Sigiriya Sunrise/Sunset Guided Boat Ride

We really enjoyed this experience. We did the sunrise boat ride and it was so worth getting up early for. Birds are just waking up and you hear a lot of them chirping. We saw a lot of different birds and a water monitor. Our guide Thusitha was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He provided a brief description about each bird and we could also use binoculars to look at them. We were provided with authentic Sri Lankan red millet pancakes and tea for breakfast. Thusitha also taught my daughter to make a necklace from a water lily. It was such a peaceful and authentic experience that teaches you to appreciate simple things in life. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting this part of Sri Lanka.

+6

Really enjoyed this experience - it was a real highlight for us in Sri Lanka. We had Thusitha who really knew his stuff and we saw many birds on the lake. We saw a beautiful sunset. The whole experience was so serene and we are so glad that we did it.

An absolutely incredible experience. We were a group of 3 and went on the boat with this experienced tour guide and a gentleman who rowed us around for sunset. As soon as we got out on the water, our guide Thusitha instantly began pointing out a large variety of birds, some found only in Sri Lanka. He had a book with him to show us which birds we were seeing, along with some excellent refreshments (fresh pineapple juice and biscuits). We slowly made our way around the lake and Thusitha gave us some great history of Sigiriya. We eventually ended up under a tree to watch the sunset. Despite the rain and cloudy sky, we still got a gorgeous glimpse of the sunset. The view coupled with the beautiful sounds of the birds, it was truly an unforgettable experience and would highly recommend.

We were taken out to the lake early doors by our lovely guide, Thusitha! It was pitch black when we left and the bird noises were incredible. As it got lighter, we were then able to see all the lovely birds and nature. It was a very peaceful and beautiful experience. Thusitha also made some delicious pancakes and coffee for us which we enjoyed onboard. We would definitely recommend this ❤️

+1

Perfect early morning - when we went on a simple catamaran boat and glided on a lake. With tea and coffee and sandwiches. And simply watched as the birds appeared. We heard them before we saw them as they had started their morning cackles. As the light got bolder, we began to see the colors and details of these birds - the very still egrets, the darters, the fishers and the bee eaters. Thank you to our guide and our boats man who made this such an incredible trip. Worth the early morning wake up!

Although the weather conditions were not in our favour the boat ride was memorable for the wonderful guide that was provided to us. He was well informed about the birds at the lake.. was even carrying a book for additional information should we require- not to mention hot tea coffee and biscuits which were most welcome in the rainy weather. He even took us to the company run lodge which was very very pretty and helped dry us up and offered more fabulous tea. On the way back to the hotel he stopped at the foothills of the Sigiriya rock face and helped us take some memorable family pictures. Ashan was most helpful in getting this tour arranged with very little notice.

Highly recommend the tour with Ashan. He's really knowledgable and passionate. He's very familiar with the area. If you love birds this is especially worth seeing the local water birds. Sunset is gorgeous and its a great opportunity to meet a local fisherman and learn about the local irrigation, ancient history and history on the surrounding attractions. Very relaxing, nice way to wrap up a day.

I booked Ashan to accompany me on his sunset guided boat tour. My particular focus for this experience was to see the extensive birdlife around Sigiriya - and both the birds and Ashan did not disappoint! We met at the lake edge where we jumped into a lovely double-hull canoe-like boat that was paddled by a lovely local gentleman. We saw a large number of bird species - including hornbills - my first sighting of these in the wild! Ashan explained to me the different species spotted and also provided me with a handy list of all species viewed at the end of the tour. The ride was peaceful, the sunset was stunning, and the wildlife was plentiful. I recommend this experience unreservedly - Ashan is well-spoken, professional, and knowledgeable (and when he doesn't have an answer to your question immediately, he says so, and researches the answer! - an honesty that was appreciated by me!). Ashan is not only knowledgeable about birds and wildlife but also clearly has a passion for the ancient history of the area. The boatman plucked a lotus flower for me to keep as a memento :) I advise you to bring a set of binoculars if you have them and wish to view the birds in detail, if not, then no worries - you can also enjoy them with the naked eye, and just soak up the lush beauty of nature around you.