Full Day Tour of Delft Island

Delft Island, called Neduntheevu in Tamil, is the largest of the islands off the Jaffna peninsula. It is flat, dry and windswept, with coral stone walls, palmyra palms and a small population. The island was closed to most visitors during the civil war. Today, a day trip from Jaffna shows a very different side of Sri Lanka.

What a typical day includes

• The ferry: from Kurikadduwan jetty on Pungudutivu island, about an hour from Jaffna. The crossing takes about an hour.
• Wild ponies: descendants of horses left by the Portuguese or Dutch, grazing on the open plains.
• The baobab tree: a giant African baobab with a hollow trunk, thought to have been planted by Arab traders.
• The Dutch fort ruins: walls of coral and limestone.
• Coral walls and houses: built of local coral stone.
• Other stops: a pigeon house, the "growing stone", a large banyan tree and a footprint linked to Hanuman.

Most tours use a tuk-tuk or van with a local guide on the island, and a local lunch, often including Jaffna crab curry.

How long it takes

A full day. Most tours leave Jaffna early in the morning and return by evening.

When to go

Choose calm weather; the crossing can be rough in the monsoon. Morning ferries fill early.

Practical tips

• Ferry times are limited and can change; check the return time.
• Bring cash, water and sun protection; there is little shade.
• Dress modestly in villages.

For a different approach, try sailing to Delft by catamaran. Join our northern Sri Lanka tour, or see things to do in Jaffna and Jaffna hotels.