Kalutara Trip Overview
One day tour to Galle. Explore the 16th century cobbled Galle Fort and see its fortified walls, colonial buildings and lighthouse. Wander through the old streets and capture the feel of old Galle.
On the way visit Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery and see how they hatch and release the turtles.
Spot fascinating wildlife on a boat safari along the Bentota River with a skilled guide.
Learn how Sri Lankan Moonstones are mined and see them from raw stone to finished jewellry.
Visit one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka and swim in the Indian Ocean
Includes private air-conditioned transport and Kalutara hotel pickup and drop-off with entrance fees all included. Lunch is at your own expense but we can stop wherever you want or we can recommend for you.
Additional Info
Duration: 10 to 12 hours
Starts: Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Kalutara Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Kalutara, Western Province, Sri Lanka
One day tour to Galle. Explore the 16th century cobbled Galle Fort and see its fortified walls, colonial buildings and lighthouse. Wander through the old streets and capture the feel of old Galle.
On the way visit Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery and see how they hatch and release the turtles.
Spot fascinating wildlife on a boat safari along the Bentota River with a skilled guide.
Learn how Sri Lankan Moonstones are mined and see them from raw stone to finished jewellry.
Visit one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka and swim in the Indian Ocean
Includes private air-conditioned transport and Kalutara hotel pickup and drop-off with entrance fees all included. Lunch is at your own expense but we can stop wherever you want or we can recommend for you.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Bentota River, Bentota 80500 Sri Lanka
BOAT SAFARI. A local experienced guide will carry you safely along the Bentota River and will take you along the quiet river bank pointing out the different animals to be seen there in their natural environment. Cross the natural lagoon and then head into the mangroves to get an entirely different feel to the safari. The guides are highly skilled in finding local wildlife such as monkeys, monitor lizards, different types of bat, snakes and, if you’re lucky, a crocodile or two – make sure you’ve got your camera ready!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Bentota, Bentota, Galle District, Southern Province
BENTOTA BUDDHIST TEMPLE. See the 52 foot high Buddha placed atop the temple set in a stunning lakeside location and contemplate the peace that you can find here.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Research & Conservation Center, School Lane, Kosgoda 80570 Sri Lanka
VICTOR HASSELBLAD SEA TURTLE RESEARCH & CONSERVATION CENTRE.This is the oldest turtle conservation and research project in Sri Lanka. It was started by the famous camera manufacturer, Victor Hasselblad, at a time when all 7 species of sea turtles were on the Endangered list. Of the 7 species, 5 were found to be frequenting the beaches of the southern coast of Sri Lanka where they beached to lay their eggs. Now the eggs are collected and hatched out in the centre. They are allowed to grow before being released back into the wild. During the years, the center has released nearly four million turtle hatchlings into the sea. You can see many types of turtle from 1 day old to 30 years old. You can see the injured turtles that are kept at the centre because they cannot be released and you can talk to the knowledgable staff about their important work. The on-site gift shop sells many and varied items and the money raised goes back into helping the centre release more turtles.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Galle, Galle, Galle District, Southern Province
GALLE COLONIAL FORT. Galle The 16th century Dutch fort in the Bay of Galle was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. You can walk the quiet streets and look at the at the 17th century and then explore the fortified walls having your picture taken below the lighthouse.
It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.
The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population.The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people, who still own some of the properties inside the fort, are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.
The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv, for its unique exposition of “an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the “Ramparts of Galle”, withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which damaged part of coastal area Galle town. It has since been since.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Meetiyagoda Moonstone Mine, Kahawa – Batapola Rd, Meetiyagoda, Sri Lanka
MOONSTONE MINES. See where the world famous Sri Lankan Moonstones are produced. Get a feeling for the mining operation and visit the jewellry shop on site for precious stone bargains bought from source! (Optional stop)
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Unawatuna Beach, Unawatuna Sri Lanka
UNAWATUNA BEACH SWIM. Swim in the beautiful warm waters of the Indian Ocean at one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka (Optional stop)
Duration: 1 hour
