Sri Lanka Facts
Sri Lanka can be a paradise for keen butterfly enthusiasts. With 244 species of butterflies and skippers the island offers an unrivalled opportunity to observe and study them. Of this 244 species belonging to eleven families, about 20 are confined to Sri Lanka and found no where else in the world.
Like the other types of fauna, the butterflies also are distributed in all climatic zones and a tour looking for butterflies will provide you with a great chance of looking at other animals such as birds, reptiles and mammals as well. Though the number rise during March-April or September-October with the onset of monsoons, all year round, a splendid assortment of butterflies can be seen.
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Day 01. ARRIVAL - Kitulgala
Arrival at the Bandaranayake International Airport, to be met by the Starron Tours representative and the Tour Leader/Guide and transfer to Kitulgala Rest House for the rest of the day.
Explore the Kelani Valley Forest Reserve area for butterflies.
Possible butterfly species include Common Birdwing*, Ceylon Rose*, Red Helen, Blue Mormon, Bluebottle, Tailed Jay, Common Grass Yellow, Plain Tiger, Rustic, Cruiser, Chocolate Soldier, Autumn Leaf, Blue Oakleaf*, Common Lascar, Commander, Clipper, Gaudy Baron, Angled Pierrot and Plane.
Breakfast/lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Kitulgala.
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Day 02: Kitulgala - Sinharaja
After breakfast leave for Sinharaja Rain Forest: A UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness Area where several rare and endemic species are found.
Possible species include Common Indian Crow, Great Crow, Ceylon Tree Nymph*, Glassy Tiger, Gladeye Bushbrown, Nigger, Tawny Rajah, Commander, Clipper, Common Leopard, Cruiser, Plum Judy, Angled Pierrot, Metallic Cerulean, Three Spot Grass Yellow, Small Grass Yellow, Tailed Jay, Five-bar Swordtail, Red Helen, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose, Common Birdwing*, Hedge Hopper and Common Banded Demon.
Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Sinharaja periphery.
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Day 03: Sinharaja – Embilipitiya
After breakfast have another session exploring Sinharaja till lunch and after lunch leave the wet zone and proceed through the intermediate zone to reach the dry zone.
Possible butterflies in Embilipitiya area are Common Palmfly, Common Tiger, Common Mormon, Lime Butterfly, Crimson Rose, Dark Grass Blue, Ape Fly, Common Pierrot, Common Cerulean, Peacock Pancy, Baron, Lime Butterfly and Glassy Tiger.
Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Embilipitiya.
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Day 04: Embilipitiya – Tissamaharama
After breakfast leave for Tissamaharama where the fringes of many wetlands host a variety of butterflies.
Possible species include Common Palmfly, Common Tiger, Common Mormon, Lime Butterfly, Crimson Rose, Plain Tigers, Dark Blue Tigers, Common Gull, Pioneer, Peacock Pansy, Grey Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Zebra Blue, Banded Blue Pierrot, Chocolate Soldier, White Four-rings, Psyche and Small Salmon Arabs.
Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Tissa.
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Day 05: Tissa – Yala - Tissa
After breakfast drive towards Yala National Park with packed lunch looking at the arid zone butterflies. Utilise the “best for butterflies” part of the day in this manner and do a game drive in the Yala National Park where it is possible to see some large mammals such as TOQUE MONKEY, GREY LANGUR, GOLDEN JACKAL, MONGOOSES, SLOTH BEAR, LEOPARD. ELEPHANT, WILD BOAR, SAMBAR, SPOTTED DEER, WATER BUFFALO and SRI LANKA GIANT SQUIRREL.
Possible butterflies include Tailed Jay, Dark Wanderer, Common Tiger, Plain Tiger, Gladeye Bush Brown, Little Banded Swift, Common Rose, Dark Blue Tiger, Small Salmon Arab, Tawny Coaster, Common Leopard, Zebra Blue, Cornelian, Mottled Emigrant, Common Emigrant, Danaid Eggfly, Great Eggfly and Dark Blue Tiger
Dinner and overnight stay in Tissa.
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Day 06: Tissa – Nuwara Eliya
Today after breakfast leave behind the hot lowlands and head for the cool climes of the highlands.
Packed lunch or a sit down lunch at Bandarawela Hotel.
Explore the Victoria Park and the surrounding areas for the highland species.
Possible species include Red Helen, Bluebottle, Painted Saw-tooth, Blue Tiger, Ceylon Tiger*, Fritillary, Indian Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Blue Admiral, Tamil Treebrown and Ceylon Treebrown*
Dinner and overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.
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Day 07: Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains – Nuwara Eliya
After an early breakfast proceed to the highest plateau, the Horton Plains National Park.
Explore the area for butterflies like Ceylon Treebrown*, The Ceylon, Forester*, Ceylon Hedge Blue*, Ceylon Tiger*, Blue Admiral, Cruiser, Tamil Lace Wing, Aberrant Bushblue, Red Helen and Hedge Hopper.
After late lunch at the hotel further explore the Nuwaraeliya area.
Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.
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Day 08: Nuwara Eliya - Kandy
After breakfast leave for Kandy visiting a Tea Factory on the way.
After lunch at the hotel explore the surrounding areas.
Possible butterflies include Metallic Cerulean, Plumbeous Silverline, Yamfly, Indian Red Admiral, Ceylon Lesser Albatross, Ceylon Palmfly*, Common Tree Brown, Blue Admiral and Common Blue Bottle
Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.
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Day 09: Kandy - Wasgamuwa
After an early breakfast leave for Wasgomuwa via Matale, Illukkumbura, Laggala Pallegama carrying packed lunches.
Possible species include Common Tiger, Common Indian Crow, Ceylon Tree Nymph*, Blue Glassy Tiger, Glassy Tiger, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Ceylon Forester*, Gladeye Bushbrown, Rustic, Baron, Great Eggfly, Grey Pansy, Blue Pansy, Nawab, Commander, Club Beak, Common Cerulean, Tailless Lineblue, Common Albatross, Lesser Albatross, Common Emigrant, Lemon Emigrant, Common Grass Yellow, Great Orange Tip, Dark Wanderer and Ceylon Snow Flat.
Dinner and overnight stay in Wasgamuwa.
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Day 10: Wasgamuwa - Habarana
After breakfast leave for Habarana through some very productive dry lowlying farmlands and forest fringes.
Butterfly highlights include Common Indian Crow, Great Crow, Double Branded Black Crow, White Four-Ring, Peacock Pansy, Grey Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Common Lascar, Plain Hedge Blue, Lime Blue, Lesser Grass Blue, Common Emigrant, Lemon Emigrant, Common Gull, Common Jezebel and Lime Butterfly.
Late Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Habarana.
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Day 11: Habarana – Sigiriya - Habarana
Today after breakfast explore the Sigiriya Sacntuary and Kaludiya Pokuna areas.
Possible species include Plain Tiger, Common Tiger, Common Indian Crow, Brown King Crow, Blue Glassy Tiger, Glassy Tiger, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Red Spot Duke, The Spot Sword Tail, Common Bushbrown, Gladeye Bushbrown, Black Rajah, Tawny Rajah, Nawab, Great Eggfly, Danaid Eggfly, Peacock Pansy, Grey Pansy, Lemon Pansy, Banded Blue Pierrot, Tiny Grass Blue, Common Emigrant, Common Gull, Small Salmon Arab, Common Jezebel, Great Orange Tip, Dark Wanderer and Common Banded Peacock.
Late Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Habarana.
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Day 12: Habarana – Ritigala SNR - Habarana
After breakfast visit the Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve with packed lunch.
Possible butterflies include Common Indian Crow, Ceylon Lacewing, Red Spot Duke, The Spot Sword Tail, Black Rajah, Tawny Rajah, White Four-Ring, Tawny Rajah, Common Sailor, Psyche, Dark Wanderer, Common Bluebottle, Blue Mormon, Common Rose, Crimson Rose, Common Birdwing* and Chestnut Bob
Late Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Habarana.
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Day 13: Habarana – Kahalla-Pallekele – Habarana
After breakfast leave for Kahalla-Pallekele forest reserve and spend most of the morning looking for dry zone butterflies.
Possible species include Blue Glassy Tiger, Common Bushbrown, Nigger, Angled Castor, Great Eggfly, Danaid Eggfly, Chocolate Soldier, Tawny Coster, Large Oakblue, Malayan, Tailless Lineblue, Common Acacia Blue, White Orange Tip, Yellow Orange Tip, Common Bluebottle, Common Jay, Common Banded Peacock and Lime Butterfly.
Late Lunch, dinner and overnight stay in Habarana.
Day 14: Tranfer to a hotel near Airport for dinner & transfer to the Airport for departure.
* = Endemic Species
Kitulgala
Sinharaja
Tissamaharama
Nuwara Eliya
Tissa
Habarana
Habarana
Sigiriya
Kandy