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  • Swimming with blue whales in Sri Lanka

Itinerary Summary

Duration
9 Days
Price
£6770
When
Mar 2020 & 2021
Destination
Sri Lanka
Type
Small Group Safari
Duration Price When Destination Type
9 Days £6770 Mar 2020 & 2021 Sri Lanka Small Group Safari
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Sri Lanka Blue Whale Safari

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 three renowned photographers: Patrick Dykstra, Joshua Barton and Rita Messing Patrick was part of the first team of photographers to locate and interact with Sri Lanka's blue whales following the nation’s civil war, while Joshua's NWS clients were the first non-professionals to photograph transient orcas underwater off the country's coast, during their safari in 2016. Rita's work has been published by National Geographic and she brings a wealth of experience in guiding marine safaris.

Our guides have developed an expertise that is unmatched when it comes to close encounters with Sri Lanka's marine wildlife. You will also 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 resort and reflect upon your unforgettable underwater encounters.

What makes this trip extraordinary?

  • Snorkelling with the largest creature on the planet, the blue whale.
  • Learning more about this remarkable species from our expert team.
  • Contributing to blue whale conservation by working alongside local researchers.
  • Spotting a host of other marine wildlife, including green sea turtles, spinner dolphins and pilot whales.
  • Being photographed alongside these graceful sea-dwelling creatures.
  • Drinking in the ambience at your beachside resort after a day on the water.
  • Coming home with once-in-a-lifetime memories that few others will have!

Embedded Video Overview

A 9-day safari to swim with blue whales in Sri Lanka with a research team

from $8,632 per person, excluding international flights

Mosaic Gallery

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 a small resort set by a beach in a secluded spot 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 location is a closely guarded secret, known only to whale experts like Patrick, Joshua and Rita. With just a few rooms and suites, this is a great place to relax and enjoy your surroundings in sumptuous privacy. The resort also has a small pool, ideal for cooling off or practising your breaststroke!

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. There is a maximum of four guests on this expedition.

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.

Our 2020 and 2021 departures are now sold out. Be the first to know about any cancellations or newly added departures by joining our waitlist here.

Trip date Prices from
Mar 01 - Mar 09 2021 SOLD OUT
Mar 10 - Mar 18 2021 SOLD OUT
Mar 19 - Mar 27 2021 SOLD OUT
Mar 28 - Apr 05 2021 SOLD OUT

  • 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

Talk to one of our specialists for further details on our Sri Lanka wildlife safaris.

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