What to do in The South Coast

Along Sri Lanka's idyllic and sun-kissed coastline, Weligama is any beach-lover's dream. It's here that you'll embark on a boat trip into the bay for a morning of deep sea fishing. Accompanied by an experienced crew, cast you line into the denim-blue water in the hopes of snagging some big names like sailfish or the more rare marlin. You can even choose to enjoy the view while you soak up some sun on deck!

Spend time with a celebrated local artist from the village of Ambalangoda, and witness how the local masks are being carved and painted. If you want you can learn the art of how to do the carving and painting as well.

Enter Kanneliya Rainforest to hike through the lush greenery, keeping your eyes wide open for the wildly diverse flora and fauna. Listen out for the distinctive rush of its waterfall where you can take a dip in the natural pool (and a bottomless amount of photos). Walk beneath an endless canopy of tropical trees as you hike to the lake. There, you'll tuck into a traditional Sri Lankan lunch served next to the water.

Set sail on a stunning, modern catamaran complete with a professional crew and a well-equipped kitchen where the chef will whip you up a delicious full breakfast. In season, there is a 90% chance of sighting blue whales and as soon as one is spotted, you’ll be invited up to the top deck or bow for the ultimate view. Head back towards Weligama Bay, for the chance to try stand-up paddle boarding or snorkelling. At around midday, the chef will serve lunch as you sail to shore.

Jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park & Visit Elephant Transit Home. Situated about 165 kilometres from Colombo, the Udawalawe National Park has become a popular tourist destination and the third most visited game park in Sri Lanka. It was originally built to provide a sanctuary for the wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir in 1972 on the Walawe River. It covers nearly 30 000 hectares, and is home to herds of Sri Lankan elephants, water buffalo, monitor lizards, sambar deer, leopards and indigenous water birds. Open-top safaris led by experienced guides through the savannah-type landscape are the ideal way to view the wildlife, with most visitors being assured of enjoying a special treat of viewing young and adult elephants at the water holes.

Set out on a luxury catamaran with marine expert for an exclusive opportunity to get up, close and personal with the giants of the ocean. Sri Lanka is at the meeting point of multiple oceans, meaning its waters are filled with marine life including whale sharks, dugongs and rare species of sea turtle. On this trip, showstoppers include the likes of blue whales, sperm whales and Spinner's dolphins. You might even see an orca whale! And your host will share all the secrets of the deep with you.

Meet up with an expert resident in the UNESCO Galle Fort who will take you around this magical enclosed living heritage city showing you the hidden gems and explaining about the lifestyles of the people. This will be a real hands on experience where you will get a real idea about how the Portuguese, Dutch and the British have left their mark on Sri Lanka and how their descendants are living inside the Dutch Fort.

The gentle coastal hills of southern Sri Lanka are especially suited to the growing of cinnamon, which is one of the island's main exports. Welcomed with a cinnamon-infused beverage, visit a working plantation to hear all about its history, see the cinnamon peeling in action as its well-known scent fills the air, and give it a try yourself - the kids love it! After a stroll through the fields, you have the option of finishing off your visit with a spot of tea overlooking the rolling plantations.

Drive to Galle fort and proceed to Cycling tour with resident host inside fort. Followed by visit White virgin tea factory. Taking place at Handunugoda Tea Estate in Ahangama in Sri Lanka, the Herman Teas Virgin White Tea Plantation Visit allows visitors the opportunity to gain insight into the tea culture. Visitors are educated and exposed to the origins and specifics of tea through a comprehensive and engaging hands-on experience, guided by highly trained staff. At dawn women wearing delicate gloves, fine pluck the imperial harvest with golden scissors, taking care not to harm the delicate tea buds and at no moment does the hands of the pluckers touch these buds. Thereafter these buds are dried using only filtered sunlight. The gloves prevent any risk of contamination leaving the tea immaculate.

Take a trip to a low-grown plantation on the south coast of the island and enjoy a peek into one of Sri Lanka's main exports - tea! Try your hand at plucking a few tea leaves then visit the factory. You'll learn all about the farming process and the different types of tea grown in Sri Lanka, which happen to get stronger and darker the closer it is to the sea. Finish off your tour with a traditional tea tasting surrounded by fields of green and the occasional peacock.

Enjoy a Cinnamon Plantation Tour followed by lunch - The Top House tour is a unique cinnamon plantation experience. The resident British owners give private tours of their working estate, just inland from Weligama. They explain the history of Ceylon cinnamon and demonstrate cinnamon peeling and the making of artisan cinnamon leaf oil. This is followed by a visit up to the plantation house, offering spectacular views over the ocean and jungle, and lunch hosted by the owners. The experience lasts about two hours and involves a short ride by tractor.

Hosted by one of the town's most fun-loving guides, this immersive treasure hunt takes you on an excursion through the historic streets of Galle Fort. Surrounded by grassy ramparts that meet the Indian Ocean on one side and overlook Galle's famous cricket stadium on the other, the labyrinth of heritage buildings and boutique shops is worth a day of exploring. Look out for centuries-old landmarks on your map and enjoy meeting interesting locals along the way.

The Sail Lanka Giant's Loop South in Mirissa is a half-day expedition departing from the port in Mirissa on a shared or private basis. The boat cruise is ideal for families, small groups, and friends. Visitors can enjoy a perfect balance of whale watching and watersports in a 7-hour adventure that is certain to please even the most discerning sailor. Afternoon option also available. This experience can be done on a Private or Shared basis.

Welcomed with a cooling towel and drink, you'll be led to the lamp-lit Ambalama (mud hut) amidst verdant rice paddies. As the sun sets and the sound of chirping crickets fills the air, admire your hosts' collection of colourful ingredients as they begin to whip up a feast. You could even join in and learn a few tricks! Then, tuck into a dinner of homemade rotis and hoppers with fillings of prawn, pork and cuttlefish curries. This is a unique chance to enjoy traditional Sri Lankan street food in a scenic setting.

In the heart of Sri Lanka’s most tropical region, Lunuganga is only about 500m long and 300m at its widest, but in its composition as a series of discrete but unified spaces, it creates the impression of an enchanted garden that can be explored for days. Guided garden tours are available and are considered the best way to fully experience the estate. The tours take place at 11:00 am and 3:30 pm. Lunch and tea can be arranged and included in the garden tour.

A fantastic activity for the whole family, delve into the history of ancient Galle Fort shown the way by your friendly host. A 3rd-generation resident, their ancestors first arrived in the mid-17th century during one of the earliest waves of spice traders and gem merchants. Walk the fort flat (there are 150 acres of it), beginning at the spot where the first Portuguese boats first landed and ending where the English departed. Your tour is interspersed with stories of legendary battles, the alliances that were forged and destroyed, and meeting the people who call it home. It's more than worth a wander across the ramparts of this UNESCO World Heritage site!

Mulkirigala rock temple has a history of more than 2000 years. There’re 7 painted caves which is almost identical to the Dambulla cave temple in the cultural triangle. Climb up to the caves and be amazed by the beautiful frescoe paintings and the Lord Buddha statues located deep inside. This is one of the forgotten gems that we like to take you to explore since you will have the entire location to yourself, away from the hustle and bustle of the other tourist destinations. The Dutch, who ruled the maritime provinces in the 18th century, called this rock as Adam’s Berg. They believed that the tombs of Adam and Eve were located there, and due to this reason, Mulkirigala was popular among the foreigners.

Walk through the Kanneliya Rainforest with a naturalist and understand the biodiversity of the forest. Dip in the stream and have a local lunch. Located within a 1.5-hour drive from Galle, the Kanneliya Rainforest is home to a range of endemic flora and fauna. This thick jungle is an ideal place for an extensive trek or a walk to get to know more about the wildlife in tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka. The 16km trek starts with a climb and we pass by a small waterfall on our way to the top of the mountain. Views from the mountain are breathtaking as we see the extend of the rainforest and how it blankets the surrounding area. This halfway point is a good place for our picnic lunch before we head down to reach the river and have a dip. The less strenuous 8km walk is ideal for families with younger children as it is on a flat path. We reach a stunning waterfall and learn its origin and it supports the livelihood of people in the vicinity. We make our way back to take a dip in the stream and have lunch on the river. Important to know: *There are two options: The trek and the walk. The trek is recommended for active travellers. *On the trek, lunch is a picnic style local lunch. For the walk, lunch is served on the river. * There will be leeches but they can be avoided to a great extent with leech socks and repellent