Galle

History’s influence is unavoidable in Galle – the most perfectly preserved colonial town in Sri Lanka. The magical coastal town is essentially a simple fishing village that boats of a rich cultural heritage. Galle takes credit for having the largest remaining Fortress built by European colonizers in the whole of Asia. Galle has a vibrant town not much different from a typical Sri Lankan town, but walk through the Fort gates and you are transported back in time to a Dutch colonial era.

The Galle Fort is magnificent to say the least. Built by the Dutch in 1663 to withstand enemy cannonballs, the 36-hectare fort is fundamentally an amazing collection of colonial structures and culture. It’s a World Heritage Site and the ocean lapping onto the massive ramparts add to the spectacular setting. The well-preserved stone and coral ramparts offer panoramic vistas of the ocean and red tiled rooftops of Galle Fort. A sunset on the ramparts is not to be missed.

Highlights


Galle Dutch Fort

Built by the Dutch in 1663 to withstand enemy cannonballs, the fort is an amazing collection of colonial structures and culture. It’s a World Heritage Site and the ocean lapping onto the massive ramparts add to the spectacular setting.

Martin Wickramasinghe’s House & Museum

This Folk Museum is inspired by and built upon the ideologies of Martin Wickramasinghe, one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned Sinhalese writers of the twentieth century.

Boat Ride To Madol Duwa

Madol Duwa is an uninhabited island made famous by Mr. Martin Wickremasinghe in his children’s novel, Madol Doova. A boat ride in the Koggala Mangroves is a relaxing experience.

Rumassala

Rumassala is a massive hill oddly out of place in the landscape just outside the Galle harbour. Rumassala hill and the surrounding area are steeped in legends and folklore.

Unawatuna Beach

Unawatuna is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and famous for its beautiful beach and corals. Unawatuna was named the world’s best beach by The Discovery Channel in 2004.

Battles and Bastions

Take a guided walk around Galle Fort, meandering through gridded streets, and hearing captivating stories and walking the grass-clad ramparts.

Southern Blend

Explore a lesser-known tea plantation and factory not far from Galle and take a trip through tea production from the plantation's pathways to leaf processing.

Food for the Soul

Compared to its nearest cousins, Sri Lankan cuisine is relatively underrated. Food for the soul takes you from the market to the island's most iconic dishes.

Roti Dinner

In a secluded location a brief drive North West of Galle you will be met by tuk tuk and as evening draws in taken a short distance to a lamp-lit mud hut.

South Coast Cinnamon

Learn how the Southern Province became producer of the world’s best cinnamon and the local techniques used, on this guided journey of a hillside estate.

Kanneliya Rainforest

Discover the Kanneliya forest reserve, a less frequented but nonetheless impressive rainforest to explore with your wildlife tracker host.

Mask Making

Visit an arts and crafts shop hidden in Galle Fort and learn the history of mask making in Sri Lanka before your host guides you through creating your own.

Giants of the Ocean

Catch a glimpse of some of the ocean's most majestic inhabitants in their natural habitat on an exciting whale watching trip.

Quantum Yoga

Whatever your experience of yoga, this exclusive session with the creator of Quantum Yoga, is ideal to learn and construct bespoke poses and sequences.

Paddies and Plantations

A truly invigorating way to start your day, hop on a bike and cycle through flourishing paddy and cinnamon plantations in the charming southern countryside.

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