Kandy, Nuwara Eliya & South Coast
Elephants, a temple city, tea hills, waterfalls, a river rafting stop and three beach nights at Bentota, planned for families with a private vehicle and driver-guide.
View TourDestination guide
Galle, Sri Lanka
A UNESCO World Heritage fort city, first fortified by the Portuguese and substantially rebuilt by the Dutch in the 17th century. The walled Old Town is full of colonial-era buildings, now home to boutique shops, cafes and guesthouses, with the ramparts offering ocean views around the whole fort.
What to expect
- A walk around the fort ramparts, especially near sunset
- The Old Town’s colonial architecture, boutiques and cafes
- Usually a half-day stop en route along the south coast
Tours that include Galle
Every tour is private and can be adjusted to spend more or less time here.
9 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Hill Train, Yala Safari & Galle Fort
Land in the morning and start straight away: elephants, Sigiriya, Kandy, a hill train to Ella, dawn in Yala and the ramparts of Galle, then two beach nights.
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Sri Lanka Grand Explorer
Nine days, six bases and one big loop: elephants, a rock fortress, Kandy, tea hills, a train ride to Ella, a Yala safari and a coastal finish, all with a private driver-guide.
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10 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Yala Safari & Mirissa Whale Watching
Ten days from the Sigiriya rock and Kandy's temples, through tea country and a Yala safari, to Galle Fort and Mirissa, where whale watching is a seasonal option.
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11 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Dambulla, Kandy, Yala & Bentota Beach
Eleven slower days with elephants, Sigiriya at your own pace, tea hills, a Yala safari and three beach nights at Bentota, planned with families in mind.
View Tour14 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Sigiriya to Yala and the South Coast
A relaxed fortnight with two or three nights in every base: Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, the tea hills, Yala and three nights on the south-west coast.
View TourFrom Colombo on the expresswayabout 1.5 hours
Galle Fort tour: a walk through a living UNESCO site
The Galle Fort tour is a walk, not a drive. The Portuguese began the fort and the Dutch rebuilt it in the 17th century, and people still live and work inside the walls. Follow the ramparts for sea views, stop at the white lighthouse, then wander the small streets for churches, mosques, boutique shops and cafés. Early morning and late afternoon are the nicest hours, because the stone is cooler and the light turns golden.
A walk, not a drive
The ramparts, the white lighthouse, churches, mosques and cafés.
Early morning or late afternoon
The stone is cooler and the light turns golden.
Boutique hotels
In restored houses around the fort. Unawatuna beach is about fifteen minutes away.
How to include Galle in your trip
Galle is about an hour and a half from Colombo on the Southern Expressway, so it works as a day trip from the capital or as part of a south coast stay. Many guests combine it with Unawatuna beach, Mirissa and the Madu River. A tour guide helps because the fort has layers of history that are easy to miss on your own. Wear a hat and comfortable shoes, and ask us to plan the visit outside the hottest hours.
The area around the fort is full of small boutique hotels in restored houses, which make a pleasant place to stay for a night. The beach at Unawatuna is about fifteen minutes away if you want a swim after the walk.
Planning a visit to Galle?
Tell us your dates and interests and we'll build a private itinerary around it.