Sri Lanka
10 day Endemic bird / Leopard tour & Whale watching extension

14 – 25 November 2023
Whale watching extension: 23 - 27 November



Day 1: Arrival
Upon arrival in Colombo International Airport you will be met by your tour leader who will be your escort throughout the tour. The conspicuous sight of the Indian Palm Squirrel or the Common Myna & Yellow Billed Babbler is possible as you leave the Airport. We will drive a little over two hours to our hotel in the small village of Kitulgala. The Kelani River flows along the Kitulgala village as the dense vegetation engulfs the area. Misty mountains surround this landscape trapping a wide variety of species within its forests. Depending on the time we arrive at Kitulgala we will explore the surroundings of the hotel where sightings of Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Spot-winged Thrush, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Layard’s Parakeet, Yellow-fronted Barbet and Legge’s Flowerpecker are possible.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Kitulgala Rest House, Kitulgala

Day 2: Kitulgala
Today we start the day with a pre-breakfast bird walk around the Kitulgala village where we will go in search of Green-billed Coucal, Orange-billed Babbler, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Red-backed Flameback, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Flame Minivet, Black-hooded Oriole, Brown Shrike, Green Imperial Pigeon, Indian Pitta, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Legge’s Hawk Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Shikra along with Grizzled Giant Squirrel. We return to the hotel for breakfast and immediately after finishing our meal we will find our way to the Mahakandarawa Rainforest by crossing the river in a raft. Little Cormorant, Indian Pond Heron & Little Egret are possible sightings during our little journey on to the opposite side of the river bank. As we make our way through the village towards the rainforest entrance we will be met with sights of Golden-fronted - & Jerdon’s Leafbird, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Oriental-dwarf Kingfisher, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Sri Lanka Swallow, White-bellied Drongo, Greater Coucal, Little Green Bee-eater, Blue tailed Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater and Brown-headed Barbet. Inside the rainforest our main targets will be the Serendib Scops Owl, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Sri Lanka Spurfowl and the Sri Lanka Frogmouth. We will return to the hotel late in the evening hopefully after fulfilling all our birding needs for the day.
Lunch / Dinner / Overnight stay in Kitulgala Rest House, Kitulgala

Day 3: Kitulgala / Nuwara Eliya
Before leaving Kitulgala we once again explore the surrounding Kitulgala village for any birds we have missed before returning to the hotel for our breakfast. Our next destination is the central mountain city of Nuwara Eliya. Situated at 1900 meters above sea level this picturesque city is cloaked in rolling hills of tea and cool breeze which the British fondly called as Little England. As we make our way to our next hotel sightings of Toque Macaque hanging from wires or branches as a Rufous Bellied Eagle flies overhead in the distance is all but possible. We will reach our destination well in time for lunch and soon after we will visit the Hakgala Botanical Gardens where we will meet with the handsome Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and many more Toque Macaques. Dull-blue Flycatcher, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka White-Eye, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Black Bulbul, Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Cinereous Tit, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher and Brown-breasted Flycatcher. On our return to the hotel we will explore another birding spot where we will search for the elusive Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush along with Indian Black Bird.
Lunch / Dinner / Overnight stay in Heaven Seven Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

Day 4: Nuwara Eliya
Today we start the day very early and leave the hotel with a packed breakfast. We journey to Horton Plains National Park which is situated at 2200 meters above sea level and temperatures can vary from 1-16 degrees. This montane landscape with its vast grassland plains attract many migrant birds and is home to the Sambar Deer, Black-naped Hare, Brown Mongoose, and Layard’s Squirrel, Dusky-striped Squirrel, Water Buffalo and the Islands apex predator the Leopard. We will once again try for the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush along with Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Scimitar Babbler, Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Hill Swallow, Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush, Greater Flameback Woodpecker, Peregrine Falcon, Paddyfield Pippit, Indian Blue Robin and Zitting Cisticola while enjoying the scenic landscape during our trek inside the park. We return to the hotel for lunch and later will visit the Victoria Park situated in the centre of the city. Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush, Orange-headed Ground Thrush, Forest Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, Indian Pitta and Large-billed Crow will be on our search list during our walk here.
Lunch / Dinner / Overnight stay in Heaven Seven Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

Day 5: Nuwara Eliya / Tissamaharama
We say good bye to Nuwara Eliya this morning as our journey continuous in to the dry zone of the island. We will visit the Surrey Estate Sanctuary where amongst many birds seen before we will target the roost of a Brown Wood Owl which is often seen in pairs or with young ones. This sanctuary also features Purple rumped Sunbird, Loten’s Sunbird, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Oriental White-Eye and Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill. Our next stop will be at the picturesque Ella town where we will stop for lunch at a restaurant overlooking the valley below. It’s often possible to come across the Striped-necked Mongoose and the Brown Mongoose when in this town and we will keep an eye out in between every bite we take. Crested Serpent Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black Eagle and Crested Hawk Eagle are known to make an appearance above our restaurant from time to time and if they do it will be a show not to be missed. We will aim to be at Tissamaharama before it gets too dark and will spend that time walking along the tank or reservoir in search of the many water birds that call it home. The trees in this tank are home to Spot-billed Pelicans, Black-headed Ibis, Little & Great Egrets, and large colony of Indian Flying Fox. At the shade of these trees we will look for the Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Black Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern and the Yellow Bittern. Don’t let the odd looking log fool you as Mugger Crocodiles gather below these trees to make a meal of the unfortunate and weary feathered friends.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Grand Tamarind Lake Hotel, Kataragama

Day 6: Tissamaharama / Yala
With a packed breakfast & lunch we set out early this day towards the famous Yala National Park for a full day jeep safari. We will be welcome by many birds around the water holes beside the roadside inside this park which will include the Indian Peafowl, Painted Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Open-bill, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser Whistling Duck, Great Thick Knee, Red-wattled Lapwing, Little-ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Little Stint, Pied Cuckoo, Eurasian Hoopoe, Pied Kingfisher, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Crested Tree-swift, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-faced Malkoha, Baya Weaver, Scaly-breasted Munia, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Brown Fish Owl, Rosy Starling, Brahminy Starling, Malabar Pied Hornbill. Apart from our feathered friends a good number of mammals are to be seen including Asian Elephant, Samba Deer, Spotted Deer, Ruddy Mongoose, Stripe-necked Mongoose, Black-naped Hare, Sloth Bear, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Grey Langur and Toque Macaque. Amidst all this our main focus and attention will be on finding the famous felines of Yala the “Leopards”. Yala National Park is known to have the highest population density of Leopards in the world, and one of the best places to seem them active in the day time. Since they have no direct threat from any other species and are on the top of the food chain which makes them the true rulers of the forest and jungles of Sri Lanka. We are sure to have many encounters with most of the animals in this park and will spend a substantial part of time in searching for some rare birds such as the Black-necked Stork, Rufous Woodpecker and a few Pratincoles.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Grand Tamarind Lake Hotel, Kataragama

Day 7: Tissamaharama / Udawalawe / Sinharaja
We will start the day with a pre-breakfast birding session around the tank and will target the residential pair of White-naped Woodpeckers which visit the giant Rain Trees on the edge of the tank. We are sure to be met with sightings of Purple Swamphen, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Little Grebe, Indian Cormorant, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret and many other water birds. We will also visit a few roosts of Collared Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Jungle Owlet and Barn Owl in the vicinity. After breakfast with picnic lunch we will make our way to Udawalawe where we will take a jeep safari in the Udawalawe National Park. We will focus on finding birds such as Sri Lanka Woodshrike, Marshall’s Iora, Common Iora, Plain Prinia, Jungle Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Grey-breasted Prinia, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Ashy Woodswallow, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark and Oriental Skylark. Your concentration is bound to be disturbed as many Asian Elephants criss-cross our path, some in small herds of five to eight with young ones and some solitary male tuskers that will tower over 8 feet. Whilst there is a small population of Leopards known to reside in this park, another feline steals the show here. It is one of the best places to see Jungle Cats during the day time and we will be sure to keep an eye out for this cat when on the prowl. After our safari comes to an end we will proceed to Sinharaja where we will stay for the next two nights.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Blue Magpie Lodge Sinharaja

Day 8: Sinharaja
We will have a very early breakfast and take a packed lunch with us today as we head out to explore the Sinharaja Rainforest. As we wait by the ticket counter we will surely be met by the daily residents of the forest including a flock of Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Sri Lanka Crested Drongo, Sri Lanka Hill Myna, Green-billed Coucal, Black-capped Bulbul, Spot-winged Thrush, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Brown-capped Babbler, Dark-fronted Babbler and a troupe of Purple-faced Leaf Monkeys. The journey to the entrance of the forest will be in a jeep on a very rough terrain but we will stop on the way target many birds such as Layard’s Parakeet, Orange-billed Babbler, Greater Flameback Woodpecker, Scimitar Babbler, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, White-faced Starling, Lesser Hill Myna, White-rumped Munia, Legge’s Flower Pecker, Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker and Emerald Dove. At the entrance of the forest we will start our trek and will first try for the elusive and shy Sri Lanka Scaly Thrush and gradually work our way in searching for the Serendib Scops Owl and the Sri Lanka Frogmouth. We are bound to come across a bird wave with a mixed flock in feeding frenzy which is usually summoned by the crafty Sri Lanka Crested Drongo by mimicking other bird calls. Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Red-faced Malkoha, Black-naped Monarch, Malabar Trogon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, White-faced Starling, Scimitar Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler are all known to be a part of this flock and if lucky we will cover most of the target species in one flock alone. We will also be met by the Sri Lanka Kangaroo Lizard, Hump-nosed Lizard, Green Forest Lizard, Green Vine Snake, Bronze-back Tree Snake, Common Rat Snake, Green Pit Viper, Giant Millipede and loads of leeches!
Dinner / Overnight stay in Blue Magpie Lodge Sinharaja

Day 9: Sinharaja / Katunayaka
With a packed breakfast we will proceed to a nearby village in the buffer zone of the rainforest where sightings of Sri Lanka Spurfowl could be enjoyed from a local’s back yard. We are sure to see many of the birds we saw the previous day and other new bird we are likely to see here is the Slaty-legged Crake. After lunch we will proceed to a hotel near the Airport and if time permits we will visit the hotel garden in search of the Collared Scops Owl and the Brown Hawk Owl before getting a good night’s sleep.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Tamarind Tree Hotel Katunayaka

Day 10: Airport
After breakfast proceed to Airport in time for departure

Blue Whales Extension
Day 9: Sinharaja / Koggala
We will undertake another morning bird walk around the Sinharaja village and hopefully we will get some good sightings once again of the many endemic birds of the area. After lunch we will say our goodbye’s to the rest of the group and head out to Koggala.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Koggala Beach Hotel, Koggala

Day 10: Koggala / Mirissa
With packed breakfast we will proceed to Mirissa harbour to board a boat for a half day whale watching excursion. It is often possible to witness at least one Blue Whale a day in these waters and a good day will consist of at least 6-8 different Blue Whales in a close proximity to the boat. The 9 meter tall straight blow is the sign of these enigmatic mammals and excitement builds as we wait for its signature move of doing a fluke up dive before disappearing. Some days it is possible to see a calf and mother together or a pair that almost seems like they are in some courtship ritual or a solitary whale feeding on krill. These waters are also shared by Bryde’s Whales, Sperm Whales, Pilot Whales, Spinner Dolphins, Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Rissos’s Dolphins, Orcas, Whale Sharks, Green Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle, Hawks-bill Turtle, Leather-back Turtle and Logger-head Turtle. We should be back in the hotel in time for lunch and the rest of the day is for relaxing or if anyone is interested a visit to a nearby bird sanctuary can be organized.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Koggala Beach Hotel, Koggala

Day 11: Koggala / Mirissa
We will repeat the whale watching excursion once again and will return to the hotel for lunch. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Dutch Fort in Galle and explore the architecture of the fort city whilst looking over the skies for Peregrine Falcon and shores for Whimbrel
Dinner / Overnight stay in Koggala Beach Hotel, Koggala

Day 12: Koggala / Katunayake
Depending on the previous days success an optional Whale watching excursion could be arranged today. After lunch we will proceed to a hotel near the Airport and if time permits we will do a bird walk in the hotel gardens in search of the Collared Scops Owl and the Brown Hawk Owl.
Dinner / Overnight stay in Tamarind Tree Hotel Katunayake

Day 13: Airport
After breakfast proceed to Airport in time for departure



Tour leader: Daniel Green
Local guides

The journey is a collaboration between Birdsafarisweden and Karlmark Travel. (Karlmark Travels holds the travel warranty insurance that covers this trip)


When: 14 – 25 November 2023
Whale watching extension: 23 - 27 november 2023


Price: 34.800 SEK per person (excl. international flights)
Single room supplement: 4.680 SEK

Whale watching extension: 12.500 SEK per person
Single room supplement: 2.000 SEK

Note! the price of this tour can be adjusted due to currency changes and increased local costs. Smaller adjustments of the tour dates can also sometimes be necessary but will be communicated when it's time to book flights.


Included: Full board accommodation in double room, English spoken tour leader and local bird guide the whole trip, all transports, all entrance fees to national parks and reserves.

Not included: Air ticket, transfer to the airport, insurance, alcohol, souvenirs or other personal expenses, tips, etc.


Group size : min 6 - max 12

Application fee: When you´ve applied we send you an invoice on 3.500 SEK when that is paid you are guaranteed a seat on the tour.

Other: This is a "mixed group" trip where Swedish- and English-speaking travelers are welcome.