Picture Adventure team leaders Patrick Dykstra and Joshua Barton were among the first photographers to locate and film whales off Sri Lanka’s coast following the end of the country’s civil war (1983–2009). While blue whales are now only occasional visitors, Sri Lanka’s waters remain remarkably rich with marine life.

Unrivalled Excellence

While blue whale sightings have diminished in recent years — likely due to changing ocean conditions — they are still seen. More frequently encountered are sperm whales, Omura’s whales, Bryde’s whales, Eden’s whales, short-finned pilot whales, orca, and a variety of dolphin species, including spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and both Indo-Pacific and common bottlenose dolphins. Picture Adventure has built a robust local network, a veteran team, and a reputation for delivering the best chances for extraordinary encounters at sea.

Personal Attention

We have a maximum of four guests on this expedition.  Hosting only four guests allows for the maximum number of whale encounters for each guest. Some days we are joined by a local Sri Lankan researcher who provides valuable and fascinating information on the whales of his country.

Living the Good Life

We stay at an excellent hotel on the coast. Days are spent in the warm Indian Ocean, swimming alongside some of the planet’s most remarkable marine mammals. Afternoons and evenings are for unwinding: lounging on the beach, enjoying fresh seafood, and soaking in Sri Lanka’s coastal culture and beauty.

A Journey Beyond the Coast

This journey doesn’t end at sea. After our marine expedition, we head inland for three days of private jeep safaris in Wilpattu National Park, home to Asian elephants, sloth bears, and one of the world’s most reliable leopard populations. It’s a rare opportunity to experience both the giants of the ocean and the icons of the jungle in one seamless adventure. If time allows, we’ll also visit Anuradhapura, the ancient Buddhist capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its millennia-old stupas and sacred Bodhi tree.

Amazing Diversity

This expedition offers the chance to encounter a staggering variety of marine life the group may well see huge pods of 16-meter+ sperm whales (the largest of the toothed whales), spinner dolphins, white risso dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, Omura’s whale, Eden’s whale, Bryde’s whale, sea turtles, manta, mobila, sailfish, and marlin. All of these have been spotted during past expeditions.

Incredible Encounters

Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed — but Picture Adventure’s commitment to research, experience, and top-tier equipment gives our guests the best possible chance of meaningful, respectful interactions. These are some of the most exciting animals on Earth, and we do everything in our power to find them.

Picture Adventure Expeditions

Picture Adventure hosts a very small number of guests on bold “expeditions of a lifetime”. Each Picture Adventure expedition is highly customized and often requires working in close partnership with top researchers to ensure that we are on the vanguard of what the natural world has to offer.

We have scouted, designed and personally lead each journey, and strive to ensure that guests capture excellent photos and video, as well as advance their imaging skills