Galle Day Tour

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Galle is a jewel. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes you’ll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers.

  • Reviews 0 Reviews
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  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
    Day Tours
  • Activity Level Leisurely
    1/8
  • Group Size Large Group
    10
All about the Galle Day Tour.

Galle is a jewel. A Unesco World Heritage Site, this historic city is a delight to explore on foot, an endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums. Wandering its rambling lanes you’ll pass stylish cafes, quirky boutiques and impeccably restored hotels owned by local and foreign artists, writers, photographers and designers.

  • Pick up from Hotel and transfer to Galle – Approximately 1 hour drive
  • Lunch at a recommended restaurant
  • Witness the skills of stilt fishermen who wait for the day’s catch sitting on a stick perched on shallow waters of the Indian Ocean
  • Visit bustling Galle market and see the fishermen sell their daily catch by the road side.
  • Visit Galle Fort – Galle Fort, Flag Rock, Old gate, Meeran Mosque, dutch hospital and Church  are trendy place to enjoy the architecture, history, shopping and taste some best food and wine in the road side cafes.
  • Transfer back to Bentota – 1 hours drive approximately
The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

✓ English Speaking Chauffeur guide
✓ All Cost Relate to Car and Chauffeur
✓ No Hidden Cost
✓ Highway tolls
✓ Hotels/accommodation
* Dinner
* breakfast

What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

o Meals Out Side of the Stated Meal Plan
o Expenses of PersonalNature
o Train Ticket
o Any Other Services not specified above
o Entrance Tickets for All Mentioned Excu

  1. Attraction 1 Flag Rock

    Flag Rock, at the southernmost end of the Fort, was once a Portuguese bastion. Today it is easily the most popular place to catch a sunset. During daylight hours you may see daredevil locals leaping into the water from the rocks. Numerous vendors sell good street food such as fresh papaya with chili powder from carts.

  2. Attraction 2 Old Gate

    Beautifully carved British coat of arms tops the entrance to the Old Gate on the outer side. Inside, the letters VOC, standing for Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company), are inscribed in the stone with the date 1669, flanked by two lions and topped by a cockerel. A section of the fortifications here also served as a spice warehouse.

  3. Attraction 3 Meeran Mosque

    Facing the lighthouse, this beautifully maintained whitewashed building is a highly unusual construction combining eclectic architectural features that include a dash of baroque, British Victorian and Islamic detailing. Its facade is more reminiscent of a Portuguese cathedral than a mosque. There’s no general admission, but non-Muslims may be invited to enter if dressed appropriately. Inside there’s a wonderful little mihrab, complete with small decorative domes, and some attractive floor tiling.

  4. Attraction 4 Dutch Hospital

    Now fully restored and home to myriad up market boutiques and restaurants, this vast, colonnaded colonial landmark dates from the 18th century. Its size was necessary as both the voyage to Ceylon and life in the tropics proved very unhealthy to the Dutch, who died in droves from various diseases and the tropical heat. There are fabulous bay views from its upper balcony.

  5. Attraction 5 Dutch Reformed Church

    Originally built in 1640, the present building dates from 1752. Its floor is paved with gravestones from Dutch cemeteries, while other impressive features include the organ and an imposing pulpit made from calamander wood and topped by a grand hexagonal canopy. You may encounter the friendly caretaker who will likely point out the (slightly bizarre) carved wooden memorial dedicated to a former Commander of Galle, Abraham Samlant – the tiny cotton shirt is said to be the one he was baptized in.

  6. Attraction 6 Marine Archeological Museum

    This spacious maritime museum occupies a colossal old spice warehouse built by the Dutch and dating back to the late 17th century. The structure was originally part of the main gateway to the Fort and it still forms part of its ramparts. An introductory video presentation sets the scene and there are interactive displays that illuminate the city’s maritime past, including the many shipwrecks in Galle’s surrounding waters. It covers two levels that snake through the city walls.

  7. Attraction 7 Sudharmalaya Temple

    Gazing over the lawns on the western side of Galle, this small whitewashed temple complex includes a prayer hall (the unusual design of which, including a belfry, may indicate a former life as a church) and contains a large reclining Buddha. There’s also a mini stupa, also painted blinding white, dating from 1889. Yoga classesare held here.

  8. Attraction 8 Amangalla

    The Amangalla was built in 1684 to house the Dutch governor and officers. Later, as the New Oriental Hotel, it was the lodging of choice for 1st-class P&O passengers travelling to and from Europe in the 19th century. During much of the 20th century, it was in a decades-long slow decline and was run by the legendary Nesta Brohier, a grand lady who was actually born in room 25.

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