Things to do in

Balapitiya

Start your day of adventure with a pickup bright and early at 7:00 AM when your chauffeur arrives to pick you up at your accommodation. After a scenic car ride (2.5-hours) you will reach the destination of Bentota. The first location you will visit whilst in Bentota is the Bawa estate in Lunuganga. While visiting the estate you will get to see the beautifully designed gardens that are now open to the public. Some of the buildings of the estate are also now a country house hotel. The tour of the estate takes 2-hours, during which, you will learn of the fascinating history behind this place.  Continue on your travels to Kosgoda for your visit to the Turtle Hatchery. Whilst here, you will get to spend 30 to 40-minutes learning about sea turtles and their conservation. One of people's favourite parts of the hatchery is the touch pools, deep tubs of seawater with baby sea turtles swimming in them. Visitors are allowed to pickup and handle them under supervision. There are also fully matured sea turtles of different kinds, receiving treatment for various ailments or wounds. Once you leave the Turtle Hatchery behind, you will venture to Balapitiva for your chance to go on a lovely Boat Safari in Madu River. Balapitiya is a little southern town lying in marshy wetlands. The area is a high bio-diversity zone that relies on the lagoon created by Madu River as it flows into the Indian Ocean. Your safari will take you on a ride down the river. You will get to see the dense mangrove forest that grows along the marshy banks of the river and the forms of wildlife that call the roots home. Your guide will also take you to some of the larger free standing islands on Madu River. On one such island you will find an old Buddhist monastery.  During the safari, you will also get to try a very popular attraction, the fish massage. This ‘massage parlor’ is a hut standing on stilts in the middle of the river. A netted-in area contains the ‘massage fish’. You will be sitting on the deck of the hut with your feet in the water, while the fish work their magic. After this relaxing boat tour, you will return to Negombo around 2:30 PM. You will arrive back at your hotel at 6:00 PM for an evening of rest and relaxation after a long day of adventure.

The tour begins at 8:30am with pickup from your hotel and travels out of Kalutara towards the south-west of Sri Lanka. Arrive at the first stop of the day, Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, at around 9:30am. At the hatchery, learn about the 5 endangered sea turtle species that come to the shores of Sri Lanka to nest, and learn how the Kosgoda Turtle Care Program helps protect these nests until they are ready to hatch. At the hatchery, enjoy the unique opportunity to see, touch, and feed baby turtles as well as injured adults. After about an hour at the hatchery head to the bustling coastal town of Balapitiya for a boat safari along the vibrant Madu River. Enjoy a 30-minute cruise on the river learning about and admiring its flourishing ecosystem. On the boat, pass through secretive passages created by the mangroves and see basking crocodiles and other river wildlife. Next, visit one of the river’s small islands known for its cinnamon harvesting natives, then experience the restorative qualities of the infamous fish massage. At approximately 1pm take some free time to grab lunch and energize for the rest of the afternoon’s activities. Arrive in the city of Galle by 3pm and set out on a sightseeing exploration of this Old Colonial location. Discover the streets and landmarks of Galle, bursting with history, where Portuguese and Dutch settlers made their headquarters. Visit the Galle Fort, which is one of the best preserved fortifications in Asia, then admire the architecture of the Maritime Museum, Galle National Museum, and the local lighthouse. At the end of an insightful day, the tour finishes at 5pm and you will arrive back at your hotel at around 6:30pm.

Start your sightseeing adventure with a convenient pickup from your hotel and head to your first stop for the day, Balapitiya. Enjoy a boat safari down the beautiful Madu River. Take a closer look at this wetland estuary and explore its lush mangrove forests, gliding under the canopy of the forest tunnels. Take in the unique biodiversity of this region, keeping an eye out for the crocodiles and water monitors that inhabit these waters. Stop at one of the many islands to witness the locals harvest cinnamon and end your boat safari with a visit to the fish spa. Your tropical tour continues after a short break for lunch. Head to Handunugoda to visit the local tea estate. Discover the tea that this plantation is famous for, Virgin White Tea, and learn how this luxury product is made on a tour of the plantation. Next, head to Ahangama for a truly unique photo opportunity. Watch as local fishermen demonstrate on-water stilt fishing, one of Sri Lanka's most interesting traditional fishing methods. Speak to one of the local fishermen and learn how they do it. The final stop on your Sri Lankan sightseeing tour is the old colonial city of Galle. Explore the Galle Fort, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. Visit the Maritime Museum, the Galle National Museum, and the local lighthouse. Stroll down cobblestone streets as you learn the history of this port city, including the periods of Portuguese and Dutch rule.