Sri Lanka - Whales & Leopards

Tour Code: LKA06

A 10-day holiday in search of cetaceans off Sri Lanka's south coast, as well as the Leopards and other wildlife of Lunugamvehera and Yala National Parks.

10 days from
£3,495
Land only price from
£2,995
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Whales and dolphins are a source of wonder and fascination to most of us land-based humans, as we struggle to comprehend their alien, unfettered existence roaming the mysterious depths of the world’s oceans. Indeed, we seem to possess a seemingly insatiable desire to savour the experience of being close to these magnificent creatures and, wherever feeding or breeding imperatives bring numbers of whales to congregate in a particular area, there will invariably be local boatmen taking visitors to enjoy a few precious moments sharing the ocean with these leviathans. After observing the whales, and other cetaceans such as Spinner Dolphins, we conclude the tour at Yala National Park, one of the finest reserves in Asia where the resident Leopards frequently oblige visitors by offering viewing opportunities and a wealth of wildlife includes Asian Elephants, Sloth Bear, Golden Jackal, wild Water Buffalo, Spotted Deer, Sambar, crocodiles and many species of birds.

  • Cetaceans include Spinner & Bottlenose Dolphins, Fin & Bryde's Whales
  • Leopards in Yala National Park
  • Plus Spotted Deer, Asian Elephant, Sloth Bear & Golden Jackal
  • Fabulous butterflies & reptiles including giant Water Monitors
  • Superb birdwatching
  • Very comfortable tourist hotels with swimming pools
  • Enjoy a wonderful selection of tropical fruits
  • Extend holiday to include additional cultural & wildlife sites, eg. Sinharaja Forest
  • Expertly guided by a top Sri Lankan naturalist

The waters around Sri Lanka are a haven for an extraordinary variety of cetaceans, offering a rare opportunity to observe these magnificent marine mammals in their natural habitat. Sperm Whales, Fin Whales, Bryde’s Whales, Short-finned Pilot Whales, and the occasional Orca, frequent these waters and captivate us with their prowess, while Spinner Dolphins and Bottlenose Dolphins provide endless delight with their playful leaps and acrobatics. Occasionally, the unmistakable silhouette and blow of a Blue Whale emerges, adding an unforgettable highlight to the experience! Although Blue Whale sightings are not as regular as they used to be, they are still occasionally recorded off Sri Lanka's southern coast between November and April, when they share these nutrient-rich waters with the above suite of more regularly seen species.  

Our tour begins with a flight to the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, from where we head south, skirting the towering escarpments of the central Hill Country before travelling through a landscape of palms, rice paddies and roadside ponds to the Indian Ocean coast where we stay for four nights at a comfortable resort hotel near Mirissa. Doubtless the excellent amenities of the establishment will be a welcome diversion during our spare time, but each morning we will undertake a whale-watching cruise from a nearby port. During these 4-hour excursions we will sail up to 12 kilometres offshore in search of the larger whales and a range of smaller species such as Short-finned Pilot Whales, and Bottlenose, Pantropical Spotted, Striped and Spinner Dolphins. If we are fortunate to enjoy a close encounter then we may even get to smell their distinctive breath! After each exhilarating whale-watching experience, we return to dry land, then at the end of our 4-night stay near Mirissa we will head east to seek out another of the island's iconic mammals in Yala National Park, the Sri Lankan Leopard.

In recent years diurnal Leopards have been a regular attraction in this superb reserve and we have three nights here to maximise our chances of an encounter with this beautiful feline and to enjoy the other mammals and birds that live here. Wildlife abounds in Yala and each drive is likely to produce a range of species including Asian Elephant, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sambar, mongooses, crocodiles and lizards, as well as a stunning profusion of colourful birdlife. Indian Peafowl are common and in the first few hours after dawn Sri Lanka Junglefowl emerge from cover to display and call. Raptors include Changeable Hawk-eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle and and Grey-headed Fish Eagle. Waterbirds inhabiting the reserve include Spot-billed Pelicans, Painted Storks, Asian Openbills and Purple Herons, the odd-looking Great Thick-knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing and many sandpipers and sand plovers. In the drier areas, we should see a variety of grassland and forest species such as Blue-tailed and Asian Green Bee-eaters, Blue-faced Malkoha, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike and Baya Weaver.

No visit to Yala ever disappoints but it is the sight of a somnolent Leopard draped across the branches of a tree, or padding along a track before disappearing into the undergrowth, that creates a memory to last a lifetime. During the final three days of the tour we will be staying at a very comfortable hotel just outside the park. With no fences to constrain the inhabitants, it is by no means unusual to see a Wild Boar wander through the grounds, or even to find an elephant browsing in the garden!

Yala is a magical place and a perfect venue in which to complete a tour that combines the best of Sri Lankan wildlife, both marine and terrestrial, with the most comfortable of accommodation. It will be with some reluctance that we will finally depart from here and return to Colombo for a return flight back to colder climes; however, for those unwilling to leave, we offer an extension to Sinharaja Forest, the largest and most important lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka and home to so much of the island's endemic flora and fauna. 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London.
Day 2
Arrive Colombo; transfer Mirissa
Day 3/5
Whale-watching excursions from Mirissa.
Day 6/8
Lunugamvehera and Yala National Parks.
Day 9
Colombo.
Day 10
Fly London.
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: Comfortable tourist hotels; all rooms have private facilities.
  • Food: All included in the price.
Reviews
Extensions

Extensions

Sinharaja Forest Reserve extension

3 days from £795
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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 7th Feb – Mon 16th Feb 2 £3,995
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,495
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Male sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795
Sat 7th Mar – Mon 16th Mar 4 £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795
Sat 7th Nov – Mon 16th Nov SPACES £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795

2027

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 6th Feb – Mon 15th Feb SPACES £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795
Sat 6th Mar – Mon 15th Mar SPACES £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795
Sat 6th Nov – Mon 15th Nov SPACES £3,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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