Pristine Beaches & Blue Whale Adventures

Arrival & Transfer to Bentota Beach

Welcome to tropical paradise! Upon arrival at Colombo Airport, meet your driver for the scenic 2-hour coastal drive south to Bentota, one of Sri Lanka's most beautiful beach destinations. The journey follows palm-fringed coastline with glimpses of turquoise Indian Ocean waters.

Check into your beachfront resort in Bentota—choose from luxury properties like Taj Bentota, Club Villa, or Vivanta by Taj. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring the pristine golden sand beach stretching for kilometers, take a dip in the warm ocean (28-30°C year-round), or relax by the infinity pool with coconut cocktails.

Optional late afternoon activity: Madu River boat safari through mangrove forests—spot monitor lizards, kingfishers, and visit a cinnamon island where you'll see traditional spice harvesting. The peaceful river cruise at sunset is magical (1.5 hours, $20-30 per person).

Evening welcome dinner at the resort featuring fresh seafood—grilled prawns, lobster, and Sri Lankan curry specialties.

Bentota Beach & Water Sports

Full day to experience Bentota's legendary water sports and beach activities. The calm Bentota Lagoon and protected beach bay create perfect conditions for water activities.

Morning water sports options (at own expense):

• Jet skiing - Zoom across the lagoon ($30-40 for 15 minutes)
• Banana boat rides - Fun group activity ($10-15 per person)
• Parasailing - Soar 150 feet above the ocean with panoramic coastal views ($40-50)
• Wakeboarding & water skiing - For adventurous travelers ($35-45)
• Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) - Peaceful lagoon exploration ($15-20 per hour)
• Windsurfing - Beginners welcome with instruction ($25-35)

Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing morning at the beach—swim in calm waters, get a traditional ayurvedic massage at the resort spa, or simply lounge under palm trees with a good book.

Afternoon: Visit the Brief Garden, designed by renowned landscape architect Bevis Bawa (brother of Geoffrey Bawa). This 5-acre tropical garden features sculptures, rare plants, and the artist's eccentric house filled with art and antiques. It's a peaceful escape showcasing Sri Lankan creativity (1-hour visit).

Evening at leisure to watch the spectacular sunset from Bentota Beach. Many resorts offer beachside barbecues and live music on certain evenings.

Galle Fort & Transfer to Mirissa

After breakfast, depart for Galle (1.5 hours south). En route, stop at the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, a hatchery protecting five species of sea turtles. Learn about conservation efforts, see baby turtles in tanks, and if timing is right, participate in releasing hatchlings into the ocean—a moving experience as the tiny turtles make their first journey to the sea (30-45 minute visit).

Continue to Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved Dutch colonial fortress in Asia. Built by the Portuguese in 1588 and extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century, this atmospheric walled city is a photographer's dream. Explore on foot for 2-3 hours:

• Walk the ramparts - 2-kilometer perimeter walk offering ocean views and glimpses into local life
• Dutch Reformed Church (1755) - Beautiful colonial architecture with ancient tombstones
• Galle Lighthouse - Iconic white lighthouse at the fort's southern tip
• Boutique shopping - Browse galleries, jewelry shops, cafes, and handicraft stores in colonial buildings
• National Maritime Museum - Showcases Sri Lanka's maritime history

Lunch at one of Galle's excellent restaurants—try The Fort Printers (fine dining), Poonie's Kitchen (authentic Sri Lankan), or Pedlar's Inn Cafe (casual).

Late afternoon, continue to Mirissa (30 minutes), your home for the next 3 nights. Check into a beachfront hotel or boutique guesthouse just steps from the golden sand beach. Mirissa is famous for its crescent bay, palm trees, and vibrant beach culture.

Evening: Walk along Mirissa Beach at sunset—watch the sky turn orange and purple as fishermen return with their catch. Enjoy dinner at one of the beach shacks with fresh seafood and your toes in the sand.

Blue Whale Watching Expedition

VERY EARLY START (5:30-6:00 AM) for one of the world's most spectacular wildlife encounters—blue whale watching in the Indian Ocean. Mirissa is globally renowned as one of the best places on Earth to see blue whales, the largest animals ever to have existed (up to 30 meters long and 200 tons).

The Experience (6:30 AM - 1:00 PM): Board a whale-watching boat from Mirissa Harbor as the sun rises. The boat heads 15-20 kilometers offshore where the continental shelf drops to 1,000+ meters—this deep channel attracts blue whales who feed on krill in the nutrient-rich waters. Success rate November-April is 90%+.

What you'll see:

• Blue whales - Watch these gentle giants surface to breathe, their massive backs and tiny dorsal fins visible. You might witness breaching, tail-slapping, or spouts shooting 10 meters high
• Sperm whales - Often spotted with their distinctive square heads
• Fin whales - The second-largest whale species
• Spinner dolphins - Pods of 50-200 dolphins often escort the boat, leaping and spinning
• Sea turtles - Green and hawksbill turtles surface near the boat
• Flying fish - Skip across waves in groups

Important notes: Bring motion sickness medication (seas can be choppy), sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera with telephoto lens, and light jacket (morning can be cool). Breakfast box provided on boat. Tours follow responsible whale watching guidelines maintaining proper distances.

Return to shore around 1:00 PM. Afternoon free to recover, nap, swim, or relax at the beach. The whale watching experience is exhilarating but tiring.

Snorkeling & Beach Day

Leisurely morning after yesterday's early start. Enjoy a lazy breakfast at your hotel, then it's beach time!

Option 1: Hikkaduwa Snorkeling (Recommended, 20 minutes from Mirissa): Take a short drive to Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka's premier snorkeling destination. The shallow coral reef (2-4 meters deep) right off the beach is teeming with marine life:

• Sea turtles - Green turtles frequently feed on seagrass near the reef
• Tropical fish - Parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, clownfish, and hundreds of colorful species
• Coral formations - Though damaged by 2004 tsunami, recovery is strong
• Reef sharks - Small harmless blacktip reef sharks (rarely seen)

Snorkel for 2-3 hours. Equipment rental available ($5-8) or bring your own. The calm, clear water makes this perfect for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike. Lunch at one of Hikkaduwa's beachfront restaurants.

Option 2: Surf Lesson at Weligama (Alternative, 15 minutes from Mirissa): If you prefer waves to reefs, head to Weligama Bay—Sri Lanka's best beginner surf spot. The gentle, consistent beach break and sandy bottom make it ideal for learning. Professional surf schools offer 2-hour lessons ($30-40) with board provided. Instructors guarantee you'll stand up on the board! Even if you don't want to surf, Weligama is beautiful for swimming and beach lounging.

Late afternoon: Return to Mirissa Beach. Many visitors choose this afternoon for a relaxing ayurvedic massage at one of the beach spas ($20-40 for 1-1.5 hours). The traditional oil massages are deeply therapeutic after active days.

Evening: Farewell beach barbecue dinner. Many Mirissa restaurants offer fresh grilled seafood on the beach—choose your fish/lobster/prawns from the daily catch, they grill it to perfection, and serve with rice, salads, and Sri Lankan sides. Dining with your feet in the sand under starlit skies is the perfect ending.

Departure or Onward Journey

Morning at leisure for final beach time—take a sunrise walk along the shore, enjoy one last ocean swim, or simply relax with a coconut while watching local fishermen on their traditional stilt fishing perches (photo opportunity).

Depending on your departure time, you can:

• Late morning/afternoon flight: Leisurely breakfast, check out, and transfer to Colombo Airport (3 hours). If time permits, stop at Lunuganga, the country estate of architect Geoffrey Bawa, now open as a museum showcasing his design philosophy (45-minute detour)
• Evening flight: Full morning at the beach, late check-out, lunch in Mirissa, then afternoon transfer to airport
• Continuing your Sri Lankan adventure: We can arrange transfers to Colombo hotels, Yala National Park (2.5 hours), or Ella hill country (3 hours)