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Colombo Neighborhood tours

Our most recommended Colombo Neighborhood tours

Bentota Water Sports and Galle City Tour from Colombo

1. Bentota Water Sports and Galle City Tour from Colombo

Bentota is situated along the southwest coast of the country, 65 Km south of Colombo. Take a jet ski out on the ocean at super high speeds. Have a great view of the ocean and the beach as you speed through the waves. After, jump onto a tube or banana boat for more thrilling rides. Discover Galle, a city also on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It is known for Galle Fort, the fortified city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th-century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle car-free streets with architecture reflecting the Portuguese, Dutch, and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. See Galle lighthouse standing on the fort’s southeast tip.

2-Day Whale Watching & Southern Sri Lanka Tour

2. 2-Day Whale Watching & Southern Sri Lanka Tour

The sea off Mirissa between Galle and Matara is one of the best places in the world to see endangered blue whales. This two-day tour also gives you the opportunity to see some of the important places in the southern coastal belt such as Galle fort, Unawatuna beach, sea turtle hatchery and more. On day one, meet your tour representative and proceed to your hotel in Mirissa, En-route enjoy a Bentota and Galle sightseeing tour. Bentota beach is the most popular beach holiday destination in the island. Galle is one of the ancient sea ports of Sri Lanka and was an anchor point in the Silk Route. It was later discovered by the Portuguese where they built a fortress and the Dutch that succeeded them fortified it further. This fortress is today a World Heritage Site. During the Galle city tour, visit Galle Fort, Bentota Beach, Galle coastal area, Galle lighthouse, Kande Vihara, Cinnamon Island, a handicraft center and mask carving center. Visit a sea turtle hatchery project, spice garden at Matale where spices and herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication are grown. Then take a Madu Ganga boat ride to discover this Ramsar Wetland. Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary is the place where you can have a glimpse of the fascinating underwater world and see the creatures that inhabit the unfathomable depths of the sea. The famed coral gardens are located here. Just get hold of a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and plunge into the ocean. Overnight stay in Mirissa  Day two is filled with whale-watching experiences. Miriissa off the southern Sri Lanka coast is one of the best-known places for the greatest wildlife spectacle on the planet – lunge-feeding humpback whales and blue whales. Groups of whales construct enormous circular fishing nets with bubbles to catch vast shoals of herring and then launch themselves high into the air with their mouths wide open. This activity is most prevalent from November to April, but can be observed throughout year. 

Colombo: All-Inclusive Private City Tour

3. Colombo: All-Inclusive Private City Tour

Your 4-hour journey will begin as your chauffeur-guide collects you from your hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle. From here you will start your tour with a visit to National Museum, the oldest and largest museum in the country, highly regarded for its antiques collection. Following the museum, you will visit the colorful and chaotic Petah Market, one of the largest in Colombo. Here you can find almost everything, from tropical fruit to freshly-caught seafood to jewelry. Following some shopping, you will explore the Gangarama Temple, positioned both on land and on a lake, including its small but impressive museum. You can then soak up the views of the Indian Ocean at the Galle Face Green, as well as the views of the abundance of beautiful parkland in this cosmopolitan city. Upon completion of your tour, you will be returned back to your hotel.

From Colombo: Handungoda, Galle, Ahangama, & Kosgoda Tour

4. From Colombo: Handungoda, Galle, Ahangama, & Kosgoda Tour

Spend a day exploring Handungoda, Ahangama, Galle, and Kosgoda in Sri Lanka on this guided tour. Visit a local tea factory in Handungoda, meet stilt fishermen in Ahangama, tour the coastal city of Galle, and interact with sea turtles at the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. Start by getting picked up from your hotel in Colombo by your chauffeur. Ensure that you bring a packed breakfast with you if you did not have a meal at the hotel. First, stop at Handunugoda Tea Factory, a factory known to create some of the most luxurious teas in the world. While Sri Lanka has many sought-after teas, this tea factory is famous for a different reason. The factory has reawakened the ancient Chinese tradition of creating virgin white tea that is untouched by human hands during the manufacturing process. During your tour of the factory, see how this mysterious process takes place. Next, travel to Ahangama to meet with stilt fishermen, one of the most iconic figures of Sri Lanka. Watch them fish and learn about the process from the fishermen themselves. Later, get free time for an optional lunch break at a place of your choice. After, head to the coastal city of Galle. After withstanding three foreign invasions, Galle grew from a bustling port to a fortified yet scenic city with many monuments that have withstood the ravages of time. Marvel at Galle Fort, a World Heritage Site. See the Galle Lighthouse, National Maritime Museum, the picturesque cobblestoned streets, and many more colonial remnants. At the end of your city tour in Galle, head to the final stop on the itinerary: the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. Learn about the five types of sea turtles that visit Sri Lanka for nesting and how the nests are protected. Interact with baby turtles and see some of the fully grown turtles that are getting treated for injuries here. After spending time with your new turtle friends, get a return transfer back to your hotel in Colombo.

Colombo Welcome Tour with a Local Guide

5. Colombo Welcome Tour with a Local Guide

Explore Colombo with a friendly local who is passionate about the city and eager to share all the information that will help you make the most of your trip. Get to know Colombo through the eyes of a local guide on a 2 to 6-hour private tour. Meet your guide at your accommodation and head out on the tour to get familiar with the neighborhood. Learn about the best places to eat and buy groceries, the easiest ways to get around and the top things to see and do. During the walking tour there will be the option of taking public transportation or a taxi to get around the city, at your own expense.

Colombo: Sri Lankan Cooking Class with a Chef

6. Colombo: Sri Lankan Cooking Class with a Chef

Each guest gets to prepare a Sri Lankan meal guided by a Sri Lankan chef at their own cooking stations using their own ingredients (provided by the chef) Duration: 03 Hours Class Times: Lunch Class: 11.00 AM - 14.00 PM (including the meal), Dinner Class: 17.00 PM - 20.00 PM (including the meal) The customer will come with us to the buzzling Pettah food market where we will purchase all ingredients for the meal! Our chef will take the customer to the market from our cooking studio in a Tuk Tuk or a car depending on weather. Well at the colorful market our chef will not only teach the customer about the various ingredients and how to see if they are fresh but also about the history of the market itself! There will be an essentially Sri Lankan home-cooked rice and curry meal being taught to you. You will learn hands-on, how to make staples such as dhal curry and/or breadfruit curry. There will also be a meat or fish item on the menu. After making some mouthwatering dishes, you will be taste testing them by having them as part of your meal (lunch or dinner depending on your start time).

Full-day Sightseeing Tour of Colombo, Sri Lanka

7. Full-day Sightseeing Tour of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Situated on the west coast of Sri Lanka, Colombo is said to be the traditional gateway to the Orient. It is the largest city of the island and due to its vital role in the east-west sea trade dating as far back at the 5th century, it is possible to see the remnants of Moorish, Portuguese, Dutch, and British settlement throughout the city. On this full-day tour, you will be given an insiders view to the bustling metropolis and discover the many layers, which form its colorful character. During the day you will have the opportunity to visit sites including the mile-long promenade of Galle Face Green, the exclusive district of Cinnamon Gardens where you will find Independence Hall, the vibrant bazaars of Pettah, and the pristine beaches of Mt. Lavinia. Your journey will be enhanced by the many religious sanctuaries, which manifest in their variety, the peaceful tolerance of the city’s diverse inhabitants. There will also be time to investigate Colombo’s National Museum and get a real taste of the ancient, colonial and modern influences, which make up the city. To keep you refreshed and revived, there will be a delectable lunch overlooking the sea at the Galle Face Hotel and an afternoon tea in the extraordinary restaurant of Colombo Fort, which was once a Dutch hospital.

Colombo: City Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk

8. Colombo: City Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk

This Colombo tour takes you around the best spots of the city with a focus on foodie destinations. Enjoy 360-degree views of the city, visits to famous monuments, and the opportunity to try new flavors along the way. After pickup from your hotel in Colombo, take off on a convertible tuk tuk (three-wheeler), each holding up to two passengers. The tuk tuks are very comfortable and have many facilities including onboard coolers, high-end sound systems, and 2-way radios. The three-wheelers also have wet weather covers, and umbrellas are provided for bad weather conditions. Once settled into your tuk tuk, travel to the giant local produce market in Pettah and experience the noise, smells, and sounds of this place, where thousands buy the best vegetables to take home. Go for a walk along Galle Face Green afterwards, then savor egg hoppers, normal hoppers, tempered kadala (chickpeas), prawn vade (shrimp balls), and parippu vade (lentil fritters) in the street food stalls that line the Green. As an added perk, enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available on the tuk tuk. As you explore, get the prime opportunity to luxuriate your taste buds with cheap, delicious food sold by street sellers as well as expensive, equally delicious food from boutique restaurants. If you are a foodie, then this will provide the ultimate food experience. At the end of the tour, get dropped off if you are going right back to your hotel. If you choose to have further fun and continue the evening, your chauffeur will be able to provide you with information on the best places to do so. You can select one of these places and get dropped off there too.

Sri Lanka Heritage Sites: 6-Day Private Guided Tour

9. Sri Lanka Heritage Sites: 6-Day Private Guided Tour

Day 1: Colombo/Sigiriya You will be greeted by your personal chauffeur guide at the Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport and transferred to Sigiriya. Day 2 : Polonnaruwa/Sigiriya Visit the UNESCO world Heritage city of Polonnaruwa, the well-preserved city with ancient dagobas, moonstones, beautiful parks, massive buildings and stunningly beautiful statues. In the afternoon, explore the 5th-century rock fortress of Sigiriya. Day 3: Sigiriya/Kandy Visit the impressive cave temple of Dambulla, also a UNESCO world heritage site, a batik factory and a spice garden. In the afternoon, peruse Kandy with a visit to the temple of the sacred tooth relic, the upper lake drive, market square, gem lapidary and more. Day 4: Kandy/Nuwara Eliya Visit the Peradeniya Botanical Garden and then drive to Nuwara Eliya. En route, visit a tea plantation and factory where the best tea in the world is produced. Day 5: Nuwara Eliya/Colombo Enjoy a city tour of Nuwara Eliya in the morning. A favorite retreat of the British during colonial times, the town is dotted with English country-style houses and half-timbered bungalows. After the city tour, you will be driven to Colombo and on the way you can visit Devon and St. Claire's waterfalls. Day 6: Colombo/Airport Arruve at  the airport.

Colombo: Private Guided Night Cycling Tour

10. Colombo: Private Guided Night Cycling Tour

Start your exciting night cycling tour with a visit to Independence Square, the local racecourse, which was used as a temporary airfield during World War II, Victoria Park, and the Municipal Building. Continue to the Gangaramaya Temple and Slave Island, a suburb of Colombo that was once a place of horror where enslaved people from Africa were held during the Portuguese and Dutch rule of Sri Lanka. Learn all about this local history, including the dutch hospital, the Grand Oriental Hotel, Old Colombo LightHouse, and the prison cell of the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Vikrama Rajainghe. Finish up your cycling adventure with a stop at the Galle Face Green and Galle Face Hotel.

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What people are saying about Colombo

Overall rating

4.0 / 5

based on 25 reviews

This is honestly on of the best city tours I have experienced. Due to COVID we were the only ones in the bus which made it a much more enjoyable experience as we really got to set the pace of the tour. Kurama was an excellent tour guide having in depth knowledge of the countries history and that of the locales we visited. The museum, independence square and the temple are just a few of the several places we got to visit. All in all a perfect outing except for the torrential downpour at the very end, but that is to be expected in Sri Lanka. Highly recommend this tour and be sure to ask for Kurama.

Thank you to our guide, Dinesh, who was very informative, relaxed, and gave us a great tour. We had an amazing day visiting the turtle hatchery, tea plantation and Galle. In addition to the tour itinerary, we also had the chance to go on a boat safari (at an extra charge, but would definitely recommend). Overall, it was an excellent day trip from Colombo, and we would look to go on another tour with this company when we next visit Sri Lanka.

We liked it very much. Our guide showed us other activities before we went stilt fishing, although they weren't included, it was really great and made us very happy. Now to the guide he was very friendly and nice and it was a great atmosphere fulfilled every wish of ours. Really to recommend. Keep it up

We had a great tour around Colombo with Prassad! He took us to some places that I'm sure we had missed them without him! Thanks!!;)

It was a great tour and the guide explained and showed a lot. We have learned a lot from him gladly again