A comprehensive 16-day small group tour of Sri Lanka taking in a cross-section of the island and all it’s endemic birds, in conjunction with our friends from Oriole Birding.

Sri Lanka

For a relatively small island, Sri Lanka boasts a wealth of habitats from the mountains of the south-central region which rise to 2500m, through verdant undulating hills, to dense rainforest, open plains, lowland forests, coasts and countless wetlands. Not only is it remarkably biodiverse, its isolated geographical position has also resulted in a high degree of endemism in the fauna and flora. For the birdwatcher, the island has the attraction of upwards of 30 endemic species (plus many endemic subspecies) and we will endeavour to encounter most, if not all, on our visit, including one of the most sought-after, the Serendib Scops Owl, discovered as recently as 2001.

Northern migrants such as Indian Pitta, Pied Thrush, Orange-headed Thrush and Kashmir Flycatcher are another attraction, joining a host of resident species, many of which can be hard to see elsewhere. It’s not just birds, of course, and we will hope to see a good variety of mammals including Asian Elephant, Purple-faced Langur, Stripe-necked Mongoose and maybe even Leopard and Sloth Bear. Add to this a fascinating history, a vibrant culture, tasty cuisine and welcoming people, and you have the recipe for a hugely rewarding birdwatching holiday.

On our tour we will visit all the key sites, including Sinharaja World Heritage Site, Bundala National Park, Yala National Park and Horton Plains. We will enjoy a number of game drives in some of the surprisingly expansive national parks, but will bird on foot as conditions dictate. The tour pace is mostly undemanding, but in common with most tropical birding destinations, early starts are the norm. However, there should usually be time to relax during the hotter middle of the day before a less intensive afternoon birding session. We will stay in a mixture of comfortable lodges and tourist hotels, all being en suite. We can expect to see around 230 species.