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

Kitulagala Rafting | Most popular White Water Rafting trip in Sri Lanka

Ride the white waters of an adventure river that rebelliously stumbles through a rocky gorge in Kitulgala, and take on the rapids from the Killer Falls to the Head Chopper!

SLDT/1702/WWR01

WHY SHOULD YOU BOOK THIS TRIP?

• Consider your safety; consider the quality and then the price; whichever way we are the number one in white water rafting in Sri Lanka.

• This activity, which doesn’t require swimming capabilities at all, is ideal for the amateurs who wish to 'take the plunge' and for experts as well.

• We are engaged in white water rafting since in year 2000 and we offer professional guides with detailed attention to customer safety.

• High-level of environmental and responsible travel practices.

• The crystal-clear waters of this river that stumbles through a rocky gorge just above Kitulgala will make for an interesting challenge for rafting amateurs and professionals. The Kelani River offers up some of the most exciting white water rafting sections available in Sri Lanka.

• Rafting through the boulders and rocks creates grade 2 to 3+ rapids. The actual run takes about 1 ½ hours to 3 hours (depending on how much time you want to spend in the water) to complete, with encounters of grade 2 to 3+ rapids, bearing unique names such as Butter Crunch, Killer Falls, Head Chopper and Virgin's Breast.

• You are able to see the locations used for the Academy Award winning film – Bridge over the River Kwai, filmed in 1956 – which is also a great place to jump in for a refreshing swim. On a clear day, you could even dive in to see the remains of the actual bridge and carriages used for the film.
• Possible to add activities such as canyoning, waterfall abseiling (rappel down), rainforest walks, a visit to a prehistoric man’s cave or a rubber plantation.

Spend A Day With An Elephant

Spend a day with an elephant and give him / her a day off. Probably one of the most unique & sustainable thing to do in Sigiriya , Habarana , Dambulla or Kandalama 

SLDT/1702/Ex02

Why should you book this trip?

• This is an unforgettable experience with plenty of one-on-one time with the most incredible creatures to inhabit Sri Lanka’s shores.
• We, as a responsible tour company, have completely stopped promoting elephant back rides. We do not even promote the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala.
• This activity is designed to give an opportunity for an elephant enthusiast to get close to an already domesticated elephant and nurture it whilst learning about the elephant behaviour in a domesticated setting.
• There are close to 300 domesticated elephants in the country and there is strong lobbying from temples to get more from places like the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
  
  Though capturing wild elephants to domesticate them is not happening in Sri Lanka right now, conservationists strongly believe that even orphan elephants should not be domesticated.However, questions remain on how to cater to someone who loves elephants and wants to have an interaction with them in a responsible manner.
  
  We at SLDT have designed this programme to fill this gap and what we have created is an “Elephant Spa”.
  
  You will be working in the spa to give these elephants a few hours of pampering, whereas otherwise they will be working and taking tourists on their backs, logging or parading in a procession.
• Considered as a must complete thing to do when you are in Sigiriya , Habarana , Dambulla or Kandalama