Butterfly Trail (11 Days)

About this experience

This eleven-day tour follows Sri Lanka's butterfly habitats from the lowland rainforest of Sinharaja through the hill country around Kandy and Matale to the dry-zone forests near Habarana, finishing on the west coast at Negombo. The route is built around slow travel and close observation rather than sightseeing distances, with time set aside each day for tracking species in forest, grassland and garden settings alongside the island's better-known cultural and wildlife sites.

Travellers can expect to see a good share of Sri Lanka's roughly 245 butterfly species, including several of the 23 endemics, in locations ranging from the UNESCO-listed Sinharaja Forest Reserve to the Knuckles Range and the Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve. The itinerary also takes in Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a Sri Lankan village experience and a half-day safari at Wasgamuwa National Park, giving the trip a broader cultural and wildlife dimension beyond its butterfly focus.

Collecting specimens is illegal in Sri Lanka and is not permitted on this tour; nets may not be taken into any Protected Area. The tour is arranged as a private itinerary with a chauffeur guide throughout.

Your service advisor

Rupuni Senior Executive

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Rupuni directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

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What’s included

Included

All prevailing taxes and service charges
Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all chauffeur accommodation.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.

Not included

International / Domestic Airfare.
Entrance fees.
Any expenses of personal nature.
Compulsory Supplements/Peak Supplements.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)

1 Colombo

Day 1 — Colombo

The tour begins with arrival at Colombo International Airport, where a chauffeur guide meets you before the drive to Colombo for check-in and rest. Sri Lanka is home to around 245 species of butterfly, 23 of them endemic, setting the theme for the days ahead.

Arrival in Colombo

After arrival you are met by a designated chauffeur guide and driven to your hotel in Colombo to settle in before the tour proper begins.

2 Sinharaja

Day 2 — Sinharaja (days 2–3)

Two days are spent in and around the Sinharaja Rain Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the focus firmly on butterflies alongside birdwatching and a waterfall trail.

Bird Watching & Nature Trail Trek in Sinharaja Rain Forest

A jungle safari into the Sinharaja Forest Reserve takes in dense evergreen vegetation, the calls of monkeys, colourful forest birds and the chance of spotting a green pit viper among the foliage. Among the butterflies to look for here are the black and yellow Sri Lanka Birdwing and the Red Helen.

Waterfall Trail to Kollawa Dola Ella & Fish Therapy Experience

A walk to the Kollawa Dola Ella waterfall ends with a fish therapy session, in which small toothless nibble fish, known locally as doctor fish, gently nibble away dry skin in the natural stream water, leaving the feet feeling refreshed.

4 Kandy

Day 4 — Kandy

A scenic morning drive brings you up to the hill capital of Kandy, a centre of Sri Lankan culture and home to some of the island's most venerated temples.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 16th century to house and protect the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. Its passageways and halls are richly painted in red, cream and black, with carved pillars and gilded statues throughout.

A.Savin · FAL

5 Matale

Day 5 — Matale (days 5–6)

Two days focus on the biodiversity of the Matale area, combining the Knuckles Mountain Range, waterfall and ridge walks with a half-day safari at Wasgamuwa National Park.

Riverston in the Knuckles Mountain Range

Riverston sits around 850 metres above sea level, some 30 kilometres from Matale town, reached by a winding but well-maintained road with wide views and cooler air. The area shelters two waterfalls, Sera Ella and Bambarakiri Ella, and its bushy vegetation and streams make it a strong habitat for butterflies, with a packed lunch taken at a scenic spot along the way.

Astronomyinertia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Sera Ella

This waterfall near Laggala in Matale District is formed where the Kitul Canal, draining from Kaudagammana peak, meets the Hunumadala River and other mountain streams to form the Puwakpitiya and then Thelegam River. It falls in two sections, each around 10 metres high, and is visible from the Dumbara jungle.

Varuna Harshana · CC BY-SA 3.0

Bambarakiri Ella

Also known as Bambarakele Waterfall, this is a tall waterfall dropping around 263 metres down a sheer rockface, placing it among the world's tallest waterfalls.

Mini World's End, Riverston

A hike across the plains of Pitawala Pathana leads to the Mini World's End, a sharp drop offering panoramic views over the surrounding country, before the walk returns to the trailhead. The habitat here supports a range of hill-country butterflies, including the Banded Peacock, Painted Sawtooth and Sri Lankan Tiger among others.

Half Day Safari in Wasgamuwa National Park

A safari through this dry tropical forest park takes in elephants alongside a wider range of mammals including leopard, sloth bear, purple-faced langur, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer and buffalo, as well as the endemic yellow-fronted barbet.

Rehman Abubakr · CC BY-SA 4.0

7 Habarana

Day 7 — Habarana (days 7–9)

Three days based around Habarana combine a village experience and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress with dedicated birding and butterfly time and a full day in the Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

This 5th-century rock fortress was the seat of King Kasyapa, entered through an approach framed by giant lion's paws. The climb passes the site's well-known murals, terraced gardens and still-functioning cisterns before reaching the palace ruins at the summit via ancient tunnels and staircases.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Village Tour

The day includes an oxen cart ride and a catamaran safari across a calm lake, with walks through ripening paddy fields. A traditional cooking demonstration is followed by a home-cooked lunch, served on lotus leaves over woven trays, giving a taste of everyday village life.

AI-generated image · not an actual photograph

Bird & Butterfly Trail at the Cinnamon Lodge

A guided trail of around ninety minutes tracks birdlife nesting among floating lotus leaves and the branches of large Kumbuk trees, from an observation platform overlooking the water. The trail continues through a butterfly garden rich in colour.

Full Day Excursion in Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve

Ritigala is a rocky outcrop rising from the dry lowlands, its forest vegetation growing progressively moister towards the summit until it resembles hill-country forest. An ancient archaeological site within the forest can be visited, and butterflies here include the Blue Mormon and Chocolate Soldier seen on previous days alongside possible additions such as the Spot Swordtail, Great Orange-Tip, Lace Wing and Nawab.

jaliyaj · CC BY 2.0

10 Negombo

Day 10 — Negombo

The tour winds down on the beaches of Negombo, the resort town nearest to Bandaranaike International Airport, before departure.

Negombo Beach & Coast

Negombo's sandy beaches on the western coast offer relaxation alongside a long-standing fishing industry still active today. Water sports provide an active option, while diving reveals coral and a 50-year-old shipwreck just offshore, home to a variety of fish.

Departure

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for departure.

Please note

Public transportation nearby
Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with back problems
Entrance tickets are not included in the price.
Pick-up can be arranged in Colombo as well (From any hotel within 05 km from the Galleface Green)

Cancellation policy

More than 24 hours notice: full refund
Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 10 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo and day 10 ends at Negombo. Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

Hotels are not included in the price. Tell us the hotel class you would like in the booking notes and our team will arrange them for all 9 nights.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.