Galle Fort Walk with a Local | La Vacanza Travel

Galle Fort Walk with a Local

Duration: 2 hours
Destination: Sri Lanka, Southern Province, Galle
from
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  • 2 hours
  • Galle
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

(SKU: LK61040100) Walk through the old fortifications of Galle, and hear the stories of times past from a local guide whose family has resided there for generations. Visit the museums with their memorable treasures and the lighthouse which was once an indispensable asset of the area. Wander around the maze of cobblestoned streets with their picturesque houses and Dutch names. Relax with a cup of Ceylon Tea or fresh King Coconut. A tour of immense charm to one of the best preserved colonial forts in Asia.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Galle, Galle, Galle District, Southern Province

The natural harbor of Galle was famous as far back as 1400 BC. At that time it was one of the main ports in the world from which cinnamon was exported. The arrival of the Portuguese marked a change in the history of the town. They made Galle their headquarters and destroyed many important monuments which were in the area. The initial earth and palisade fort built by the Portuguese was expanded on by the Dutch, after their takeover of the Portuguese assets in the 17th century. The Dutch Fort was highly advanced with high stone ramparts and many bastions. They also built many other buildings for administration and residency. The Dutch made renovations to the streets and added advancements such as storm water drains.oday much of the Dutch fort still stands, contradicting the ravages of time. The history seeped streets of Galle retain their life and originality. You will be able to climb up to the ramparts of the fort, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walk through the streets.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Inclusions
  • Local guide

Exclusions
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Expenses of personal nature
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Comfortable walking shoes and hats recommended
  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
  • A maximum of 12 people per booking
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Galle, Sri Lanka
Traveler pickup is offered
Departure Point: In front of the Bank of Ceylon, Light House Street, Galle Fort
Address: Bank of Ceylon, Light House Street, Fort, Galle.
Dates: Daily
Return point: In front of the Bank of Ceylon, Light House Street, Galle Fort


Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

2 hours


User's Reviews

DebbieK2243

06 Feb, 2024

Really lovely guy, we had a very enjoyable afternoon touring Galle and hearing all the history. We also took his recommendations for places to eat and shop all good

JUMcQ

18 Feb, 2022

Really lovely guide. He didn’t speak though. He told me the fort was built in 1500s, but the signs said a different date. He made up for it by taking me to a gem shop. Lovely lovely man, but I’m not sure he knew much about Galle Fort.

RebeccaEN

28 Dec, 2021

We absolutely loved the tour! Our guide was amazing! He is a local his family has been living here for decades and he is so knowledgeable. We started the tour in a tea room his grand father created for the locals to drink tea when they did not have many places to have a good time when the English were occupying the country. He has insiders stored like when he told us about the tsunami and the situation of his parents etc. He is also super generous, we took more time because we were asking lots of questions and he proposed to extend for free for 30 minutes or more. He really does not look at the time, is in the present moment and enjoys the tour with us! He is passionate. We learned about the history of Sri Lanka, of Galle, about the religions, about the architecture, well so many things. He is really nice and sharp. We highly recommend! PS: we also asked if we could do the tour earlier because we had finished eating earlier and he accepted!

olinadek

15 Nov, 2018

We were just visiting Galle for a single day so wanted to take a tour where we could learn a lot about the fort and also the history of the area and the architecture, this tour did not disappoint! Chirath, our guide, arrived on time with a colleague and they were both very knowledgeable and wanted to tell us as much as they could about the town. They always had answers to our questions and mixed up the explanations with some stories and myths that have been passed down through the years. This was a great tour and we would highly recommend! Thanks!

fionahanna91

24 Dec, 2017

We were a group of 5 adults and we really enjoyed this tour. It is a medium walking tour so for those who suffer from severe leg problems or asthma - there are steps to climb etc. Further, it would be best to confirm with the contact given the day before to ensure the tour is taking place. We had no problems but decided to contact our guide and confirm the Bank of Ceylon on Lighthouse Street in Galle to meet with him. It is a good landmark for those who do not know the area well. Our guide, Chirath was on time and was incredibly knowledgeable. Throughout the tour, we asked him many questions and he was more than happy to answer about Sri Lankan life, the history behind Sri Lanka, its religious background etc. which were all central to the story of the Fort. He did his best and was very helpful in explaining every single detail. The tour is of the whole fort and he covered every important structure and brought us into certain buildings such as a church to show us the Dutch influence etc. As he spoke Sinhalese, he could converse with guards/custodians to confirm some questions we had. However, his English is excellent and should not be a worry for anyone because he is most definitely a native speaker if not an excellent learner! We went 30 minutes over time and he was incredibly patient with us. He even took photos of our group and was a very nice person to be around and to show us. He is a local and as such, we are very impressed with Sri Lankans! We invited him to dinner however he respectfully declined and if this does not tell you how much we enjoyed the tour, we are unsure what will!

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