Walawa Tours

Walawa River Boat Safari – $30.00 (45 Mins)

A Boat ride down Walawe river brings you face to face with a variety of exotic birds, trees full of sleeping fruit bats and troops of curious monkeys.

The boat rides will take you through a rich biodiversity area around Walawa river. Tours operators have a good eye for crocodiles with crocodiles being spotted on most of the trips, particularly in cooler months. The best time to begin is late afternoon. As you travel down the river, listen as peacock call from their roost. White bellied sea eagles soar overhead, cormorants spread their wings to dry, and curious langur monkeys watch from through the trees.

Taking a tour in Walawa river will allow you to see the Walawa river mouth. Walawe river is one of the main rivers in Sri Lanka which initiates from Adams Peak and Walawa river meets the Indian Ocean at the coastal town of Ambalantota.

The tours start from the banks of the Walawa River next to Walawa river mouth. Complimentary tea or soft drinks will be available at the end of the tour. Join the tour to listen to the surrounding wildlife and enjoy sceneries.

Hambantota – $60.00 (8hrs)

Hambantota Town/Fish market
Hambantota town is often considered the heart of the “Deep South” of Sri Lanka. Located nearly 170 km south of Colombo, Hambantota is the main town of the district by the same name, in the Southern Province. It’s a coastal town which has seen rapid development in recent years and promoted as a second commercial hub of the country after Colombo. This visit to fish markets offers the opportunity to choose the evening meal direct from the fresh catch fish.

Hambantota Lighthouse
Hambantota Lighthouse was constructed in1913 (station established 1903) and was active at least into the 1970s. This is located on a promontory at Hambantota on the south eastern coast of Sri Lanka. This has 14 m (43 ft) round masonry tower with lantern and gallery. The lighthouse is unpainted, but the use of dark and light stone gives it the appearance of having black and white spiral bands.

Salt pans (Salt lewayas)
Hambantota is home to the main salt pans of Sri Lanka. The coastal line of Hambantota is dominated by shimmering expansive saltpans that stretch along bordering the main road for about 15km. Salt is produced by means of allowing the sea water into the pans called Lewayas that makes the seawater evaporates leaving only salt to be scraped up and collected. The salt pans attract a large number of waders and shore birds, including greater flamingo, spot-billed pelican, several species of plover and tern, gulls, ducks, egrets, sandpipers and many others.

Wind Farm
Hambantota Wind Farm spans over 17 hectares of woodlands. The wind farm with a total installed capacity of 3 MW generates up to 4,500 MWh of power annually. The wind power station consists of five wind turbines of 600 KW each.

Godawaya beach & Ancient Port
This small port is situated near the mouth of the Walawe river, between Ambalantota & Hambantota. It is an important archeological site. This area was inhabited for 7000 yrs and in a dig, human remains dating back 3000 – 5000yrs have been found here. Godawaya was an important port town during the Kingdom of Ruhuna. Archaeology searches have found human skeletons, Chinese pottery, Roman coins, beads, animal bones & stone stools. Buildings, that have been excavated, include a quarry, a custom house and a Monastery. In the waters near the town a 1st century shipwreck has also been found.

Gotha Pabbatha Rajamaha Viharaya
Gotha Pabbatha Rajamaha Viharaya is situated on rocky outcrop near the mouth of the Walawe River in Godawaya which is believed to have been built by Regional king Gotabaya (King Kavanthissa’s father) in the 2nd century BC. Godawaya is an ancient shipping port active as far as 2nd century BC. The temple is also believed to be have been used as the administrative centre of this port. An inscription found in the vicinity of the temple records that a later king decreed that the taxes from the Port of Godavaya be dedicated to the temple.

Yala – $100.00 (8hrs)

Yala is renowned as the biggest and the most popular wild-life park in Sri Lanka, situated in Sri Lanka’s south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean. Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world’s biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted dear, peacocks, and crocodiles. The best time to visit Yala is between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals into the open.

The park has a protected area of nearly 130,000 hectares of land consisting of light forests, scrubs, grasslands, tanks and lagoons. Two blocks are currently opened to the public.

Yala is the ideal setting for a rugged jungle safari and suitable safari vehicle will be arranged for the tour at the gate.

Katharagama/Kiriwehera/Kirinda – $90.00 (8hrs)

Kataragama Temple
Katharagama is famous for the Hindu Shrine (Devale) and Dageba (Buddhist Pagoda – Kirivehera).

Katharagama God is indigenous and long-celebrated in Sri Lankan lore and legend, and originally resides on the top of mountain called Waedahiti Kanda just outside of the Katharagama town. Since ancient times an inseparable connection between the God and his domain has existed.

The Kirivehera Dageba which stands in close proximity to the Devale was built by the King Mahasena. According to the legend, the King met the Lord Buddha and listen to the Buddha’s discourse and as a token of gratitude, the Dageba was built on that exact spot where it now stands.

There are many puja stalls outside of the temple complex, it looks like any market place, but locals are selling the traditional marigolds, fruit, incense and a number of other religious items for tourists and locals to take into the temples.

Shopping at the Puja Stalls
There are many puja stalls outside of the temple complex, it looks like any market place, but locals are selling the traditional marigolds, fruit, incense and a number of other religious items for tourists and locals to take into the temples.

Kataragama Perahera Festival
The whole complex gets into full gear in July and August during the Kataragama festival. This is chiefly a Hindu event but it draws thousands of devotees from all faiths during the two weeks period. The rituals performed usually follow the same procedure; a bath in the holy Menik River, then wearing clean usually white clothes,the pilgrims make offerings or puja at the temples. It is a time to make vows and to perform penance. It would be strange to think of the Kataragama Festival without the heat and the noise associated with it. Conch shells and trumpets are blown and drums beaten to herald this important Hindu event.

Sella Kataragama Temple
A very nice temple which is nearby manik river creates a nice atmosphere. Outside of Kataragama is the small town of Sella Kataragama and the drive is pleasant and enjoyable. It is said that this is the place where God Kataragama first met his first consort Valli Amma.

Kirinda Viharaya
Kirinda temple is built on a cliff facing the sea where you get a beautiful panoramic view of the Indian ocean. right next to this historic temple is a lovely little beach, do visit it and find a chance to socialize with the locals.

Udawalawa National Park – $90.00 (8hrs)

An unspoilt habitat of a herd of over 250 wild elephants, makes Uda-Walawe one of the major tourist attractions of Sri Lanka. 50 minutes’ drive from the hotel would get you to view and blend with these magnificent species. elephants, leopards, bears, crocodiles and wild deer. A safari jeep and an experienced tracker is all you need to have an experience of your life-time in the wilderness.

Bundala Bird Sanctuary – $50.00 (4hr)

Bundala National Park boasts of over 150 species of rare and colorful birds, including migrants from Europe, Siberia and India. Sprawling across 6216 hectares, Bundala is also home to wild elephants, crocodiles, spotted deer, sandbur and wild boars, making it an ideal stopover.

Weerawilla Bird Sanctuary – $50.00 (4hrs)

A paradise for bird watchers, with a wide variety of immigrant birds. Peacock beach offers its site near the Weerawila lake to its patrons for day outings.

Ussangoda Beach – $50.00 (4hrs)

Ussangoda holds importance as an archeological site and a turtle breeding ground. The unique thing about this village is that the soil here is brick like hard and red in colour. This barren land is said to be so because of some meteorite which might have hit this area in ancient times. The myth related to this is that, in Ramayana, when Hanuman was returning after meeting Seeta, his tail was set on fire by Ravana. In turn Hanuman burnt some part’s of Ravana’s Kingdom and Ussangoda was one of them.

Proclaimed as one of the most beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka, Ussangoda offers you the chance to have a leisurely day, perhaps with a picnic basket enjoying the breathtaking views of the clear Indian Ocean.

The popular Indian legend of Rama – Seeta & Ravana has a significant relationship with this picturesque highland located by the Ocean. While historians and archeologists have named this as an archeological site, some scientists claim that the red-soiled Greenland was formed by a clash of a huge asteroid.

Madunagala Hot Water Well – $50.00 (4hrs)

This natural hot water spring is good for skin and other body ailments. There are 5 springs which originally flowed down to water holes. Now water tanks and basins have been made for easy access of the visitors. The complex also has changing rooms and washroom facilities. There are some local shops there which offer snacks. You must try “Belimal” and “Ranawara”+ which are local ayurvedic drinks.

Visiting a hot water spring is a rare opportunity. Being only a few of its kind in the world, Madunagala Wells get you to experience this unique creation of nature. It is believed that the water has a miracle power of curing skin diseases and common ailments.

The Madunagala hermitage is a beautiful architecture, situated on and around a rock in the shade of the thick jungle. Consisting of caves where Buddhist monks are in deep meditation the hermitage also comprises ancient pools that aids the nature’s flow of water.

Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary – $50.00 (4hrs)

In 1984, Kalamatiya was re-designated as a Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary covers the Karukali salt land, Lunama lagoon, Kalamatiya lagoon and the marsh areas around it. 96 species of birds make this sanctuary their home and another 54 are migratory birds. The sanctuary also has 38 reptile species.

Mirijjawila Botanical Garden at Hambantota – $50.00 (4hrs)

Sri Lanka’s first Dry Zone Botanical Garden is being established at the village of Mirijjawila on Colombo-Kataragama main road. The irrigation of the garden is supported by the nearby Beragama irrigation reservoir. Spreading over an extent of 300 acres, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden also features ornamental flower cultivation, commercial flower cultivation and facilities to undertake studies on trees.

Ridiyagama Safari Park – $50.00 (4hrs)

The safari park is so large and you will be able to see animals roaming freely. There are three zones as of now in the park and several A/C buses which can facilitate passengers are in operation. As of now the journey takes around 45 minutes covering the 3 zones – Lions, Wild animals and Elephants.