Blue whale watching holiday in Sri Lanka
| country: | Sri Lanka |
| departures: | This trip can be tailormade at a time to suit you although January to April is the best time period, and April is the peak month |
| price: | From £690 (8 days) excluding flights. Price includes half board accommodation, whale watching boat hire, naturalist guide and transfers |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Sri Lanka may be one of the easiest places to watch whales, allowing it to become a global top spot to watch blue and sperm whales. Increased sightings of both blue whales and sperm whales off the southern coast of the island have now opened up a window of opportunity for whale watching tourism in the island's Deep South.
A high concentration of blue whales and sperm whales have been spotted in the seas off Dondra Head along the deep south coast of Sri Lanka, during the months of January to April. The frequency as well as the proximity to the shore makes Sri Lanka one of the easiest places in the world to spot blue or sperm whales.
Blue whales are the largest animals on earth growing up to some 110 feet in length and weighing up to some 180 metric tons. They feed on krill, a shrimp like marine invertebrate. Sperm whales, the largest carnivore mammals, mostly feed on squid and octopus in the deep sea bed. Naturalists say conditions around the island are good for whale habitat due to the nutrient flow from the country's river system.
Some of the blue whales off Dondra Head could be resident whales while others could be migratory ones crossing over to the Arabian Sea from the Bay of Bengal. There have been 27 species of marine mammals recorded so far in Sri Lankan waters. To see a Blue whale at sea is something most of us can only dream about. To see more than one in a lifetime is a rarity reserved for a fortunate few.
Best time to go: January to April is the best time period, and April is the peak month. Over a thousand images of the whales and dolphins were taken by clients and the operator during the month of April 2008 only.
A high concentration of blue whales and sperm whales have been spotted in the seas off Dondra Head along the deep south coast of Sri Lanka, during the months of January to April. The frequency as well as the proximity to the shore makes Sri Lanka one of the easiest places in the world to spot blue or sperm whales.
Blue whales are the largest animals on earth growing up to some 110 feet in length and weighing up to some 180 metric tons. They feed on krill, a shrimp like marine invertebrate. Sperm whales, the largest carnivore mammals, mostly feed on squid and octopus in the deep sea bed. Naturalists say conditions around the island are good for whale habitat due to the nutrient flow from the country's river system.
Some of the blue whales off Dondra Head could be resident whales while others could be migratory ones crossing over to the Arabian Sea from the Bay of Bengal. There have been 27 species of marine mammals recorded so far in Sri Lankan waters. To see a Blue whale at sea is something most of us can only dream about. To see more than one in a lifetime is a rarity reserved for a fortunate few.
Best time to go: January to April is the best time period, and April is the peak month. Over a thousand images of the whales and dolphins were taken by clients and the operator during the month of April 2008 only.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival in Sri Lanka and transfer to Villa Talangama, Colombo for one night. A local expert on marine mammals of Sri Lanka will join you for dinner |
| Day 2: | After breakfast leave for Closenburg Hotel, Galle for five nights. Evening, take a walk along the Dutch Fort (UNESCO World Heritage Site) |
| Day 3: | Morning, drive with your naturalist to the Mirissa Fishery's Harbour and start your journey to the sea in a spacious and comfortable boat. Blue Whales in concentrations not seen elsewhere in the world would be the highlight of the day. A concentration of blue whales of this nature is something which whale watchers can only dream about. During the migration, Blue whales are seen relatively clsoe to shore as the continental shelf is narrow to the South of Dondra. After seeing the blue whales, your naturalist will take you further out to sea look for sperm whales. Even sperm whales sometimes come within a few kilometers of shore. |
| Day 4: | Another visit to the sea with focus on Dolphins, on a lucky day you will have the treat of observing more than five hundred dolphins having a siesta. The long-snouted spinners are a treat to watch in action |
| Day 5: | Spend a leisurely day by the beach. Walk over to the Lighthouse Hotel & Spa for a Signature spa treatment |
| Day 6: | Morning, take the boat to the sea for another round of best photography of the largest animal to have ever lived on the planet |
| Day 7: | After breakfast leave for Seashells Hotel, Negombo for one night. |
| Day 8: | Transfer to International Airport. |
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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The tour engages local suppliers for boat hire and this ensures an additional revenue stream to the boat owners. The crew members treat it as a golden opportunity for them not only to earn money but also to be engaged in tourism activities which given them the experience of servicing clients from different parts of the world. The crew is trained to keep adequate distance away from the mammals so that the tourism activities do not disrupt their social dynamics and mustn't create stress.
The Naturalist guide for the tour is from a local rural village in Sri Lanka with an approved tour guiding license issued by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. We are deliberately using the lesser known hotels, so that they get a fair share of the business that's available in the market. A hotel like Closenburg in Galle provides employment for local villagers and they purchase vegetables, fruits and other good from the local shops which helps the local vendors. Twenty two percent of the profits earned on the total marine safaris tours are allocated to the Research Initiative fund that is used to hosting biologists who are studying the whales and dolphins of Sri Lanka. |
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