SOUTHERN SRI LANKA PHOTO SAFARI

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29 January 2026

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Price: £2595/$3395 per person

Date: 24th September to 3rd October 2026

Your Local Photographer Guide: Mevan Piyasena

3x Bird photography sessions in Sinharaja

3x Half-Day Safaris in Yala National Park

1x Half-Day Safaris Bundala National Park

Chance to photograph flying foxes and shore birds at Thissamaharama Lake

2x Full-Day & 1x Half-Day Safaris in Kumana National Park

Great Chances to See Asiatic Leopards and Elephants

TOUR SUMMARY

This is a unique wildlife photography holiday that covers Southern Sri Lanka. This is a small guided group holiday (2-4 participants maximum), led by Sri Lankan wildlife Photographer Mevan Piyasena. The holiday focuses on key National Parks to maximise our chances to photograph Sri Lankan leopards, elephants, sloth bears and birds. We will also visit Sinharaja rain forest for endemic birds.

Day 1: Arrive in Colombo

Upon your arrival in Colombo, the vibrant capital of Sri Lanka, get ready for an exciting wildlife photography holiday. Your taxi will take you to the city centre, where you’ll spend the night, setting the stage for the adventures ahead. Tomorrow, we head to the heart of the rainforest.

Overnight in Colombo.

Meals included: None

Toque macaque,from Sri Lanka

Day 2 – 3: Travel to Sinharaja, bird photography in the rainforest

We drive to the lowland rainforest of Sinharaja to capture some endemic birds in the region. We will spend the next 2 days here and we will include 3 bird photography sessions.

Overnight near Sinharaja.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bird in Siharaja by Mevan Piyasena

Day 4: Travel to Yala National Park

After a delightful breakfast, we begin our 4h journey to Yala National Park, one of the highlights of Sri Lanka. We will enjoy our first safari in the afternoon looking for the elusive Sri Lankan Leopard.

Overnight near Yala National Park.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Asiatic leopard from Yala

Day 5 – 6: Wildlife safaris in Yala & Bundala National Park

On Day 5 we will have 1 morning and 1 afternoon safaris to photograph Yala’s iconic mammals and birds. On Day 6 we will enjoy a safari to Bundala National park for bird photography and in the afternoon we will visit “Thissa” Lake for flying foxes and shore birds.

Overnight near Yala National Park.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Elephant from Yala

Day 7: Travel to Kumana National Park

We leave Yala today and travel another 4h towards Southeast to Kumana National Park. Kumana is a wildlife photographer’s paradise that offers excellent chances to photograph the majestic Asiatic leopards in their natural habitat. On the other side Kumana is a lesser visited park and it offers a wide range of habitats. Enjoy our first safari in the afternoon.

Overnight in Arugam Bay.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leopard in Kumana National Park

Day 8 – 9: Wildlife Safaris at Kumana National Park

Enjoy 2x full day safaris in Kumana National Park. We will travel through the park in our jeep looking for opportunities to capture the Park’s wildlife.

Overnight in Arungam Bay.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Osprey in Kumana National Park

Day 10: Travel to Negombo

Today, we leave the Southeast of Sri Lanka and travel back to Negombo, near the capital. This is a long journey, but will allow easier departure the following day from Colombo’s International Airport.

Overnight in Negombo.

Meals included: Breakfast

Elephant gathering in Minneriya

Day 11: Departure Day

After breakfast, it is time to depart individually.

Meals included: Breakfast

Grey-headed fish eagle in Wilpattu

Colombo

Radisson Hotel Colombo (Premium)

This is a modern, 4-star hotel ear the coast of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Martin’s Lodge (Basic)

Martin’s Lodge is lodge is more like a homestay with basic facilities. But its location is incredible, as it is situated near the gates of Sinharaja Forest Reserve.

Kirinda (near Yala National Park)

Yala Chalets by Lalan Leisure (Classic)

Lalan Leisure offers comfortable accommodation on the South of Sri Lanka in the proximity of Yala National Park.

Arugam Bay (near Kumana National Park)

Bay Vista Hotel (Classic)

The Bay Vista Hotel is a simple, yet comfortable hotel in Arugam Bay. It is located by the beach on the southeast of Sri Lanka. It will be a great base to discover Kumana National Park.

Negombo

Amagi Aria Hotel (Superior)

Amagi Aria is a transit hotel on the edge of Negombo close to Colombo’s international airport. it is an ideal place to rest before your international flight.

Prices & Inclusions

Date:

24th September to 3rd October 2026

 

Holiday Price:

£2595/person

min. 2, max. 4 participants

$3395/person
Single Supplement £600/person
$750/person

Inclusions

  • Accommodation in simple hotels for 10 nights on a twin share basis
  • Meals as per the itinerary
  • Private Transportation throughout the itinerary
  • One Local Wildlife Photography Guide throughout the holiday
  • 3x bird photography sessions in Sinharaja forest
  • 3x half-day safaris in Yala National Park
  • 2x full-day and 1 half-day safaris in Kumana National Park
  • 1x Half day Safari in Bundala
  • 1x Half day photography excursion to Thissa lake for Flying foxes and shore birds
  • Full financial protection by Protected Trust Service

Exclusions

  • International flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Visa Fees
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Drinks
  • Tips
  • Travel Insurance

Sri Lanka, previously known as Ceylon, is an island country south of the Indian Subcontinent. The Island is in the India Ocean, and it offers a wide range of cultural landmarks, outstanding cuisine, lush tea plantations, exciting national parks and beautiful golden sand beaches. This relatively small country has 8 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Island’s tropical climate makes it a year-round destination.

 

It is one of the best places to observe Sri Lankan Elephants and the Sri Lankan leopards in the wild and its Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a birding hotspot. The South Coast is the best place to watch whales between November and April.

 

Sri Lanka offers a great variety of cultural and natural sights, wildlife watching and some excellent spots for relaxation at the end of your holiday.

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