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Experience the ultimate bird watching in Sri Lanka with our one-of-a-kind birding tour, taking you across diverse climatic zones to explore and observe some of the island’s most unique avifauna and other natural wonders.
Your tour begins in Kitulgala, where you can encounter fascinating species, including the endemic Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, White-faced Starling, and Green-billed Coucal. Then, visit the virgin Sinharaja Rainforest , a biodiversity hotspot home to 95% of Sri Lanka’s 34 endemic bird species.
Your accommodation will consist of handpicked hotels and glamping sites, designed to minimize travel time and maximize your birding experience. This will allow you to fully enjoy your Endemic Birding Tours Sri Lanka and immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes, comfortable accommodations, and delicious cuisine.
Ideal For: Bird lovers who are eager to explore the wilderness and admire the beauty of these avifauna, especially the endemic birds of Sri Lanka.
Our birding tours are perfect for solo travelers, couples, friends, families with kids and teenagers, and small groups of friends and family.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Sri Lanka’s birding paradise and witness the beauty of endemic birds in Sri Lanka . Book your Endemic Birding Tours Sri Lanka today!
Upon your arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be transferred to Kitulgala which was used as a location in the filming of David Lean’s award-winning film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ and is considered one of the island’s most picturesque locations as well as a hotspot for endemic birds. Depending on your time of arrival, you can choose to rest at your hotel, or do a short bird-watching trail with your personal guide and hope to encounter some of Sri Lanka’s endemic bird species including the Orange-billed Babbler and the Chestnut-backed Owlet that have been recorded here.
Accommodation: The Plantation Hotel or Similar
Meals Included : Dinner
After an early breakfast or with a packed breakfast, enjoy atour of the Makandawa rain forest in Kitulgala which boasts an impressive list of endemic, migratory and resident birds. Many of the wet zone endemics such as the Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Hanging Parrot, Layard’s Parakeet, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul and the Spot-winged Thrush can be sighted here.
After the morning trail in Makandawa Rainforest, you will be taken to the Sinharaja rainforest, which is recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Another highlight of this forest is the mixed-species of bird flocks, averaging up to 42 individual species, which make this the world’s largest mixed-species bird flock. The mixed-species bird flock study of the Sinharaja forest has been continuing since 1981 and is considered the World’s longest bird flock study. Birding highlights include: the Red-faced Malkoha, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, White-faced Starling and Scaly Thrush. After lunch, check-in to your hotel in Sinharaja before a bird-watching tour in the forest. We have also planned a night birding trail, where you may spot some of Sri Lanka’s nocturnal species including the Chestnut-backed Owlet and Serendib Scops Owl. Your overnight stay will be at a hotel selected given its close proximity to the forest.
Accommodation : Blue Mapie Lodge or Similar
Meals Included: Breakfast | Dinner
Following an early breakfast, enjoy a day of exploration (with packed lunches) in the beautiful Sinharaja rain forest where we will search for more wet lowland forest birds including endemics. Depending on your interest, our guide will also help you to identify many butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, forest mammals and other wildlife. If you are feeling up to it, you could also do a night-walk along the peripheries of the reserve. At the close of the day, you will spend the night at a hotel close to Sinharaja Forest.
Accommodation : Blue Mapie Lodge or Similar
Meals Included: Breakfast | Dinner
Enjoy your breakfast at the lodge and go for a jeep drive in the buffer zone of the forest reserve for some more endemics and witness a few species of owls. Sri Lankan bay owl & Serendib Scops Owl are possible species in this jeep ride in the vicinity while many more species of endemics could be seen in the trail.
Completing the trail, you will be back to the hotel and drive back to Airport or extend your trip with some more birding experiences or couple up with a few jeep safaris and birding trails in a couple of National Parks in the region.
This tour was a dream come true for any serious birder! Over four days, we spotted an impressive number of Sri Lankan endemics, including the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie and the elusive Serendib Scops Owl. The locations were well chosen, covering different habitats, and the main guide was extremely knowledgeable, helping us identify species with ease. The accommodations were comfortable, and the entire trip was well-organized. If you’re passionate about birding and want to focus on Sri Lanka’s unique avifauna, this tour is perfect!
This tour exceeded our expectations! The diversity of birdlife was astounding, and we were able to tick off nearly all the Sri Lankan endemics on our list. The guides were passionate and skilled in locating birds, making each day a rewarding experience. The transport, accommodations, and overall arrangements were smooth, allowing us to focus entirely on birdwatching. We would highly recommend this trip to any keen birder visiting Sri Lanka!
The birding on this tour was fantastic, with expert guides who were incredibly skilled at spotting rare species. However, while the site guides were excellent at finding birds, their English proficiency was limited, which made it difficult to get detailed explanations. That said, the main guide was knowledgeable and helped bridge the gap. Overall, a well-organized tour that delivers on endemic bird sightings but could improve in communication.