Sri Lanka · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
The 15 best cruises & boat tours bookable on the island right now, each with its price, its length and who it actually suits. The first one is first for a reason.
Private Mirissa whale watching by fast sports boat, with breakfast, naturalist commentary, onboard restroom, and paid pickup.
“Great whale, dolphin and turtle spotting experience. Wonderful staff and an excellent, clean boat. We had a whale of a time :)”
Review of a private Sri Lankan day tour combining Galle Fort, turtle conservation, Turtle Beach, and a Madu River boat safari.
“I had a great time with the tour and we explored alot of places! Highly recommend”
Explore Pottuvil Lagoon by quiet paddle boat, spotting mangroves, birds, crocodiles and elephants from Arugam Bay.
“We had a very nice lagoon tour. It was peacefully and there where some elephants we saw. Shiham was a great and funny guide”
Cruise Bentota River’s mangroves for two hours, spotting crocodiles, monkeys, birds, and lizards with hotel pickup for $20.
“The tour was very relaxing and enjoyable. The guide was very knowledgeable and patient.”
Review of the Madu River Boat Safari near Bentota, with mangroves, wildlife, temple, cinnamon island, fish spa, price, and tips.
Review of Negombo Lagoon Boat Safari with tuk tuk pickup, mangroves, monkeys, fresh fruit, and practical advice on price and timing.
“The number one activity to do in Negombo. Can recommend the afternoon because of cooler temperatures. The tour guide was exceptional. He played fantastic music for us in the tuk tuk on the way yo the Lagoon. The fruit platter in the Lagoon was delightful and fresh and the experience feeding the monkeys was terrific. We had a truly great day!!!”
Review of Trincomalee’s dolphin and whale boat tour, with sunrise timing, wildlife chances, price, safety, ethics, and practical tips.
“Lots of dolphins. Our guide seemed to know where to go, was more respectful and didn’t chase like so many of the other boats. It was troubling to see so many boats (I counted over 30) all chasing sight of dolphins. I doubt there are any whale sightings, we did not seem to even look for them.”
Review the Mirissa whale and dolphin boat ride, with dawn sailing, hotel transfers, wildlife sightings, price advice, and practical tips.
“Really nice tour. Compared to other ships there were almost no people on the board which made it even better. Service was great.”
Cruise Negombo Lagoon through mangroves, spot birds and monkeys, enjoy fresh fruit and coconut, and travel by tuk-tuk from your hotel.
“The great introduction to Colombo, Sri Lanka. My thanks to Raju and Mihndu for a memorable start to my holiday. Highlights of thid trip for me was the canals, the mangroves, the many birds, having fruit and fresh coconut served while Read more”
Cruise Sri Lanka’s Madu River through mangroves, spot crocodiles, visit a cinnamon island, and weigh the extras before booking.
“The pickup was really chaotic, but we got there and it was really worth it! Don’t expect some great info from the guide - only some basic sentences and descriptions. Still it was quite nice!”
Review of Geeth’s Mirissa whale and dolphin cruise, with whale odds, breakfast, pickup details, safety, value, and practical booking advice.
“Good experienced crew who managed to find us whales. We had no problems everything ran smoothly would recommend”
Review of Sigiriya’s two-hour lake boat tour, with tea, wildlife, sunrise or sunset views, practical costs, timing, and booking advice.
“Nous pensions être à deux pour un tour privatif comme indiqué ici et avons été 8. Très déçue car l’annonce n’était pas conforme à ce qu’il s’est passé. En revanche le tour était très agréable.”
See Colombo’s temples, markets, Parliament, and clock tower on a small-group cruise excursion with port pickup and air-conditioned transport.
“Wir (53, weiblich und 82, weiblich, mit Krücken unterwegs) wurden pünktlich im Hafen (nur wenige Meter vom Schiff entfernt) von Colombo abgeholt. Das Fahrzeug war neuwertig, geräumig, sauber und hatte Klimaanlage. Unser Fahrer (ARead more”
Explore Negombo Lagoon at sunset by boat, feed toque macaques, walk in shallow water, and enjoy fresh Sri Lankan fruit with hotel transfers.
“Robin was a wonderful guide and a lovely person. Very knowledgeable and interesting. Nothing was too much trouble. Would highly recommend. Thanks you so much 🙏🙏🙏”
Cruise Sri Lanka’s Dutch Canal, Negombo Lagoon, and Muthurajawela Wetland with a private boat, guide, birdlife, and hotel transfers.
“Very knowledgeable and caring guides. In addition to gaining a good understanding of the native life around the islands and mangroves of the lagoon, my wife and I were also enriched with a variety of other positive experiences. The guides provided fantastic descriptions and presentations of local life and fishing, while also introducing us to hidden gems and interesting stories about the area. It was truly an enriching and memorable experience that provided a deeper insight into the local community's culture and the beauty of nature.”
Every kind of day out on the island, and the best of each.
