Colombo Trip Overview
Built by the Portuguese on the coast of Sri Lanka in the 16th century and modified in the 17th century by the Dutch, Galle Fort is a historic testament to the significant European influence in South East Asia. Explore this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Dutch Fort, a fortified city shaped by Dutch-colonial style buildings and crumbling remnants of ancient, Portuguese and British times. Impressive bastions and ramparts that have stood for over three centuries protect a Dutch enclave that today is a vibrant area, complete with courts, schools, administrative buildings, churches and hotels in whitewashed Dutch buildings. Enjoy a boat safari in Sri Lanka on a winding river which is one of the most delightful things that you can do while travelling in the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. Indeed, this charming experience will remain etched in your memory for many years! And visit the Galle Fort, Stilt fishermen and a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 12 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Built by the Portuguese on the coast of Sri Lanka in the 16th century and modified in the 17th century by the Dutch, Galle Fort is a historic testament to the significant European influence in South East Asia. Explore this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Dutch Fort, a fortified city shaped by Dutch-colonial style buildings and crumbling remnants of ancient, Portuguese and British times. Impressive bastions and ramparts that have stood for over three centuries protect a Dutch enclave that today is a vibrant area, complete with courts, schools, administrative buildings, churches and hotels in whitewashed Dutch buildings. Enjoy a boat safari in Sri Lanka on a winding river which is one of the most delightful things that you can do while travelling in the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. Indeed, this charming experience will remain etched in your memory for many years! And visit the Galle Fort, Stilt fishermen and a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Madu River, Nilwala River Safari, Bridge View, Custom Road, Balapitiya , Sri Lanka 941906362 Call And Contact, Balapitiya 80550 Sri Lanka
Madu River is located in the south of Sri Lanka near Galle. It is located in Balapitiya, Galle 80 km away from Colombo, close to Sri Lanka’s southern coastal belt. It was identified as a minor watercourse in Galle District, before widening into the Madu River Lake at Balapitiya. The river then flows for a further a 4.4 km before draining into the Indian Ocean. here are totally 64 islands in Madu River. The Madu River area surrounding the river are all swampy marshlands covered in mangrove forests. The forest covers over 61 hectares, that is over 150 acres. 14 of the 24 species of mangroves are found in this area. The most important thing is that the mangroves play a huge part in preventing erosion.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Galle Fort, Church Street, Galle 80000 Sri Lanka
Fort Galle (Galle Fort) is one of five historic sites of Sri Lanka, a UNESCO world heritage site. Therefore, it is absolutely mandatory place to visit. Originally a fortress on this spot was built by the Portuguese in 1588. However, with the coming of the Dutch in the 17th century the fortress was almost completely rebuilt and today is a Dutch fortress, and the date of its Foundation is considered to be the year 1663 (date of completion). For nearly 200 years after the fortress was the main port of Sri Lanka, it served as a stop for ships travelling from Europe to Asia.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Sea Turtle Conservation Project (Koggala), Mathara Road, Koggala 80630 Sri Lanka
Turtle hatchery of Koggala opened in the year 1996 on the fringes of Koggala town and is a local project that makes huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching, and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stages.There is a giant turtle-shaped entrance, and upon entering, on the left, there is a mini pond under a shed. Visiting the Koggala Turtle Hatchery is more of an overwhelming experience rather than just a fun outing.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Stilt Fishermen Sri Lanka, Koggala Sri Lanka
Stilt fishing is one of the most interesting traditional fishing methods of Sri Lanka. A vertical pole with an attached crossbar is embedded into the sea floor among the shallows, or on a riverbed. The crossbar allows the fishermen to be seated a couple of meters above the water causing minimal shadows on the water and hence little to no disturbance amongst the sea life. Some of the fishermen are quite happy to show how they fish, and speak about their lives. There are also opportunities to try the activity if interested; not to mention the breathtaking photographic views provided by the fishermen silhouetted against the horizon at dawn and dusk.
Duration: 1 hour
