Sri Lanka · Boating

Boat safari & Hikkaduwa coral reef visit including Galle city from Udawalawa

9 Hours Round trip from Pickup service provided. Challenging pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Boat safari through the mangroves and islands of the Madu River
  • 02 See the wetland ecosystem of one of Sri Lanka’s notable mangrove areas
  • 03 Glass-bottom boat ride to view Hikkaduwa’s underwater corals
  • 04 Visit a turtle hatchery near Galle
  • 05 Explore historic Galle and visit the Dutch Fort
  • 06 See landmarks including Galle Fort and Galle Lighthouse
  • 07 Full-day tour from Udawalawa with lunch included
  • 08 Travel with private A/C transport and an English-speaking guide

Discover Sri Lanka’s southern coast on a full-day journey from Udawalawa that combines nature, marine life, and colonial heritage. Begin with a scenic boat safari on the Madu River, where mangrove forests, island-dotted waterways, and rich wetland biodiversity create a peaceful and memorable setting.

Continue to Hikkaduwa for a glass-bottom boat ride to view the coral reef, then head to Galle to explore one of the island’s most historic coastal cities. With lunch, transport, entrance fees, and an English-speaking guide included, this tour offers a varied day out featuring wildlife, seaside scenery, and the atmosphere of Galle Fort.

The boat ride is a wonderful way to take a closer look at this complex wetland ecosystem, a world heritage site protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, being one of the last wetlands in Sri Lanka to contain a pristine mangrove forest.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Hours
Tour type Private
Activity level Challenging
Accommodation Not included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Galle, Hikkaduwa
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Madu River, a wetland estuary spreading over 900 hectares of which 770 hectares is covered with water and inhabited with 64 islands. The boat ride is a wonderful way to take a closer look at this complex wetland ecosystem, a world heritage site protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, being one of the last wetlands in Sri Lanka to contain a pristine mangrove forest. Journey past massive mangrove forests, glide under the canopy of the forest tunnels as they curve playfully towards the watercourse. If it's later in the evening watch the fishermen in their canoes lighting lanterns on traps that catch prawn and other shellfish. It's certainly going to be a memorable day-out on the serene waters of the unforgettable Madu River! After an exciting Madu river boat trip, drive down to Galle on the highway and visit a Turtle hatchery near Galle to see various species of Sea Turtles, if you wish you could even release a baby Turtle to the Ocean.Hikkaduwa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province, about 20 km north-west of Galle. Hikkaduwa is famous for its beach and corals. Villages affected were Telwatta, Paraliya, Dodanduwa, Kahawa, Rathgama. The place is on the way from Colombo to Galle on the famous Galle road. It is primarily a tourist destination, and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel and enjoy the sun.A city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It is known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. Stone seawalls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Galle Lighthouse stands on the fort’s southeast tip. Built by the Dutch, beginning in 1663, Galle's core is the Fort, a walled enclave surrounded on three sides by the ocean. A key part of the Fort’s appeal is that it isn’t just a pretty place. Sure, tourism now dominates the local economy, but this unique city remains a working community: there are administrative offices and courts, export companies, schools and colleges.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Pickup service provided. 2 cities · 9 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Transportation in a A/C Vehicle
  • English speaking guide for the entire tour
  • Entrance fees & All Govt. Taxes and Surcharges
  • Lunch

What's Not Included

Any other tours or services not mentioned above

Know before you go

  • PASSPORT REQUIRED
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • No public transportation nearby
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Not recommended for people with back problems

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Pickup service provided.
Tour start
Pickup service provided.
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 9 hours finish where they began, in Pickup service provided..

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