Whale watching in Sri Lanka: when, where and how

Sri Lanka is one of the few places in the world where you have a good chance of seeing blue whales, the largest animals that have ever lived. They feed close to the island, where the continental shelf drops steeply into deep water.

When and where

	Mirissa (south coast)	Trincomalee (east coast)
Season	November to April	about May to October
Best months	December to March	varies; sightings less predictable
Main species	Blue whales, sperm whales, spinner dolphins	Blue whales, sperm whales, dolphins

So whichever month you travel, there is a whale season somewhere on the island.

What to expect

• Boats leave early, usually around 6 or 7 am, and are out for about three to five hours.
• The sea can be rough. If you get seasick, take medicine before you leave and stay on the open deck.
• Sightings are likely in the main season but never guaranteed.
• Most boats include breakfast and water.

Prices

On a shared boat from Mirissa, expect roughly LKR 8,000 to 15,000 per person. Bigger, more comfortable boats cost more. We book a reliable operator for you.

Choosing a responsible operator

Some boats chase whales or crowd around them, which stresses the animals. Good operators:

• keep a distance from the whales and approach slowly from the side;
• switch off or slow their engines near the animals;
• limit the number of boats around one whale;
• don’t promise "guaranteed" sightings.

Combine it with your trip

Mirissa fits easily at the end of a round trip in the main season, for example on day 12 of our 14-day classic. In summer you can whale-watch from Trincomalee on our summer round trip.