Delft Island Tour: Explore Sri Lanka's Heritage

Explore Sri Lanka’s hidden gems with a full-day tour of Delft and Nainativu Island. Discover history, culture, and nature in an unforgettable adventure.

Duration: 10 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Pannai Causeway - Upon departing Jaffna town, travelers cross the picturesque Pannai Causeway, a bridge linking the mainland to nearby islands. This peaceful drive offers views of tranquil lagoons, fishing boats, and local birdlife, providing a delightful introduction to the coastal allure of northern Sri Lanka.
  • Kannakai Puram Welcome Curve -…
What's Included
  • Experienced tour guide
  • Private transportation
  • Admission fees
  • Bottled water
  • Lunch
  • Public or Private Ferry/Boat to Reach Delft Island
  • Tea and coffee
Additional Information

What distinguishes this tour is the exceptional blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that is unmatched elsewhere. From the wild horses of Delft Island to the sacred temples of Nainativu, this tour provides an immersive experience that connects participants to the essence of Sri Lanka’s rich heritage. With a professional, licensed guide and…

Location
Cargills Bank Atm
You can wait for the guide at Cargills Square, next to the Cargills Bank ATM. He will come, ask for your name, check your ticket, and pick you up.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(11 Ratings)
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1 star
Curiosity784914
Jul 20, 2025
- We are a family of three (mother F49, brother M19 and me M22) and we went there for a 10-day trip. We already visited Sri Lanka 3 years ago, so we had some small expectations about what to expect, however there was much more to this trip, and it definitely was better than what we could´ve expected. Arun is a young tour guide, who is constantly trying his very best to give his customers everything they need. He is a Jaffna-born citizen, that knows his city across perfectly, so he had everything planned in advance. Everytime we needed something from him during our trip, he didn´t ask any questions, he was always some steps ahead and made our wishes granted. Not only that, he also served as a personal photographer, so everytime we needed some group photos, to capture some action etc. Arun was always there for us. There are always 100 people 100 different tastes. We as a family like this mixture of everything. We are open to visit local markets, go snorcheling, going on sights. or just to lay down at the beach and do nothing particular. You can be literally any person you want, however Arun knows your interests. If you are not a sightseeing guy, you can tell that you preffer swimming, and the trip will be a little bit configurated to your preferences. Or the opposite, if you came to explore the local culture, Arun will take you to the famous sights and give you a great speech about local religion, culture, history, etc. We were in Trincomalee for 3 days and then we spent the next 7 days in Arun´s hometown - Jaffna. Even though we had just a few days to explore both cities, we had this feeling that we explored everything important, everything interesting and essential that both cities have to offer. Visiting Sri Lanka can be a little tricky for some people, because for us it was a huge step to the unknown even though we were there some time before. Many people reading this are probably considering if visiting Sri Lanka is a good choice. I can guarantee you that you can enjoy this trip to some extend, but if you really want to see Sri Lanka how it really is, how people live here and to capture essentials in a short span of time, you definitely need a proper tour guide, and that is Arun. Definitely 5/5 recommended, we fully enjoyed our vacation and it overcame our expectations by far from our last visit!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mohilans
Jun 14, 2025
Worried About Jaffna Travel? Explore Yarl Will Change Your Mind - Unforgettable Jaffna Experience with Explore Yarl I didn’t book this tour via TripAdvisor, but I felt I had to share my experience with Explore Yarl because they truly made our Jaffna trip unforgettable! My girlfriend Shivi and I planned a 2-day trip from Colombo to Jaffna, but we honestly had no idea where to begin—until we came across Explore Yarl in the Lonely Planet guidebook (page 254). We were surprised and excited to find a recommended local tour company for Jaffna, and decided to book a Delft Island trip through them. Even though the weather was quite hot, everything was organized so well by Arun. Although he couldn’t join us that day, he arranged everything perfectly—delicious local food, great adventures, friendly and helpful staff, and a magical night camp near beach that made our day absolutely unforgettable. On the second day, Arun personally came to pick us up at the jetty at 8 AM and took us on a full-day Tuk-Tuk tour of Jaffna. Arun was not just a guide—he was a passionate local host who shared stories, history, and hidden gems around Jaffna. I can 100% recommend Explore Yarl to anyone looking to explore Jaffna and its islands. It was a warm, personalized, and memorable experience that we’ll never forget. – Mohi Colombo
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Weltumarmerin
Jun 11, 2025
The special beauty of natural landscapes far up north - I had an amazing time in this special region as I did several tours with Arun. Delft Island is wonderful. The nature, people and of course the wild ponies. We explored the island by safari car with two other girls. Arun is an expert and tries to find answers for every question. You can feel that he loves his home and especially shows what the North has to offer. I would warmly recommend Arun as a very friendly, open minded and happy guide who follows his passion!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kannalingamt
Jun 2, 2025
An Amazing Delft Island Tour Experience with Explore Yarl! - My friends and I had an unforgettable full-day tour to Delft Island organized by Explore Yarl. Everything was perfectly arranged, and we had so much fun exploring the island. I’m truly happy with their service and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Explore Yarl to anyone looking for a unique and memorable adventure. I’ve also uploaded some photos from this amazing day—thank you, Explore Yarl!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellya196
May 27, 2025
Good tour of Delft Island! - Delft Island was a good experience however given the group I was with (we liked having long and detailed discussions with Arun about said site) it is something I would have been comfortable to miss in favour of other historical sites and having a more relaxed tour overall. This is not a reflection on Explore Yarl or Arun but more to do with our style of travel. My highlight was the seafood lunch cooked by a family living on the island. They were so welcoming and open and of course the food was delicious - we had crabs, fried fish with rice and various vegetable dishes. The other highlight was the aloe vera drink, it was so refreshing and just what was required given the heat. I would recommend having the appropriate vehicle (rather than a tuk tuk) and a tour guide to get the most out your visit to Delft Island. It would be hard to understand the different sites as some of the information boards are in a state of disrepair or there are no boards at all and the roads are more suited to a 4WD.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $130
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).