Sri Lanka is a great destination for the all-round naturalist, with a list of more than 20 mammal species regularly recorded on this tour (usually including Leopard and Asian Elephant), as well as a profusion of colorful butterflies, and a discrete set of reptiles unique to the island, not of course to mention 250 bird species. From 2019, we are also including a boat trip out of Mirrissa to search for the largest mammal of them all, the massive Blue Whale. On top of all of this is a vibrant, and unique, Buddhist culture, dating back thousands of years, which has led to the birds and other wildlife being both abundant and approachable; and making for a fascinating tour from a cultural perspective. For those who have a particular interest in this, while we will experience some of this firsthand on the tour; we also highly recommend adding on a few extra days in Kandy, the cultural heartland of Sri Lanka. (Tropical Birding can arrange this for you, if desired). Sri Lanka is also an excellent tour for the “foodie”, with the cuisine often also providing a major tour highlight for many too. While this is a well-established, and popular, birding destination among British and European birders in particular, it remains relatively little known, and less visited by those from North America; a mystery, seeing as a series of great parks, and  excellent facilities and lodging for almost all of the tour, make this both very comfortable, and accessible to all.