Activities
Most popular activities to do in Sri Lanka
Whale Watching
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Sri Lanka is a popular pick for tourists visiting South Asia as it is an island that is abundantly blessed by Mother Nature. The island is home to a wide range of flora and fauna and the oceans around are a great place to spot whales and dolphins.
The whale and dolphin watching adventure in Mirissa are one of the most thrilling water activities in Sri Lanka. The warm waters around Sri Lanka are ideal to spot blue whales, Bryde´s whales, sperm whales, fin whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and sometimes killer whales. Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and striped dolphin can be seen too. The whale watching season starts in November and ends in April when the waters are warm and calm. Whale watching boats can ideally carry up to 40 passengers at a time with an observation deck. Whale watching tours usually start around 7.00 am as boats leave the harbour around that time and last about 3.5- 4 hours.
Wild Safari
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Sri Lanka, despite being a small Island it is gifted with many wildlife attractions such as National Parks, Rain Forests and Scenic Forests & Mountainous Reserves. Some of these offer easy safari game viewing by Jeeps while others required to be explored only by walking/trekking. Sri Lanka is popular for its large population of Leopards and Elephants. But there are many other species like Sloth Bears, Crocodiles, Different verities of Deers, Monkeys, and over 400 verities of Birds which over 200 are resident and 26 are endemic.
Following are the most visited and most popular National parks and Protected Reserves in Sri Lanka.
Wildlife SafariYala National Park – Located in the southernmost part of Sri Lanka and it’s a 6 to 8 hours of drive from Colombo/Airport. Popular for its Leopards density. This is the most visited and most popular National Park in the country.
Udawalawe National Park – Famous for its large Elephant population and the best and the easiest place to watch Elephants. It’s a 4 hours drive from Colombo/Airport.
We operate Safari Jeep Tours, Hiking Trails and Tented Safari Camps inside the above National Parks and Nature Reserves. Safari Jeep Tours can be arranged from Half days to full days with guides, entrance fees, Jeeps and refreshments in Yala, Udawalawe and Wilpattu are explored by walking with a guide. If you are interested in camping inside in any of these National Parks, we have a tested product which offers you an unforgettable camping experience in the heart of the wilderness.
Diving & Snorkeling
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As beautiful as Sri Lanka is on land, it is equally matched with its spectacular underwater scenery. Beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean lies a separate world of tropical fish, coloured coral and mysterious shipwrecks. Located 5 to 9 degrees north of the equator means that the Sri Lanka seas are perennially warm and when in season they remain at an inviting temperature of around 27C. Sea conditions are governed by the two monsoons – the northeast and southwest- permitting calm seas and clear waters along the south and western coastline from November to April and from April to October along the eastern coast of the island. Diving and snorkeling in Sri Lanka is all the more interesting because of the different types of reef that is found in the seas around the island. There are sandstone platforms, coral banks, boulders and rock cliffs that are found both close as well as far away from the shore. Most of the reefs found on the western coast are sandstone platforms. In the Southwest and southern coast rock boulder reefs are more common as are small fringing coral reefs.
Hikkaduwa – With its impressive coral reefs and abundance of tropical fish, Hikkaduwa is recognized as one of the best places for Snorkeling and diving on the Southwest coast (in the southwest season of November to April). With a reputed and long-running diving school located in the town itself, PADI diving instructors are available throughout the season for training and certification as well as leading more experienced divers in some of the country’s best ship wreck and reef dives.
Kitesurfing Tour
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TOP SPOTS FOR KITESURFING IN SRI LANKA
KALPITIYA
This is widely considered to be the “main” kitesurfing spot in Sri Lanka. Kalpitiya, as well as being the name of the town, is the name of the famous kitesurfing lagoon. With quite shallow, flat water and strong wind, it’s a favourite spot for free riders, wake style kiters, as well as beginners (just watch out for the very shallow areas!). The wind during the high season blows strong- 25 knots average- and can become quite gusty. With close to a dozen schools set up on the edges of the lagoon, this is the easiest place to find lessons and kitesurfing camps in Sri Lanka.
KAPPALADY
Kappalady Lagoon is located just 16 kilometers south of Kalpitiya. The water inside the lagoon is perfectly flat and waist deep, which makes it a comfortable spot for beginners to learn. Wind-wise, it’s similar to Kalpitiya- although arguably somewhat less gusty since its direction of exposure isn’t obstructed by anything big. Kiteboarding at Kappalady is fun as part of a downwinder from Kalpitiya or as a day trip on its own.
MANNAR
This is Sri Lanka’s new dream spot to ride. It’s an island off the northwest coast, one that’s part of a larger archipelago that sits in between Sri Lanka and mainland India. The real magic of this place is Adam’s Bridge, an underwater limestone shoal that trails between the two mainlands. Since the water is crystal clear (and the wind is strong and perfectly stable all around the area) you can kite along the shoal and see it glimmering below you. There’s close to 20 square kilometers of kiteable area here, so you can be sure there’s plenty to see and explore.
VELLA ISLAND
A half hour’s drive and a one hour boat trip up the coast from Kalpitiya, Vella Island is a crowd favourite when it comes to downwinders and day trips. Although it’s fairly out of the way, the journey is definitely worth the effort. Winds are stable and the water is beautifully flat. There’s an easy-to-access launch point on the island (which is the start of a great downwind route); just be aware that it’s an active fishing beach so there are often sharp pieces of bones and such on the beach. Be careful with your kite, and wear booties to protect your feet.
ARUGAM BAY
On the complete opposite side of Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay is a spot best known best for its surf conditions. However, when the wind is right, it’s also a fantastic place to enjoy some wave riding on your kite. There are a handful of kiteable beaches along the bay, the problem is that the wind blows slightly offshore at a lot of them. The best place to head for is The Point, where the wind blows crosshore. There’s a reef a couple hundred meters outside which creates beautiful clean waves that break for 200-300 meters. It’s not the friendliest spot for beginners, but for intermediate riders and wave lovers, this is the place to be.
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Cooking Demostration
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Galle situated in the south of Sri Lanka is known for its gourmet dishes, some exclusive to the region. Learning to cook here means you get the opportunity to experience traditional authentic Sri Lankan dishes at its best. Visit the market and learn how to choose fresh and succulent foodstuff, especially seafood. Back home learn the process of producing mouth-watering cuisine, which you can enjoy and relish. Remember to put down on paper (in case you may forget) so that you may try it back home.
Water Rafting
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Kithulgala is an area covered in a rainforest. The Kelani River runs through the forest forming several continuous rapids. There are 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids spread over an area of over 5 km, giving the turbulent white waters. In addition to whitewater rafting; Kithulgala is also a natural centre for many other adventure sports, including abseiling, canyoning, white water and flat water kayaking and much more. As such Kithulgala has an adventure sports base with highly trained instructors, safety equipment and medical assistance if required.
The Kithulgala White Water Rafting Adventure Tour takes place at the falls in Kithulgala jungle. This is a unique tour opportunity to try out White Water Rafting with proper safety measures. Please be noted that the minimum age limit for this tour is 10 years for safety purposes. Enjoy the thrill of adventure as you whitewater raft down the rapids of a 5km stretch of the Kelani River. Bounce through the turbulent white waters with the confidence and protection offered by proper safety measures. Let you adrenaline rise as you are whirled through the foamy rapids in an experience you will never forget.
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Cycling Tour
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The plains of Sri Lanka offer little challenge to bikers and are ideal for novices and those who do not want to exert themselves. The Central Highlands provide tougher trails but those who take them are rewarded by exquisite vistas of forested valleys and sparkling waterfalls. The average temperature in the highlands is also much cooler than in the rest of the country making for a pleasanter riding experience. Cyclers can meander along lonely winding roads, while enjoying the fresh clean mountain air or ride down rugged trails on sturdy mountain bikes. The options are endless.
Montain Hike
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For nature lovers, Sri Lanka is a treasure-trove of wonders. Every inch of this beautiful island has something to intrigue the keen explorer. If you are particularly interested in going raw and authentic and hiking around this island, there are some fantastic spots that you must not miss.
Trekking and Hiking Sri Lanka’s hill country offers a diverse collection of flora and fauna that has fascinated eco-tourists and biologists for decades. For many, trekking and hiking starts at the quaint little town of Belihuloya. Belihuloya is found in the central province of the island and makes an excellent base to start out your nature tours. The many thick jungles, spectacular mountains and lush paddy fields provide a relaxing diversity that hikers would fall in love with. The long rivers and sparkling waterfalls scattered in the area make an excellent stop by for a quick dip after being warmed by the island’s tropical sun. Very close to Belihuloya you find one of the most beautiful stretches of land in the island; the Horton Plains National Park. The Horton Plains make a mosaic of wonders and highlight the 880 meter drop called the World’s End and the lush Baker’s Waterfall. From this part of the island the scenery is truly mind blowing. The Adam’s Peak Wilderness Sanctuary is also another excellent spot for trekking. The sunrise from up here is nothing short of breathless and the many who hike up this mountain begin their ascent at night in order to catch this remarkable view. Then there is the little city of Bandarawela. Located in close proximity to the Adam’s Peak, the town is known for its many interesting walks such as the Little Adam’s Peak, Ella Rock and the Namunukula Mountain Range. Once you head to the Kandy region don’t miss the sheer beauty of the Knuckles Mountain Range. Stretching to an interesting 155 square km this range boasts exquisite scenery, large forests, long rivers, lush waterfalls and rare and endemic fauna and flora. For hikers this whole island is truly paradise.