Sri Lanka, the resplendent isle. Like a pearl hanging from the southern tip of India, the island of Sri Lanka is home to a population of 20 million, a mix of Buddhist Sinhalese, Hindu Tamils and others. They have a rich cultural heritage, with a dense network of temples and ancient ruins throughout the island. The capital city, Colombo is a bustling modern metropolis, but much of the countryside remains given over to labour-intensive rice cultivation, plantations and forest. Sri Lanka is also well known for its spectacular scenery and fabulous terrestrial wildlife, with wild Elephants being the largest of all.
What is less well known is that Sri Lankan waters are home to some of the best whale and dolphin watching in the world. At the right place and time, Blue Whale sightings are all but guaranteed. Sperm Whales and Bryde’s Whales are also present in good numbers, as are a variety of dolphins, including Spinners, Bottlenose, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose, Risso’s, Spotted and Striped.
Another great wildlife attraction in Sri Lanka is the Leopard. Wilpattu National Park in the northwest of the island is one of the very best place in the world to see these normally elusive big cats. Our trips include several game drives in Wilpattu, where Leopard sightings are almost guaranteed, and where there is a wealth of other wildlife.
Day 1: Arrival in Sri Lanka. Transfer to hotel near airport.
Day 2: Head North. After breakfast, drive north to Anuradhapura, near Wilpattu National Part. Evening bird walk in the hotel gardens.
Days 3-5: Game drives in Wilpattu National Park to look for Leopard, other wildlife and a host of birds. One afternoon visit the ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Days 6-7: Head to Habarana, then on to Trinco. Visit Sigiriya rock fortress and a local site for Elephants.
Days 8-10: Whale-watching. Three days of whale-watching, with a 4-6 hour boat excursion every morning. In the afternoons there will be opportunities to visit local cultural and natural history sites, or to relax at the hotel.
Day 11: Head West. After breakfast, drive back across the island to the International Airport.
Note: there is an optional 3-day extension at Trinco for those who would like to spend more time with the whales
CETACEANS
The big attraction of cetacean-watching in Sri Lanka is the abundance of large whales. Both Blue Whales and Sperm Whales are common. We see Blue Whales on 90% of our days at sea, typically singly or in pairs, but we have seen up to 14 together. Sperm Whales are seen less frequently, on perhaps 50% of our days at sea, but in larger numbers: pods of about 10 are typical, but off Trinco we have seen superpods of up to 200. In total we have recorded 15 species on our Sri Lanka trips:
Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera brydei
Eden’s Whale Balaenoptera edeni
Omura’s Whale Balaenoptera omurai
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus
Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima
Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris
Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata
Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Indo-pacific Bottlenose Tursiops aduncus
Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus
Shortfin Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris
Longman’s Beaked Indopacetus pacificus
“What an amazing holiday. I could never have imagined the range of species we’d get to see in such a short time. And the rest of the experience – hotels, guides, food , etc – were perfect as well. Thanks so much!” SD, UK
“Best views of sperm whales we have ever seen … many thanks.” C&JS, UK
“One of the best trips I’ve ever been on.” JH, UK
“Whale-watching in hot, sunny conditions? Surely this is decadence beyond human imagination.” DC, UK
“So many Blue Whales. Wonderful company, excellent wildlife and a beautiful country.” MW, UK
“Leopards, elephants, birds galore, fantastic food and the most fabulous hospitality.” FS, UK
Explore our stunning gallery…
Sri Lanka, the resplendent isle. Like a pearl hanging from the southern tip of India, the island of Sri Lanka is home to a population of 20 million, a mix of Buddhist Sinhalese, Hindu Tamils and others. They have a rich cultural heritage, with a dense network of temples and ancient ruins throughout the island. The capital city, Colombo is a bustling modern metropolis, but much of the countryside remains given over to labour-intensive rice cultivation, plantations and Sri Lanka is also well known for its spectacular scenery and fabulous terrestrial wildlife, with wild Elephants being the largest of all.
What is less well known is that Sri Lankan waters are home to some of the best whale and dolphin watching in the world. At the right place and time, Blue Whale sightings are all but guaranteed. Sperm Whales and Bryde’s Whales are also present in good numbers, as are a variety of dolphins, including Spinners, Bottlenose, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose, Risso’s, Spotted and Striped.
Another great wildlife attraction in Sri Lanka is the Leopard. Wilpattu National Park in the northwest of the island is one of the very best place in the world to see these normally elusive big cats. Our trips include several game drives in Wilpattu, where Leopard sightings are almost guaranteed, and where there is a wealth of other wildlife.
Day 1
Arrival in Sri Lanka. Transfer to hotel near airport.
Day 2
Head North. After breakfast, drive north to Anuradhapura, near Wilpattu National Part. Evening bird walk in the hotel gardens.
Days 3-5
Game drives in Wilpattu National Park to look for Leopard, other wildlife and a host of birds. One afternoon visit the ancient city of Anuradhapura.
Days 6-7
Head to Habarana, then on to Trinco. Visit Sigiriya rock fortress and a local site for Elephants.
Days 8-10
Whale-watching. Three days of whale-watching, with a 4-6 hour boat excursion every morning. In the afternoons there will be opportunities to visit local cultural and natural history sites, or to relax at the hotel.
Day 11
Head West. After breakfast, drive back across the island to the International Airport.
Note: there is an optional 3-day extension at Trinco for those who would like to spend more time with the whales
CETACEANS
The big attraction of cetacean-watching in Sri Lanka is the abundance of large whales. Both Blue Whales and Sperm Whales are common. We see Blue Whales on 90% of our days at sea, typically singly or in pairs, but we have seen up to 14 together. Sperm Whales are seen less frequently, on perhaps 50% of our days at sea, but in larger numbers: pods of about 10 are typical, but off Trinco we have seen superpods of up to 200. In total we have recorded 15 species on our Sri Lanka trips:
Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera brydei)
Eden’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni)
Omura’s Whale (Balaenoptera omurai)
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia sima)
Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuate)
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncates)
Indo-pacific Bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus)
Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus)
Shortfin Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
Longman’s Beaked (Indopacetus pacificus)
“What an amazing holiday. I could never have imagined the range of species we’d get to see in such a short time. And the rest of the experience – hotels, guides, food , etc – were perfect as well. Thanks so much!” SD, UK
“Best views of sperm whales we have ever seen … many thanks.” C&JS, UK
“One of the best trips I’ve ever been on.” JH, UK
“Whale-watching in hot, sunny conditions? Surely this is decadence beyond human imagination.” DC, UK
“So many Blue Whales. Wonderful company, excellent wildlife and a beautiful country.” MW, UK
“Leopards, elephants, birds galore, fantastic food and the most fabulous hospitality.” FS, UK
Explore our stunning gallery…
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