Excursion A day in galle tour at Galle

Enjoy a day spent viewing the highlights of Galle, formerly known as Gimhathiththa, the city that was once the main seaport of the island of Sri Lanka from where King Solomon traded in ivory, peacocks and other valuables. The modern history of Galle begins in 1505 with the arrival of a Portuguese ship, driven to its shores by a storm. The Portuguese ruled until 1640, before they surrendered to the Dutch East India Company; the British took over from the Dutch in 1796. This fortress city saw the height of its development during the 18th century colonial rule of the Dutch.

Handunugoda Tea Plantation

Begin your day with a 45 minute drive to Handunugoda - a unique tea estate. Set on 200 acres of land the estate also grows rubber, cinnamon, pepper and coconut. It is their tea though for which they are best known. Unlike other tea plantations, Handunugoda produces small quantities of special teas only. The emphasis is on the tea's health properties and on quality. No pesticides or insecticides are used. Their flagship tea, the Virgin White Tea is world famous and among various awards have won the award for one of the most innovative teas in the world. The tea is completely untouched by hand and follows an ancient Chinese ritual where the choicest of teas were offered as a tribute to the Emperor.

You will have an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge on how tea is processed - beginning with the plucking from the tea bushes, to the grading of the finished product - as you tour a tea plantation and factory. For guests who would like to purchase some tea, a sales point is available within the complex.

Folk Museum

Proceed then to visit the Folk Museum dedicated to the late Martin Wickremasinghe, one of Sri Lanka's renowned writers. Holding over a thousand artefacts of Sri Lankan rural life, it is a unique store-house of knowledge on the local folk culture and folk technology dating back hundreds of years. The museum includes many sections representative of this folk culture and way of life: Buddhist religious artefacts, folk religious practices, the evolution of the Sinhala alphabet, writing utensils, fishing, pottery, and metallurgical technologies, folk dance and puppetry, a unique collection of masks, musical instruments, drums, folk games, traditional lace making, costumes and jewellery - are all showcased here.

Stilt Fishermen

Next, catch a glimpse of one of Sri Lanka's iconic scenes, the stilt fishermen of the southern coast. In water about chest deep, the fishermen sit at a height of about 2m on a cross bar, or petta, tied to vertical poles, or stilts, that they've planted before. They're hoping to catch herrings and mackerel which are then stored in a plastic bag tied around their waist or to the pole. Stilt fishing, although now a dying tradition, has been passed from father to son for generations; some of the older fishermen recall that it started after the Second World War as a skillful and innovative way of earning their livelihood!

Stop for lunch at the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Galle Fort

Following lunch, continue your tour with a stop at the Galle Fort. Enter through the old gates, walk through the walled city and on the ramparts, for a spectacular view of Galle. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the fort was built first by the Portuguese. The Dutch during their invasion of 1640 captured the fort; hence it is also known as the Dutch Fort. The Fort is really a walled city, and after almost 400 years of existence, it is one of the best-preserved examples of 17th century colonial fortifications in the world. Interestingly, the Fort withstood the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 which destroyed Galle town. Today, the Sri Lankan government as well as many Dutch people who still own property inside the Fort, are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.

Dutch Church

Next visit the Dutch Church, an excellent model of Dutch colonial architecture, and the oldest Protestant Church still in use in Sri Lanka. Completed & consecrated in 1755, part of the floor is covered by about 20 heavily embossed and engraved gravestones, moved by the British into this church in 1853 from older locations. The organ loft has a lovely semi-circular balustrade while the pulpit's enormous canopy was made of calamander wood from Malaysia. It holds services in English twice monthly. Explore at leisure the surrounding area or walk around the shops displaying an interesting variety of antiques, jewellery and handicrafts.

Return to the pier and rejoin your ship.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Tea Plantation, Glimpse of Sri Lanka's Iconic Scenes, the Stilt Fishermen, Local Folk Culture, Galle Fort - UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lunch

Note

Please note: This tour involves a moderate amount of walking of approximately 1.5km or 1 mile with 45 steps to negotiate at the sites and a few to get on/off the coach. This tour is not suitable  for guests with limited mobility and who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, comfortable clothing with flat, closed-toe and non-slip walking shoes, and bring sun protection from the ship. As a rule, proper attire is required to enter religious sites; shorts and bare shoulders are not permitted, female guests must cover their shoulders, please bring a scarf from the ship. Shoes must be removed when entering religious sites and at the Martin Wickremasinghe's Residence; bring an extra pair of socks for comfort, as the pavement may be hot. Photography is prohibited at certain parts of Martin Wickremasinghe Folk Museum. Infrastructure in Galle is basic, and local conditions may be challenging: coaches, guides, hotels, restaurants, equipment, and services are the best-available in the area, but may not be up to the standards of those found on other excursions therefore, we urge flexibility and understanding as we visit unique and somewhat remote destinations. The cost of providing a tour programme in this area is proportionately more expensive than in neighbouring regions as vehicles and guides are brought in from Colombo. This may be reflected in the prices of the tours and we thank you for your understanding. Some sites may be crowded, and depending on traffic and parking conditions, it may be necessary to cross busy streets. The tour sequence may vary. The dining venue may be non air-conditioned.