Tour 5 - Dutch Heritage
An easygoing coastline tour discovering the colonial past - 6 days - 625 km
Price details
Highlights
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DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAM
DAY 1. Negombo - Avissawela - Ratnapura (city visit) - 106 km
A first stretch inland brings us to Veyangoda. From there it's an almost unbroken road straight southwest that brings us over Avissawella to Ratnapura 
.
Most of the afternoon will be available for a city visit, starting with the Gem Museum, perhaps followed by a gem mine 
.
DAY 2. Ratnapura - Pelmadulla - Nonagama - Tangalle - 129 km
After a healthy breakfast, a fine leisurely road brings us to the south coast at Nonagama. From there it's only a small stretch to Tangalle for some relax time at the beach side 
.
DAY 3. Tangala (fort) - Hummanaya blowhole - Mulkirigala (visit) - Morawaka - Akuressa - Matara - 135 km
From Tangalle we first fisit the Hummanaya Blowhole 
, which can sometimes be a spectacular site. Then we turn inland for a short visit to the Mulkirigala temple 
. Situated on a 200 m high rock it ressembles Sigiriya. From the first monastic population (2nd century BC) is not much left, but there are still some artefacts from the 12th century. A new temple was built in the 18th century. The whole is a mingling of buildings and caves, containing a mixture of Buddhist and Hindu relics, with sometimes surprisingly European looks.
Warning: some caves have a reputation to be snake pits, so be careful when visiting.
Just after Mulkirigala we first follow some tracks to the east, then climb our way up to Galpotteyaya, Katuwana, Urubokka and Kotapola, where we reach the junction with the A17. Betwen Kotapola and Morawaka we visit a small but interesting organic tea plantation.
After that, we come down over the winding A17 to Akuressa, and then te A-24 to Matara 
.
Matara has not one, but two old Dutch Forts 
. Since Ruhuna University has gained some popularity, the old city has gained a definitely young look with a lot of young people strolling the old narrow alleys.
DAY 4. Matara - Dondra Head - Mirissa - Weligama - Kataluva Temple - Galle - 68km
From Matara we turn a bit back to the east for Dondra Head 
, the most southern point of Sri Lanka. There used to be a famous Hindu temple, but was destroyed by the Portuguese. A modern building 
is standing there now, but the traditional processions (a spectacular Perahera end July/begin August) are still taking place in veneration of Vishnu.
Back to the west for a relaxed excursion along the beach 
and port 
of Mirissa. A little bit past Weligama, we turn inland from Ahangama for the famous Kataluva temple (Purvarama Vihare), a relatively young building with attractive paintings in different Kandyan styles.
We continue the inside road, circling around Koggala Lake from the north side, before we get back to the A2 for a last stretch to Galle.
Plenty of time for a relaxed walk around inside this beautiful walled fort.
DAY 5. Galle - Hikkaduwa - Coral boat trip - Kosgoda (Turtle hatchery) - Bentota - 65 km
From Galle we follow the main road up to Dodanduwa, where we turn inside for a visit to the Nigro Dharama Stupa in Gonapinuwala.
In Hikkaduwa, weather permitting, we have a visit to the coral reefs in a glass-bottom boat. If the weather is too rough for the boat trip, we can just watch the surfers riding the waves.
In Ambalangoda we ought to have at least a good look at the frightning Devil Masks, and if possible see an artist creating them 
.
Our next stop is Kosgoda 
Turtle Hatchery, a conservation project helping the turtle population to keep up.
Finally we end our day trip in Bentota for a relaxed happy hour 
.
DAY 6. Bentota - Brief Garden - Kalutara - Colombo - Negombo - 120 km
Our visit to Bentota would be incomplete without a visit to the magnificent Brief Garden 
in Kalawala. The garden was landscaped by Bevis Bawa, and both garden and house contain a fine collection of sculptures and paintings of this celebrated artist and architect.
Continuing our trip we pass Kechimalai Mosque 
in Beruwela, the place where the first Muslim settlers are said to have landed many centuries ago.
In Kalutara there's nothing left of the large and magnificent Dutch Fort. The new and huge Gangatilake Vihara 
is said to have taken its place, although an attentive study of old maps seem to locate the old Dutch fort where presently Kalu Ganga is finding its way to the ocean.
Depending on the traffic density, we might avoid busy Colombo, and take a more leisurely route over Piliyandala and Havelock to reach Peliyagoda, from where it's depending on the time whether we follow the main road to Negombo, or follow the little beach road over Pamunugama.
Once in Negombo, the trip ends with a complimentary good-bye BBQ on the beach side.
