Round Tours

Detailed Birding Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival in Sinharaja Rainforest Sri Lanka

SCHEDULE

Arrival to Sinharaja.
Check in to the campsite / hotel.
Birding trail by the border of the Sinharaja Forest Reserve in the evening.
Dinner and overnight stay at the campsite / hotel.

Sinharaja rainforest has been designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a Biodiversity Hotspot by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). All these titles are highlighting the importance of the forest reserve in terms of its exceptional biodiversity as well as its fragility. Birding in Sinharaja is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka!

Day 2

Day 2 - Sinharaja Forest Reserve (FB)

SCHEDULE

Early breakfast at the campsite / hotel.
Full day bird watching trail in Sinharaja Forest Reserve with packed lunch.
Lunch to be taken in a suitable location.
On conclusion, return back to the campsite / hotel.
Dinner & overnight stay at the campsite / hotel.

Today, enjoy a full day birding trail in the beautiful Sinharaja rainforest that is home to wet lowland forest birds including many endemic species. Depending on your interest, our guide will help you to identify many butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and forest mammals too.

A specialty of this forest are the world’s largest mixed-species bird flocks, averaging up to 42 individual species. The endemic birds of this region include the Sri Lanka junglefowl, Sri Lanka spurfowl, Sri Lanka green-billed coucal, Sri Lanka hanging parakeet, Sri Lanka layard’s parakeet, Sri Lanka red-faced malkoha, Sri Lanka blue magpie, Sri Lanka white-faced starling, crested drongo, serendib scopes owl, Sri Lanka spot winged thrush and Sri Lanka scaly thrush. Also, greater flameback woodpecker, Oriental dwarf kingfisher, plum-headed parakeet, Oriental scopes owl, and emerald dove can be found in Sinharaja. During the migratory season, Indian pitta, Indian blue robin, brown-breasted flycatcher, brown flycatcher and large-billed leaf warbler join in the diverse avifauna of Sinharaja.

"Excellent birding guide-Devaka is very knowledgeable & able to keep us spot ,identify & understand birds/His great kind nature was very helpful/The driver was very responsible and careful person."

Aroor Moorthy

Detailed Trekking Itinerary

Day 1
Day 2

Day 1

Day 01 - Sigiriya - Thalkote Wewa

SCHEDULE

Arrival in Sigiriya around 9.30 am and meet with our representative.
6 kms village trail to the Thalkote Wewa.
Upon arrival, a typical Sri Lankan lunch will be served in a village house.
Have a bath in a lake or go for a walk by the vicinity in the afternoon.
BBQ dinner and overnight stay in a traditional tree house.

The 6 km village trail will take you through jungle patches, chaina cultivations and paddy fields to Thalkote Wewa. Here, you will have a chance to experience the rural way of life and the ancient traditions.

Thalkote Wewa is an ancient tank that provides to many villagers in the area with a lifeline of water to cultivate their crops - paddy, onions and different vegetables.

Chaina cultivation, on the other hand, refers to so called slash-and-burn farming. It is a primitive agricultural method where farmers slash and burn small jungle patches for short term crops that mainly depend on rain water and don’t require major field preparations. Farmers usually rotate between 2 to 3 land plots.

In Thalkote Wewa, we will offer you a unique opportunity to spend a magical night in a tree house, surrounded by wilderness. Local farmers use these semi-permanent structures to keep on an eye on their crops that are an easy target for wild elephants and other animals. They communicate with each others by hooting, and in no time they will wake you up if they spot an intruder in the vicinity. Throughout the night, the farmers take turns on lookout duty, keep the campfire burning and sing folk poems to stay awake.

Detailed Wildlife Itinerary

Day 1

Day 01 - Airport – Colombo (Approx. 40 kms / 1h30)

SCHEDULE

Arrival to Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Colombo.
Check in to a hotel in Colombo.
Leisure time and relaxing, or Colombo city tour in the afternoon.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo (BB).

A melting pot of cultures and commerce, Colombo is a lively city with the most fascinating history. Ancient Arab sailors frequented these ports to trade with the Portuguese, Dutch and British colonists that occupied the city. Today, Colombo has something from everyone! Visit impressive cultural sights, Buddhist Temples and Hindu Kovils scattered throughout the city and experience the diversity of religion, ethnicity and customs of the people. Drive through the city's commercial centre known as the “Fort”, where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside modern hotels and office structures. Explore the vibrant markets and bazaars in Pettah. Discover the Museums and Art Centres with their fine collections of antiques, arts and crafts of Sri Lanka. Or indulge in shopping and tasting Sri Lankan delicacies.

Day 2

Day 02 - Colombo – Kudawa / Deniyaya (Approx. 140-220 kms / 3h30-4h30)

SCHEDULE

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Kudawa / Deniyaya, located by the Sinharaja rainforest.
Check in to a hotel.
Short village trail in the evening.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Kudawa / Deniyaya (HB).

After breakfast, you will head to Sinharaja rainforest, designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The forest reserve has an exceptional importance in terms of its biodiversity and fragility. Birding in Sinharaja is particularly interesting because it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka! Steeped in deep mystery, this evergreen rainforest was named after a Lion (Sinha) King (Raja). The legend has it that the origin of the Sinhala people is from the union between a princess and the lion king who once lived in the forest.

Day 3

Day 03 - Sinharaja – Udawalawe (Approx. 90 kms / 3 hrs)

SCHEDULE

Early breakfast at the hotel.
Nature trail in the Sinharaja rainforest.

Transfer to Udawalawe.
Half day safari at Udawalawe National Park (from 2:30 to 6:00pm)
Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Udawalawe
Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game campsite (HB).

Udawalawe National Park is located on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones, which provides diversity in both flora and fauna. The area, with its fascinating history and culture, offers an array of historical sites and natural wonders, guaranteed to satisfy even the most seasoned traveler. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the park's boundaries, it is not unusual to see big herds gathering to feed and bath at the waterholes in Udawalawe.

In addition to this main attraction, Udawalawe is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard. The bird enthusiasts shall be in their own winged paradise with not only the variety, but the quantity of bird species in the park!

Day 4

Day 04 - Udawalawe – Bundala – Yala (Approx. 130 kms / 3 hrs)

SCHEDULE

Early departure (at 5:00am) from Udawalawe with packed breakfast.
Bird watching safari in Bundala National Park.
Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Yala.
Lunch at the campsite.
Birding excursion by the ancient irrigation tank of Tissa wewa.
Dinner and overnight stay at Big Game campsite (FB).

Bundala National Park is a fantastic wetland sanctuary that shelters thousands of colourful birds ranging from little bee-eaters to grotesque open-billed storks. In total, this wildlife wonderland covering 62-sq-km area, is home to 150 species of birds with many imigrating species arriving between August and April. It’s also a winter home to the greater flamingo, and it is possible to see over 1500 flamingos at once! In Bundala, you can observe the both species of crocodiles that inhabit the island. The estuarine crocodile, that is the largest reptile alive today, lives in the lagoons areas and the estuary of River Kirindi Oya, while the mugger crocodile dwells in the small freshwater lakes and in the upper regions of Kirindi Oya.

Day 5

Day 05 - Yala

SCHEDULE

Full day safari at Yala National Park with packed breakfast and lunch.
Return to the campsite.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game campsite in Yala.

Yala National Park, situated in the southeast region of the country, covers almost 1000 square kilometers and is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, along with Wilpattu, it is one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. Leopards are the stars here, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants as well as to the spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal and mongoose. The bird life is also fantastic, and numerous species such as rosy starlings, paradise flycatchers, crested hawk eagles, blue-Tailed bee-eaters and common loras inhabit this natural wilderness.

Day 6

Day 06 - Yala – Galle (Approx. 200 kms / 5h30)

SCHEDULE

After breakfast proceed to Galle.
Short birding excursion in Lake Koggala (approx. 1 hour).
Check in to a hotel in Galle.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Galle

Galle was once the chief port of Sri Lanka. The Galle fort is a vast garrison, spanning 90 acres, which was originally built by the Portuguese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. Their influences are evident in the eclectic architecture all around, including the famous Dutch Reformist Church. When the British took over the fort, they too added their own influences. Entering the gates of the fort you will experience a much slower pace of life compared to the frenetic movements outside the Garrison’s walls. Galle Fort is one of Sri Lanka’s 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

”We don’t want to miss to say a big thank you to you for our journey in Sri Lanka! We had a fantastic time on the Island, all was planned perfectly and the itinerary met our expectations exactly. Great job! And thanks again to Roshan! We are very grateful for his very kind guidance, ideas and problem solving skills during the trip. It’s a wonderful country and we hope to come back in future.”

Inga & Kay from Germany

Wildlife tour 7 DaysWildlife Photography Expedition 7Days

Detailed Wildlife Photography Tour

Day 1

Day 01 - Airport – Bolgoda (70 Kms / Approx. 1h30)

SCHEDULE

Meet and greet at the Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Bolgoda.
Spend a relaxing afternoon after the long journey.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel (HB).

Situated only 20 km from Colombo City, Bolgoda Lake is Sri Lanka’s largest and most beautiful freshwater lake, full of mangroves giving rise to rich aquatic fauna and flora. This area is also popular location for traditional lake fishing and water sports. In addition to angling, a common fishing method is the use of traditional kind of traps that look like fences installed in the water.

Day 2

Day 02 - Bolgoda – Deniyaya (165 Kms / Approx. 3h)

SCHEDULE

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Deniyaya.
Check in to a hotel by the borders of the Sinharaja Nature Reserve.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel (HB).

Sinharaja rainforest has been designated as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and also a Biodiversity Hotspot by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). All these titles are highlighting the importance of the forest reserve in terms of its exceptional biodiversity as well as its fragility. Birding in Sinharaja is particularly interesting since it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka!

Day 3

Day 03 - Sinharaja – Udawalawe (70 Kms / Approx. 2h)

SCHEDULE

Early breakfast at the hotel.
Nature trail in the Sinharaja Rainforest.
Transfer to Udawalawe.
Check in to the Big Game safari camp.
Lunch at the campsite.
Evening safari (from 2:30 to 6:30 pm) at Udawalawe National Park.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game (FB).

Located on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones, Udawalawe National Park, is one of the best places in the world to see wild elephants. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the area of 31,000 hectares, it is not unusual to see big herds gathering to feed and bath by the waterholes. In addition to this main attraction, Udawalawe is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer and monkeys. The bird enthusiasts shall be in their own winged paradise with not only the variety, but the quantity of bird species in the park.

Day 4

Day 04 - Udawalawe – Bundala – Yala (125 Kms / Approx. 3h)

SCHEDULE

Breakfast at the the campsite
Transfer to Bundala.
Birding safari at Bundala National Park.
Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel near Yala National Park (HB).

Bundala National Park, with 6216 hectares of lagoons, scrub jungles, saltpans and marshes, is the most important wetland sanctuary in Southern Sri Lanka, and famous for its impressive biodiversity and prolific birdlife. It is here that the migratory birds are wintering - resting and feeding by the picturesque lagoons and intertidal mudflats.

In addition to abundant birdlife, the wetlands are inhabited by 32 mammal species (out of which 5 are classified as threatened). The park is home to a small population of elephants too. Roaming the open wetlands and secluded beaches, they are easy to spot. In Bundala, you'll have a good chance of spotting leopards, spotted deers, sambars, crocodiles, wild boar, mongooses, monitor lizards and monkeys too. Also, both marsh and estuarine crocodiles are found in Bundala, and four out of Sri Lanka's five species of sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in its coastal areas.

Day 5

Day 05 - Yala

SCHEDULE

Full day safari at Yala National Park with packed breakfast and lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel (HB).

Yala National Park, situated in the southeast region of the country, covers almost 1000 square kilometers and is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, along with Wilpattu, it is one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka. Leopards are the stars here, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants as well as to the spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal and mongoose. The birdlife is fantastic too. Over 215 species of birds have been recorded in Yala, with six being endemic to Sri Lanka.

Your best chance to see a leopard is generally early in the morning. Especially, the young males are very confident, and often they are seen walking on the tracks.

Day 6

Day 06 - Yala – Colombo (270 Kms / Approx. 4h30)

SCHEDULE

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Colombo and check in to a hotel.
Colombo City tour in the afternoon.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo (BB).

Subcategories

Birding Itineraries

Safari Itineraries

Caving Itineraries

Off the Road 4WD Itineraries

Whether you're cruising along the sand dunes on the beach between the ocean and the lagoon at KALPITIYA in southern Sri Lanka, riding the 32 hair-pin bends of the Devil's staircase near BELIHULOYA, or crossing the many streams on the exciting ‘Makara' (dragon) drive to the GALOYA NATIONAL PARK reservoir, you can be sure that these ‘off-the-road' adventures are more than just ‘going for a drive'! At Eco team. We can offer complete adventurous jeep tours for any number of days, short 4WD tour programmes combined with any of the other activities that we offer, or even longer ‘cross-country' jeep tours that start from one end of Sri Lanka to reach a specific destination (avoiding main roads as much as possible).