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Sri Lanka - Bird Photography Tour

© Yala National Park by Keith Valentine
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

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Tour Price (Per person): USD4,195 (GBP3,161 * EUR3,623 * AUD6,048)

Single Supplement: USD720 (GBP543 * EUR622 * AUD1,038)

Sri Lanka - Bird Photography Tour 2027

25 Mar 2027 - 05 Apr 2027 (12 days)

USD4,195 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Quinton Paul Josop

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
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Tour Price (Per person): USD4,195 (GBP3,161 * EUR3,623 * AUD6,048)

Single Supplement: USD840 (GBP633 * EUR725 * AUD1,211)

This tour pairs with: India - Bird Photography Tour 2027

Sri Lanka - Bird Photography Tour 2028

23 Feb 2028 - 05 Mar 2028 (12 days)

USD4,400 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Erik Forsyth

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
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Tour Price (Per person): USD4,400 (GBP3,315 * EUR3,800 * AUD6,344)

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated, and dates may change*

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

Clayton Burne
SP, Sri Lanka 2013

Clayton is a wonderful addition to the Rockjumper family. I look forward to being on tour with him again. He is highly skilled, friendly and aware of the participant's needs.

Clayton Burne
Sri Lanka 2013

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

Quinton Paul Josop
KS, Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game (Small Group) 2026

An excellent tour! Paul Josop lived up to our expectations for a Rockjumper guide - excellent knowledge of the birds; conscientious about getting everyone on the birds; on top of all the arrangements for meals, lodging and transportation; worked well with the local guide; and shared his excitement and good humor throughout the trip. The WhatsApp group that he set up was brilliant. He shared photos with us, as did other participants, and it was an easy way for us all to keep in touch. We would love to travel with Paul again. Our local guide, Ashoka, was outstanding also. Thank you to all.

Quinton Paul Josop
GM, Sri Lanka - Endemic Birds & Big Game (Small Group) 2026

The birding tour in Sri Lanka was exceptional, coming after a wonderful tour in Western Ghats in India. The tour participants in Sri Lanka, and the people of Sri Lanka, the beauty of the country, and the people's concern for the land and its wildlife were all highlights of the trip. Paul Joseph continued his superb tour-leading from India to Sri Lanka. His bird finding, identification skills and handling of the many facets of tour leader, such as working well with local guides and others who assist with the tour, such as drivers, other local birders, etc. and doing these alongside his caring and pleasant personality. The Sri Lankan guides and all others who assisted were a real joy. I felt lucky to have participated with all the other tour participants on the India and Sri Lanka tours. A heartfelt thanks all. Lastly, the the staff, the whole team at Rockjumper, were exemplary, as they always are. Thanks for all the assistance you provided to me.

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.

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Route Map

Tour Route Map