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

Included in the Price

Charges for the boat for a half-day dolphin and whale watching Mirissa

Lifejackets – Lifejackets for every size and age are kept aboard for our whale watching guests

Drinking water and a light snack during the tour

Current prevailing Government taxes and service charges

First aid if you are the type to be seasick

Important Factors

Personal effects for windy, rainy, warm weather conditions should be considered

Insect repellents, sun protection creams etc, are highly recommended

Suitable casual clothing/footwear for outdoor activities

Emphasis on importance of safety standards we provide

Passengers according to the number of seats and not more
Lifejackets to each and every client

Obey all safety rules given by the crew

Whale sightings: There is a 90 to 95% high probability to see whales during our tours. We do our best to find them for you on every single whale watching excursion. However, on some days, even with our best efforts, it is impossible for us to show you the whales. It’s important that we are aware that it’s wildlife we are going to see in the ocean.

Getting seasick: There is always at least a light swell in the not-so-calm Indian Ocean. If it’s the first time for you on a boat in the Indian Ocean or if you tend to get seasick, we advise you to take medication for seasickness recommended by your doctor,Avomine and it’s freely available in any pharmacy.

Do not feed any wild animals (Yes, they are wild animals). Coming near your boat doesn’t mean they want your food

Do not compel your guide/boatman to take the boat too close to them

Tour in brief

Sri Lanka Day Tours' guided whale and dolphin watching tour takes you on an unforgettable adventure from the Mirissa Harbour to have one of the best whale watching experiences in the world.

We first go to our meeting point and do the registration by 6 a.m. You will be given your snack pack, water etc. and directed to the harbour, which is a short drive away. Your boat will be waiting at the jetty.

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. Whales are nature's giants. As long as 30m and weighing as much as 180 tonnes, the blue whale is the largest animal to have roamed the earth. All varieties of whales were hunted in large numbers until the middle of the 20th century, and their dwindled numbers have not improved. This makes whales a rare sight anywhere in the world.

November to April is the best period to watch whales and dolphins, as colder weather in the northern hemisphere brings these magnificent creatures to the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean.

Among the varieties you might see are blue, Bryde’s and sperm whales. Killer whales are a rare sight, but not unknown in these waters. More numerous than whales are the varieties of dolphin you find here. Playful and attractive, dolphins are among the most intelligent animals on earth. Among the varieties on view are common dolphins, bottlenose, spinner, Risso’s and striped dolphins.