Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Sri Lanka. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
TRAVEL TO SRI LANKA: This tour is organized by our British company, Sunbird, and starts and ends in Colombo.
ENTERING SRI LANKA: As of January 2012, all U.S. citizens visiting Sri Lanka must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the country. U.S. citizens will require an approval notice from Sri Lanka’s new ETA System, a valid passport good for 6 mos past date of departure, an onward/return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds. One can apply here: http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/visainfo/center.jsp. Yellow fever and cholera immunizations are needed if arriving from an infected area.
SRI LANKA MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Sri Lanka in the University of Texas series here. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on Sri Lanka here.
CLIMATE: Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate. The northeast monsoon will just be finishing when we arrive, so some rain can be expected. At this time of year rain showers rarely last more than an hour or two, but they can be very intense. Most of the time the weather should be hot, with a day-time maximum around 31°C (87°F) and nighttime lows around 23°C (73°F). This will vary according to our elevation, and we can expect a couple of colder mornings and evenings in the highland areas. The humidity will also vary, being as high as 80% in some parts of the wet zone but lower in the dry zone.
PACE OF TOUR AND DAILY ROUTINE: This tour is not a particularly strenuous one, and although there are a few long walks, these are generally not very arduous and can be tackled by anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness. At Kitulgala we have to cross the River Kelani in a small dugout canoe ferry.
There are some very long days on this trip, with some very early starts and a couple of evening night-birding options. Long days are particularly the case at the start of the tour, when we are at Kitulgala and, especially, on the day we visit Sinharaja, where our hotel (the only one available) is some distance away from the reserve, and we have to set out at around 4:30 am to be sure of reaching the reserve for dawn, which is when the birds are most active. There will also be a few days when we stay out after dark to look for night birds. There will be several days where we take a break during the heat of the day.
WHALE WATCHING: The weather is usually very good at the time of our visit, and we can expect relatively calm seas. Our boat operators monitor the sea conditions carefully and reserve the right to cancel the trip if conditions are not favorable; cancellation may come as late as the morning of our scheduled trip. Should the trip be canceled, the fees applicable to the cost of the boat will be refunded.
The boat we use is quite large. Thanks to the size of the boat and the normally calm conditions at sea, we do not usually get wet from spray.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control recommend a malaria preventative. It is very important that you consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which malaria medication is best for you. The CDC also recommends up-to-date vaccinations against typhoid, polio, and Hepatitis A. It is also worth checking that you are adequately protected against tetanus. As some of these inoculations cannot be given concurrently, you should contact your doctor right away to obtain advice about when to start your treatment. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
Biting insects are not numerous, but they may be present locally; insect repellent provides adequate protection. On some forest trails we may encounter a few small terrestrial leeches of the sort well known to travelers throughout southeast Asia; they are not harmful and are easily deterred by repellent.
Tap water is not safe to drink, but bottled water and other drinks are widely available.
ACCOMMODATION: We’ll be staying in a variety of hotels and government rest houses. Hotels such as the ones in Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, and Ratnaloka are large modern hotels with excellent facilities and swimming pools. Probably the most basic accommodation is the Rest House at Kitulgala; some of the rooms at the Centuria Inn at Embilipitiya are also basic. These have seen better days but are still more than adequate for our needs. All rooms have private bathrooms and most have air conditioning or fans.
FOOD: Sri Lankan food consists of a variety of dishes served in individual bowls from which you help yourself. Although spices are widely used, only a few of them are very hot. The leaders will advise you if you are in doubt. Vegetarians are well cared for. Western or “Continental” food is served some days and is usually available as an option. Traditionally Sri Lankans eat with their fingers, but cutlery is provided for visitors.
TRANSPORT: Transportation between sites is by air-conditioned bus. At three national parks we travel around in large jeeps.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any site where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS FOR WINGS AND SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information and Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more detailed General Information for Tours to Sri Lanka will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their deposit. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel address, etc. and your air tickets will be sent to you about three weeks before the tour starts. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions about any aspect of the tour, please contact us.
MAP: View Tour Map
Updated: January 2012