Delft Island - why to go, how to get there, what to see, where to stay

Holidays on the island of Delft and why to come here

Delft Island is the most remote and hard–to-reach inhabited island of Sri Lanka, located far to the north in the Polka Strait southwest of the peninsula and the resort of Jaffna (Delft Island on the map). If you are looking for a place on the edge of the world where you feel like a real Robinson, then Delft is your choice. This is the only island resort in the country, besides the main island.

Delft is little known among tourists, and even locals-tourists are here infrequently. Here you will not find crowds of tourists, noisy parties or a developed resort infrastructure, excursions are not carried here (yet) and tours are not sold. You will find deserted landscapes, a feeling of complete solitude and a unique, almost frozen in time atmosphere. The popularity of the island is gradually growing, but for now it remains a territory for discoverers.

Most of the island is not inhabited — vast wastelands, thickets and forests extend to the rocky shores. The exception is the paradisiacal Delft Beach — an ideal place for secluded swimming and relaxing on the snow-white sand.

This is a destination for those who are not looking for entertainment, but genuine freedom. Where the day begins with exploring ancient ruins, continues with a blissful rest on a deserted beach and ends under incredibly bright stars. Delft is for travelers who are ready to trade comfort for the feeling of a real discovery and reboot.

In general, if you are not looking for another holiday resort on a package tour, but a real trip that will stay with you forever, your way lies to Delft.

You can visit Delft for one day from Jaffna, arriving on the morning ferry, and returning on the last. But you need to take into account the weather, so as not to be trapped on the island due to the possible cancellation of evening flights due to bad weather, or you just can not get on the last ferry. In one such not even a full day you will be able to see all the sights of Delft, for which it is best to take advantage of the offers of local "guides" on tuk-tuks, they carry from 5000 rupees (15.11 USD). Or you can just spend the day at the local beach, you can even walk to it from the pier.

But we still recommend coming here for at least one, and preferably two nights. For example, you can arrive by evening ferry, spend the night, get acquainted with the sights in the morning on a rented bicycle, motorbike or tuk-tuk with a driver, and in the evening go back. But this way you will not be able to fully relax, relax and feel its wonderful atmosphere, so it's better to plan a couple of full days or three nights for it. But as for a longer stay here, then, in our opinion, it will be boring and there is nothing to do.

Our videos about Delft, Jaffna and the north of Sri Lanka

If you prefer to watch videos instead of reading or did not understand something from our guidebooks, then we have made a video guide for you about Delft, Jaffna and the north of Sri Lanka in general:

• 🎥 Part 1: Overview of how to get to Jaffna and to the north and get to Delft
  Look at: RuTube | VK Video
• 🎥 Part 2: Getting to know the island of Delft
  Look at: RuTube | VK Video
• ❤ Our entire playlist about Sri Lanka
  Look at: RuTube | VK Video

Infrastructure in Delft: what to expect and what to prepare for

The infrastructure here is simple, rustic, and it is important to understand this in advance. After a personal visit, we can confirm:

• Electricity: There is electricity on the island, but it is powered by generators. Blackouts happen, and you need to be prepared for this.
• Stores: There are several small shops with the most necessary things (food, water, hygiene products). You will not find any supermarkets or shopping centers.
• ATM: To our surprise, there is one ATM on the island, but you should not rely on it alone. Cards are not accepted for payment on the island. Therefore, you need to come here with cash.
• Food and where to eat: Hotels and guest houses prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner on request. A little cheaper you can eat in a cafe on the main street, but it works unstable. Food prices seemed to us almost twice as high here as on the mainland. There is almost no choice of dishes: rice, curry, eggs, chicken.
• Water: Fresh water is in short supply. The water for showering and washing is often slightly brackish, which is a feature of life on the island.
• Communication: There is a connection and Internet on the island. We used the Dialog operator's SIM card here, the data transfer, although slow, worked in almost all corners of the island.
• Entertainment and excursions: There is no entertainment here, but sightseeing trips with a tuk-tuk driver to local attractions are offered as excursions, or you can visit them yourself on foot, on a rented motorbike or bicycle. Rentals and trips are offered in hotels.

Hotels in Delft, where to stay

A few years ago, Delft was such a wild and remote place that it was impossible to even book accommodation here online. Now there are no problems with this, and you can find and book accommodation options online in popular booking systems. However, Delft Island is still far from everywhere as a resort, and you have to ask Jaffna in the search, and then look for options on the island already on the map. Booking offers the most options, but with on-site payment:

• 🛌 Hotels in Delft on Trip.com (👍 Mir maps work)
• 🛌 Hotels in Delft on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Hotels in Delft on Ostrovok.ru

There are few guests, accommodation is represented by modest cozy guest houses and several hotels. But they maintain the atmosphere of a robinsonade with accommodation in tents or simple bungalows. The conditions are basic, but very atmospheric. If you need comfort, then there is one such place – Delft Samudra Hotel. Of course, you should not expect anything special from him, but of all the options he is considered the best.

The bulk of the accommodation options are concentrated in the main village of Delft Village, consisting of just a couple of streets. From the main and only point of entry to the port island to most accommodation you can walk or use tuk-tuks for 400 rupees (1.21 USD), who meet the guests of the island with the arrival of each ferry. But we will tell you more about this below.

Weather on the island of Delft and when is the best time to go

The climate in the north of Sri Lanka, where Delft Island is located, is divided into two distinct seasons. When planning a trip, it is important to take into account not only precipitation, but also the state of the sea, which directly affects the availability of the island.

• 🌞 High season (dry season) lasts from February to September. This is the perfect time to visit Delft. The weather during this period is sunny, the sea is usually calm, which makes the ferry service stable. Rains are rare and short-lived. The daytime air temperature is +30...+32°C, the water in the ocean warms up to +28...+29°C.

• ☔ Low season (rainy and monsoon season). It comes with the arrival of the monsoon from October to January, with especially heavy rains in Nobyar and December. At this time, there are frequent rains on the island of Delft, sometimes prolonged. The main problem is that the sea becomes choppy, with strong waves, which is why the ferry service is often interrupted or completely canceled. We would not recommend going here during this period, as there is a high risk of not only getting caught in the rains, but also being "blocked" on the island or, conversely, not even being able to get to it.

However, it should be borne in mind that even in the low season, the weather can bring pleasant surprises with good weather, as well as vice versa. Unfortunately, modern forecasting systems are not capable of predicting exactly what the weather will be at one time or another in advance, even for a few weeks, not to mention months.

Tourist seasons on the island of Delft by month, when is the best time to go

Delft weather by month

Current weather on Delft Island (in Jaffna) and forecast

График приливов и отливов в Джафне подробно ⧉

How and how to get to Delft

As we have already mentioned, Delft is the most remote island and the most inaccessible resort in Sri Lanka. There is no bridge leading here, you can only get there by public or private ferries.

All routes here lead through Jaffna. That is, you need to get to Jaffna first, and from there by bus or tuk-tuk to get to the pier by ferry. If you want to get here one day without spending the night in Jaffna, it is very important to leave early in the morning to get on the last ferry. We traveled to Delft from Colombo in one day by train with departure at 5 am, but most likely if you go from somewhere in the south, it will not work without an overnight stay in Jaffna or Colombo. We told you in detail about how to get to Jaffna in this instruction, we won't repeat it here.

So, to get to Delft, we need to take the ferry at the pier in Kirikaduvan (Kurikattuwan Jetty or Kurikaduwan Jetty). The marina is located 30 kilometers from the center of Jaffna ( Kirikaduvan pier on the map).

Bus 776 runs here from the city bus station. Fare from 160 rupees (0.48 USD), on the way according to the plan for about an hour, we got there in 40 minutes. There are private buses (white) and public buses (red). State buses run about 1 time per hour, depart directly from the site of the bus station. Private ones go more often, but they don't leave from the bus station site, but near the bus station from Power House Road, aka Clock Tower road, aka Ponnambalam Road. Yes, that's right, the same street is called on different maps. But in fact everything is simple: come to the bus station and ask the first available driver or local resident: "Delft Island bass" — you will be directed where you need. There is no schedule as such, but the principle is this: come to the station one and a half to two before the departure of the ferry, and you will definitely leave and arrive on time. In the opposite direction from the ferry to Jaffna, it is also not a problem to leave, since the 776 buses will already be waiting for arrival.

If you are not satisfied with the bus, then you can hire a tuk-tka on the street next to the village or through the applications PickMe, Uber from 2500 rupees (7.55 USD).

If you rent a transport, you can get to the pier on it, but you can't even cross to the island on a motorbike, only if you hire a private cargo boat. But next to the marina there is a specially equipped parking lot where you can park your transport for the entire stay in Delft.

Kirikaduvan Marina is quite crowded, because from here ferries go not only to Delft, but also to the island of Nainathivu. Moreover, ferries run much more often on Neinatives and are not signed in any way, be careful when boarding and do not get on the wrong ferry.

There is a waiting area for boarding under a canopy with benches, there you need to wait for departure. But there is no information, so keep a close eye on the ferries and check the information from other passengers, and even better from the military. The pier and the ferry are managed by the military, and therefore they have all the information, and they also make seating on the boats. If you do not show timely activity and attentiveness here, then you can skip your boat!!!

State ferries (Sri Lankan Navy) go to Delft. They are free of charge. These are old wooden boats, quite extreme and scary. The journey takes almost 40-60 minutes. Here's the schedule:

• Ferry schedule from Kurikattuwan Jetty to Delft

  • 07:30
  • 08:30
  • 14:30
  • 16:00
  • 16:45

• Ferry schedule from Delft to Kurikattuwan Jetty

  • 06:15
  • 06:45
  • 11:30
  • 14:30
  • 15:30

The schedule may change over time, but you can check the current one at the hotels in Jaffna or at the bus station. We were provided with a schedule by the owner of the guest house in which we booked accommodation on the island. But once again we remind you that due to bad weather (strong wind and waves) ferries can be canceled. Therefore, check the weather and plan your trip, your hotel reservations and transfers, taking into account the possible delay of a day or two.

On Delft, ferries arrive at the port near the village (Delft marina on the map). You can get from it to most accommodation options on foot with a light backpack, or by tuk-tuk from 400 rupees (1.21 USD).

How to get around the island of Delft, what kind of transport is there

The island is relatively small, its dimensions are 11 kilometers long and 6 kilometers at its widest point, and the area is about 62 square kilometers. For comparison, the area of Moscow inside the Moscow Ring Road is 878 square kilometers, that is, 14 Delft islands will fit into Moscow!

Here are the options for moving around the island:

• On foot

  In order to walk from the marina to the hotel in the village or from the hotel to the beach, transportation is not required, you can walk. For example, to the guest house Delft Village Stay, in which we stayed, from the pier one and a half kilometers on foot, which is easily overcome in 25 minutes with a backpack. And the beach is only 5 minutes away.

  However, it is still difficult to explore the distant sights of the island on foot due to the heat and long distances. For example, the footprint of the Buddha from the center of the village in one direction is more than 7 kilometers away, which is almost 2 hours under the scorching sun.

• Tuk-tuks

  There are a lot of tuk-tuks on the island, they work as unofficial taxis. You can find it at the pier (they meet every ferry), on the street or at the hotel.

  From the pier to the hotel in the center of the village they ask for 400 rupees(1.21 USD), for a half–day trip to the sights - from 5000 rupees(15.11 USD) or as you bargain. The tuk-tuk can comfortably accommodate 2 passengers, and 3 passengers are not very comfortable.

• Sightseeing Jeep

  In Delft, there are several jeeps with a Thai Songteo-type body at guest houses and hotels, which, like tuk-tuks, carry tourists to places of interest, but cost more. We were offered to go around everything for 8,000 rupees (24.17 USD). Such a jeep can comfortably accommodate up to 8 people, so this is a good and comfortable option for large companies.

• Bike rental

  There are no rentals on the street, but you can rent in hotels or guest houses. In Delft Village Stay, the cost is 1500 rupees per day (4.53 USD).

• Rent a motorcycle

  There are no rental cars on the street, nor on the pier. Delft Village Stay asks for 3000 rupees (9.06 USD) for a motorcycle without fuel, and 3500 with fuel per day (10.58 USD). However, from our experience, their condition is very bad: we simply had a flat tire for no apparent reason and damage, we had to interrupt the trip.

  It is theoretically possible to come here with your motorcycle from the mainland, but you will not load it on regular ferries, you will have to hire a private boat. Therefore, there is no big point in this, it will be more expensive.

  Rights are not asked here, there are probably no traffic policemen on the island. For more information about the rights in Sri Lanka, what category is needed and whether the Russian ones told in this instruction.

Sights of Delft Island, what to see

Delft is not rich in sights, but there are enough interesting places to visit for one day. These are mainly ruins and historical sites of the colonial period of the Dutch era, wild ponies, baobabs and other traces of the unique history and nature of the island. All Delft attractions are free.

It is best to visit them by rented transport or hire a tut-tuk or an excursion jeep, they are available in guest houses and the Delft Samudra Hotel. For more information, see in the transport section above.

• The Baobab Tree

  

  Giant baobab tree on the map

  This is not just a tree, but a real ancient giant, which is considered one of the oldest and largest in Sri Lanka. According to legends, it was brought and planted by Arab traders hundreds of years ago. It impresses with its colossal size and bizarre shape of the trunk, which is so huge that it takes several people to girth it. This place has become iconic for photography – you can climb inside the hollow trunk, capture the scale of the tree in contrast to the surrounding flat landscape. For many, he is the personification of perseverance and the main symbol of this remote island, preserving its centuries-old history.

  

  

• Medicine Pond

  

  Medical pond on the map

• Large Banyan Tree

  

  Banyan tree on the map

  The Banyan Tree or the Great Banyan is not a single tree, but a single forest labyrinth formed by a single banyan tree, whose countless aerial roots descended from the branches and took root, creating a fantastic cathedral of wood. Walking among its many "trunks" is like exploring a natural labyrinth, where the play of light and shadow creates a mystical atmosphere. This place is amazing in its scale and really surprises if you imagine that it's all a single organism. According to local beliefs, the tree is the abode of spirits, which only adds to its mystery. But when we arrived here, we were a little upset by the mountains of garbage under our feet. The place clearly requires care and care.

• Queen's Tower

  

  Queen's Tower on the map

  It is a lone limestone tower towering over the flat landscape of the island. It is located in one of the farthest points of the island on the southern shore, 9 kilometers from the village center. Its history is shrouded in various theories: according to one version, it was built by the British in the XIX century as a signal station or lighthouse for navigation in the Palk Strait, and on the other — as part of a telegraph line connecting India and Sri Lanka. It probably got its name in honor of Queen Victoria. It is impossible to climb the tower, but you can go into the passage at its base to take a selfie there. In general, a place for entertainment for a couple of minutes. But this is one of the closest points in Sri Lanka to the coast of India - about 50 kilometers in a straight line.

  

• The Growing Stone or Pradu Gala

  

  A Growing Stone on the map

  This is one of the most curious and unique geological anomalies of Delft, which is surrounded by legends, myths and faith. It is located next to a Hindu temple and is a sacred place for believers. This coral limestone monolith is slowly but surely increasing in size from year to year. Scientific explanations suggest that this may be due to the growth of coral polyps or other natural processes, but the mystical version of the living stone is much more attractive to visitors. Tourists and local believers actively participate in the local ritual: they come to the stone to touch its rough surface, take pictures against its background and even leave small coins "for good luck" at its foot.

• Old Dutch Hospital

  

  Old Dutch Hospital on the map

  These are the atmospheric ruins of a colonial-era hospital built of traditional coral limestone for the island. It served as an important infrastructure facility of the Dutch East India Company, intended for the treatment of sick sailors and soldiers who made long and dangerous voyages across the Indian Ocean. Today, only fragmentary walls and a foundation remain from the building, but in its center there is a particularly famous place Pigeon Nest or Pigeon Nest, which is described in more detail below. Today these ruins are an official protected historical landmark, an open–air museum. There is even a gate and a staff that monitors visitors and logs everyone in, while the visit is still free. Despite the scale and significance, there is no information about the history of this place, you will spend at most 5 minutes here.

  

  

• Pigeon Nest

  

  Pigeon's nest on the map

  This is an unusual and historically significant object, one of the most photographed points on Delft, one can say its business card. Located on the territory of the ruins of the Dutch Hospital, it is a tall tower with many symmetrical niches, specially built for breeding and keeping carrier pigeons. In the colonial era, when the island of Delft was of strategic importance, pigeon mail was one of the fastest and most reliable ways to transfer messages between the islands and the mainland. The tower has retained its unique architecture. It is interesting not only for its unusual function, but also as a reminder of the complex communication systems of the past.

• Dutch Fort

  

  Dutch fort on the map

  These are atmospheric and the largest ruins on Delft, silent witnesses of the island's colonial history. The fort was built by the Dutch in the XVII century from local coral limestone to control the strategically important Palk Strait. Today it consists mainly of foundations and fragments of walls, between which you can wander and even enter the partially preserved fortress. There is an old Christian cemetery nearby. Unfortunately, as with the hospital, there is no information about the history and events related to the fort.

  

  

• Flamingo Pond (Vedduk Kulam or Flamingo's Pond)

  

  Flamingo pond on the map

  This is a seasonal pond that turns into one of the natural attractions of Delft during the monsoon. When the basin is filled with rainwater, flocks of pink flamingos and other birds flock here to feed. At this time, the lake becomes a good place for bird watching and photography. But in the dry season, the reservoir can almost completely dry out and smell very unpleasant.

• Dutch Horse Stable

  

  Dutch stable on the map

  Another of a series of well-recognized monuments of the colonial era. The monumental coral limestone structure was built for the maintenance and breeding of thoroughbred horses, which were a strategic resource for the Dutch East India Company. Today, from the stable, where dozens of animals once stood, only a row of pillars, one wall and a well-preserved stone drinking trough for horses remain. But if you do not include imagination and fantasy, then you will spend no more than a few minutes here, because there is nothing to do in order to take a few photos here.

• Giants Footprint

  

  The Giant's footprint on the map

  One of those mysterious sights where the line between geology, history and mythology is blurred. This is a deep imprint in the stone, shaped like a giant human foot. Local legends associate him with the epic Hindu hero-king Rama, who, according to the Ramayana, crossed these places with his army of vanars (monkey-like creatures). Another legend says that this is the footprint of the deity Hanuman, the god Shiva or Buddha. And someone believes that this is the footprint of the first man Adam. What to believe, everyone decides for himself, but in fact, this imprint could have appeared in a completely natural way simply as a result of erosion processes. In any case, the place is again from the category of just taking a photo, remembering the legends and moving on.

• Local coral stone

  

  It is not just a building material, but a genuine soul and a business card of the architectural heritage of the island of Delft. Almost all historical buildings on the island — from the majestic ruins of the Dutch Fort and Stables to the modest fences of private farms — were built from this unique material. It was mined right here, by sawing blocks from compressed coral reefs, which gives it a porous, uneven texture and a characteristic light sandy color interspersed with fossils. Locals proudly claim that such a stone is found only here, and although its analogues can be seen in Jaffna, it was in Delft that it formed a whole unique architectural landscape. Its softness allowed the masters of the past to create complex shapes, for example, the arches of the stables, but at the same time it has amazing strength to withstand the sea winds and the sun for centuries. We simply recommend that you pay attention to it, touch its rough surface, examine the ancient shell prints and understand that the entire history of the island, its colonial past and harsh beauty are literally carved into this unique natural material.

  

• Vediyarasan Fort

  Vediyarasana Fort on the map

  Despite the name, this is not one of the Dutch buildings at all. There are two versions. The first says that the fortress was built by the Tamil leader and leader of the resistance Vediyarasan to fight the British colonization at the end of the XVIII century. Another version is to say that these are the remains of an ancient pagoda (dagoba) built by Buddhists. Or maybe it's the same thing at once, i.e. the fortification was built on the site of the pagoda. Whatever version is true, the fact is that there is almost nothing to see here today. Only low, barely recognizable stone ramparts and foundations remained, almost completely absorbed by nature.

• Herds of wild horses

  

  Herds of wild horses on the map

  One of the most vivid and lively sights of the island of Delft, giving a unique flavor to the island. These short, hardy animals, considered descendants of horses brought here by the Portuguese or Dutch centuries ago, freely walk around the island. You can see them in several characteristic places: most often the herds graze on open grassy plains in the central part of the island, especially near the "Dutch stables", where they seek shade and shelter from the salt, as well as near the coast of lakes and ponds, where they come to drink. But you should not get too close to them, they are not pets. The best time to meet them is in the early morning or late evening, when the animals are most active. But if you hire a tuk-tuk guide, he will definitely find the place where they graze.

🕒 1 May, 2026