Colombo Trip Overview
Spend 3 days in the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka with the best beaches in the island. The peaceful city of Matara, located in the southern coast of the island is one of the best places to witness a relatively more laid back atmosphere when compared to its Galle and Hikkaduwa counterparts, which makes it a perfect destination to experience tropical Sri Lankan without the crowds of tourism. Moreover, Matara, like any other southern coastal city, is also known for its diverse landscapes, as it is home to several cultures, and interesting colonial monuments. Tangalle is a paradise boasting of untouched beaches kissed by azure waters and lined with swaying palms. Visit Tangalle and explore its myriad of attractions like the Hummanya Blow Hole and exciting things to do from Goyambokka beach and others.
• Hassle free hotel pick up and drop off
• Explore and relax in the best beaches in the island
• Accompanied by an expert guide along the way
Additional Info
Duration: 3 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Spend 3 days in the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka with the best beaches in the island. The peaceful city of Matara, located in the southern coast of the island is one of the best places to witness a relatively more laid back atmosphere when compared to its Galle and Hikkaduwa counterparts, which makes it a perfect destination to experience tropical Sri Lankan without the crowds of tourism. Moreover, Matara, like any other southern coastal city, is also known for its diverse landscapes, as it is home to several cultures, and interesting colonial monuments. Tangalle is a paradise boasting of untouched beaches kissed by azure waters and lined with swaying palms. Visit Tangalle and explore its myriad of attractions like the Hummanya Blow Hole and exciting things to do from Goyambokka beach and others.
• Hassle free hotel pick up and drop off
• Explore and relax in the best beaches in the island
• Accompanied by an expert guide along the way
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo/Colombo – Matara
Stop At: Polhena Beach, Matara Sri Lanka
Located not far from the city centre of Matara, the Polhena Beach offers the perfect atmosphere for a beach getaway, without the crowds of tourists, making it all the more exclusive to anyone who visits the sandy stretch. The beach is primarily known to be a place of solitude and peace, so as to induce that sense of calmness in the minds of the traveller. Even the waters are relatively calmer than that experienced in the Galle and Weligama, because of the corals acting as a fence of sorts. There are other interesting elements of the Polhena Beach such as the Nilwala River, which runs through the entire city of Matara, eventually falling into the sea through Polhena Beach, which makes it quite a majestic sight.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Star Fort, Galle Road, Matara 81000 Sri Lanka
Built in the year 1765, the Star Fort is one of the more unique looking colonial fortresses in the entire island, due to its interesting architecture. The fort is designed like a star and was called Redoute Van Eck, because it allowed for more strategic positioning of the colonial garrisons so as to maintain a foothold of the city if it was attacked. Although it never saw any action, it did deter future attacks of the Kandyan forces during the 18th century. Today, it serves as a reminder of how important the city of Matara was during the colonial era. The present-day Star Fort still possesses the original moat, along with the VOC insignia and the coat of arms that belonged to the governor of the time. There is also a museum that allows you to understand how the city’s landscapes have changed over the years.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: The Shrine of Our Lady of Matara, Beach Road, Matara 81000 Sri Lanka
Shrine of Our Lady of Matara is a Roman Catholic church devoted to the Virgin Mary, in the town of Matara, Sri Lanka. The shrine houses a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. Though the statue’s origins are unknown, church officials claim that it is 400 years old. Church legend claims that a large wooden crate was hauled out of the sea by Weligama fishermen. When it was opened, the statue was found inside, untouched by seawater. The fishermen handed it over to the parish priest and the statue was placed in St. Mary’s Church in Matara. At a later period during a cholera epidemic which claimed hundreds of lives, Catholics prayed before the statue to be delivered from the disease. The statue was taken in a solemn procession through the streets of Matara. After a few days, the area was declared safe by the health authorities and there were no further officially reported deaths.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Matara Beach, Kotuvegoda, Matara 81000 Sri Lanka
Matara Beach is a beautiful beach situated in Kotuwegoda in Matara. It is a great place to relax with the sea breeze and waves hitting on. The best time to visit the Matara Beach is during sunset to experience the amazing view and natural beauty.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Matara
Day 2: Matara
Stop At: Matara Paravi Duwa Temple, Golden Island Pathway off Sea Beach Rd, Matara 81000 Sri Lanka
Paravi Duwa is an extremely small island connected to the city area of Matara by a suspension bridge. There’s a temple in the middle of the island covered by trees around. It is a popular Buddhist temple as well as a tourist attraction in Matara. The temple is located in a beautiful island surrounded by the Indian Ocean. A steel bridge connects the island to the land on the other wide and devotees as well as tourists can easily access the temple. The sheer beauty of the temple attracts people of all faiths towards it.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Weherahena Buddhist Temple, Weherahena RD Weherahena, Matara 81000 Sri Lanka
One of the more unique Buddhist temples in the island, the Weherahena Temple is a large tunnel temple, which is believed to be the first and largest in the entire world, which makes up for its lack of ancient history. The temple’s history can be traced back to the early part of the 19th century, when a particular monk was banished by his teacher. Having only minimal supplies, the monk was able to gather the villagers in the area to build a small clay house for him. The monk eventually came up with the idea of making his home into a great temple dedicated to the noble teachings of Lord Buddha. The most notable feature from the outside is the large statue of Lord Buddha in the seated position, which was the idea of the monk who first settled down. On the other hand, the most notable feature when inside the temple is the vast tunneling system that has been made, keeping its title of being one of the more unique temples in the island.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: SRI Vishnu Dewalaya, A2, Dondra, Sri Lanka
Uthpalawanna Sri Upulvan Devalaya is a temple situated in Dondra in the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka. This ancient temple is believed to have been built in the 7th century by King Dappula I, also known as King Dappula-sen. However, following the destruction of the temple by the Portuguese, it was rebuilt by King Rajasinghe II of the Kandyan kingdom. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, also known as “Uthpalawanna”, and many devotees from around the island gather here to pay homage. It is a historically popular temple and a tourist attraction situated in the southern Sri Lanka. People from all religions come to visit this sacred temple in Devinuwara.
Duration: 45 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a 3 star hotel in Matara
Day 3: Matara – Tangalle – Negombo/Colombo
Stop At: Hummanaya Blow Hole, Kudawella, Tangalle Sri Lanka
Hummanaya Blow Hole is located in the town of Dickwella, approximately 20 minutes from Tangalle. Known to be the largest blow hole in Sri Lanka, the Hummanaya Blow Hole is a great excursion for all types of travellers. Head over to the quiet town, enjoy a 20-minute walk past a small village; with vendors selling all sorts of refreshments and local snacks, until you find yourself ascending a rocky outcrop with stunning views of the Indian Ocean. Once at the summit, you’ll be in awe when you reach this natural wonder. Be amazed when the seawater shoots to the sky and splashes back in a cool, refreshing spray back on to its wide-eyed wanderers. The Hummanaya Blow Hole is a key tourist destination in the southern coast, and can be visited at any time during the day.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Goyambokka Beach (Sriyanga Sanjeewa), Goyambokka, Tangalle 82200 Sri Lanka
Goyambokka beach is a beautiful beach in the town of Tangalle in Sri Lanka which is 50 kilometers away from Mirissa. Like the Mirissa beach, this beach is also calm, serene and tranquil. Many famous villas, resorts and hotels that offer sea views are scattered around the beach. Visited by those who wish to relax and lounge in uncongested areas. It is one of the safe beaches for swimming.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Tangalle Beach, Sri Lanka
Tangalle beach is a beautiful pristine beach where the sky meets the sea at the horizon. Gentle waves over the water breaker with tropical palm trees surrounding the beaches. Water is a turquoise green under the glittering sun rays. Take a sip of tropical juice at the red beach cafe overlooking the sea and enjoy the great view of the waters.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
