Galle day tour - Colombo to Galle trip - All Included
Description
Experience the vibrant charm of Galle on this immersive 12-hour tour. Depart from Colombo or Negombo with a knowledgeable guide to explore top attractions, including a visit to the Turtle Hatchery, the picturesque Bentota Beach, and the poignant Tsunami Photo Museum. Witness the unique stilt fishermen in action before diving into the rich history of Galle Fort, a former trade hub with a fascinating past. The tour includes convenient hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance tickets, and a delicious lunch. Book now to enjoy a day of cultural exploration and unforgettable sights in Galle!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Complete your Galle day tour with a visit to see the amazing Stilt Fishermen in Weligama. The fishermen sit on a cross bar tied to a vertical pole which is planted in the coral reef and the stilt with one hand while seated and carry out rod and line fishing with the other hand. The practice of stilt fishing started about 50 years after the end of the Second World War when fishermen found that fishing off the rocks that protrude over the sea was not enough to catch fish in large numbers, so they started planting discarded metal pipes into the reef and using them to lean against and fish. Over time the fishermen discovered that timber worked just as well as developed the poles into the more modern day versions that we see today. It is a unique sight to behold and one that should not be missed as we watch and marvel at Man's dexterity to overcome any hurdle.
climbed down toward the true destination of your day trip — Jungle Beach. Not another person in sight, just twin stretches of deserted sand trapped between the ocean and Rumassala Rock. Having just experienced the soul-crushing lameness of Unawatuna, this beach was exactly what we needed. Peace, solitude and gorgeous nature.
Galle Dutch Fort - After learning about the sheer determination of the people through the art displayed at the Tsunami Photo Museum, let us now head down to the Galle Dutch Fort. With a tumultuous history dating back to several centuries, the city’s strategic location made it a hub for trade by sea and subsequently a landing point for the island’s colonial rulers. A fort was built to ensure protection and preservation of the city the Portuguese in early 16th Century and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Originally the fort was an earthen structure with palisades, a rampart and three bastions and a moat surrounding it. Under the control of the Dutch, they built impregnable fortifications with coral and granite stones and the Fort resembled a small laid out walled town with a rectangular grid pattern of streets full of low houses with gables and verandas.
Gemological Museum Galle
Beach Restaurant for Lunch
Tsunami Photo Museum - Your next stop will be at the Tsunami Photo Museum which is located in Talwatte. After the devastating Tsunami of 2004, which struck Sri Lanka along with many other countries, the recovery process has been slow, long as well as arduous. The coastal areas were the worst hit and re-development still continues with physical as well psycho-social rehabilitation being one of the most important areas. To ease the process so that people can talk and articulate about the horrors of the Tsunami as well as to provide a place where beauty and art is still in abundance, the Tsunami Photo Museum was established. It is a completely charitable museum which provides free entrance and has drawings, paintings, photographs – art in all its glory – to tell a story of every individual to lived through the Tsunami of 2004.
Spice Herbal Garden
Turtle Hatchery - Your day trip to Galle starts with a visit to Turtle Hatchery. Sri Lanka is home to many different wildlife creatures including sea- life and of the seven species of marine turtles in the world; five of them make their way to Sri Lanka to nest throughout the year. The five species of marine turtle nesting in Sri Lanka include the Green Turtle, the Leatherback, and the Hawksbill, the Loggerhead and the Olive Ridley. Established to protect turtles that nest in the Sri Lankan beaches from extinction, the marine turtle hatcheries are operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka and rely on volunteers to help with their conservation project. You can help release the turtles back into the sea and find out how we can help these endangered species live a little while longer..
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is require
- Minimum age is 6 years
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Note: Itinerary is designed according to time availability. Sanota Walkers will not responsible for any deviation as per client’s/Chauffeur request.
- Please remember to bring your swimming kit for the jungle beach swim. The swim will last approximately one hour.
- Anybody can join this memorable day tour
Reviews(97)
Deshan was a wonderful tour guide, and showed me all around Galle and the surrounding areas. We were able to visit a number of places including some local beaches, the Galle Fort, a beautiful jewelry store, and a turtle hatchery. Everything was made so convenient and easy, and Deshan went above and beyond to ensure I had an enjoyable and fun day. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wishing to maximize their time in Galle.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you had such a great experience with Deshan. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Sri Lanka again soon.
I joined the galle day tours from colombo.. With Deshan Everything was so good I just myself I fell like private tours We just visited wherever i want I took loads of videos.. pictures He was so kind person Before to come here I didnt have ideas about 2004 Tsunamasi He explained everything I higly recommend
Thank you for choosing to travel with us! We’re really glad you had such a personalized and flexible experience—it’s exactly what we aim to deliver, even on shared tours. Deshan will be very happy to hear your kind words; he always goes the extra mile to make each journey comfortable, informative, and memorable. It’s wonderful that you could explore at your own pace and capture so many great moments along the way. Sharing the history of Sri Lanka, including important events like the 2004 tsunami, is something we truly value, so we’re pleased it added meaning to your trip. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable journey in Sri Lanka!
We chose a one-day Galle trip from Colombo with Lanka Tours, hosted by Deshan, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our Sri Lanka journey. From the very beginning, the company was quick to respond to all our booking queries, and their team was extremely helpful throughout the website booking process. Deshan, however, truly made the experience exceptional. He was hands down the best host we had during our trip—going above and beyond to ensure all our needs were met. He made sure we covered every major attraction and even included a few special stops outside the planned itinerary. His charm and popularity were evident everywhere we went, and the warm hospitality we received at each location was remarkable, especially during the delicious Sri Lankan lunch at Hotel Refresh. I highly recommend the Galle tour with Lanka Tours. Their itinerary is thoughtfully planned to cover all the key spots, and having such a wonderful host makes the experience even more memorable. When I return to Sri Lanka, I will definitely book more tours with them—they’ve left us with lasting impressions and beautiful memories.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed and encouraging review. We are delighted to hear that your one-day Galle trip from Colombo became a highlight of your Sri Lanka journey. Your kind words about our team’s responsiveness and the booking experience are truly appreciated. We are especially pleased to know that Deshan made such a positive impact and delivered the level of service and hospitality we always strive to provide. It is wonderful to hear that the itinerary, additional stops, and lunch experience all contributed to a memorable day. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we are grateful for your trust in choosing Lanka Tours. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit to Sri Lanka and creating even more meaningful travel experiences for you.
I had a pleasant experience. The pickup was on time and Mr.Deshan was kind and patient. Some places were not included and we skipped Gem factory. Be prepared for scorching heat. Food was very bad in quality and taste.
Thank you very much for sharing your feedback and for highlighting the positive aspects of your experience. We are pleased to hear that the pickup was on time and that Mr. Deshan provided kind and patient service. Concerning the food, we sincerely apologize that it did not meet your expectations. We have been working with this seafood restaurant since 2006, and this is the first negative comment we have received about food quality and taste. After lunch, our team checked with you about the meal, and at that time no issues were raised. As food quality is very important to us, we would highly appreciate it if you could share more details about what specifically was unsatisfactory, so we can review this matter with the restaurant and improve our service. Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience and truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us maintain and enhance the quality of our tours.
Had a wonderful day trip to Galle! Only place to see Stilt fisherman, wonderful beaches, excellent food. Spice village & many more memories from this trip. Would like to acknowledge our driver & trip guide Mr.Deshan who has made our trip even more memorable. Highly recommend this trip!
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely experience! We’re delighted to hear that your Galle day tour brought you so many bright moments from the stilt fishermen to the beaches, flavours, and cultural stops along the way. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words to Mr. Deshan; he’ll be thrilled to know he helped make your journey even more special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again for another beautiful adventure in Sri Lanka.
I joined a one-day tour to Galle and it was a wonderful experience. We saw the stilt fishermen, explored Galle’s Dutch Fort, had a lovely lunch on the beach, visited a gem factory, a spice and herb garden, and even stopped by a turtle conservation site. The whole day felt very chill and pleasant. My driver, Deshan, spoke excellent English, shared great stories, and was really funny — he made the trip even more enjoyable. A memorable and relaxing day out!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed the Galle tour and had a great time with Deshan. It’s wonderful to hear the stops and stories made your day special and relaxing. We truly appreciate your kind words!
I joined a one-day tour to Galle and it was a wonderful experience. We saw the stilt fishermen, explored Galle’s Dutch Fort, had a lovely lunch on the beach, visited a gem factory, a spice and herb garden, and even stopped by a turtle conservation site. The whole day felt very chill and pleasant. My driver, Deshan, spoke excellent English, shared great stories, and was really funny — he made the trip even more enjoyable. A memorable and relaxing day out!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed the Galle tour and had a great time with Deshan. It’s wonderful to hear the stops and stories made your day special and relaxing. We truly appreciate your kind words!
Had a great day out with Chamika. So many experiences packed in to one day - beautiful beaches, historic sites and a really interesting insight into Ayurvedic herbs and their uses. The ride was comfortable and cool and the lunch we chose (rice and curry set) was authentic and served while the waves lapped only meters away. Highly recommend this one day tour with Chamika.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad you enjoyed the variety of experiences and had a memorable day. It was a pleasure showing you around, and I’m happy you loved the authentic Sri Lankan lunch by the beach. Hope to see you again on another adventure soon.
Desham our tour guide was amazing. My wife got ill during the tour and he adjusted the trip to accomodate and really looked after her - Thank you This trip is a must do - Galle and surrounding area so beautiful and interesting. Loved the day Thank you Ask for Desham you will not be disappointed
After completing a 7-day tour of Sri Lanka, we booked a day tour from Colombo to Galle, as this part of the country was not on our tour itinerary. Pick up at our hotel was seamless. We are so glad that we visited this part of the country. The day was jam-packed with highlights, and our driver/guide Deshan was excellent. He was knowledgeable and friendly and adjusted the tour to suit our needs. He provided some fantastic suggestions for other stops. The Dutch Fort was much bigger than I expected and fascinating to explore. The gem museum was very informative. The staff there were not all about just trying to make a sale. The tsunami museum was somber, and the turtle hatchery was brilliant. It was a great final day in Sri Lanka
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We’re thrilled that you chose us for your day tour to Galle and that it became such a memorable finale to your Sri Lanka trip. It’s great to hear that Deshan provided exceptional service, tailoring the tour to your needs and offering fantastic suggestions along the way. We’re glad you enjoyed exploring full day tour Galle. We hope to welcome you back to Sri Lanka for more adventures in the future!
