Trincomalee Harbour

Trincomalee Harbour is a natural deep-water harbour spanning approximately 15 kilometres, protected by Swami Rock to the south and the Dutch Bay headland to the north. It was described by Admiral Horatio Nelson as the finest harbour in the world, and the British Royal Navy used it as a major base throughout World War II to counter the Japanese fleet in the Indian Ocean. The harbour remains an active Sri Lanka Navy base, so civilian access is primarily by sightseeing boat from the town jetty or from elevated viewpoints at Swami Rock and Fort Frederick. Whale watching trips also depart from the harbour between April and September, targeting blue whales and sperm whales in the deeper offshore waters.