Heritage · South coast
Galle Fort and Bentota with a Madu River boat ride
A day on the south-west coast: Bentota beach, a boat ride through the Madu River mangroves and an afternoon inside the walls of Galle Fort.
- Duration
- Full day, about 13 hours
- Pickup
- Pickup from your hotel or home in Colombo; Negombo on request
- Group
- Private car with a driver guide, just your group
- Languages
- English and Sinhala; Tamil on request
- Cancellation
- Free up to 24 hours before pickup
- Confirmation
- Within a few hours of your request
Highlights
- Galle Fort, a walled old town built by the Portuguese and the Dutch
- Sunset from the ramparts by Galle lighthouse
- A boat ride through the mangroves and islands of the Madu River
- Time on the beach at Bentota
- A quick drive home on the Southern Expressway
Why you’ll love it
A walled town to wander
Galle Fort’s ramparts, lanes and colonial houses are a lived-in town, not a museum, and there is no ticket to walk in.
Through the mangroves by boat
The Madu River ride winds between mangrove islands in a protected wetland, with a stop to see cinnamon peeled by hand.
Beach time before the heat
A morning stop on Bentota’s long, palm-lined beach, where the river meets the sea.
Sunset on the ramparts
The day ends with the sun going down over the sea from the walls by the lighthouse, then a quick drive home on the expressway.
How the tour runs
7:00 am
Pickup
We collect you from your hotel or home in Colombo and drive south along the coast road.
9:00 am
Bentota beach
Time on the long, palm-lined beach at Bentota, where the river meets the sea.
10:30 am
Madu River boat ride
About an hour and a half by boat through the mangroves and small islands of the Madu River wetland, with a stop to see cinnamon being peeled.
12:30 pm
Lunch stop
A break for lunch at your own expense at a restaurant on the coast.
2:00 pm
Galle Fort
Walk the fort’s lanes of colonial houses with your guide, past the Dutch Reformed Church to the lighthouse.
4:30 pm
Free time and sunset
Free time for the cafés and shops inside the walls, then watch the sun go down from the ramparts.
6:30 pm
Return to Colombo
Drive back on the Southern Expressway, about 2 hours, and drop-off at your hotel or home.
What’s included
Included
- Pickup and drop-off in Colombo
- Air-conditioned car with an English-speaking driver guide
- Madu River boat ride
- Expressway tolls
Not included
- Lunch
- Water sports at Bentota (payable locally)
- Museum tickets inside Galle Fort
- Personal expenses and tips
Good to know
What to bring
- Swimwear and a towel for Bentota
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- Light clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the fort
- Comfortable sandals for the walk
- Cash for lunch, cafés and extras on the river
Not suitable for
- Travellers after a full beach day (about an hour and a half at Bentota)
- Wheelchair users (boarding the river boat)
- Weak swimmers in the sea from May to September
Know before you go
- The sea is calmest from about November to April. In the south-west monsoon, swim only where your guide says it is safe.
- Swimwear is for the beach: cover up in the fort’s streets, and cover shoulders and knees to go into its churches and mosque.
- Extras offered along the river, such as a fish foot spa, are paid for on the spot.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Cancellations after that, and no-shows, are charged in full. If the boat ride cannot run because the river is too high, we refund its share of the price; if we call off the whole day for weather, you choose a full refund or a new date.
Questions
Is there an entry fee for Galle Fort?
No. The fort is a living town, open to walk around at any time. Some museums inside charge their own entry fee.
Can we swim at Bentota?
The sea on this coast is calmest from about November to April. In the south-west monsoon, roughly May to September, it can be rough, so swim only where your guide says it is safe.
Is this tour good for children?
Yes. The boat ride and the beach are popular with families, and the walk in Galle Fort is mostly flat. Bring hats, sun cream and a change of clothes for the beach.
Things to do in Sri Lanka
More things to do nearby
- On the water