Dolphin & Whale Safari

Experience Sri Lanka’s wild side—dolphins in Kalpitiya, leopards in Yala, and blue whales off Weligama. This adventure blends ocean safaris, wildlife encounters, and rich landscapes for an unforgettable journey.

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Marine Encounters: 11 Day Dolphin, Whale & Leopard Safari in Sri Lanka

21-Day Timeline
Day 11
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11

Katunayake to Kalpitiya

Arrive in Colombo at 12:40 PM and drive to Kalpitiya. Check in to your beachfront hotel, then take a late-afternoon stroll along the lagoon’s edge, where grey herons, purple herons, and whimbrels forage in the mudflats. As the sun sets, listen for Indian thick-knees calling and scan for white-bellied sea eagles overhead. Overnight in Kalpitiya.

Kalpitiya

Before dawn, board a traditional outrigger for a dolphin excursion. Look for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and spinner dolphins riding bow waves, with pods often numbering in the dozens. Return for a seafood breakfast onshore, then spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or exploring mangrove fringes, where you might glimpse marsh crocodiles or fishing cats at dusk. Overnight in Kalpitiya.

 
 
 

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Kalpitiya

Enjoy another pre-breakfast dolphin outing—today you may encounter Pantropical spotted dolphins. Afterward, kayak through the Kalpitiya lagoon’s mangrove channels, spotting crakes, rails, and mudskippers amid tangled roots. Keep an eye out for kingfishers perched motionless above tidal creeks. Overnight in Kalpitiya.

 
 
 
 

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Kalpitiya to Udawalawe

After breakfast, drive southeast toward Udawalawe National Park, passing scrub forests where Sri Lanka grey hornbills and Indian peafowl may be seen. Arrive at your lodge overlooking the reservoir and, late afternoon, watch for Asian elephants, painted storks, and bronze-winged jacanas gathering to drink. Overnight in Udawalawe.

 

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Udawalawe to Tissamaharama

Depart before sunrise for a morning jeep safari, searching for Sri Lankan elephants bathing, sambar deer grazing, and mugger crocodiles basking. Enjoy a picnic breakfast beside the reservoir, then drive to Tissamaharama, where grey langurs and toque macaques frequent hotel grounds. Overnight in Tissamaharama.

 

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Yala National Park

Spend the day in Yala’s Block I, scanning rocky outcrops for Sri Lankan leopards and sloth bears. Other highlights include Asian elephants at waterholes, axis deer, jungle cats, and painted storks. Enjoy a shaded picnic lunch and return to Tissamaharama around sunset. Overnight in Tissamaharama.

 
 
 

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Yala to Weligama

Head into Yala at first light to catch final leopard sightings and spot white-bellied woodpeckers or black-naped hares. By late morning, depart for Weligama via Weherahena Temple, admiring its seated Buddha and vibrant murals. Check in to your beachfront hotel and stroll Mirissa Bay’s tidal flats, where whimbrels and greenshanks forage. Overnight in Weligama.

 

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Weligama

Rise before dawn for a whale-watching trip; search for blue whales, sperm whales, and Bryde’s whales . Return by mid-morning and spend the rest of the day on the golden sands—perhaps trying a surf lesson or sampling fresh tuna at a beachside cafe. Overnight in Weligama.

 
 
 

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Weligama

Depart pre-dawn for another whale expedition, increasing your chances for mother-calf pairs of blue whales or pods of dolphins. In the afternoon, visit the Madu Ganga mangroves for a boat tour—watch for mudskippers, kingfishers, and watch crocodiles lurking beneath the roots. Optionally stop at a cinnamon-processing village on a tiny islet. Overnight in Weligama.

 
 
 
 

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Weligama

Enjoy your final sunrise whale safari, looking for sperm whales diving deep for squid and pilot whales trailing larger species. Back on shore by late morning, relax on Mirissa or explore the bustling fish market, observing fishermen unloading mackerel and kingfish. As evening falls, head to Dondra Head lighthouse for panoramic ocean views. Overnight in Weligama.

 
 
 
 

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Weligama to Katunayake

After breakfast, drive west to Galle Fort. Wander its colonial ramparts, spotting Eurasian collared doves and Ceylon junglefowl in the rampart gardens. Enjoy a seaside lunch within the UNESCO World Heritage site’s narrow streets before continuing to Colombo International Airport for your flight, reflecting on dolphins in Kalpitiya, leopards in Yala, and whales off Weligama.

Adventure Birding (Pvt) Ltd

No 18/4, Pathiba Road, Colombo 05,
Sri Lanka.

0094 77 740 3811 (Mobile/WhatsApp)
0094 77 472 9286 (Mobile/WhatsApp)
0094 777 591 005 (Mobile)

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