Joanna James
Sri Lanka is a little island that is popular for many different things - one of which is whale watching! The island is located on a migration route for these gentle giants, so here is where you will see them most.
Mirissa is the most popular location to go whale watching in Sri Lanka which is located towards the South of the island. You do not necessarily have to be located in Ahungalla to go whale watching as you can arrange a trip even if you are staying in Bentota. Things to do in the Southern part of the island are aplenty and they do promote whale watching in Mirissa as this is the location that has had the most number of whale and dolphin sightings from Sri Lanka. You will have to start early in the morning and be patient till you reach the location and observe quietly till you are to see these stunning mammals. You will most likely come across the blue whale - which is the largest animal species in the world while here in Mirissa. While you might not be able to grasp the size of the whales while they are in the water once you leave your hotel the likes of Heritance Ahungalla after your trip in the south and head to Colombo you can visit the Museum of Natural History in Colombo to see the skeleton of a whale that is on exhibition at the National Museum. The best time to go on a whale-watching trip in Mirissa is from November to April when the weather is good and the animals are enjoying themselves.
Trincomalee which is located in the East of the island is another delightful location to visit to go see these gentle giants. You will be able to select the service provider of your choice and then embark on the journey at the crack of dawn. When you are selecting the company you want to go ahead with it is important to make sure they are a responsible company that makes sure they do not harm the animals or pollute the ocean in the process of the journey, and those who also take the lives of the travellers seriously. The best time to visit Trincomalee is from May to November and this is also the best time to go whale watching on the East Coast of the island. If you have time to spare there are several other attractions such as the Nilaveli beach, Pigeon Island, and the Koneswaram Temple that you could explore while here too.
Kalpitiya which is located towards the North West of the island is another location where you can go whale watching in Sri Lanka. While this is not a very developed location since the country was facing a civil war that almost lasted for three decades, the development has begun since the war ended a few years ago. You can opt for a navy whale watching expedition if you are going whale watching in Kalpitiya but several private companies also offer this service to the public. Whale sightings became prominent in the Kalpitiya peninsula only during the last couple of years and they are increasing yearly. Apart from whale watching, Kalpitiya is also a great location to explore beaches and historical buildings. The best time to visit Kalpitiya to embark on a whale-watching journey is from November to March.
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