Day 1 & 2Transfer directly from the airport to Villa Talangama set on a quiet lakeside in the suburbs of Colombo. The villa setting is best described as a 'village in the city' surrounded by paddy fields and the Talangama wetlands – one of the best places near Colombo to see water birds and waders. Over a hundred species of birds have been recorded here including the Black and Yellow Bitterns, Purple Swamp hen, White-throated, Pied and Common Kingfishers, Purple Heron, Lesser Whistling-duck, and the Pheasant-tailed Jacana. The endemic and critically endangered Purple-faced Leaf Monkey is also found here as well as Water Monitors and Common Garden Lizards. Talangama is also home to numerous species of dragonflies and butterflies. We also recommend a visit to Ingiriya’s Bodhinagala Forest Reserve – the last remaining lowland rainforest in close proximity to Colombo. Endemic bird species found here include the Brown-capped Babbler, Green-billed Coucal, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Sri Lanka Jungle fowl, Sri Lanka Myna, Legge’s Flowerpacker, and the Sri Lanka Spurfolw. Here, you can also observe the Sri Lanka Gray Hornbill closely since they are used to having people approach them.

Day 3 & 4Head south to the foothills of the central highlands where you will spend two nights at Martin’s Lodge, a small guesthouse located close to the entrance to the Sinharaja Rainforest. The Sinharaja, covering an area of about 110 sqkms of rainforest is Sri Lanka’s Heart of Darkness. Moist and muggy, murky and mysterious – an experience of Sinharaja is like nothing else in Sri Lanka. Trekking through this small tropical jungle – the last surviving stretch of virgin rainforest on the island – you should be ready to pour with sweat as they make their way through a bewildering land of exotic colours and wonderful sounds. From top to bottom the forest is teeming with life whether it be gushing waterfalls, gurgling streams, ants marching, leaves rustling, leeches waiting (you’ve been warned!), crickets creaking or butterflies fluttering by. Apart from the very distinct atmosphere, which is created by this great cacophony of noise and movement, Sinharaja is particularly renowned as a hotspot for bird life. There are over 140 bird species seen here including 28 of the 33 bird species endemic to Sri Lanka. Observe the unique mixed-species bird flocks. According to a study carried out, 42 individual birds occurin the flocks on average here, making it the world's largest mixed species bird flock.Sinharaja is also excellent for butterflies and dragonflies. Endemics like the Ceylon Birdwing, Common Tree Nymph, Red Helen can be spotted here. Other specialities are Southern Duffer, Great Crow, Blue Oakleaf, Spot Swordtail and Painted Sawtooth.

Day 5Travel to the Uda Walawe National Park in the in the dry zone, south of the central hills, near Embilipitiya. Check into Kalu’s Hideaway located a few minutes from the Park. Uda Walawe has a mix of habitats consisting of grassland, scrubland, tall forest and wetlands. This park is home to numerous species of dry zone birds and also provides an excellent opportunity to get up close to the Asian Elephant. Some of the birds found here include the Booted Eagle during the migrant season, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Shikra, Common Kestrel, Brown Fish Owl and Western Marsh Harrier, Plum-headed Parakeet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-faced Malkoha, Little Green Bee-eater just to mention a few. According to Wildlife reports there are also about 500 elephants in the park and they often roam in herds of up to 100. Leopards, buffalo, deer and sloth bears keep them company along with mongooses, bandicoots, foxes, water monitor lizards and crocodiles. Visit the Elephant Transit Camp at Uda Walawe run by Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Department. Here about 22 young elephants, mostly babies, who have been orphaned or recovering from injuries, are being rehabilitated before release into the wild.

Day 6 & 7Head south east to the serene town of Tissamaharama (or `Tissa' as it is most frequently referred to), which was the capital of the ancient Ruhunu Kingdom in the 2nd century B.C. Tissa is dominated by lakes and gigantic Buddhist Dagobas (temples), lush green paddy fields and lotus-filled lakes. The Debarawewa wetland located nearby is popular for the Black, Yellow and Cinnamon Bitterns, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and also the elusive White-naped Woodpecker. If lucky, you can also spot the Brown Fish Owl in this area. Many species of water birds frequent the other wetlands in the area and you may also spot the Mugger Crocodile. Early next morning leave for Bundala National Park, a fascinating wetland near Hambantota. Bundala’s scrubland, patches of tall forests mixed with many wetland habitats including salt pans, is home to a wide array of birds including migrating shore birds and resident waders. The highlight here would be the flocks of Greater Flamingos that you may see in the saltpans. Water birds include Painted Storks, Asian Openbills, Eurasian Spoonbills, Black-headed Ibis and Wooly-necked Storks. Waders include Pacific Golden, Lesser Sand and Greater Sand, Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, Little Ringed, Little Stint, Marsh, Common, Wood and Green Sandpipers, Eurasian Thick-knee and Great Thick-knee in addition to Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Snipe, Pintail Snipe and Ruddy Turnstone. If you are lucky, you may spot a Red-necked Phalarope in the saltains. A visit to this region is not complete without visiting the Yala National Park. Yala, with a total protected area of more than 1,200 sq kms, consists of scrubland, grass flats, monsoon forest and rock outcrops with waterholes. Yala is one of the best places in Asia to see the leopard. However, they are not easy to spot as there are only around 35 of them now surviving within the park. Other mammals found here include Elephant, Sloth Bear, Sambhur, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Stripe-necked, Brown & Ruddy Mongooses, Black-naped Hare, Grey Langers, Toque Macaques & civet cats.

Day 8 & 9Today you travel north to the central highlands - a stirring land of lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and gushing waterfalls. Check into St. Andrews Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Visit Victoria Park located in the centre of the city where you can look for the Himalayan migrants including the Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush Indian Pitta, and the Indian Blue Robin. Other highlights include the Yellow-eared Bulbul, Sri Lanka White-eye, and Dull-blue Flycatcher. Located nearby is the Gregory’s Lake, home to the Black-throated Munia, Paddyfield Pipit, Pied Bush Chat, Pintail Snipes, Zitting Cisticola, Plain Prinia, Blyth's Reed Warbler and also the Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler. The wild expanse of Horton Plains National Park, more than 7,000 feet above sea level, offers a memorable start to the following day. The walk to 'World's End' and "Little World's End" offers one of the finest views in Sri Lanka. With a mixture of grasslands and forests, including the last montane forest in the country, Horton Plains have a healthy variety of birds to watch. Just 20 kilometres from Nuwara Eliya, the park offers the chance to observe five endemic bird species that can be seen only at this altitude. These include the Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Dull-Blue flycatcher, Yellow-eared Bulbul, the elusive Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush and the Sri Lanka Woodpigeon. Other species include the Black Bird, Indian Blue Robin, Zitting Cisticola, Pacific Swallow, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Jerdon’s Baza, Crested Goshawk and Indian Pied Bush Chat. Mammals include plenty of Sambar, the Slender Loris, Bear Monkey and, occasionally, a Leopard. The Park has a diversity of endemic lizards such as Rhino-horned Lizard, Black-lipped Lizard and Dwarf Chameleon. This is the only National Park in Sri Lanka where visitors are allowed to roam around freely inside.

Day 10Journey to Kitulgala situated in the western foothills, sandwiched between the west coast and the central highlands. This is an area of rolling hills, tropical rainforests and winding rivers. Check into the Rafter’s Retreat edged by the winding Kelani River. Visit the Kelani Valley rain forest for some endemic birds, butterflies and Dragonflies. This small, lush primeval forest is home to about 54 rare species of birds, including the indigenous white owl. Kitulgala owes its popularity to the Kelani River which offers exciting Grade 3 and 4 rapids for rafting which is suitable for beginners and experienced rafters alike. Experience the thrills and spills of an exciting rafting adventure in a jungle paradise. Rafting mixes the ups and downs of rapids with calm sections that meander through the jungle clad mountains, tea and rubber plantations of the Kandyan hill country. The scenery is breathtaking.

Day 11 & 12Travel north to theremote village of Wepathana, which is about 45 minutes north of Kandy. Spend the next two days at the Polwatte Eco Lodge where birding is utterly rewarding. Over 60 species of birds can be spotted here including 10 endemics including Sri Lanka’s Grey Hornbill. Other animals that can be seen around the estate are barking deer, wild boar, torque monkey, porcupine, flying squirrel, and giant squirrels. Go on a trekinto the village of Narapanawa passed paddy fields and ending at the Huluganga river where you can have a river bath.

Day 13 & 14As you travel to the Cultural Triangle in the dry zone, there is a marked change in the flora and fauna. Travel to the village of Sigiriya where you will stay two nights at the Sigiriya Village Hotel located just minutes away from the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress built in the 5th century by King Kasyapa. The remains of this fortress atop the tabletop mountain, coupled with the colourful frescos and the symmetrical royal gardens, are amazing feats of this period. The surrounding Sigiriya sanctuary is home to numerous species of birds including the Orange-headed Thrush, Purple Sunbird, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama and Shahin Falcon. Look for the rare Blue-eared Kingfisher around the Sigiriya Moat. You can also get a chance to see all three types of Primates here: the dry zone race of the endemic Toque Monkey, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey and the Grey Langer. When climbing the Sigiriya Rock Fortress look out for the Shaheen Falcon (sub species of the Paragin Falcon) hawking for House Swifts close to the Rock. Visit the Minneriya National Park, best known for the biggest gathering of Asian Elephants. This 8,890 hectare park which is dominated by an ancient lake, is also home to large gatherings of water birds and migrants. Lesser Adjutants, Comarants, Spot-billed Pelicans, Painted Storks are some of the common birds here.

Day 15Head to the coastal town of Negombo for your final night’s stay at St Lachlan, a much-praised small hotel situated just 20 minutes away from the airport. Relax and unwind before your flight back home. Take a ride on a catamaran as it sets sail in to the sunset or take a boat ride into the Muthurajawela marshes teeming with bird life.