Sri Lanka9 days
Sri Lanka Bird Watching Circuit: Sinharaja to Anawilundawa — 9 Days
Eight birding sites across rainforest, highland park, and wetland reserve, from Sinharaja to Anawilundawa
This nine-day itinerary moves through eight of Sri Lanka's most productive birding sites, from the lowland rainforest of Sinharaja in the southwest to the RAMSAR-listed Anawilundawa Wetlands on the northwest coast. The route is structured around habitat diversity: dense rainforest interior at Sinharaja, high-altitude grassland and montane forest at Horton Plains, ornamental garden birding at Hakgala Botanical Garden and Victoria Park in Nuwara Eliya, dry-zone jungle at Habarana, and the open-water and marsh species of Sigiriya Sanctuary and Anawilundawa. Together, these sites offer access to a broad cross-section of Sri Lanka's avifauna — endemic species, year-round residents, and seasonal migrants — across markedly different ecosystems. Transfers are by air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide throughout. Accommodation follows the route: Negombo on arrival and departure, with stops in Sinharaja, Nuwara Eliya, and Habarana.
Highlights
- Full-day birding in Sinharaja Rain Forest, targeting endemics including Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, and Ceylon Trogon
- Early-morning walk in Horton Plains National Park, with species including Pigeons, Parrots, Barbets, Minivets, Cisticolas, Prinias, Green Warblers, Thrushes, Chats, Flycatchers, Sunbirds, Flower Peckers, Bulbuls and White Eyes.
- Afternoon birding session at Hakgala Botanical Garden, Nuwara Eliya, for montane-zone species including Layard's Parakeet and Hill Myna
- Bird watching walk in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya, a compact urban green space known for migratory chats, thrushes, and flycatchers during the northern winter
- Morning jungle walk in Habarana dry-zone forest for eagles, swifts, swallows, and water birds
- Late-afternoon and morning sessions at Sigiriya Sanctuary for endemic, resident, and migratory species including falcons, eagles, and waterbirds
- Afternoon birding at Anawilundawa Wetlands, one of two RAMSAR-designated sites in Sri Lanka, for cormorants, herons, storks, egrets, kingfishers, and terns
Day by day
1Arrival at Colombo and Transfer to NegomboColombo International Airport · Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo · Colombo to Negombo
Upon arrival at Colombo International Airport, a representative meets the group and transfers them to Negombo, approximately 20 minutes by road. Overnight at Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo.
2Negombo to Sinharaja: Border Village Birding WalkNegombo to Sinharaja · bordering village at the forest edge · Blue Magpie Guest House, Sinharaja
After breakfast, the group transfers south to the Kudawa entrance of Sinharaja Rain Forest, a drive of approximately four hours. The afternoon is spent on a birding walk through a bordering village at the forest edge, where species regularly recorded include Munias, Flowerpeckers, Sunbirds, Flycatchers, Mynas, Babblers, Monarchs, Warblers, Prinias, Bulbuls, Wagtails, Drongos, Orioles, Leafbirds, Woodpeckers, Barbets, Pigeons, Nuthatches, Hornbills, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Owls, and Coucals. Overnight at Blue Magpie Guest House, Sinharaja.
3Full Day in Sinharaja Rain ForestSinharaja Rain Forest · Blue Magpie Guest House, Sinharaja
A full day is dedicated to birding inside Sinharaja Rain Forest. In addition to the species encountered at the forest edge, the interior adds Ceylon Trogon, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, and further encounters with Hornbills, Blue Magpie, and the forest's notable mixed-species feeding flocks. Overnight at Blue Magpie Guest House, Sinharaja.
4Morning Birding at Sinharaja, Transfer to Nuwara EliyaNuwara Eliya · Sinharaja edge · Glenfall Reach Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
A morning village-border walk continues birding along the Sinharaja edge for Flowerpeckers, Sunbirds, Babblers, Drongos, Leafbirds, Woodpeckers, Hornbills, Blue Magpie, Owls, Coucals, and associated species. The group then transfers northeast to Nuwara Eliya, approximately four hours by road, ascending into the central highlands. Overnight at Glenfall Reach Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
5Horton Plains at Dawn and Hakgala Botanical Garden in the AfternoonHakgala Botanical Garden · Horton Plains National Park · Glenfall Reach Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
Departure for Horton Plains National Park at 5:00 AM, with the drive taking approximately one and a half hours. An early-morning walk through the park's high-altitude grassland and cloud forest targets Pigeons, Parrots, Barbets, Minivets, Cisticolas, Prinias, Green Warblers, Thrushes, Chats, Flycatchers, Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Bulbuls, and Sri Lanka White-eye; a picnic breakfast is provided during the walk. The group returns to Nuwara Eliya, then moves in the afternoon to Hakgala Botanical Garden for a second birding session, where Mynas, Bulbuls, Pigeons, Parrots, Woodpeckers, Shrikes, Blue Magpie, Drongos, Prinias, Warblers, Thrushes, and Flycatchers are regularly recorded. Overnight at Glenfall Reach Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
6Victoria Park Birding, Nuwara Eliya, then Transfer to HabaranaVictoria Park, Nuwara Eliya · Sorowwa Resort & Spa, Habarana · Nuwara Eliya to Habarana
A morning birding walk in Victoria Park, Nuwara Eliya, covers Parrots, Pigeons, Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Flycatchers, Chats, Thrushes, Warblers, and Wagtails. The group then transfers north to Habarana, approximately five hours by road, descending from the highlands into the dry zone. Overnight at Sorowwa Resort & Spa, Habarana.
7Habarana Jungle Walk and Sigiriya Sanctuary Evening SessionHabarana · Sigiriya Sanctuary · Sorowwa Resort & Spa, Habarana
A morning jungle walk in Habarana targets dry-zone species including migratory and resident birds, eagles, waterbirds, swifts, and swallows. In the late afternoon, birding moves to Sigiriya Sanctuary, where endemic species, migrants, residents, eagles, waterbirds, swifts, swallows, and falcons are among the expected sightings. Overnight at Sorowwa Resort & Spa, Habarana.
8Sigiriya Sanctuary Morning Session and Anawilundawa WetlandsSigiriya Sanctuary · Anawilundawa Wetlands · Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo · Anawilundawa to Negombo
A second session at Sigiriya Sanctuary in the morning continues observation of endemic, resident, and migratory species, eagles, waterbirds, swifts, swallows, and falcons. The group then transfers west to Anawilundawa, a drive of three to four hours. The afternoon is spent birding at Anawilundawa Wetlands, one of two RAMSAR-designated sites in Sri Lanka and one of the island's most significant waterbird locations. Species regularly recorded here include Cormorants, Ducks, Egrets, Herons, Storks, Eagles, Terns, Swallows, Swifts, Kingfishers, and a range of resident species. Overnight at Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo.
9Negombo to Colombo International AirportNegombo to Colombo International Airport
After breakfast, the group transfers to Colombo International Airport, approximately 20 minutes by road, for onward departure.
Where you go
- 1Nuwara Eliya
- 2Horton Plains National Park
- 3Habarana
Included
- Accommodation in mentioned hotels
- Meals as per mentioned meal plans
- Air conditioned transfers with an English speaking chauffeur guide
- All mentioned activities and park entrance fees
- Prices may vary plus/minus depending on the season
- Accommodation and meals (For 2 Adults)
- 1 night in Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo on bed and breakfast basis
- 2 nights in Blue Magpie Guest House in Sinharaja on bed and breakfast basis
- 2 nights in Back of Glenfall Reach Hotel in Nuwara Eliya on bed and breakfast basis
- 2 nights in Sorowwa Resort & Spa in Habarana on bed and breakfast basis
- 1 night in Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo on bed and breakfast basis