Peter van der Sluijs, Staart blauwe vinvis Sri Lanka, CC BY-SA 3.0
You scan the horizon, eagerly in search of some movement. A seemingly endless expanse of azure stretches as far as the eye can see, merging into the horizon. The speed of the boat whips up a spray of water as you continue your quest in search of the giants of the ocean. You suddenly see movement in the distance. As you draw near, the movements become clearer. You can partially make out the shape of a huge creature beneath the waves. And then you see it clearly coming up to the surface. With baited breath, you witness the majestic beauty of a Blue Whale swimming wild and free.
Such encounters are possible in destinations like Sri Lanka and depending on the season you have a great chance to spot not only Blue Whales, but other varieties too such as Bryde’s Whales, Sperm Whales and Fin Whales. When it comes to the island’s south coast, the whale watching season is generally from November to April. One of the best places from which to embark on an excursion would be Mirissa. Beach hotels in the region are a popular choice of accommodation with options such as Esprit d’ici Hotel providing an ideal base to head to Mirissa Harbour, the main starting point for whale watching tours. During this season the period between December and March is generally considered the peak months for spotting these marine mammals.
Another part of Sri Lanka that is well known for whale watching is Kalpitiya which can be found in the North Western province. Here too, the season for this activity is from November to April when the seas are relatively calm and one has an ideal chance to make a sighting. An added advantage for those on such excursions is the opportunity to spot dolphins as well, with Kalpitiya being home to many Spinner Dolphins.
Moving on to the east coast of Sri Lanka will bring you to another whale watching hotspot, Trincomalee. This part of the island has a different season for whale watching with June to September being the best months. The seas off Trincomalee are great for spotting both Blue Whales and Sperm Whales and offer an unforgettable holiday adventure.
Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world. Google +
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