Ecotourism in Sri Lanka is fast gaining popularity and as a part of this experience, your holiday will be transformed into a learning experience while enjoying the ultimate beauty of nature. Ecotourism specializes in small groups and immersion into field knowledge. When you choose to travel this way you will be expected to be more conscious of the environment and ensure that every activity you engage in has minimal impact on the environment.

What are the Different Types of Eco-Tourism Available in SL?

As we move away from conventional traveling, Sri Lanka is a great place to learn an authentic culture and adventure tour to explore the magnificent outside natural world. There are a number of different types of eco-tourism experiences available in Sri Lanka. Some of them are,

• Rainforest exploration
• Hiking
• Wildlife Safaris
• Bird Watching
• Staying with a local family in a Home-Stay
• Rural Village Walks
• Farming and Agro Tourism
• Staying in Eco-Lodges
• Staying with the Indigenous Tribe

Popular Locations for Ecotourism Experiences in SL?

Sri Lanka as a country is blessed with unparalleled natural resources, wildlife, unique cultural heritage, and warm and friendly citizens. Starting from coastal areas right up to the hill mountains, there are plenty of exciting eco and adventure destinations to choose. There is something novel to explore at each and every destination you visit.

Sinharaja Rainforest is an ideal example to experience the incredible diversity of flora and fauna landscapes, climates, etc. It is a world heritage site and major ecotourism destination, which has Sri Lanka’s endemic species found nowhere else in the world.

The Bundala National Park, situated in the Southern Province, close to Hambantota was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and also considered the most important birding destination in Sri Lanka. This park is home to thousands of migratory birds, some long-distance migrants flying all the way from Euro to Asian destinations to winter in the park.

The Knuckles mountain range is another major Ecotourism venue in Sri Lanka and it has been declared a conservation area, now known as the Knuckles National Heritage And Wilderness Area. It is a real paradise for those who love to hike or cycle. You’ll find yourself traveling across clear rivers, past flowing waterfalls and lush tea plantations, and alongside green paddy fields.

If you are interested in finding out more check out our Forests and Reserves in Sri Lanka Post as well as as our Bird Watching in Sri Lanka Post.

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Vaccination-Led Travel

COVID-19 Vaccination rates will certainly determine the desirability of a destination, while countries with largely vaccinated populations will attract more tourists according to the Trip Advisor Travel Trends Report in 2021. Being vaccinated themselves will also give travelers the confidence to venture out once again. Success of the widespread vaccination program makes Sri Lanka a potential holiday destination for those wanting to enjoy some tropical warmth.

Relationship-Oriented Travel

Having been deprived of contact with families and friends over the duration of the pandemic, travelers are more likely to make trips to visit relatives and friends they have not seen for a while. This also includes a rise in group travel, where large groups of friends and family will take trips together to a common destination to spend quality time together. This trend in turn will set off the popularity of resorts with group accommodation options and rental of large vehicles suitable for group travel and also make travelers demand more facilities when travelling with children.

Outdoor Leisure Focus

With the fear of COVID outbreaks on everyone’s mind, a spike in leisure activities set in wide open spaces and outdoors is expected. What better place to practise social distancing than the great outdoors? Think wide open beaches, nature reserves and mountain hikes. Sri Lanka has always been primed for adventure and wildlife travel since long before the pandemic and presents many travel and exploration opportunities from organized trails to renting the perfect off-road vehicle.

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Endemic Birds

The Sri Lankan grackle and many of the endemic species are usually found in the wet zone while the hill country too boasts species such as the whistling thrush and the Yellow-eared bulbul. Any tour of bird watching in Sri Lanka is not complete without a sighting of a Sri Lankan jungle fowl and also the exotic red-faced malkoha found in most forests and sanctuaries. Large flocks of ducks can be found in the dry zone while stork, pelican, and heron thrive in the wetlands.

Popular Bird Watching Locations

For a complete bird watching experience in Sri Lanka, bird sanctuary enthusiasts cannot miss a visit to Kumana (Yala East) National Park, a paradise haven for a multitude of birds. Situated in the southeast of Sri Lanka, the sanctuary also features a natural swamp lake, Kumana Villu, which is home to painted storks, spoonbills, egrets and even the very rare black-necked stork.

The Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary with its lagoons and mangrove swamps, is home to many species of water birds while the Bodhinagala sanctuary boasts about 150 species of birds including numerous endemics such as the Sri Lanka spurfowl, green-billed coucal and the spot-winged thrush among others. The Knuckles mountain range spanning a distance of about 12 miles from the northwest to the southwest, is also a fantastic spot for bird watching in Sri Lanka . The endemic species here include the yellow-fronted barbet, Ceylon lorikeet and the dusky-blue flycatcher.

The Horton Plains national park, the Udawatte Kele bird sanctuary, the Kitulgala forest reserve and the Kandalama bird sanctuary are all beautifully coloured with the vibrant life of birds. Watching these amazing creatures is not a past-time restricted to a single part of the country but an adventure from wherever you are in the glorious island nation.

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Home to the largest animal on earth, the blue whale, the waters around about Sri Lanka are home to 26 of the 80 species of cetaceans in the world. This includes the humpback whale, sperm whale, Byrde’s whale, baleen whale, and toothed whale. As much as a sighting of blue whales is considered a once in a lifetime experience, spotting blue whales in Sri Lanka during the season is by no means a rarity. It in fact boasts one of the largest blue whale colonies the world has ever known.

Mirissa is the best place for whale watching in Sri Lanka while Trincomalee in the eastern coast too is a haven for these amazing species. Whale watching tours can be organized from almost any resort in the area and usually includes a spectacular boat ride of about 3 to 4 hours, giving you the rare chance of a lifetime.

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