Whale Watching Places in Sri Lanka – Best Sightings of the Gentle Mammals

Trincomalee located on the north eastern coast of Sri Lanka is ideal for spotting Blue Whales and Sperm Whales. All it takes is a 30 minute boat trip out to sea and you are rewarded with magnificent sights of the whales as well as Spinner Dolphins. Best seasons for whale sightings in Trincomalee is March to April and August to September. This is due to the whale's migratory patterns from the Southern coast around December and April. All in all Sri Lanka can boast a continuous 9 month period of whale watching around the island. There are many tour companies offering whale and dolphin spotting tours off the coast of Trincomalee.

Mirissa located along the southern coast of Sri Lanka is 175kms from the International Airport. It is 145kms from the City of Colombo and easily reached via the highway. Mirissa is a crescent shaped isolated stretch of beach which is easily reached from hotels in Tangalle; which in turn is a beautiful rustic coastal town just 90 minutes from Mirissa; Tangalle is home to many historical temples, lush paddy fields and a lazy stretch of sandy coast lapped by the waters of the Indian Ocean – a very relaxing tourist resort. Dondra Point is the most popular destination for Whale Watching and Mirissa which is just 90 minutes from the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort is the closest point to Dondra. December to April is high season for whale watching at Dondra Point where a 90% chance of spotting whales is guaranteed. Spinner Dolphins too are visible during this season. You are taken on guided tours ideally in a modern fishing trawler where all safety protocols are adhered to.

Enjoy majestic sights of whales off the coasts of Kalpitiya. Located along the western coast of the island Kalpitiya is well established as both a whale and dolphin watching destination. Sperm Whales and Blue Whales are spotted around Kalpitiya which was initially famous for dolphin watching around the reef. Once the abundance of whales swimming around the area just off the reef was discovered Kalpitiya has taken off as one of the country's top whale watching destinations. Boat tours do regular trips off the Kalpitiya Peninsula with the promise of spotting a variety of whales; the Sperm whale is the most common together with the occasional sighting of blue Whales, Minke Whales, Melon Headed Whale and Dwarf Whale. Alankuda Beach is the best spot to set off on a whale watching tour in Kalpitiya; you will have to sail about 6kms off the coast and just beyond the reef. Peak season for whale watching in Kalpitiya is November to April – a season when the seas are relatively calm.