Overview
Spend a day discovering Galle Fort and nearby attractions without the inconveniences of trains, buses, or cabs. After morning pickup at select southern towns, travel comfortably by private air-conditioned vehicle, with stop-offs to take in the cobbled streets, ramparts, and lighthouse at Galle Fort, explore fauna and flora in bentota river , world renown Moonstone mine , and places you might not come across alone, like ocean viewpoints, a turtle sanctuary, and a tea plantation. Your driver-guide provides detail and commentary along the way: a bonus absent if exploring independently.
Why travelers book this
What's Included
- Private transportation
- All Fees and Taxes
- Air-conditioned vehicle
What's Not Included
Not specified by supplier.
Meeting & Pickup
Meeting point, pickup options and start time are confirmed on Viator before checkout.
Itinerary
Stop 1
Just a few kilometres away from the city of Bentota lies the fabled Benthara River (also known as Bentota River). The river is more notably known for its flora and fauna, as it’s a mix of mangroves and smaller fishing communities that thrives by its banks. Folklore claims that the river was once the settlement of an ancient tribe that roamed the island.
Stop 2
This is the oldest Conservation and Research project started in Sri Lanka in early 1978. It was at a time when all 7 species of sea turtles were on the Endangered list. Of the 7 species, 5 of the species were found to be frequenting the beaches of the southern coast of Sri Lanka where they beached, to lay their eggs. These eggs were collected by the villagers and sold in the open market. It was about this time when the famous Swedish camera maker Victor Hasselblad whose cameras were the first to be used on the moon, came into the picture. He happened to be a close friend of the highly renowned Sri Lankan bird photographer, Dr Upane de Zylva , and Victor, having similar interests in photography, had made a donation through Dr Zylva to be used in any form of conservation and research, in Sri Lanka.
Stop 3
The Galle Fort is the largest remaining fortress in Asia constructed by any European imperial powers. Also known as Dutch Fort or Ramparts of Galle, this architectural and archaeological wonder was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and lavishly rebuilt by the Dutch during the 17th century. Even after long years from the construction, Galle Fort, a UNESCO's World Heritage Site, is still maintained as fresh. Galle is a major coastal town in the southwest of Sri Lanka and is the finest instance of a fortified city constructed by the Portuguese in Southeast Asia.
Stop 4
Most popular for its moonstone mines, Meetiyagoda is a small town roughly 10km from Hikkaduwa. Explore the mines on a guided tour where you’ll learn the process of how these moonstones are excavated and mined in Sri Lanka’s largest moonstone mine. Moonstones in Sri Lanka are renowned for their slight blue tinge, as the rarest and finest moonstones are almost transparent with a strong blue shine.
Stop 5
This exquisite tea plantation in the hills above Koggala offers highly informative tours of the estate. You'll sample and learn how they produce over 25 varieties of tea here, including the fabled Virgin White tea, a delicate brew made from the tiniest and newest leaves. Where the average large plantation worker will pick 23kg of black tea in a day, the workers here manage but 150 grams of virgin white leaves
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels