and facilities with extra comforts. Mostly large establishments with Standardized service.
Standard - Deluxe: High standards of quality, décor, service and much more, with many extra comforts and activities to indulge yourself. We have offered locations with a unique Sri Lankan individuality, measuring up to international standards. |
 Please inquire for our special group rates for more than 4 pax. |
| Tour operators/agents & tourism related web portals may contact with all information for special rates. |
Please read Expectations ours and yours before confirming a tour. |
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