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SRI LANKA: WINGS OF PARADISE
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TOUR CODE EAI-SRI01
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Length: 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS
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Sri Lanka is ideal destination for bird lovers. Its rich avifauna
consists of 435 species (237inland birds) out of which 26 are endemic
(including 3 proposed species). Due to its unique location it acts as
very important destination for migratory birds. If you are lucky you
can easily encounter over 200 species at any given time.
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COSTS
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| 2 Pax |
$1,248.00 pp/dbl US |
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| 3-4 Pax |
$1,068.00 pp/dbl US |
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Single room supplement: 210.00
Discount for children (below 12 years) sharing parents room:
30% on the per person sharing double room rate.
Discount for the 3rd person sharing triple room: 10% on
the per person sharing double room rate.
Above prices are in US DOLLARS.
Cost includes:
- Accommodation (in standard rooms) on half board basis for 14 nights from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 15 at hotels specified or at hotels of similar standard.
- Lunch will be on client's own expense except for Day 12 & 13 where you will be served picnic lunch inside the forest.
- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle from Airport to Colombo.
- Entrance fees for Sigiriya, Udawattekelle Sanctuary, Kandy Temple, Botanical Gardens, Horton Plains, Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Bundala National Park, Yala National Park and Sinharaja Forest.
- Tips and Porterage at hotels.
- Cost of Jeep Hire for Bundala and Yala Parks.
- Services of an English-speaking Interpreter.
Cost excludes:
Important Notes:
- You will be given 1 bottle of bottle water per day free of charge.
- You will be given field notebook, pen and pencil.
- You have to bring your own binoculars.
- It is recommended to have sunglasses, sunburn lotion, insect / leech repellent and personal effects for warm/windy/rainy conditions.
- It is recommended to wear dull colour cloths during the bird watching.
- The facilities at the lodge will be very basic which includes rooms with attached toilets with only cold water, No electricity.
- In side the tropical forests can be very humid and warm and it will be convenient to use light cloths with trekking shoes.
PLEASE NOTE: prices are based on today's date, hotel
rates, rates of exchange, airfares and availability and are
therefore subject to change.
Prices subject to government taxes/levies or prices beyond our control. Prices
and programs are subject to change without notice. All prices quoted
in US dollars. For booking information, liability waiver, and terms and
conditions contact Eco-Adventure International, LLC.
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Day 01:
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Airport – Colombo – Bellanvila/Attidiya
Transfer from Airport to Colombo. Bellanvila /Attidiya:
This urban wetland is famous for its abundant bird life. It
consists of fresh water marshes, and natural and man-made
canal system. One can walk along the edge of the canals or
marshlands to observe many aquatic birds including Lesser
Whistling Duck, Purple Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen,
Whiskered Tern, Pin-tailed Snipe & Little Green Heron. Apart
from aquatic birds raptors such as Brahminy Kite and Marsh
Harrier can commonly observed.
Dinner and overnight stay at Galle Face Hotel.
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Day 02:
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Colombo – Kandalama, Dambulla
After breakfast at Galle Face Hotel leave for Kandalama. On
the way you will see many common bird species of the island
such as common crow and village crow, common Mynah, common
babbler and White-breasted Kingfisher.
Full day free for bird watching at Kandalama.
Kandalama: The 55 acre forest around the
Kandalama Tank which contains the hotel, has a variety of
trees, some 100 years or more in age, plus medicinal plants
and a rich and varied bird life. Kandalama offers one of the
best bird watching opportunities in the North Central
Province. Nesting at the foot of Ereulagala (696m) and
Dikkandahena (618m), the Kandalama tank and the hotel are
situated at the Northern end of the Knuckles mountain range
and at the beginning point of the intermediate zone and the
dry zone, the environs are very rich in bird life.
The diversity in habitat and the tank provides the visitors
the opportunity to observe around the hotel more than 145
species, which is almost one third of the total number of
bird life in Sri Lanka. This consist of arboreal, terrestrial
and aquatic birds including 4 endemic birds namely Sri Lanka
Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Sri Lanka Grey Horn-bill,
and Brown-capped Babbler. One can also see many waders and
raptors including Crested Serpent Eagle, white –bellied Sea
Eagle, Little and Intermediate Egrets, Eurasian Openbill and
Grey Heron.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kandalama Hotel.
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Day 03:
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Kandalama
Full day free for bird watching at Kandalama.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kandalama Hotel.
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Day 04:
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Kandalama – Sigiriya – Kandy
After breakfast at Kandalama Hotel leave for Sigiriya.
Sigiriya: Climb the 5th century Sigiriya
rock fortress that is a world heritage site, built by King
Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual
beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the
innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat,
rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water
gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned
frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a
sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway.
If you are a keen bird watcher and not interested in climbing
the rock, this is an ideal place for bird watching as well.
Sigiriya is one of the best places in the country to see Shaheen
Falcon. Among the other birds in the area are Emerald Dove,
Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-headed
Bulbul, Brown-capped Babbler and Wooly-necked Stork.
In the evening transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Hilltop.
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Day 05:
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Kandy
After breakfast at Hotel Hilltop visit UdawattaKele.
Udawattakele Sanctuary: This is a trek of
rainforest rich in species that has enjoyed protection from
historical times. It supports many species of bird life.
Some of the common birds are Layard’s Parakeet, Gold-fronted
and Blue-winged Leafbirds, Spotted and Emerald Doves,
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-fronted, Crimson-fronted
and Brown-headed barbrts and Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.
If you wish you can do a city tour of Kandy in the evening.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a
World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures visions of
splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions
and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the
Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama
Rajasinghe in 1798.
In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and
thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri
Lankan dancing.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Hilltop.
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Day 06:
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Kandy – Peradeniya – Nuwara Eliya
After early breakfast at Hotel Hilltop visit to Botanical
Gardens.
Royal Botanical Gardens: This botanical
garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala
king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in
extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and
flowers. The diversity of trees creates diverse habitats for
many species of birds such as Hill Mynah, Tickell’s Blue
flycatcher, Magpie robin, black-headed Oriole and endemic Sri
Lanka Hanging parrot and Layard’s Parakeet.
Thereafter leave for Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya: Nuwara Eliya, because of its
invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka's
most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of
Sri Lanka's tea country producing a significant share of the
world's best tea. Sri Lanka's highest mountain
Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya
also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South
Asia.
Victoria Park: An ornamental park in the
heart of town that has gained a reputation for birds.
Eurasian Blackbird, Indian Blue robin, Pied thrush and Grey
Tit are commonly seen.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hill Club.
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Day 07:
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Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains –Hakgala - Nuwara Eliya
After early breakfast at Hill Club leave for Horton plains.
Horton Plains National Park: Visit Horton
plains, which is located on a high windswept saddle at about
2134 meters above sea level. The plains are an expanse of
misty grassland with scraggy trees and ice-cold rivulets.
This area is a home for Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Orange-
billed Babbler, Yellow-eared Bulbul, black-throated Munia
and many more birds.
If you like to enjoy the beauty of the area you can visit
the 'World's End', considered to be the finest view in all
of Sri Lanka. The awesome escarpment drops vertically for
about 4,000 feet, hence its name. You can also see the
beautiful Backer’s falls.
Hakgala Botanical Gardens: Hakgala
Botanical Gardens which was home for many highland bird
species. This garden was expanded during the British period
and has a wide variety of flowers, including an excellent
collection of orchids.
Return to Hill Club hotel for Dinner and comfortable
overnight stay.
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Day 08:
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Nuwara Eliya - Tissamaharamaya
After breakfast at Hill Club leave for Tissamaharamaya.
During this journey you will be transferred from wet montane
zone to lowland dry zone.
In the evening visit Tissa Lake and Debarawewa Lake for bird
watching. Depending on the water level you will be able to
see many waterbirds such as Little cormorant, Indian shag,
Purple Heron, Purple Coot, Wood Sandpiper, Caspian Tern and
Painted Stork.
Dinner and overnight stay at Tissamaharama Rest House.
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Day 09:
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Tissamaharama – Yala – Tissamaharama
After early breakfast at Tissamaharama Rest House leave for
Yala.
Yala National Park: Do a safari of the Yala
National Park by jeep. Yala is the largest National Park in
Sri Lanka and is the home of most of the large mammals of the
country including wild elephants, wild boar, wild buffalo,
leopard, bear and deer.
Sri Lankan Junglefowl and Peacock are common here. Raptors
such as Changeable Hawk-eagle, White bellied Sea Eagle and
Crested Serpent eagle are also commonly seen apart from many
species of large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds.
Dinner and overnight stay at Tissamaharama Rest House.
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Day 10:
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Tissamaharamaya – Bundala – Kalamatiya - Hambantota
After early breakfast at Tissamaharama Rest House leave for
Bundala.
Bundala National Park: Do a safari of the
Bundala National Park by jeep.
Being the only RAMSAR wet land in the country, this park is
so important for migratory birds. Large varieties of
migratory shorebirds use the lagoons in this park for their
winter stay. This wetland also supports considerable number
of resident birds as well.
This includes golden Plover, Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers,
Kentish Plover, Caspian Tern, Little Tern and Curlew
Sandpiper, Eurasian Spoonbill, Asian Openbill, Spot-billed
Pelican and Painted Stork.
In the evening visit Kalamatiya: A wetland
dominated by two brackish lagoons, mangrove swamps and open
areas with pockets of scrub jungle. It is an important site
for shorebirds.
Cattle, Intermediate and Great Egrets, Purple Swamphen,
Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, Black-winged Stilt and Greenshank
are among the bird life present here.
Dinner and overnight stay at The Oasis.
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Day 11:
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Hambantota – Sinharaja Rain Forest
After breakfast at The Oasis leave for Sinharaja.
Martin’s Lodge: You will be driven to a
“lodge” bordering the forest by a 4wd jeep. This is an
extension of the house of a very noble & humble world-
renowned figure Mr. Martin Wijesinghe, who has done an
immense service to the country and to the world by taking
the lead in protecting this rain forest and getting the
recognition as a world heritage site.
In the afternoon visit the Rainforest.
Sinharaja Natural World Heritage: A world
heritage site since 1988 this is arguable the most important
site in Sri Lanka and is internationally important for its
biodiversity. The reserve encompasses some of the few
remaining sizeable tracts of undisturbed primary lowland
rain forest. Much of the birding, however, is done in areas
that were once subject to selective logging. You can observe
over 15 species of endemic birds of the country.
Sri Lanka Spurfowl, Sri Lanka Junglefowl, Green-billed
Caucal, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Red-faced Malkoha, Sri
Lanka Blue Magpie, White –faced Starling, Sri Lanka Myna,
Orange-billed Babbler, Malabar trogon and Greater Racket-
tailed Drongo are among the many birds you can observe.
Other species recorded include 40 species of mammals, 65
species of Butterflies, 10 species of fish, 14 species of
Amphibians and 29 species of reptiles. 50 % of the endemic
mammals and butterflies are present.
Dinner & overnight stay at the lodge with basic facilities.
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Day 12:
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Sinharaja Natural World Heritage
Full day bird watching at Sinharaja.
Breakfast Picnic lunch, Dinner & overnight stay at the lodge
with basic facilities.
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Day 13:
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Sinharaja Natural World Heritage
Full day bird watching at Sinharaja.
Breakfast Picnic lunch, Dinner & overnight stay at the lodge
with basic facilities.
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Day 14:
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Sinharaja - Kitulgala
After breakfast transfer from Sinharaja Rain Forest to
Kitulgala – Kelani Valley Forest Reserve:
Kitulgala is the place where the famous 'Bridge on the River
Kwai' film was made. Kelani Valley forest reserve is
established as a forest reserve to protect the watershed
of Kelani River. It is home to many of Sri Lanka’s endemic
fauna and flora. The forest is secondary lowland rainforest
on the lower slope with the forest extending up to the higher
elevations, contiguous with the Peak Wilderness sanctuary.
Red-faced Malkoha, Ashy-headed Laughing Thrush, Malabar
Trogon, Lesser Yellow-naped, Pygmy and Crimson-Backed
Woodpeckers and Spot-winged Thrush, White-faced Starling,
Dollarbird and Chestnut-backed Owlet are among the birds you
can observe.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kitulgala Rest House.
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Day 15:
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Kitulgala - Colombo
Breakfast at Kitulgala Rest House.
Morning free for bird watching at Kitulgala.
In the evening transfer from Kitulgala to Colombo or beach
hotel at southwest coast as per request.
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