Dammi and Tiran were first class! I especially appreciated Tiran's specialised botanical knowledge and his happy nature. Very glad we had two guides.



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Sri Lanka's Tropical Flora
Tour Code: LKA05A 13-day celebration of Sri Lanka's tropical flora and botanical gardens.
£3,495
£2,995
Highlights
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Summary
Sri Lanka is a lush, verdant country with a stunning flora, and it is said that almost anything placed in the ground will grow within days! Sri Lanka is rich in endemic species, as well as myriad additions to its native flora from all corners of the world. Starting in Colombo, we’ll make a circuit to Sigiriya in the centre of the country back round to the Sinharaja Forest via Kandy and from there back to Colombo searching for native orchids, specialist plants of mangrove communities, fruit trees and tea plantations, spices, an avenue of Coco-de-mer palms, cloudforest, ferns, balsams and epiphytes! Endemic birds, colourful butterflies, famous temples and a warm friendly people add yet more interest to this tour to a delightful island.
- Mangrove Fern & Mangrove Palm, coastal lagoons
- Sodom’s Apple, Tiger’s Claw, & Drypetes spp in semi-deciduous forests
- Vernonia wightiana, Osbeckia octandra & Exacum trivernium among endemics
- Visit Temple of the Tooth, Kandy & famous rock fortress, Sigiriya
- Mango, Breadfruit, Guava, Teak, Cocoa & Rubber trees
- Delicate Bamboo Orchids, ferns, reptiles & birds, Sinharaja Forest
- Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-crested Bulbul & Paradise Flycatcher among rich birdlife
- Tea estates & spices, interesting vegetables, ground orchids & beautiful Kapok trees
- Tree ferns: Cyatha crinita & C. walkeri, plus endemic rhododendrons, Horton Plains
- Led by expert local naturalist guide
Grading
A leisurely botanical tour, including gentle forest walks.From a casual inspection of a map it may appear that the tropical island of Sri Lanka is a mere adjunct of southern India; in reality there are many differences between the two countries, not least the stunning flora and fauna which demonstrate more affinities with South-east Asia than with the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lanka is a lush, verdant country in which plant growth flourishes; indeed it is often said that almost anything placed in the ground will grow within days! This attribute was fully exploited by the various colonists occupying the island over the centuries, and each in turn added to the diversity of species through their ornamental and commercial introductions. In this way an extraordinary flora has developed, rich in unique endemic species but also augmented by a myriad of additions from all corners of the world.
For many years our holidays have enabled hundreds of clients to enjoy the wonderful birdlife and natural history of Sri Lanka but this tour is the first to celebrate the island’s flora, including not only native orchids and rare endemics but also trees and plants grown for their fruits or vegetables, and the oddities from around the globe which form the collections in Victorian botanical gardens. This will be a holiday for everyone with a love of the botanical world but, along the way, we will also encounter many of the endemic birds, colourful butterflies and more than a glimpse of Sri Lankan culture.
We fly first to the capital, Colombo, and following a morning of relaxation after the overnight flight, begin the tour with a visit to the coastal lagoons of Muthurajawela Sanctuary to observe a complex mangrove community which includes Acrostichum speciosum, the Mangrove Fern, and Nypa fruticans, the Mangrove Palm.
Leaving the coast, we drive inland to the famous rock fortress of Sigiriya where we spend an interesting two days investigating the semi-deciduous forests which surround this imposing monolith. The vegetation here comprises many flowering plants including Calatropis gigantea(Sodom’s Apple), Capparis zeylanica, Cassia fistula, Crataeva adansonii, Ochnalanceolata, Martynia diandra(Tiger’s Claws) and tree species such as Drypetes spp., Manilkara hexandraand Diospyros ebanum. Energetic tour members may also wish to scale Sigiriya rock to see the remains of the one-time capital city or simply to enjoy the breathtaking views.
From Sigiriya we then drive into the ‘Hill Country’ to historic Kandy, once the capital of an autonomous kingdom until captured by the British in the 18th century. During three days of exploration we will see many of the characteristic fruit trees of Sri Lanka such as Mango, Guava, Breadfruit and Jack, plantations of Teak, Rubber, Cocoa, and of course Tea which now represents the major industry of the hill region. Peradiniya Botanical Gardens, occupying a picturesque setting near the city, spans 147 acres and contains a staggering variety of plants including an avenue of Coco-de-mer Palms, the National Herbarium, a native orchid house and many other attractions. A noisy roost of several thousand Flying Foxes also adds to the exotic background for our visit! Whilst in Kandy we will also have the opportunity to see the famous Temple of the Tooth, beside Kandy Lake, and to attend a performance of traditional dancing which includes spectacular fire-walking!
Ascending higher into the hills, passing one tea estate after another and through stunning scenery, we eventually reach the hill capital Nuwara Eliya where we will be based for two nights. Situated at an elevation of 2,000 metres, the air is cooler here and pine trees grow beside the very British golf course and race track! A day excursion will take us across Horton Plains, a place of exceptional beauty and wilderness fringed by a cloudforest of peculiarly stunted, lichen-covered trees. A number of endemic birds and lizards occur on this great plateau and the vegetation is as unique as the location, containing countless species peculiar to the Sri Lankan Hill Country.
Passing through yet more wonderful scenery, we descend next to the hot plains, stopping along the way to examine the typical flora and vegetation of different altitudes, including the interesting montane forest at Thanamalai which boasts many orchids, ferns and balsams among its ground vegetation. We stay for two nights close to the internationally renowned Sinharaja Forest. This world biosphere reserve is a quite remarkable reservoir of all that is unique about Sri Lanka. Most of the island’s endemic bird species may be found in the reserve, whilst a significant proportion of the insects, reptiles and trees in Sinharaja are also peculiar to the island, and the flora is equally exceptional. Delicate Bamboo Orchids and pitcherplants grow beside the main track into the forest and closer inspection of the vegetation will reveal an extraordinary wealth of species including masses of epiphytes, ferns and orchids.
After our foray into this unforgettable forest, we return to Colombo for our flight back to London, or join our exciting extension in search of Blue Whales.
Outline Itinerary

What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: Comfortable tourist hotels with private facilities.
- Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
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We have had a wonderful holiday. Our local guide was wonderful - the knowledge he has, not just about the plants, but about the birds and butterflies is outstanding. He also gave us a great insight into the Sri Lankan way of life and its politics - which we found very interesting. The cooking at the Magpie Lodge was first class...The vehicle used was very comfortable, always spotlessly clean and our driver was excellent, we felt very safe with him. He also had extensive knowledge of the birds and was quick to spot them.
D.W. Surrey
Extensions
Whales Extension near Mirissa
Outline Itinerary
EXTENSION NOTES
This extension can be booked during the online booking process or by calling us on 01962 733051.An extension cannot be booked independently from the tour
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
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