Sri Lanka · GALLE TOURS

Galle Fort and Beyond: The 15 Best Tours

153 tours  ·  from $9

The fort is free to wander, so the money goes on getting under its skin and out of it. These 15 cover the rampart walks, the gem and lace workshops, the stilt fishermen and the whale harbours, priced and timed.

Whales and Dolphins Watching-Luxury Super Grade Cruiser(Hotel Pick up offered) - Searching for blue whales and dolphins
Dolphin Watching, Galle Tours, Tour Reviews, VIP, Whale Watching

Whales and Dolphins Watching-Luxury Super Grade Cruiser(Hotel Pick up offered)

1.Whales and Dolphins Watching-Luxury Super Grade Cruiser(Hotel Pick up offered)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,268 reviews · from $65Our pick

Set out from Mirissa at 6:30 am on a cruiser limited to 40 people, searching for blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, dolphins, and other sea life. Breakfast, fruit, tea, coffee, a restroom, safety crew, and optional hotel pickup are included. Sea conditions and wildlife sightings vary, so expect a real ocean search, not a guaranteed show.

“There are a lot better Cruise than this one please check more. This ship has too many chairs not enough space to walk around considering this is 5hours trip. And especially if you have a little kids please don’t try to go this.”

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Galle: Traditional Gems & Jewellery Workshop with Transfers - First lesson: choosing a real stone
Galle Tours, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Galle: Traditional Gems & Jewellery Workshop with Transfers

2.Traditional Gems & Jewellery Workshop with Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 539 reviews · 4 hours · from $13

At Chandralal Jewelry Works near Kotapola, you learn traditional silver jewelry making with guidance from the family team, including Hasara, Sarah, Ashan, and Jo. Choose a ring, pendant, bracelet, or earrings, examine moonstones and other stones, try shaping and polishing silver, then enjoy tea, snacks, and lunch or dinner. Tuk tuk transfers cover Galle, Galle Fort, Unawatuna, and Boossa within 12 kilometers.

“It was a really nice experience. They were all so kind and lovely. They cooked for us and showed us the ring making in detail. It was really really great!”

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Sea waves sri lankan cooking class - Key points at a glance
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Galle, Galle Tours, Tour Reviews

Sea waves sri lankan cooking class

3.Sea waves sri lankan cooking class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 467 reviews · from $59

Meet Susanthi and an experienced local chef for a three-hour Sri Lankan cooking class near Unawatuna. Visit fish and vegetable markets, choose fish or chicken and five vegetables, blend spices, prepare coconut milk and curries, then eat your meal in an open kitchen with jungle views. The class is listed as private, though group size should be confirmed.

“great experience and atmosphere, from buying ingredients to a great tasting lunch, the lady of the house was a great cook and in a good mood!! I recommend”

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Galle Fort Walking tour - Starting under the Clock Tower
Galle Fort Tours, Galle Fort Tours in Galle, Galle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Galle

Galle Fort Walking tour

4.Galle Fort Walking tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 285 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $15

Walk Galle Fort’s ramparts and streets with Madawa Galagedara, an English-speaking local guide. In 90 minutes, you’ll see Moon, Star, and Sun Bastions, the Dutch Reformed Church, Dutch Hospital, lighthouse, Flag Rock, cinnamon storage building, and old drainage system while discussing Sri Lankan history, culture, and politics.

“A very enjoyable tour with a very knowledgeable and helpful guide… well worth doing to enhance your visit to Galle”

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Cook with Wasantha - A second stop for fresh fish
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Galle, Galle Tours, Tour Reviews

Cook with Wasantha

5.Cook with Wasantha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 248 reviews · from $30

Meet Wasantha in Unawatuna for a four-hour Sri Lankan cooking experience. With Wasantha and her family, you’ll visit vegetable and fish markets, learn to make coconut milk and fluffy rice, then prepare four vegetable curries plus tuna or chicken. The small group, capped at 10, finishes with a buffet lunch and recipes to take home.

“Ist was the best cooking class we ever did. The trip to the market was amazing and Wasantha teached us real slow and good to understand. She is really kind and made it interesting. The Food was incredible delicious.”

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Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari - The three-hour Yala safari
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Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari

6.Galle/Mirissa/Tangalle: Transfer to Ella & Yala Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 235 reviews · 4 - 9 hours · from $11Best value

Travel door to door from Galle, Mirissa, Tangalle, or nearby coastal towns to Ella, with a 3-hour open-jeep safari in Yala National Park. Guides such as Dilan, Sasanka, Ishan, and Tikiri are praised for spotting wildlife. The park fee is extra, and sightings are never guaranteed.

“Ishan is the best guide ever. It’s was very good experience, we saw all animals, so I am very happy. Thank you so much”

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Galle and Bentota Day Tour from Colombo - Through the Madu Ganga mangroves by boat
Galle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Galle and Bentota Day-Tour From Colombo

7.Galle and Bentota Day-Tour From Colombo

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 200 reviews · 12 - 14 hours · from $45

Travel from Colombo to the south coast with an English-speaking chauffeur-guide such as Chathu, Krish, or Ranga. Visit Bentota Beach, a turtle hatchery, Madu Ganga by boat, a cinnamon garden, and Galle Fort. The day runs 12 to 14 hours, with shared transport and extra fees for the boat, hatchery, and lunch.

“I have had a very good day! I’ve been to a number of location and through a number of activities and my tour guide has been right beside me for the whole entire ride, amazing! 😊”

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Galle/Mirissa/Hiriketiya: Drop to Ella & Udawalawa Safari - Switching to the Udawalawe safari jeep
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Galle/Mirissa/Hiriketiya: Drop to Ella & Udawalawa Safari

8.Galle/Mirissa/Hiriketiya: Drop to Ella & Udawalawa Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 186 reviews · 7 - 8 hours · from $48

Start with hotel pickup from Hikkaduwa, Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa, Weligama, Matara, Hiriketiya, Tangalle, or nearby resorts. Ride to Udawalawe, switch to a 4x4 jeep for a 2.5 to 3-hour safari, then continue to Ella. Guides such as Pathum, Mahesh, Prasad, and Koshala are praised for spotting elephants and birds.

“We had so much fun, it was so cool, Pahum was really good driver and guide! Thanks for having us!”

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Galle Unawatuna Cooking Class - Starting with Sri Lankan ingredients
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Galle Unawatuna Cooking Class

9.Galle Unawatuna Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 142 reviews · from $30

Spend about three and a half hours learning Sri Lankan cooking in and around Unawatuna. You may visit a market, then cook rice, vegetable, fish, meat, and sweet dishes in a traditional home kitchen with local teachers including Madhu or Madha. Pickup is offered, groups are capped at 10, and lunch or dinner is included.

“What an incredible experience. This was so much fun and the food was by far the best we had in Sri Lanka. Everything was so well organized. It's such a beautiful kitchen too. I can't recommend this enough. Thank you to Madha for being such a wonderful teacher.”

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Galle day tour - Colombo to Galle trip - All Included - Jungle Beach and the rough path down
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Galle day tour – Colombo to Galle trip – All Included

10.Galle day tour – Colombo to Galle trip – All Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 95 reviews · from $90

Spend about 12 hours exploring Sri Lanka’s southwest coast from Colombo. Your private driver-guide takes you to Weligama’s stilt fishermen, Jungle Beach, Galle Fort, the Tsunami Photo Museum, a spice garden, Hikkaduwa Beach, and Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. Lunch, bottled water, transport, admission fees, and hotel pickup are included.

“one day trip to Galle from Colombo is overall good with visits to Stilt Fisherman, Fort, Mangrove boat ride, Spice Garden and Tortoise hatchery with a superb buffet lunch.the trip is fully engaged and we enjoyed the trip. The driver was more accommodate and friendly. i highly recommend this tour.”

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Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up) - Speeding toward blue-whale country
Boat Trips in Galle, Cruises & Boat Tours, Galle Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

11.Sports Boat- Private Whale Watching Trip( free breakfast & paid pick-up)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 93 reviews

Set out from Mirissa at 7 a.m. in a private twin-engine sports boat for up to eight people. The crew reaches whale habitat in under an hour, with breakfast, drinks, snacks, a restroom, WiFi, and naturalist commentary included. Whale Watching Mirissa with Chaminda follows international whale-watching rules, with paid pickup outside Mirissa.

“Great whale, dolphin and turtle spotting experience. Wonderful staff and an excellent, clean boat. We had a whale of a time :)”

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Half-Day Lagoon and Village Cycling Tour in Galle - Mangroves and wildlife at a slower pace
Cycling Tours, Galle Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half-Day Lagoon and Village Cycling Tour in Galle

12.Half-Day Lagoon and Village Cycling Tour in Galle

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · from $25

Ride 12 km from Chameera Cycling through Galle’s village lanes, lagoons, mangroves, and paddy fields. Your English-speaking guide points out wildlife and local plants, then takes you to a coconut or handloom factory, an 18th-century Buddhist temple, and a king coconut stop. Morning rides are best for cooler weather.

“Great little cycling tour of the lagoon and villages along the way. Good guide who took his time to explain the local wildlife and flora”

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Galle Fort Walking Tour with a Resident - Walking the fort walls at an easy pace
Galle Fort Tours, Galle Fort Tours in Galle, Galle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Galle

Galle Fort Walking Tour with a Resident

13.Galle Fort Walking Tour with a Resident

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · from $15

Walk Galle Fort with resident guide Madawa Galagedara on a private 90-minute tour. Start at the Clock Tower, follow the fort walls and old town streets, and learn how Portuguese, Dutch, and English rule shaped Galle. Expect clear English, local stories, Sri Lankan culture, and plenty of time for questions.

“Local guide who had a great knowledge of the Fort. Very interesting to chat about life in Sri Lanka as well as the history of this very special place”

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PRIVATE Surf Lesson for Beginners - Learning the stance, footwork, and balance
Galle Tours, Private, Surf Lessons, Surf Lessons in Galle, Tour Reviews

PRIVATE Surf Lesson for Beginners

14.PRIVATE Surf Lesson for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 80 reviews · from $20

Meet Ama Surf School in Weligama for a private 90-minute beginner lesson. Your instructor teaches safety, paddling, stance, and wave riding with a soft board first, then fiberglass when ready. Instructor Akila is known for patient coaching, though the lesson moves quickly toward getting you upright.

“Highly recommended, very good experience as a first time surfer, the trainer is experienced and very calm”

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Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Hiriketiya/Tangalle: Day Trip to Ella - Buduruwagala Temple starts the day quietly
1-Day Tours, Galle Tours, Tour Reviews

Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Hiriketiya/Tangalle: Day Trip to Ella

15.Galle/Weligama/Mirissa/Hiriketiya/Tangalle: Day Trip to Ella

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 77 reviews · 12 hours · from $57

Leave your hotel at 5:30 AM for a packed day from Galle, Weligama, Mirissa, Hiriketiya, or Tangalle to Ella. Visit Buduruwagala, Ravana Falls, Halpewatte Tea Factory, Nine Arch Bridge, and Little Adam’s Peak, with a normal train ride and optional zipline. Guides such as Suresh, Ravi, Ojitha, and Dilip handle the long road day.

“I totally recommend to have the Ella Highlights Day Tour with Ravi, he was 10/10. Safe driver, very good knowledge of Sri Lanka history, places around the country and a plus for Buddhism history (if you are into it, Ravi is a good partner to share knowledge and gain new perspective also). Really kind pardon, he customized my trip and covered everything I wanted to see and the whole riding part was pretty fun and nice as we shared life stories and laughed a lot. Thank you Ravi for making my day with this trip, I will recommend you yo all my friends when vidiying Sri Lanka! :)”

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New in Galle Tours

★ 5.0Private Day Tour: Yala National Park Safari Tour from Galle & WeligamaFrom $2903 reviews
★ 5.0Kanneliya Rain Forest TourFrom $9510 reviews
★ 5.0Dediyagala Village Tour(from Galle, Mirissa, Ahangama, Matara)From $458 reviews
★ 5.0Private Galle Day Trip from Colombo/ Negambo / BentotaFrom $6035 reviews
★ 4.5Day Excursions to Galle Fort & Bentota from ColomboFrom $5520 reviews
★ 5.0Galle Day Tour with River Safari, Tea Plantation & Sea TurtleFrom $13511 reviews
★ 5.0Galle Day TourFrom $7015 reviews
★ 5.0Galle Day TourFrom $1808 reviews
★ 5.0One Day Udawalawe Safari from Galle/Mirissa/Unawatuna/HikkaduwaFrom $18410 reviews
★ 4.5Galle City Tour And ShoppingFrom $4112 reviews
★ 5.0Galle Day Tour with Turtle Hatchery & River Boat SafariFrom $754 reviews
★ 5.0Yala National Park Private Safari trip from Galle/Unawatuna/MirissaFrom $20012 reviews
★ 5.0Yala Safari Drive From Galle, Weligama, Mirissa & DickwellaFrom $807 reviews
★ 5.0Udawalawe National Park Safari from UnawatunaFrom $1075 reviews
★ 5.0Explore The Beauty Of Udawalawe National Park From South Coast During 01 DayFrom $9013 reviews

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Where Sri Lanka takes you

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