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  • Swimming with blue whales in Sri Lanka

Itinerary Summary

Duration
9 Days
Price
£7270
When
Mar
Destination
Sri Lanka
Type
Small Group Safari
Duration Price When Destination Type
9 Days £7270 Mar Sri Lanka Small Group Safari
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Sri Lanka Blue Whale Safari

We were of the first travel fixers to offer legitimate in-water encounters with blue whales, alongside our BAFTA-winning Blue Planet II videographer and his team. We get you up close and personal to the ocean’s giants! To ensure a truly exclusive experience, the location we use is kept secret, working closely with marine specialists on non-intrusive ‘in-water’ encounters with full permits. This is one of our most in-demand safaris for good reason!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

  • Snorkel with the largest creature on the planet, the blue whale.
  • We have full permits for legitimate, non-intrusive, in-water encounters
  • Spot a host of other marine wildlife, including green sea turtles, spinner dolphins and pilot whales.
  • Learn more about this remarkable species from our expert marine team.
  • Contribute to blue whale conservation by working alongside local researchers.
  • Be photographed alongside these graceful sea-dwelling creatures.
  • enjoy the ambience at your beachside resorts after a day on the water.

Embedded Video Overview

Swim with blue whales in Sri Lanka from $9,669 PP.

AS FEATURED IN THE PRESS

Experience a beautiful underwater adventure in Sri Lanka diving with whales. A truly unique opportunity to swim with, be photographed alongside, and assist in the research of the largest animal ever known to exist on earth, the blue whale.

This exclusive pioneering itinerary offers you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assist a research team and be photographed with the mighty blue whale, led by one of our renowned marine photographers: Joshua Barton and his team.

Our guides have developed an expertise that is unmatched when it comes to close encounters with Sri Lanka's marine wildlife. You may also have the opportunity to be joined on your safari by a team of local researchers, allowing you to assist with their conservation efforts throughout your trip.

Spend your time heading out into the ocean in search of these gentle giants, before joining them in the water for a truly magical experience. When back on land, relax and enjoy the comforts of your secluded beachside resorts and reflect upon your unforgettable underwater encounters.

This safari has been featured many times in the worldwide press as one of the most exclusive trips on the planet. Have a chat with our specialists to find out more about what makes these departures so unique.

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Harbour, Sri Lanka
Swimming with blue whales in Sri Lanka
Blue whale safari, Sri Lanka
Whale, Sri Lanka

Day by day

Day by day

Day 1

Colombo - East Coast

Arrive at the airport where you will be met by our local representative and transferred to Sri Lanka’s east coast (approx. 6 hours drive). The deep coastal waters of the Indian Ocean are probably the best place in the world to see blue whales, but where most travel companies are restricted to whale watching from the deck of a boat, our plan is to actually take to the water with these gentle giants, swimming and snorkelling alongside them. After arriving at your resort, spend the rest of the day settling into to your charming new lodgings. There will be a pre-safari briefing at 7pm. You will be staying at small resorts set by the beach in one of two secluded spots on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, one of the best places in the world to spot blue whales. To protect the whales from the onslaught of mass tourism, the exact locations are a closely guarded secret, known only to whale experts like Joshua and his team. With just a few rooms and suites at both locations this is a great place to relax and enjoy your surroundings in sumptuous privacy.

Blue whale, Sri Lanka
Days 2-8

Whale Watching

Not only is the blue whale the largest animal alive today, it is in fact the largest creature to have ever existed. As far as we know, even the largest dinosaurs cannot rival this leviathan in size. A blue whale’s heart is the size of a car and its tongue weighs as much as an elephant. The subspecies present in Sri Lanka can grow up to 75 ft in length. The next 7 days of your safari are dedicated to seeing and being photographed with blue whales underwater. Our expert photographers and blue whale specialists have developed an expertise that is unmatched when it comes to getting close encounters with Sri Lanka’s blue whales. You will wake early each morning before boarding boats to head out into the ocean.

Day 9

East Coast - Colombo

Today you will be transferred back to Colombo for your onward journey (approx. 6 hours drive). The journey should be filled with memories of the incredible wildlife encounters you have had over the course of your marine safari.

TRIP DETAILS

DATES AND PRICES

This is a small group safari that allows you to get up close with the pygmy blue whales in Sri Lanka. Groups are limited to four people per trip. It is easy to extend this trip to include more of Sri Lanka’s highlights. Find out when to go for the best wildlife experiences.

Please note there is a single supplement fee of £775.

Each week in 2023 will have two departures with 4 guests being assigned to a guide at a time. 

Be the first to know about any cancellations or newly added departures by joining our waitlist here.

Trip date Prices from
Feb 27 - Mar 07 2023 £7270
Mar 08 - Mar 16 2023 £7270
Mar 17 - Mar 25 2023 £7270
Mar 26 - Apr 03 2023 £7270

Find out more about this itinerary

For a detailed copy of this itinerary, please fill out the form below

By submitting this form, you confirm that you agree to our privacy policy. Please note our safaris are for a minimum of five days; we do not offer day tours.

  • Joshua was amazing from start to finish. Nothing was too much to ask for and he did everything he could to make our trip very special.
    4 out of 5
  • We received great service from Harriet who was a very good communicator, charming, polite, and an exceptional asset to the organisation. Our guide Josh was outstanding in terms of maximising the opportunity to see the whales. Very impressive. He was without a question very experienced and knowledgeable which is what I feel I pay for.
    4 out of 5
  • The service NWS provided was great! We ended up spotting various dolphins, sperm whales, and pilot whales. Our guide, Josh Barton, was great, enthusiastic, and very passionate too which contributed to a great trip.
    4 out of 5
  • Everything was very helpful throughout the planning. We really appreciated that our Destination Specialist, Nora, made the extra effort to offer travel logistics and recommendations of places to visit. The location for marine life is excellent, the best in Sri Lanka. We were completely alone in the water with no other boats or tourists around. Joshua Barton was fantastic and made the trip – a great guide, knowledgeable, experienced. Howard Martenstyn joined three out of the six dives – very knowledgeable in marine biology, a good guy to have on the boat to answer more detailed questions on the biology of the whales. Having both the different guides was a great combo. We saw eight different whale species, three different dolphin species and two different shark species!
    5 out of 5
  • This trip was the time of my life, and your team is great. I loved Patrick and Joshua, they are wonderful guides. The entire experience was just amazing! The greatest adventure that I have ever lived! It's hard to explain how wonderful the experience of swimming with blue whales is. When I had my first sight of one of them, I just cried and laughed, it was so exciting... I could do that for my entire life, and I just couldn’t get enough. Well, a journey of a lifetime. The days of my life – I will never forget!
    5 out of 5
  • Our Destination Specialist, Nora, was great. I appreciated her timely communication. Overall, I had a great trip! Everyone was friendly and like-minded, and it made for a wonderful experience.
    5 out of 5
  • Anna at NWS was proactive and provided exceptional service and assistance. Thanks Anna. As for the trip, it was incredible to see whales underwater. I experienced highly memorable whale interactions and Patrick Dykstra was an exceptional guide, a true asset to your team. I would consider any trip if people like Patrick and Joshua Barton are involved. We had a blast. The accommodation was also better than I expected, considering how remote a location it was in northern Sri Lanka.
    5 out of 5
  • Amazing - the whole experience, from the airport pick-up to the drop-off. The team was very professional. Truly unforgettable and life-changing. Snorkelling with a blue whale, the largest creature to ever exist, is an experience I'll always remember. Thank you for making this adventure possible. I can't wait to travel with NWS again!
    5 out of 5
  • Basically got what I hoped for! Everything was very well arranged. Really nothing I had to do from the point I arrived at the airport. Our guide, Joshua Barton, was a very knowledgeable guy. Always cracking jokes and keeping spirits up. Good introduction about the plan for the coming week when I arrived. As for the whales, we got lucky 4/7 days. I can die a happy man now!
    5 out of 5
  • This was the best vacation my wife and I have ever been on. Patrick was committed to providing us great opportunities to see the whales, and he delivered. I would recommend it to anyone. Thank you for giving us this opportunity.
    5 out of 5
  • I honestly had an incredible time. The things I saw I will never forget. I mean, I swam with whales! Patrick and Joshua are awesome people. I learned so much from them. The pure size and majesty of what I saw literally took my breath away. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!
    5 out of 5
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