Set sail from Mirissa to witness the breathtaking sight of the planet’s largest mammal, the blue whale, in its natural habitat. Sri Lanka’s southern waters are rich in aquatic life. As well as blue whales, you might see fin whales, sperm whales and pilot whales, as well as many species of dolphins. Depart at 6:30 AM, ahead of the other boats. A complimentary breakfast of sandwiches and fruits will be served on board, along with water and tea or coffee. Knowledgeable guides are on board to answer any questions you may have and help you spot these wonderful creatures. The boat is fitted with a GPS tracking systems, to guide you to the best location to see these extraordinary animals. With over 90% probability of seeing whales and dolphins, you are promised a morning to remember.

After being picked up at your hotel, hop onboard your Madu Ganga Magrove boat safari and explore the Madu River. See the mangrove forests and marshlands that surround the river. Stop at a cinnamon garden, and try some of the area’s famous cinnamon. The Madu Ganga River region is home to some of the best quality cinnamon in the world as well as a flourishing cinnamon industry. Afterward, marvel at the fishermen who stoically sit atop large branches planted in the middle of the water waiting for their catch. Continue to a local Turtle Hatchery, where your guide will introduce you to the many local varieties of turtles. End your tour with a visit to the Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fort illustrates the unique interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. After discovering the fort, you will be returned to your hotel in Colombo.

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.

Enjoy a private educational day trip from Galle to learn about Sri Lanka's biodiversity. See Lunuganga Geoffrey Bawa's Country Estate and get up close to baby turtles in a hatchery, before feeling the thrill of a boat tour along the Madu Ganga. Discover the mangrove forests of Balapitya and relax with a foot massage from fish at a river hut. Get picked up from your hotel in Galle and travel through picturesque scenery to reach Lunuganga Geoffrey Bawa's Country Estate. Take a tour around the beautifully designed gardens and learn about the history of the site. Travel on to a turtle hatchery to observe the process of conservation first hand. Watch baby turtles growing up in care pools and see all kinds of different fully-grown species. Immerse yourself in Sri Lanka's river network on a boat tour down the Madu Ganga to the small coastal town of Balapitya. Explore the dense mangrove forests that grow upon the banks and visit a local Buddhist monastery on a nearby island. Finish your trip at a hut in the middle of the river to have your feet massaged by a shoal of fish.

Join this guided trip that combines a visit to Galle Fort, the UNESCO-listed ancient medieval capital of Southern Sri Lanka, with a riverboat trip on the Ramsar wetland of Madu, where you can immerse yourself in a mangrove forest, animals, and birds. After hotel pickup, your vehicle makes the journey southward along the spellbinding west coast beaches to Balapitiya and Galle. The old capital of southern Sri Lanka, built by the Portuguese in 1505, is the most popular tourist attraction in Southern Sri Lanka. Galle attracts thousands of travelers, food lovers, beach lovers, and shoppers every day. The Galle Fort is the best-preserved colonial fort in Asia. This ancient site is full of well-preserved houses, palaces, hotels, shops, restaurants, museums, and other constructions. On arrival, set out on foot with your guide who will lead you around the rampart and along the twisting narrow cobble streets laid out by ancient constructors. Marvel at an ancient church built more than 250 years ago. On the return journey, hop on a boat in the Mad River estuary, which is a Ramsar wetland comprised of 64 islands. The extent of the Madu River wetland is 915 hectares, and it harbors multi-varied bio-diverse eco-systems. 

Your tour begins as you are picked up from your Colombo hotel to be transferred to Bentota. Once there you will enjoy some water sports, before taking a river safari down the beautiful Madu River. This river is a wetland estuary spreading over 900 hectares of which 770 hectares are covered with water and inhabited with 64 islands. This boat ride is a wonderful way to take a closer look at this complex wetland ecosystem, which is a UNESCO-listed site. The area is also protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as one of the last wetlands in Sri Lanka to contain a pristine mangrove forest. Once having explored the wetlands, you will transfer to Kosgoda to visit a turtle hatchery where you will see various breeds of sea turtles. Lunch at a recommended restaurant will follow before you transfer to Meetiyagoda, where you will visit the Moonstone Mine and workshop. Following the mine, you'll head to Hikkaduwa Beach to visit the Galle Dutch fort, which was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese. It was later extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century, and in the modern age has become UNESCO-listed. At the conclusion of your cultural experience, you will transfer back to Colombo.