Detailed Dolphin Watching Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 - Arrival in Mirissa
SCHEDULE
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Arrival in Mirissa and check into a hotel.
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Spend a relaxing afternoon on the pristine beach of Mirissa.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Mirissa (HB)
Mirissa, surrounded by rubber and coconut plantations, ancient temples, spice gardens, natural sanctuaries and exotic wildlife, has become famous for its long whale watching season, but it still retains the charm of an idyllic fishing village. And the stunning crescent beach is a real paradise for anyone who loves the sun and the sea!
Day 2
Day 2 - Whale Watching Excursion
SCHEDULE
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Meeting at Mirissa harbour early in the morning (at 6:00 am).
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Whale watching excursion (approx. 5h) with packed breakfast.
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Return to the hotel.
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Check out and departure.
The south coast of Sri Lanka boasts one of the world’s best places to see Blue Whales, and the season is longer than anywhere else. From November to April, when the whales are on their annual migratory route from the Horn of Africa up to the Arabian Sea, they can be seen in the waters around Sri Lanka. Sperm Whales with pods as well as other cetacean species, such as bryde’s whale, dwarf sperm whale, spinner dolphin, striped dolphin and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, can be seen also.
More about the whale watching excursion:
According to the marine biologist Dr. Charles Anderson, pioneer in whale and dolphin watching, the deep waters of Sri Lanka are a cetacean hotspot due to its ideal location in the Indian Ocean and seasonally changing monsoon currents. While most blue whales can be seen over the continental shelf, sperm whales swim further offshore, near the shipping lanes passing the Dondra Head that is the southernmost point of not only of Sri Lanka, but also the entire Indian subcontinent. The monsoon currents producing seasonally changing blooms of plankton; the land masses of India and Sri Lanka acting as an inverted funnel to channel cetacean movements and the deep waters near the coastline, make the Sri Lanka’s South Coast a perfect location to see the giants of the oceans.
Detailed Dolphin Watching Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1 - Arrival in Kalpitiya
SCHEDULE
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Arrival in Kalpitiya.
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Check in to a hotel.
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Spend a relaxing afternoon on the beach.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Kalpitiya (HB).
Set in between the deep lagoon of Puttalam to the east and the magnificent Indian Ocean to the west, Kalpitiya Peninsula is an exquisite coastal region located in the Western coastal belt, north of Colombo. It is an unrivalled marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangrove swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches.
Despite its natural beauty, Kalpitiya is remarkably untouched by tourism. Here, the visitors can get a real insight into the close-knit fishing community, and enjoy the various activities this region can offer. With the near-constant strong winds, Kalpitiya has the best kitesurfing conditions in South Asia. Or go snorkeling or scuba diving in Sri Lanka’s largest coral reef and discover an incredible variety of tropical fish, manta rays, reef sharks and even turtles. Canoe in the lagoon, or observe the large schools of dolphins playing in the offshore waters. Or visit the Dutch Fort and St. Peter's Kerk Church, and learn about Sri Lanka's colonial past.
Day 2
Day 2 - Dolphin Watching
SCHEDULE
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Early breakfast at the hotel.
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At 6:30 am departure for Dolphins watching excursion (duration from 3 to 4 hrs).
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Return to the hotel.
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Departure.
In Kalpitiya, you don’t need to go far out to the ocean to catch a glimpse of dolphins. The continental shelf runs near, alongside the shoreline, which gives you a great opportunity to observe various marine species just a short boat ride away from the shore. From November to April, you may see pods of hundreds of dolphins in the waters Kalpitiya, especially near the Bar Reef, a one-hour boat ride away. Spinner dolphins are the most common, but also the bottlenose, risso’s, Indo-Pacific and humpback dolphins are seen regularly.
