“Ayubowan” Warmly Welcome to Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean! you will be greeted and assisted by a representative of Globeenjoy tours (your chauffeur guide) and taken you on this fabulous one-day tour to Galle.
We start our tour in the morning by 7:00am and leave to Galle via costal line where the first stop will be at Bentota where you will be enjoy doing a boat ride to the mangroves in Bentota River and breakfast at the dock yard at Water sports center.
Optional – Feel free to choose your own water sport on sight such as Jet-sky, Water-sky, Kayaking, Banana Boat ride, Sofa ride, Tube ride etc.….
Water Sports Bentota
While stimulating among best places for water sports, you will find the most wanted subjects in the world’s famous tourist paradise Bentota. A number of great sports activities can be played at the Bentota River. Jet skiers. Water skis, surf boards, and speed boats are available at many sports centers around Bentota. Beginners can be trained under the supervision of professional trainees of water sports.
After having little bit of fun with water sports, our next stop will be at the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda.
Turtle Hatchery
The “Sea Turtle Hatchery” is a non – profitable organization which is maintained for the survival of Sea Turtles for the next generation. These turtle hatchery farms are placed in the southern part of Sri Lanka. From the past, due to the cruel activities of humans, there is a danger that turtles are facing extinction for the sake of our future generation. Staff patrols the beach all night looking for mother sea turtles that come out of the ocean to lay their eggs. Protect the mother turtle during the nesting process and when she is finished laying the eggs and safely back in the ocean.
Proceed and stop at Ambalangoda, which is famous for its own traditional wood carving Mask Factories.
Mask Museum
Ambalangoda is renowned for the manufacture of wooden masks and puppets. The traditional masks are carved from light Balsa like Kaduru wood (Nux vomica). Kaduru trees grow in the marshy lands bordering paddy fields. The wood is smoke dried for a week in preparation. The hand carved and hand painted masks in traditional dance dramas are both vibrant and colorful. Masks are created for three different types of dancing rituals: ‘Kolam’, which tell mocking stories of traditional Sri Lankan colonial life; ‘Sanni’, or devil dancing masks, used in a type of exorcism ceremony to heal people of persisting illnesses believed to be inflicted by demons; and ‘Raksha’ masks, which are used in festivals and processions. Local puppet shows, showing dramas, comedies and folk tales were also a popular form of entertainment. Influences from South India, Asia and Europe are assumed to have been the shaping factor in the art of mask dancing and puppetry. The Naga Raksha (Cobra demon) mask of the ‘Raksha Kolama’ (demon dance), consists of a ferocious face with bulging, popping & staring eyes, a carnivorous tongue lolling out of a wide mouth armed to the hilt with set of fanged teeth, all topped by a set of cobra hoods. With the practices of traditional exorcism (thovil), mask dancing (kolam) and puppetry (rookada) shows in the decline, the art of mask carving has seen a reduction of interest. Though only a few of the antique originals survive, the local mask museum retains an interesting collection of reproductions and provides displays of carving techniques for visitors.
Thereafter you will be stopped at your destination, the famous historical “Galle Dutch Fort”. You will be given a fully guided tour in Galle fort. And the lunch at one of the finest sea food restaurants. Relax and feel free to take few memorable clicks before you leave the fort.
Galle Fort
In the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria IV, for its unique exposition of “an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.
After exploring, will be heading back to Colombo via southern expressway. Evening tea and snacks at the pitstop.
Cost per person would be USD 80/-
Package Excludes: