Tropical Herping’s Sri Lanka wildlife photography and herping tour is one of our most sough-after trips. It is open to a select group of 2–8 participants who want to visit the most emblematic national parks and forest reserves of the island, photograph incredibly biodiversity both on foot and on safari-style, and learn side-by-side from our team of award-winning wildlife photographers.

Image showing Lucas Bustamante photographing a giant tortoise

Lucas Bustamante
Tour leader, photo instructor
World-renowned Ecuadorian photographer and co-founder of Tropical Herping.

Image showing tour leader Frank Pichardo walking on a beach

Frank Pichardo
Tour leader, photo instructor
Wildlife photographer with more than 10 years of experience leading Tropical Herping tours.

Tour details

Description: A wildlife photography and herping tour open to a select group of 2–8 participants who want photograph the incredibly biodiversity of Sri Lanka’s most iconic national parks and wildlife reserves while learning from our team of award-winning wildlife photographers.

Main tour (13 nights): $7,260. $1,450 in single room.

Dates: Apr 18, 2026. Apr 10, 2027.

Group size: 2–8 people.

Day 1Colombo
Days 2–4Habarana
Days 5–8Panama
Days 9–10Yala National Park
Days 11–13Sinharaja Forest Reserve
Day 14Departure flights

How to reserve your spot?

  1. Read our cancellation policy below.

  2. Complete the contact form in the next step to let us know about your interests and experience and so we can check availability and give you further information about the tour.

  3. Review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability form we will send you.

  4. Make payment to confirm your booking.

Cancellation policy: If you are unable to attend the tour, you are welcome to send someone in your place or apply to another Tropical Herping event. Given that we pre-pay all local services months in advance, credit or refund requests are not offered.

Important! Read the rules and recommendations.

What to bring? Check out our suggested packing list.

What is included?

Package based on two people sharing a room.

All meals and accommodation.

All river and road transfers.

Guides and tour leaders.

Domestic airfares.

National park entrance fees.

What is not included?

Additional nights due to flight cancellations.

Alcoholic beverages, bottled water, and snacks.

Health/travel insurance.

International airfares.

Laundry.

Photo equipment.

Visa processing fees.

Booking form

Tour description

The tour’s first stage will take you to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya, and the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa. These places will blow your mind with their unique beauty, history, cultural richness, and ever-present wildlife. You will also be among huge troops of macaques and langurs, documenting their behavior and lifestyle around the ancient temples of Sri Lanka. The tour’s second stage is the Panama coastal district, best known as the gateway to the Kumana Bird Sanctuary and Crocodile Point. The third destination will be Yala National Park, the most famous national park in Sri Lanka, a haven for more than 200 species of birds and 40 species of mammals, including the iconic leopard, sloth bear, and elephant. Finally, this tour takes you to the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the area with the highest number of endemic species in Sri Lanka.

Image of a Tufted Gray-Langur (Semnopithecus priam)
Image of a Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus)
Image of a Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus)
Image of an Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans)
Image of a Hump-nosed Lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus)
Image of a Green Garden Lizard (Calotes calotes)
Image of a Rose-Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Image of a Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)
Image of an Indian Flying-Fox (Pteropus giganteus)
Image of a Hump-nosed Lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus)
Image of a Sri Lankan Pitviper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus)
Image of a Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus)
Image of a Painted Sttork (Mycteria leucocephala)
Image of a Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus)
Image of a Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Image of a Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Image of a Sri Lanka Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger)
Image of a Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)
Image of a Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Image of a Purple-faced Langur (Semnopithecus vetulus)
Image of the Dambulla Cave Temple
Image of a Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica)
Image of an ancient sculpture at Habarana
Image of an Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
Image of a Purple-faced Langur (Semnopithecus vetulus)
Image of a Tufted Gray-Langur (Semnopithecus priam)
Image of a Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros gingalensis)
Image of a Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus)
Image of an Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
Image of a Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis)

Frequently asked questions

Am I supposed to pay the tour price at once?

You can confirm your booking by making a 50% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

Can I make a reservation for this tour but on 2027?

Yes, you can confirm your booking now by making a 20% deposit and pay the remaining balance at least 60 days before departure.

Does the tour take place during the nights?

The tour includes both diurnal and nocturnal activities.

How do I book my spot?

The first thing you need to do to reserve your spot in this tour is contact us using our booking form. Second, you will need to review and approve the itinerary, invoice, and release of liability we will send you. Finally, you will have to make a deposit to confirm your booking.

Can you get rubber boots for me?

No, we cannot get rubber boots for you in Madagascar. We suggest you purchase them before the tour begins.

Is there a chance to arrange a private tour?

Yes, most of the tours we offer are private.

Will the tour be cancelled if one or more participants are unable to join?

This tour will run with no less than three participants. If one of two participants makes a reservation and then cancels, it would affect the tour if no payment has been made to lodges, transports, and guides (which usually cannot be refunded).

Which domestic flights should I purchase?

None. Domestic flights are included in the price of the tour.

What herping gear do you recommend?

We recommend that you bring a durable waterproof headlamp, a rain poncho, and a DSLR camera, ideally one with a macro lens and off-camera flash.

What if there is no other participant willing to share a room?

If you are willing to share the room, you do not have to pay the single supplement fee, regardless of whether you end up sharing the room or not.

What is the meeting point on the starting day?

Our team will pick you up at the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). The next day, the meeting point will be at the hotel.

What kind of trouser is needed?

You can bring any durable but lightweight trousers that are easy to dry.

Which vaccination certificates do I need?

The only vaccination certificate required for entry into Sri Lanka is the Yellow Fever certificate, but only if you are arriving from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission. No other vaccination certificates are generally compulsory for entry. However, travelers should be up-to-date on routine vaccines and consult a health professional for recommended vaccines like Hepatitis A and Typhoid.

Is there malaria in Sri Lanka?

No, the World Health Organization (WHO) certified Sri Lanka as malaria-free in 2016, and the country has maintained this status with zero local transmission since 2012. While all cases are now imported by travelers, there is essentially no risk of contracting malaria during a trip to the country, and antimalarial medication is not recommended. Nevertheless, travelers should still practice mosquito bite avoidance to protect against other diseases like dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

Will the guides catch the animals for the participants to take close-up pictures?

Whenever possible, all photography by participants will be done in-situ. Animals will only be handled if they are the focus of a research or conservation project.

Will there be laundry service, electricity, and wifi at all sites?

Usually there is electricity at all of the lodges we will visit. Wifi is available only around the reception area at some. Laundry service is available, but not included in the booking price.

Will you pick us up at the airport upon arrival?

Yes, a member of our team will pick you up at the airport.