Step into the Heart of Heritage with Our Tours - 7 Days Cultural & Heritage Tourism
Cultural & Heritage Tourism Tour Package Details
Day 1 - Day 1: Colombo → Galle
Colombo → Galle
The day begins with a pick-up from Colombo city or Bandaranaike International Airport. You will enjoy a scenic coastal drive along the Southern Expressway or the old Galle Road, which runs parallel to the Indian Ocean, offering beautiful sea views, small fishing villages, and coconut palm landscapes along the way.
Galle Fort (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
On arrival in Galle, your first stop will be at the iconic Galle Fort, a living heritage site built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later fortified by the Dutch. The fort is a blend of European colonial architecture and South Asian traditions, with cobblestone streets, antique shops, boutique cafés, and art galleries. You can also explore landmarks like the Galle Lighthouse, the Dutch Reformed Church, and the Old Dutch Hospital complex
National Maritime Museum
Located within the fort, the National Maritime Museum showcases the region’s colonial history and maritime importance. Exhibits include shipwreck artifacts, navigation instruments, ancient maps, and underwater treasures discovered off the Galle coast. It highlights the importance of Galle as a major seaport during colonial times.
Evening Stroll along Galle Fort Ramparts
As the sun sets, you’ll enjoy a relaxing walk along the Galle Fort ramparts. The ocean breeze, panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, and the silhouette of the lighthouse create a picture-perfect evening. This walk also gives a chance to mingle with locals and visitors while appreciating the heritage surroundings at twilight.
Day 2 - Day 2: Galle → Matara → Tangalle
Galle → Matara → Tangalle
The day begins with a refreshing breakfast at your hotel in Galle, featuring tropical fruits, traditional Sri Lankan dishes, and fresh juices before setting out on your heritage journey towards Matara and Tangalle.
Weherahena Buddhist Temple (Matara)
Your first major stop will be the Weherahena Buddhist Temple, one of the most unique religious sites in southern Sri Lanka. This temple is renowned for its massive Buddha statue and underground tunnel shrine decorated with hundreds of colorful wall paintings depicting Jataka stories (Buddha’s previous lives). It offers a fascinating glimpse into Buddhist art, architecture, and devotion.
Star Fort, Matara
Next, you’ll explore the Star Fort, a small but significant Dutch-built fort in Matara, constructed in the 18th century. Unlike other forts in Sri Lanka, it has a unique star-shaped design, built for defense purposes. Today, it houses a small museum displaying colonial artifacts, weapons, coins, and historical photographs. Walking through its thick ramparts gives you a sense of the colonial history that shaped this southern region.
Tangalle Fishing Village
After Matara, you’ll head towards Tangalle, where you’ll visit a traditional fishing village. Here, you can observe the daily lives of fishermen, their unique stilt-fishing techniques, fish drying methods, and traditional boats (oruwa & catamarans). This cultural stop allows you to connect with local people, understand their livelihood, and even join in small demonstrations of fish handling or net preparation.
Evening at Tangalle Beach
As the day winds down, you’ll relax at the stunning Tangalle beach, known for its golden sands, turquoise waters, and palm-lined shores. This calm and less-crowded beach offers the perfect setting for a quiet evening stroll or simply unwinding by the ocean.
Day 3 - Day 3: Tangalle → Hambanthota
Tangalle → Hambanthota
Start your day with a healthy breakfast at your hotel in Tangalle, preparing for a short but culturally rich journey to Hambanthota.
Martello Tower, Hambanthota
The first stop is the Martello Tower, a small cylindrical fort built by the British in the 19th century for coastal defense. Its circular structure and thick walls make it historically significant as a military installation. Visitors can explore the interior, imagine the colonial era artillery defenses, and take photos of the coastal views around the tower.
Magampura Ruhunu Heritage Museum
Next, visit the Magampura Ruhunu Heritage Museum, which highlights the ancient Ruhuna Kingdom of southern Sri Lanka. The museum features archaeological finds, traditional artifacts, and exhibits on local culture, rituals, and historic events, giving visitors insight into the heritage of the region.
Tissamaharama Raja Maha Viharaya
After the museum, stop at the Tissamaharama Raja Maha Viharaya, a sacred Buddhist temple dating back over 2,000 years. The temple is historically significant and a spiritual center for locals and pilgrims. Its ancient stupas, Buddha statues, and serene meditation areas make it an important religious and cultural site.
Evening Cultural Walk in Hambanthota
Conclude your day with a leisurely evening walk through Hambanthota town and its fishing harbor. This provides a glimpse of local life, fish markets, traditional boats, and coastal scenery, blending culture, daily activity, and heritage in a relaxed setting.
Day 4 - Day 4: Hambantota → Buduruwagala → Ella
Hambantota → Buduruwagala → Ella
Begin your day with a nourishing breakfast at your hotel in Hambantota, preparing for a scenic journey through southern and central Sri Lanka toward Ella.
Buduruwagala Rock Carvings
Your first major stop is Buduruwagala, famous for its 7th–10th century Buddhist rock carvings. The site features seven large statues carved into a cliff face, including a 51-foot standing Buddha, thought to represent Maitreya (future Buddha). Surrounded by lush greenery, it’s a historic and spiritual site showcasing ancient Sri Lankan Buddhist art and culture.
Ella Nine Arches Bridge
After Buduruwagala, continue to Ella, a picturesque hill-country town known for its breathtaking views, tea plantations, and relaxed vibe. Visit the Nine Arches Bridge, an iconic stone railway bridge built during the British colonial era. Made entirely of stone and cement without steel, the bridge stretches over a deep valley with lush green tea plantations and forested hills. It’s a popular photography spot and a marvel of colonial engineering.
Little Adam’s Peak Hike
Next, take an easy hike up Little Adam’s Peak, a smaller peak near Ella. The trail is gentle and suitable for all ages, offering panoramic views of valleys, waterfalls, and tea estates, making it perfect for scenic photography and nature appreciation.
Day 5 - Day 5: Ella → Randenigala Dam → Kandy
Ella → Randenigala Dam → Kandy
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel in Ella, preparing for the journey back towards Kandy through scenic hill-country roads.
Randenigala Dam
Your first stop is the Randenigala Dam, a large hydroelectric reservoir located near Mahiyanganaya. The dam is surrounded by rolling hills, lush greenery, and serene water views, making it a perfect spot for photography and short walks. It also highlights Sri Lanka’s modern engineering integrated with natural landscapes.
Mahiyanganaya Raja Maha Vihara
Next, visit Mahiyanganaya Raja Maha Vihara, an ancient Buddhist temple believed to mark Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. The temple houses sacred relics and features traditional architecture with white dagobas and meditation halls. This is a spiritually significant site, offering a moment for prayer, reflection, and learning about Buddhist history.
Arrival in Kandy
In the evening arrive in Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. In the evening, enjoy a leisure walk around Kandy Lake, appreciating the serene waters, surrounding temples, and the city’s peaceful spiritual atmosphere.
Day 6 - Day 6: Explore Kandy
Day 6 - Day 6: Explore Kandy
Explore Kandy
Start your day with a healthy breakfast at your Kandy hotel, preparing for a day full of cultural and heritage experiences.
Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
Your first visit is the Temple of the Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist temple. It houses a relic of Buddha’s tooth, attracting pilgrims from around the world. Explore its ornate architecture, golden roof, and ceremonial halls, and experience the spiritual atmosphere through chanting and prayers.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Next, head to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, famous for its giant trees, exotic orchids, and tropical plants. Stroll through well-manicured gardens, enjoy river views and scenic pathways, and learn about Sri Lanka’s rich plant biodiversity.
Kandy Cultural Show & Local Market
In the afternoon, attend a Kandy Cultural Show, featuring traditional Kandyan dance, drumming, and fire performances. Afterward, explore the local market and handicraft shops, perfect for buying wood carvings, batik fabrics, and souvenirs.
Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue
Spend your evening relaxing in Kandy city or optionally visit the Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue, a large hilltop statue offering panoramic night views of Kandy.
Day 7 - Day 7: Kandy → Matale → Colombo
Kandy → Matale → Colombo
Start your final day with a hearty breakfast at your Kandy hotel, before beginning the journey back towards Colombo with cultural and heritage stops in Matale.
Matale Spice Gardens
Your first stop is at a Spice & Herbal Garden in Matale, where you’ll discover how cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, and cloves are cultivated. Learn about their uses in cooking, Ayurveda medicine, and beauty treatments. Guests can experience spice demonstrations, enjoy a refreshing herbal drink, and even shop for natural products.
Aluvihare Rock Temple (Matale)
Next, visit the Aluvihare Rock Temple, a historic cave temple surrounded by scenic rock formations. This sacred site is where the Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures) were first written on ola leaves in Sri Lanka. Inside, you’ll find murals, meditation caves, and a peaceful spiritual setting ideal for reflection.
Nalanda Gedige
Continue your journey to Nalanda Gedige, a unique 8th–10th century temple that blends Hindu and Buddhist architectural styles. Known as the “center point of Sri Lanka,” this archaeological site showcases detailed stone carvings and offers a glimpse into the island’s multi-faith history and artistry.
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Stop at a local restaurant along the route for lunch, enjoying a traditional Sri Lankan meal before continuing the drive. End your tour with a scenic evening drive back to Colombo or direct transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure.