Boat Ride at Madu River & Galle Tour

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DAY 1: Transfer from Colombo to Galle. En route proceed on a Madu river Boat Ride.

Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Madhu River, a relaxing trip with plenty of interesting stops. You pass dozens of islets forested with mangroves and can appreciate the timeless natural rhythms of rural life. You cruise in a canopied, outboard motor powered boat; pausing to view a 200-year-old temple & to watch the locals cultivating cinnamon. You may also see traditional fishing techniques in action & can view demonstrations of coir manufacture and rope making. Bring your binoculars along if you can, as around 46 species of bird reside in the area, including 14 aquatic varieties. You can also spot huge water lilies & colourful butterflies.

Lunch at the Round Tour Restaurant.

After lunch, it is off to Galle - the old part of the city within the Dutch Fort built in the 17th century, and has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. A walk on the ramparts from Point Utrecht bastion to Flag Rock bastion will give you an excellent view of the ancient harbour which was known as Tar shish in the Bible. From here, the tours head to the Dutch Reformed Church built in the 17th century, the District Court, and the original entrance to the Galle Fort. The New Town to the north of the Fort was badly affected by the tsunami in 2004 and is the home of the famous international cricket stadium which is being re-built.

Proceed to Colombo for the Night.