Whale Watching in Sri Lanka: The 10 Best Boat Trips

1.Whales and Dolphins Watching-Luxury Super Grade Cruiser(Hotel Pick up offered)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,268 reviews · from $65Our pick

Set out from Mirissa at 6:30 am on a cruiser carrying up to 40 people, with captains, safety crew, a restroom, breakfast, tea, and coffee. You may see blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, dolphins, turtles, or flying fish, but sightings are never guaranteed. Hotel pickup is offered, including from Galle, though extra charges may apply.

“We sighted 2-3 blue whales after some searching in the sea. My boys were super excited. The tour was planned and managed very professionally from pickup to drop. They also served descent breakfast with sandwich and various fruits. Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Whale Watching Mirissa with ( WWC )

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 252 reviews · from $55

Join captain Manoj and the Whale Watching Club for a five-hour morning cruise from Mirissa. The 60-foot Queen Whale carries up to 45 people on this tour, leaving at 6:00 am to search for dolphins and whales. Tea, coffee, breakfast, snacks, and a 30-minute sea swim are included, though whale sightings are never guaranteed.

“The boat was really well set up and managed. The communication leading up to the tour was excellent. Unfortunately we didn’t see any whales but we did see lots of dolphins!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Whale Watching Mirissa with Eagle Eye

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · from $70

Join Eagle Eye from Mirissa at 7:00 a.m. for a roughly four-hour search for blue whales aboard a stable trimaran. Your package includes hotel pickup around Mirissa, breakfast, snacks, drinks, life jackets, first aid, Wi-Fi, and sea-sickness pills. Sightings are never guaranteed, but dolphins and turtles may also appear.

“Watching whales is not guaranteed to have recognized a whale from a distance three times by the water fountain. Lots of dolphins in groups and a few turtles were there to see.Auto-translated”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews

Set out from Mirissa at 7:00 am on a private 10-meter sports boat for a three to four-hour search for blue whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life. Chaminda’s crew reaches the whale habitat in under an hour, serves breakfast and drinks, and follows international whale-watching rules. Pickup beyond Mirissa costs extra.

“Great whale, dolphin and turtle spotting experience. Wonderful staff and an excellent, clean boat. We had a whale of a time :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 81 reviews · 5 hours · from $84

Start at Trinco Bay Dive Center with tea or coffee, then head offshore for blue whales, sperm whales, and spinner dolphins. After fruit and refreshments, snorkel around Navy Island with a guide, reef fish, coral, and turtles. Equipment, safety support, and underwater photos and videos are included. Pickup costs extra.

“This was one of the best tours I’ve done in Sri Lanka! We started early in Trincomalee with a warm welcome at the dive center and a cup of tea before heading out to sea. The whale and dolphin watching was unforgettable ,we saw a huge fin whale and a pod of spinner dolphins right next to the boat! After returning, we had some fresh fruits as a light refreshment before going snorkeling at Navy Island. The snorkeling was amazing clear water, colorful coral, tropical fish, and even a sea turtle. The snorkeling guide was super helpful and made sure everyone felt safe. One of the best parts was the…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Whale & Dolphin Safari Tour with Expert Guides

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 53 reviews · 1 day · from $71

Set out early from Trincomalee harbor on a small speedboat with an expert guide searching for blue and fin whales, spinner dolphins, turtles, seabirds, and flying fish. You’ll follow responsible whale-watching rules, enjoy water and biscuits, and return with views of the famous Hindu temple. The boat trip lasts 2 to 3 hours.

“I didn’t know what to expect beforehand, but after we saw dolphins playfully jumping around and a finwhale coming up again and again, i was blown away by the experience. Also really happy with the staff who always tried to give us the best view and told us over and over again where the whale will come up so everyone could take pictures.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Dolphin & Whale Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 37 reviews · 2 hours · from $40Best value

Set out from Nilaveli Beach around 5:30 AM on a shared boat with a local captain, life jacket, and bottled water. You may see spinner dolphins, blue whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, turtles, or flying fish. The trip lasts about two and a half hours, but sightings and return time depend on sea conditions.

“Fajna przygoda, widzieliśmy wiele delfinów, przewodnik był zaangażowany. Niestety nie widzieliśmy wieloryba...”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.2-Day Whale Watching & Southern Sri Lanka Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 6 reviews · 2 days · from $292

Travel from Colombo to Mirissa with an English- or German-speaking guide, stopping at Bentota, Galle Fort, Hikkaduwa, and a turtle centre. A river safari and whale-watching trip add wildlife, but boat fees cost extra. The small group is limited to 10, with one night in a 3-star-compatible Mirissa hotel.

“Tour delle balene come immaginavamo bellissimo anche se non abbiamo avuto la fortuna di vederle in maniera plateale. Abbiamo visto anche i delfini… Consigliatissima la spiaggia di hikkaruwa dove abbiamo interagito con delle tartarughe giganti selvatiche.. visto anche piccoli squaletti… spiaggia molto bella. Autista top e per nulla invadente. Piacevole la gita sul fiume, abbiamo visto scimmie, coccodrilli, e uccelli. Noi abbiamo evitato il tempio di Buddha perché abbiamo preferito fare un bagno a mare visto il poco tempo a disposizione, era l’unica tappa sacrificabile.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruise with Breakfast

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 3 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $65

Start with hotel pickup around 6:00, breakfast near Mirissa Fishery Harbour, then spend about three hours at sea looking for blue whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. English-speaking crew, snacks, water, transfers, and several southern-coast pickup points are included. Sightings are never guaranteed, and larger boats may limit your view.

“There was some confusion in picking us up, although they arrived on time. The company was not sure if we were with them. Soon they called me on my phone and confirmed. Breakfast was poor and there was no tea or coffee supplied. There was hardly any sighting. A brief pod of dolphins and a pair of sea turtles. Rain put an end to the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.All Inclusive Mirissa Whale & Dolphin Watching + Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 3 reviews · 6 hours · from $145

Leave Mirissa before sunrise for a four-hour boat search for whales, dolphins, and other marine life. After lunch, snorkel for 90 minutes with turtles and reef fish, then return by tuk tuk. Sami is one of the guides named in guest feedback. Rough seas can shorten or cancel the trip.

“Whale watching was incredible, we saw one whale bellyflop. Snorkelling part not so great, too crowded with 20 people fighting for one turtle. Pretty fish and corals though. I'd recommend to just do the whale watching without snorkelling and lunch.”

Check availability →Read our full review