Get up close and personal with the largest animal on the earth

“To see a Blue Whale in its natural habitat is something most of us can only dream of. To see more than one in a lifetime would be very rare experience reserved for a fortunate lot. The good news is that in Sri Lanka you can see so many of them just minutes from the island’s Eastern shore and Minneriya Safari Tours makes more convenient to you get the unforgettable experience with our professional service”

Trincomalee is rapidly emerging as another internationally important whale-watching destination. Blue whales in particular (plus smaller numbers of sperm whales) can regularly be seen around six to eight nautical miles east of Trincomalee (about 30min by boat), Dolphins (mainly Spinner) are also regularly seen. Most sightings occur between March/April and August/September, as whales continue their migrations around the island from the south coast (where they mainly congregate from December to April) – this means that Sri Lanka offers around ten months of continuous whale & dolphin watching annually at different points around the coast.

When? From 15. March to 15. November

What to See > Whales and Dolphin Watching around Nilaveli & Trincomalee

Departure time > Our boats depart from our Nilaveli Adventures, Nilaveli diving center or Dutch bay beach at 6.00 am.

Check in is from 5.30 am at our Nilaveli Diving Centre. You will be back at our start place around 8.00 am.

Trip Duration> In average 2 to 3 hours

Sightings> There is a high chance to see whales or dolphins during our tours (probably 20 % of Whales and 90 % of Dolphins) and we will give our best to find them for you on every single day. However, on some days, even with our best efforts, it is impossible for us to show you dolphins or whales.

When your tour is complete, your will be return you to your hotel or original departure point.

Include:

• Seat in Boat Tour (Max 10 in one Boat)   *<Can arrange Private boat Tour for Extra fee>
• Life Jackets
• Hotel pickup and drop-off by Tuk Tuk (Trincomalee City Area hotels only)

Exclude:

• Food and drink
• Hotel pickup and drop-off additional fee, if outside of Trincomalee City area
  –  For hotels in Nilaveli, uppuveli can pickup and drop off with a additional fee. Please contact us with your hotel name and address.

Price:

Starts from 40 USD per person for SIC tour & 110 USD per person for a Private tour (all person above 12 years of age) Max. 6 to 10 people per SIC boat.

Minimum age of kids is 4 years old.
Kids below 5 years of age are free of charge.
Kids from 6 until 11 are half price.

Departure Time Comments:

• Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
• Hotel pickups commence may prior to this time as per your hotel location. You must contact us verify your exact pickup time.
• Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 – 45 minutes prior to this time

Departure Location:

We have 3 Departure locations. As per the your hotel location, we will inform you by email, whatsapp or sms the which departure place suitable for you.

1) Nilaveli Diving Center (14, Beach road, Allesgarden, Trincomalee) |  GPS 
 2) Nilaveli Adventures (No 190/5, Nilaveli Road, Ales Garden, Trincomalee) | GPS 
3) Dutch bay beach | GPS

Return Location:
Returns to original departure point

Please Note:

The Indian Ocean is not a calm ocean. There is always at least a light swell. If you tend to get sea sick or if it the first time for you on a boat in the Indian Ocean, we advise you to take seasick pills on the morning of the trip (about 1 – 2 hours BEFORE you enter the boat). You can find them in every pharmacy in Sri Lanka. We recommend the brand “Avomine” or “Celenid”. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist in advance before using these drugs.

Additional Tour Information:

• For Next day bookings, Please you must contact us by Call or SMS / WhatsApp / Viber with mention exact pickup Location to +94776487757
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not recommended for pregnant women
• Not recommended for participants with heart complaints or other serious medical condition
• Please include your Mobile / Local contact number & Hotel pickup details at the booking

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Meet your Safari Game driver from your hotel for your 2.5 – 3 hour morning jeep safari tour of Minneriya National Park.

Minneriya morning Tour give you a chance to see mostly Birds like Peacock, Eagle, Pelicans, Parrots, Crane, Parakeet, Owl, Hornbill & etc. Also other animals like deers, wild rabbits, wild boar, grey langers, purple-faced leaf monk, golden jackall & water buffaloes. View the famous elephants as they graze on the grasses growing on the Minneriya tank bed. Can see around 20% of Elephants than Evening tour.

Recommend to enter the Minneriya National park early morning before other many jeeps arrived.

At the end of the Minneriya morning safari, head back to hotel or tour start point. If your are in Polonnaruwa area, choose to visit photo stop at the standing big Buddha, Giritale.

When your tour is complete, your vehicle will return you to your hotel or original departure point.

Include:

• Private Safari Jeep just for your party
• Professional Safari Game Driver 
• Minneriya Park Entrance Ticket
• Driver & jeep entance fee
• National Park Service fee $10
• Government VAT Tax 18%
• Hotel pickup and drop-off 

Exclude:

• Food and drink
• Tips for Safari Driver & park ranger (Recommend) 

Best period for visit Minneriya National Park

Around the year can see some elephants, other animals & Birds. From July to September is the best season for see many elephants. 

Important Info: Elephant Migration between Minneriya, Kaudulla, Hurulu Eco Park & Galoya Eco Park.
Within that region, there are four national parks within close proximity. Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Hurulu Eco Park, and Galoya Eco Park are the four of them. Read more

Departure Time Comments:

• Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
• Hotel pickups commence may prior to this time as per your hotel location. Contact us verify your exact pickup time.
• Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 – 60 minutes prior to this time

Departure Location Name:

# In front of ‘Acme grand hotel’, Habarana | GPS
# In front of ‘Habarana Police Bus Stop’, Habarana | GPS
# In front of ‘Gunners Club’ (G & S Restaurant), Minneriya | GPS
# Opposite ‘Ekho Sigiriya Hotel’, Sigiriya | GPS

Return Location:
Returns to original departure point

Suitable for children:
Yes, children will love the spectacle of the gathering herds, often with many baby elephants

What to wear or bring along:
* Light cool clothing, a cap or Hat, sunscreen, drinking water and a camera

Minneriya Safari Safety Guideline:
Guests are not permitted to get off the jeep and walk around the park. Please do not smoke or take alcoholic drinks inside the park and dispose of litter responsibly. Do not feed any of the animals. Drones are not allowed.

Please read our ‘Safety Guidelines‘ for more details about how the safari tours operate.

Cancellation and Refund policy 

• Cancellations received 15 days (or more) of departure will incur a penalty of 10% per person.
• Cancellations received within 14 days of departure will incur a penalty of 50% per person.
• Cancellations received within 7 days of departure will incur a penalty of 75% per person.
• Cancellations received within 5 days of departure will incur a penalty of 100% per person.
• Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
  More Details…

Additional Tour Information:

• For Same day & Next day bookings, Please you must contact us by Call or SMS / WhatsApp / Viber with mention exact pickup Location to +94776487757
• Not recommended for participants with heart complaints or other serious medical condition
• Child below 5 Years are Free of charge. / Child above 11 years apply for Adult ticket.
• At some season there is less number of elephants can see in Minneriya National Park, so as that time we change the tour for ‘Kaudulla National Park jeep safari’ or ‘Eco park jeep safari’ as an Alternative Tour option without additional fee for given you the better Safari experience. (No Full / Partial Refund for Safari Tour Changes)

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