Sri Lanka - Blue Whales & Leopards

Tour Code: LKA06

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

10 days from
£2,795 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£2,295
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

The delightful tropical island of Sri Lanka is now regarded as one of the best places in the world to see Blue Whales between the months of November and April. This unique wildlife holiday begins with three days of whale-watching excursions from the south coast of the island where small numbers of Blue Wales are reliably found in the deep water just a few kilometres offshore. After observing the Blue 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 Indian Elephants, wild Water Buffalo, Spotted Deer, Sambar, crocodiles and many species of birds.

  • The most reliable place in the world to see Blue Whales
  • Other cetaceans include Spinner Dolphins & Bryde's Whale
  • Leopards in Yala National Park
  • Plus Spotted Deer, Indian Elephant, Water Buffalo & crocodiles
  • 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 or British naturalist

Grading

Easy day walks only.

The Great Whales 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. The largest of all the cetaceans, indeed the largest of all mammals, the Blue Whale has always been something of an enigma, a true ocean wanderer living a pelagic lifestyle which rarely brings it with any predictability close to land. Gradually, however, scientists are beginning to gain some understanding of the enormous migrations undertaken by Blue Whales and one discovery has been their regular appearances close to the south coast of Sri Lanka between November and April. It is this annual event that we will be taking advantage of during this new tour in a country that has long been a Naturetrek favourite.

Arriving in the capital, Colombo, 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. 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 and, whilst seeing wild creatures can never be guaranteed, we expect to have multiple sightings of Blue Whales.

Never a gregarious creature, the sightings are usually of single animals, or perhaps a cow and calf, but it is possible to encounter as many as 10 whales during these outings and the expertise of the captain will be an important element in finding our quarry. Despite averaging 25 metres in length and reaching a weight in excess of 100 tons, Blue Whales can be surprisingly elusive, but in these calm waters the mighty 9-metre-high blow is often the first indication of their presence near the surface. Whilst concentrating each day on observing Blue Whales, other smaller cetaceans are also likely to entertain us. These may include Bryde’s and Pilot Whales, and Bottlenose, Pantropical Spotted, Striped and Spinner Dolphins, the latter regularly appearing in pods of several hundred individuals. Although the occurrences of Blue Whales in Sri Lankan waters have been known to researchers for many years it is only now that opportunities exist for visitors to see these impressive animals and, in recent years, our Naturetrek groups have been rewarded by close encounters, often of numerous individuals, in this most idyllic of settings.

After this ultimate in whale-watching experiences we return to dry land to seek another highly impressive mammal in Yala National Park. In recent years diurnal Leopards have been a regular attraction in this superb reserve and we will travel by jeep for full-day game drives, with the possibility of suddenly coming upon a Leopard adding an exciting frisson to every visit. Wildlife abounds in Yala and each drive is likely to produce sightings of Indian Elephant, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sambar, mongooses, crocodiles and lizards as well as a stunning profusion of colourful birdlife. 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 and 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; but, for those unwilling to leave, we offer an extension to Sinharaja Forest Reserve, 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

2023

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 4th Feb – Mon 13th Feb SPACES £2,795
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.
£2,295
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695
Sat 4th Mar – Mon 13th Mar SPACES £2,795
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.
£2,295
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695
Sat 11th Nov – Mon 20th Nov SPACES £2,795
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.
£2,295
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695
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!