Sunrise dolphin watching experience and Bar Reef snorkelling – Kalpitiya

Witness leaping pods of everything from Spinner dolphins to Bottlenose dolphins. Watch them frolic and swim alongside your private boat for longer, or head into Bar Reef for a snorkelling experience in Kalpitiya.

SLDT/1702/WDW02

Why you need to book this trip?

• Kalpitiya is perfect for dolphin and whale watching, as you do not have to head out too deep into the Ocean: the continental shelf is much closer than reported in admiralty charts, so much so, the shelf actually runs near and alongside the shoreline. This translates into being able to see many species of marine life - in just a short boat ride away from the shore.

• You will be led by trained English-speaking guides, who will brief you on everything you wish to know about the dolphins/whales you encounter.

• Watching dolphins leap, swimming alongside you and under your boat - is truly an unforgettable experience.

• The sea will not be as rough during this period as it is during the monsoon season and it will be easier to spot dolphins given good visibility.

• Among ‘other things to do’ in Kalpitiya, is the Bar Reef, the largest coral reef (307 square km) in Sri Lanka. Bar Reef can be reached by an hour’s boat trip from Kalpitiya and serves as the ideal location for keen scuba divers and snorkelers. The beautiful reef, exceedingly rich in biodiversity, is home to an incredible variety of tropical fish as well as offering sightings of manta rays, reef sharks and the occasional sea turtle.

• The excursions will ideally commence at sunrise, and last about 2-3 hours.

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Bespoke whale watching private cruise to encounter finned giants – Mirissa

Experience the kiss of salty air as you journey into the Indian Ocean, to one of the world’s best whale hotspots. See it all from giant Blue Whales to majestic Sperm Whales, on a private charter, off the coast of Mirissa.

SLDT/1702/WDW03

Why you need to book this trip?

• World’s best: As per the research, the deep south of Sri Lanka (off Mirissa) is one of the world's best locations (amongst the top two or three) for watching Blue Whales and Sperm Whales, two of the most sought after marine mammals. In fact, for seeing both Sperm and Blue Whales together, it may even turn out to be the best location in the world.
• The waters off Mirissa in the southern coast of Sri Lanka are home to some of the largest whale and dolphin colonies in the world.
• Experienced: Sri Lanka Day Tours owning company Eco Team initiated commercial whale and dolphin watching in Sri Lanka way back in 2000 in association with the international dolphin watch. Back then, whale watching was not commercial and only serious researches, whale enthusiasts did whale watching in Sri Lanka.
• Responsible: We run our whale watching Sri Lanka trips as per the guidelines given by the International Whaling Commission. https://iwc.int/wwguidelines
• Out of the three dolphin watching and whale watching destinations, namely dolphin and whale watching Mirissa, dolphin and whale watching Kalpitiya and dolphin and whale watching Trincomalee. Out of the three locations Mirissa remains most popular.
• Sri Lanka is situated within the International Whaling Commission's protected zone in the Indian Ocean. Of the 80 species of cetaceans observed and identified worldwide, 26 are found in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, which we can access freely.
• We operate purpose built boats fitted with all the necessary safety devices including compass, GPS, nautical charts and UHF radio for whale watching. Our boat is steady, fast, reliable and safe. We have on board washroom facilities, resting facilities etc.
• Our whale watching Sri Lanka crew is customer friendly, experienced and responsible.
• We may not be the cheapest but we are the most responsible and most dedicated to find you whales in Sri Lankan waters.
• One of the most popular things to do in Sri Lanka, when you are in the south during the whale watching season.
• We do private whale watching safaris for groups and individual couples/families as well.
• We able to cater to wheelchair bound guests and very proud of it.

Details of boats used for whale watching Mirissa

• We mostly use two boats for whale watching Mirissa. A smaller boat is mostly used for private charters.
• Passenger capacity: 50 people
• Maximum speed: 12 Knot
• Engine OBM: Hyundai 429 HP 
• Manufacture: Hull – Sri Lanka, Engine – Hyundai 
• Observation deck
• On board sanitary facilities 
• Powered with GPS navigation and radio and mobile communication facilities
• Insured and certified by required government authorities
• Wheelchair access could be arranged