Orion

sri lanka train ride
www.ceylonwhales.com — Tourism in sri lanka,way to hill country

The travel industry in Sri Lanka is energizing, the nation famous as the pearl of the Indian Ocean is an island country with a rich social legacy, colorful travel areas and a land like no other with biodiversity hotspots and grinning faces.

The nation has a mix of culture with a blend of current components alongside customary viewpoints keeping up a territorial decent variety. Sri Lanka, situated on the tip of the Indian landmass has impacted the Sri Lankan culture and practices. The Sri Lankan culture is enhanced on a Buddhist legacy and is the prevalent religion of Sinhalese. Through colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, the nation has had a western touch too in the cutting edge time which has impacted in nearby culinary and way of life designs. Sri Lanka has an assorted culture with the Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors and Burghers living in concordance.

The one of a kind Sri Lankan culture has assisted with keeping up an unmistakable personality going back to a written history of more than 2000 years passed on from age to age the one of a kind ceremonies and customs which are protected right up ’til today. The travel industry in Sri Lanka encourages you to observe the vivid celebrations, expressions and figure which draw individuals around the world to Sri Lanka. Friendliness and warm nature of the individuals, make it probably the friendliest country on the planet.

Why should you explore tourism in Sri Lanka?

World top heritages
Beautiful Beaches & rivers
Ayurveda
Eco-Tourism
Shopping
Waterfalls and Hills
Zoological Gardens
Wild Life Experiences
World Top Tea plantations & Spices Gardens

Dambulla temple srilanka
www.ceylonwhales.com

The travel industry in Sri Lanka causes you have an assortment of encounters. All things considered, the container list is high with a decision for all guests, be it social and chronicled admirers to sea shore addicts and honeymooners both youthful and old have exercises to connect with in.Heritage Visits attract numerous voyagers to encounter the past Sri Lankan conventions and lifestyle during the period of the old rulers and sovereigns who utilized Ayurveda to keep up great well being and drove a nature-accommodating life. The antiquated human progress can be seen by making a voyage through the Golden social triangle which covers the old urban areas of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya. The archaeological destinations uncover the mechanical wonders of antiquated Sri Lanka, a nation notable for its old water system frameworks. The wooden expressions, works of art, and sculptures of Kandy present the nearby ability and the stone fortification of Sigiriya has been announced an UNESCO legacy site increasing the value of the travel industry in Sri Lanka with recorded archaeological proof.

mirissa beach
www.ceylonwhales.com — View of Mirissa beach from parrot rock

Beach Tours are very popular among the tourists and is the reason why tourism in Sri Lanka is popular. One can experience beautiful stretches of the sun-kissed coastal belt under shady coconut groves and clear blue waters. Many popular beaches such as Mirissa, Unawatuna, Negombo, Bentota, Hikkaduwa and Nilaweli attract both locals and foreigners. Mount Lavinia beach in the suburbs of Colombo is a perfect get way too. Whale and Dolphin watching in Mirissa is a must do while in Sri Lanka.

train ride to hill country in srilanka — Train ride to hill country in Srilanka

Wonder of Asia

Hill Country Expeditions are for the nature lovers to wrap in the recuperating green environment in the midst of the quiet and cloudy peaks of Sri Lanka making the travel industry in Sri Lanka charming. The lavish tea bequests and delightful waterfalls like Dunhinda and Diyaluma would assist one with experiencing the extravagance of Mother Nature to construct enduring recollections. The Peradeniya and Haggala Botanical nurseries give a stunning encounter for vacationers. Sripadaya or the Adams Peak is a hill station with a unique identity being popular both as a religious venue and a place to experience real Sri Lankan natural beauty.

wild life srilanka
www.ceylonwhales.com — Wild life Srilanka

Wild Life Excursions at the national parks such as Yala and Wilpathu provide tourists with the opportunity to witness the wild giants. Tourism in Sri Lanka helps you to be close to the Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bear and much endemic flora and fauna which has made Sri Lanka a popular biodiversity hotspot with true exotic beauty.

Activities to Engage while in Sri Lanka

As a vacation goal, there is bounty to participate in while your stay in Sri Lanka. Going from tropical sandy sea shores to natural life safaris and experience visits, Sri Lanka has numerous open doors coming up for you and the primary motivation behind why the travel industry is so well known in the island. Trekking, climbing and watersports are a portion of the enjoyment exercises one can take part in.

water rafting in sri lanka
www.ceylonwhales.com — Water rafting in sri lanka

Water Sports are synonymous with the community of Kithulgala making it a perfect spot for the travel industry in Sri Lanka. The wet zone rain forest is a perfect eco-experience site with offices for wilderness boating in the Kelani river.It is a protected spot during the dry a long time to swim and play. The site has offices for level water boating, cascade trekking, and abseiling. Famous plunge and swimming destinations in Sri Lanka incorporate Hikkaduwa, Mirissa,Nilvelipigeon island, and Kalpitiya Bar Reef.

Hiking in srilanka
www.ceylonwhales.com — Hiking in Srilanka

Trekking and Hiking in Sri Lanka are very well known among the visitors who visit the island. For a sharp climber, the travel industry in Sri Lanka offers a plenty of chances in the brilliant slope stations. Haputhale and Diyathalawa are heavens for trekkers who could base their climbs through the wildernesses and tea domains up into the slopes. In transit, the explorers can savour the beautiful cascades and grand vegetation.

Caving or Speleology
www.ceylonwhales.com — **Caving or Speleology**

Caving or Speleology though a new concept is catching up fast and is drawing the attention of tourism in Sri Lanka. With many caves dotted around the hills of Ritigala, one can experience quite an adventure. For persons trying to study nocturnal life, these caves provide a good venue.The Belilena or Wavulpone has a large community of bats while the Batatotalena at Sudugala has the remains of the prehistoric ‘Balangoda Man’ inside the cave.

Camping in Srilanka
www.ceylonwhales.com — Camping in Srilanka

Camping can be one of the best experiences to have while engaging in tourism in Sri Lanka and one gets to be a part of nature amidst jungle locations. The Yala and Wilpaththu camping sites are very popular wild wife safari camps while camping in the Knuckles mountain range is an exotic experience too. Camping in the Vaddha villages of Mahiyanganaya will help you explore the traditions of the ‘Adhiwasi’ or native inhabitants of Sri Lanka who spend a nomadic way of life.

Sri Lanka is also one of the best destinations for gem and jewellery shopping. The Sri Lankan sapphires are highly valued and the country is home to many gemstones making it a destination for tourism in Sri Lanka. The spice gardens of Sri Lanka help you with access to all your culinary requirements and Sri Lankan cinnamon is the best in the world. Do not forget to pick a pack of the best tea from Sri Lanka before leaving.

whale watching mirissa www.ceylonwhales.com — Whale watching in mirissa

Whale watching is particularly big with the 3 countries who are unfortunately pro whale hunting: Japan, Norway and Iceland.

We encountered this when we entered a whale bar in Tokyo by accident.

We’ve since been more curious about whales, spotting orca killer whales in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, so we jumped at the chance to see these magnificent endangered species in the flesh at Mirissa in Sri Lanka.

WHERE TO STAY IN MIRISSA?

Mirissa offers a wide variety of options, from budget to luxury. Whether you are looking for a hotel close to Mirissa beach or hidden away in the hills with splendid views, you will find it. Below are the places we loved because they fit every budget and have a unique charm. All of them will be able to help you with booking your whale watching tour.

MAMA’S PLACE Check prices now

A lovely boutique hotel located near by long deserted beach in Mirissa.
Rooms are spacious, nicely decorated, with a delicious breakfast freshly prepared in the morning.

POPPIES GUESTHOUSE Check prices now

Great budget option, located on the main street, a 3 minutes walk from the beach.
Rooms are clean and spacious, and breakfast is plentiful.
Prices start from $36 / £24 for a double room with breakfast.

CAPE WELIGAMA Check prices now

A bit outside of Mirissa, but this is the ultimate luxury experience in Mirissa.
perfect for honeymooners or couple looking for a unique romantic experience.
Rooms overlooking the ocean with an infinity pool offering incredible views.
Prices start from $434 / £300 a night.

cape weligama www.ceylonwhales.com — Stunning view of cape weligama

WHALE WATCHING SEASON IN SRI LANKA

Whale watching in Mirissa has become one of the most popular leisure activity since 2008 in Sri Lanka. Today whale watching in Mirissa is being enjoyed and loved by adults and kids alike. The Whale watching experience itself is claimed to be informative, recreational and adventurous as well to an extent. In fact, to watch how these giant mysterious marine mammals behave in a natural environment of their own is thrilling and one of the rarest sighting in the world and so it would be an unforgettable experience for everyone. Therefore It has now become a must do activity on ever travelers itinerary.

The whale watching season in Sri Lanka runs from November to April / May, as during the rest of the year, the waters will be too rough because of the Monsoon.most of boats are avoid their whale watching tours at that time periods

The best place to spot whales is in Mirissa, a small tourist town on Sri Lanka’s south coast, popular for surfing and famous for whale watching & very rich with scenic destinations The waters around Mirissa are particularly rich in plankton (a group of microorganisms whales feed on), which lead scientists to believe there is a resident population always present which will result in sightings whenever conditions are good, particularly between November to April.

sunset in mirissa www.ceylonwhales.com — Waiting for sunset

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO WHALE WATCHING?

Which company to choose?

There is a huge choice of whale watching tour companies in Mirissa, and all of them charge more or less the same price. Choose the company carefully because not all of them care about the animals and most of them are not eco-friendly. For example, some try to get really close up to the whales, which frightens them and stresses them unnecessarily. A good ethical tour company will keep a careful distance from the whales to prevent this from happening. and they have good safe working practices.

The price of a whale watching tour

As with most tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, prices have been increasing a lot over the years. A whale-watching safari was around 8,000 Sri Lanka rupees (around $45/ £33) per person when we went. We decided this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, which if done in somewhere like Canada, New Zealand or Europe would be a lot more expensive. Note that, there are a lot of SCAMMERS on the beach they may offer lower price, DO NOT get caught with scammers

Responsible whale watching tourism

Companies who care about the well-being of the whales are committed to responsible whale watching and abide by the criteria set by the WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society).

We decided to take a morning tour with Ceylon Whales, who filled the WDC requirements. This company has several types of boats and they are Eco-friendly

The tour itself involved a 1-hour early morning boat ride from 6:30am out into the Indian Ocean where the whales are known to be feeding. If you go during the whale watching season, your chances of seeing a whale are quite high (90-95%) and if not, most companies promise to re-book your tour (for free).

SPOTTING BLUE WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN MIRISSA

We were lucky to spot several Blue Whales and dolphins on our tour, along with the money shot of them diving back down:

Blue whales are the largest creatures on earth, measuring up to 30 metres in length, and luckily enough for you, they live only a few miles off the South Coast of Sri Lanka.The art to spotting the whales comes down to mastering their breathing behaviour.

we can be part of a mission by helping each others to spotting whales,it was amazing

Whales are mammals so they have lungs instead of fish gills for breathing. Therefore, they cannot breath underwater and need to come up for air.

Blue whales can hold their breath underwater for an average 30 minutes before they have to surface for air. They don’t have a nose and can’t breath through their mouth so rely on their blow-holes. When they surface, they spout the air (and lots of water with it) out of their blow-hole.

This is the first sign to look out for:

They then stay onshore dipping in and out of the water, around 3-4 times, breathing in and out:

whale watching in mirissa www.ceylonwhales.com — Whale on the water surface taking a few breaths before getting ready for the big dive down

Finally, they take one last long breath before making that beautiful dramatic money shot dive back down to look for food:

As with all safaris, whale watching is a waiting game and a test of patience. A good company will know the signs to look out for and the optimum spots for whale sightings. And you can able to spot while the tour Blue whale as well as fin whales, sei whales, sperm whales, orcas (killer whales), dolphins, flying fish, turtles, manta rays and whale sharks.

Along the way we also saw many Bottle-nose and Spinner Dolphins swimming along with us:

IS IT WORTH DOING A WHALE WATCHING SAFARI ?

In my opinion, yes!