Coastal Ride to Galle from Colombo
Description
Experience the magnificent southern coast of Sri Lanka with its beautiful coconut palm-fringed beaches and picturesque views. On this full-day private tour, take a river safari on the Madu Ganga. Take the option to explore the Hikkaduwa coral reefs (own expense) before visiting historical Galle. Stroll through the Dutch-built Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Colombo, the vibrant capital of Sri Lanka, boasts a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and modernity. Its bustling streets are lined with colonial-era architecture, bustling markets, and serene Buddhist temples. From the energetic buzz of Pettah to the tranquil shores of Galle Face Green, Colombo captivates with its diversity and charm.
A mangrove lagoon joined to the sea by a narrow canal and containing 15 islands of varying size, some of which are inhabited. It is formed of two shallow waterbodies, Maduganga and smaller Randombe Lake, connected by two narrow channels. On the islands and shores relatively undisturbed mangrove vegetation contains a rich biodiversity qualifying the wetland for 7 Criteria of International Importance. Many globally/nationally endangered, endemic and rare species - e.g. Shorea affinis, an endemic and endangered plant, Mugger,vulnerable and CITES-listed Purple-faced Leaf Monkey , endangered, Estuarine Crocodile, Flapshell Turtle s , Indian Python find shelter here. The lagoon provides the breeding, spawning and fattening ground for many fish species and supports.Maduganga helps in flood control by storing water during monsoon rains and retains nutrient run-off from nearby cinnamon plantations. The major occupation of the local people is fishing and agriculture.
Meetiyagoda, located in southern Sri Lanka, is renowned for its unique moonstone mines. These shimmering semi-precious stones, known for their iridescent sheen, are mined here amidst lush greenery. Visitors can witness the traditional methods of extraction and purchase exquisite moonstone jewelry, making it a gem enthusiast's paradise. Hear more about the difficulties faced by the miners. Grab the opportunity to purchase some marvellous pieces; though you will need to haggle to get a reasonable price. This tour shows you the traditions of one of the oldest trades in Sri Lankan history - gem mining.
Hikkaduwa Beach, located on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, is renowned for its golden sands and vibrant atmosphere. Framed by palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze, the beach offers a picturesque setting for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. Its crystal-clear waters are perfect for snorkeling and diving, revealing a colorful underwater world teeming with marine life and coral reefs. Along the shore, visitors can find bustling beachfront cafes, bars, and markets, creating a lively and welcoming ambiance for travelers from around the globe.
The Sea Turtle Hatchery Centre in Mahamodara, Sri Lanka, is a vital sanctuary dedicated to the conservation of endangered sea turtles. Nestled along the picturesque coast, it serves as a haven for these magnificent creatures, protecting their eggs and nurturing hatchlings until they are ready for release into the ocean. Through education and outreach programs, the center raises awareness about the importance of sea turtle preservation, offering visitors a unique opportunity to witness these ancient marine beings up close.
Discover the city of Galle, where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters, and its secrets. Visit the Galle Fort which is one of the best preserved fortifications in Asia. View the Maritime Museum, Galle National Museum and the lighthouse. Walk through the cobblestoned streets with their Dutch names as you learn more about their histories.
Colombo, the vibrant capital of Sri Lanka, boasts a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and modernity. Its bustling streets are lined with colonial-era architecture, bustling markets, and serene Buddhist temples. From the energetic buzz of Pettah to the tranquil shores of Galle Face Green, Colombo captivates with its diversity and charm.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your Hotel in Colombo.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Hats and comfortable walking shoes are recommended
Reviews(11)
I booked first class train ride from fort colombo to galle at 2.40 pm train. Train views along the sea shore was a new experience and enjoyable only for 1 hour. No water or food is available in the train. Best option will be to get down at Aluthgama station and take a return train to colombo. Other option is you must stay at galle for the night. Trains don't travel from galle after 3.30 pm. Expressway buses sometimes do not travel directly to fort colombo. So plan ahead
Lakpura was tip top. They communicated immediately and continued communicating throughout my trip to ensure everything was professing as planned. Made my visit so effortless. Will use when I return!
(J32697U05) Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that our team could make your trip seamless and stress-free. Ensuring smooth communication and a great experience is our priority. We look forward to welcoming you again on your next visit!
On Madu River Cinnamon Island: It starts with a delicious cinnamon tea, followed by a bark harvest demonstration on the cinnamon tree and ends with the sale of cinnamon powder bags. For plastic sealed bags it is pure scam because returning from travel, it turned out that the powder in question is nothing but a vulgar stinking ochre earth. Of course, it does not occur to us to open the bags on site and it is on this aspect that the little dishonest ones rely. So avoid the island of cinnamon and be content to buy in specialized stores ( ginger gardens). Guides, certainly unaware of the scam, usually advise buying on the island because it is much cheaper...
I did a solo day trip to Galle with my guide Rajitha. It was a great experience and well organized. Thanks!
J19189 Thank you so much for taking your time to share an insightful review of your safari experience and our service. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback is a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. Hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka.
Eranga picked us up on time, we had changed the time of our pick up, so that we could leave at 8am but he had not got the message so arrived at 7am for our trip to Galle and waited patiently for us to come out of our hotel. We went to a turtle hatchery at Kosgoda and met Margaret and Angela the turtles. It was quite interesting learning about the turtles, a couple were in very shallow water as their deformities meant they would struggle to swim to the surface for air. We made a donation for this as the guide led us around (we possibly should have tipped him for his time also but he wasn’t pushy and we enjoyed the visit). We agreed to a stop at a Soborns gem factory where the female members of our group haggled for jewellery. I think on the whole it was quite expensive but we enjoyed it all the same. We then went for a walk around a spice garden which was really interesting. We had a free massage, by students of massage, and then bought a few of the (probably over priced) products that they were selling. In hindsight we probably could have avoided these two stops to save time and complete more of our planned visits. Eranga then took us for food and for a ride around the mangroves by boat. We had a great time and saw a monitor lizard, and enjoyed cinnamon tea. We then had to make a choice we either continued on to Galle to see the old Fort and lighthouse or headed back to Bentota for water sports. In the end we choose the later and ended up riding a banana boat in the lagoon just as the sun was setting! Eranga then took us home. All in all it was a full but fun day.
J18976 Thank you so much for taking your time to share an insightful review of your experience and our service. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback is a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. Hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka.
This is a great way to spend a day whether by bus or car or Tuk Tuk. Stunning scenery lovely beaches passing through small villages and larger towns. Friendly people as are all in Sri Lanka. The old a Dutch Fort is incredible and definitely worth a couple of hours with it’s old charm, stunning views,snake charmers and wild monkeys running around the rooftops
Our chauffeur Hasith was an excellent guide for the day. He was very knowledgeable about Sri Lanka, very friendly and able to answer all our questions. We had an enjoyable day going from Colombo to Galle, and return, seeing a lot of nice attractions along the way. The schedule is very good and Hasith followed it well. The Madu River tour was particularly enjoyable. We were able to complete a lot in the day without feeling exhausted.
J17934 Hi Trent P, Thank you so much for taking your time to share an insightful review of your experience and our service. It was an immense pleasure to have arranged your tour to down south of Kosgoda, Balapitiya, and Galle. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback is a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. Hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka.
This trip is must do! The Colombo to Galle trip was a private tour guided drive that covers a lot all in one day. The trip began by by visiting the Turtle Hatchery that sits facing a beautiful protected beach for the purpose of protecting this Island's endangered turtles. We then made our way to the Madu River and took a beautiful boat ride passing the 9 Cinnamon Islands and stopped at one of them to watch demonstrations on the importance and use of cinnamon to the villages, and to their health and life. During the boat ride we also stopped to dip our feet in the fish farm and take a cooling sip of a king coconut drink. Following the boat ride, we then made our way to Galle where I walked along the Dutch Fort and saw the town and it's Colonial influenced buildings. All in all it was an adventure I will never forget. I had the pleasure to be accompanied by Hasith as my tour guide and driver for the day.His depth of knowledge on Sri Lanka's history, religion and culture is amazing and lovely to listen to. His genuinity, passion for his job, and kindness is rare to find amongst other tour guides these days. Me being a solo traveller, my safety was paramount to me and Hasith ensured I was well taken care of at all times. I would certainly recommend him and rate his service as excellent! To the Lakpura Travel Team and Hasith, thank YOU!!!! For a wonderful well structured trip and an awesome experience and adventure! Tamiko V
Ref: J17521 Hi Tamiko, Thank you so much for your wonderful review of your experience and the service that Lakpura offered you. It was my pleasure to make the necessary arrangements and organize the perfect tour for you. Our main objective was to ensure that you will had a truly memorable time. Your valuable feedback is a big incentive for us in going forward and will help us further ensure and enhance the quality of our service. Hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka
Very good value for all the places we visited. My favorite was the river safari ride and the turtle hatchery. You will also have an opportunity to swim and/or take a boat ride. Our boat driver found a sea turtle and got her to come to our boat. It was amazing. The restaurant our driver took us too was also very good. You pay your own lunch. I recommend the whole fish (get it steamed) was very good and we were right next to the beach. Be prepared that this is a full day, we left at 7am and came back around 7pm.
Ref: J17467 Hi Shireen, Thank you so much for your wonderful thoughts about your experience and the service that Lakpura offered you. It was my pleasure to make the necessary arrangements for you. This valuable words of yours is a big incentive for us in going forward and will help us further ensure and enhance the quality of our service Hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka
It was a great tour and great experience. Fish massage and Cinnamon island were a new thing to explore for me. Tour guide and driver was very humble and helpful. the full day tour was a lifetime experience.
