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Sri Lanka - Bird Photography Tour

© Yala National Park by Keith Valentine
Sri Lanka - Bird Photography Tour 2025

18 Nov 2025 - 29 Nov 2025 (12 days)

USD3,995 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Ryan Tyrer

Tour price (Per person): USD3,995 * GBP3,166 * EUR3,819 * AUD6,294

Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP531 * EUR640 * AUD1,056

Sri Lanka - Bird Photography Tour 2026

19 Nov 2026 - 30 Nov 2026 (12 days)

USD4,195 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Lisle Gwynn

Tour price (Per person): USD4,195 * GBP3,325 * EUR4,010 * AUD6,609

Single Supplement: USD720 * GBP571 * EUR688 * AUD1,134

Sri Lanka is a friendly island nation boasting verdant scenery, characterised by terraced tea plantations and forest patches, and blessed with many surprisingly large national parks brimming with game and birds. From the central highlands to the rich lowland rainforests, Sri Lanka is one of only a handful of magical destinations where it is possible to see, and potentially even photograph, every single country endemic on a well-planned trip such as this. Overall, the opportunities for photography are some of the finest in Asia making this Bird Photo Tour a ‘must’ for the keen bird photographer! Sri Lanka is also blessed with a fascinating history, vibrant culture and delicious cuisine, making this a truly exotic destination and a pleasure to explore.

Highlights

  • Spending time exploring beautiful national parks like Yala, Bundala and Uda Walawe in open air safari vehicles. These reserves are some of Sri Lanka’s premium wildlife havens
  • Enjoy a wide variety of large mammals including good chances for Leopard, Sloth Bear, Water Buffalo, and Asian Elephant
  • Excellent chances at seeing and even photographing all of Sri Lanka’s endemic birds

 

Top Birds

Sri Lanka Spurfowl; Sri Lanka Junglefowl; Sri Lanka Wood & Sri Lanka Green Pigeons; Green-billed Coucal; Red-faced, Blue-faced & Sirkeer Malkohas; Serendib Scops & Sri Lanka Bay Owls; Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl; Chestnut-backed Owlet; Sri Lanka Frogmouth; Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill; Yellow-fronted & Crimson-fronted Barbets; Red-backed & Crimson-backed Flamebacks; Layard's Parakeet; Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot; Sri Lanka Woodshrike; Sri Lanka Drongo; Sri Lanka Blue Magpie; Black-capped, Yellow-eared, Yellow-browed, White-browed & Square-tailed Bulbuls; Sri Lanka & Hill Swallows; Sri Lanka Bush Warbler; Sri Lanka Scimitar, Brown-capped, Orange-billed, Dark-fronted, Tawny-bellied & Yellow-billed Babblers; Ashy-headed Laughingthrush; Sri Lanka White-eye; Sri Lanka & Southern Hill Mynas; White-faced Starling; Spot-winged, Sri Lanka Whistling, Sri Lanka & Pied Thrushes; Dull-blue & Kashmir Flycatchers; Indian Pitta; Black-headed Cuckooshrike; Marshall's Iora; Jerdon's & Indian Nightjars; Slaty-legged Crake; Barred Buttonquail; Small Pratincole; Black-necked Stork; Lesser Adjutant; Black, Cinnamon & Yellow Bitterns; Legge's Hawk-Eagle; Grey-headed Fish Eagle; Malabar Trogon; Malabar Pied Hornbill; Orange Minivet; Loten's Sunbird; Black-throated Munia.

Top Mammals

Leopard; Sloth Bear; Purple-faced Langur; Water Buffalo; Asian Elephant; Stripe-necked Mongoose.

Habitats Covered

Lowland, hill & Montane forest, teak woodlands, lakes, coastal & inland wetlands, mudflats, saltpans

Expected Climate

Warm and humid in lowlands, cool in highlands, chance of rain in forest areas

Max Group Size

10 with 1 Rockjumper Tour Leader

Tour Pace & Walking

UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Mostly undemanding. Suitable for all birding & wildlife interest levels. Comfortable tour for the reasonably fit. A few very early mornings & long days. Optional owling. • Our Bird Photo Tours are a hybrid between our Classic birding tours and dedicated photographic tours. You don’t have to be a professional photographer or have the biggest lens; this is for everyone with an interest in photography and birding. Whether you’re using a bridge camera or the latest body and prime lens, our aims are the same. • These tours are not aimed at seeing the most species possible on the route, rather taking time to photograph key targets and any other interesting species we may find. Naturally, the overall species list will be lower than a comparable birding focused tour. • Whilst we may use blinds, feeders and hide setups on some of these tours, we will not be spending an entire day nor even several hours fixed in one spot. • These tours are suitable for photographers who prefer opportunistic photography over entire days in a hide. • Our leaders will assist in helping everyone secure good photographic opportunities and advise as much as they can on camera setup. However, they are not professional photographic tour leaders.

Accommodation

Comfortable.

Ease of Birding

Moderate to easy. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions. A few trickier/skulking species. Not unusual to record all endemics on a single tour.

Other Attractions

Yala National Park, Sinharaja Rainforest, tea plantations, Horton Plains & surrounding mountains

Photographic Opportunities

Generally excellent but no dedicated hides or ad hoc feeders.

What our clients say about us

Daniel Danckwerts
AK, Sri Lanka 2019

My trip to Sri Lanka was a wonderful experience, and exceeded my expectations. The in-country logistics were smoothly handled and the accommodation and transport were very comfortable. David & Daniel handled the guiding expertly and with great passion and enthusiasm. They were very knowledgeable on the birds and other wildlife of Sri Lanka, and were always willing to share their knowledge with the group.

Stuart Elsom
AK - Sri Lanka 2023

Both Stuart and Greg went all the way to make the group have a pleasant and memorable trip. They both worked hard on ensuring everyone in the group got onto all the birds, and made sure we all were comfortable with our hotels and food.

Clayton Burne
Sri Lanka 2013

Loved Clayton, his bird skills and all-over knowledge of everything.

Glen Valentine
MW, Sri Lanka

I am so glad that this tour was able to run amidst another Covid wave. The tour exceeded my expectations. Glen is an outstanding guide with a superb ability to find birds and show them to the participants. He is enthusiastic and personable, and we look forward to traveling with him again. The local guide was determined to find all the elusive owls possible. His perseverance is greatly appreciated. I also want to acknowledge the first-rate tour bus and crew that drove us safely over the winding roads of Sri Lanka. Finally, we very much enjoyed the food and the nice beer (thanks to Glen!).

Stephan Lorenz
MF, Sri Lanka 2019

The Sri Lanka Exclusive Tour was awesome. Stephan Lorenz was knowledgeable and worked very hard to get all tour members on the birds. I can highly recommend this particular tour and guide for a super life birding experience.

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Route Map

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