Galle has long been a stopover for foreign travellers; Sindbad the sailor, the Chinese admiral Cheng Ho, Marco Polo, the Portuguese admiral Lorenzo de Almeida, the Dutch VOC company and even the first package tours in 1842 with the arrival of the first P&O passenger ship. All have echoed Marco Polo's sentiment that "it is better than any other island in the world" and whilst Galle may have had its heyday, Sri Lanka has now become the new Riviera of the subcontinent the perfect time warp for the inquisitive traveller. Located 119km south of Colombo, Galle is the capital of Sri Lanka’s Southern Province and is the fourth largest city in Sri Lanka (after Colombo, Kandy & Jaffna) with a population of some 92,000.In 1988 its historic fort was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.It is an ideal springboard from which to visit the beaches, temples, wildlife reserves, lowland tea estates, rainforests and the local and chaotic markets and villages of the Southern Province.Here are just some of the things to do in and around Galle:

. Walking tour of the historic Galle Fort
. Travel back in time in our beautiful vintage Rover around the Fort
. Visit key temples & churches
. Shopping in & around Galle
. Snorkeling at Wijaya Beach coral reef – Thalpe
. Scuba diving - Unuwatuna
. Deep-sea fishing
. River cruises
. Mountain bike riding with guide.
. Surfing & boogie boarding on nearby beaches
. Visit a lowland tea estate
. Water-skiing, windsurfing & other water sports – Bentota
. Sinharaja Rainforest
. Day safari to Ude Walawe National Park
. Visit Lunuganga, the country estate of Geoffrey Bawa.
. Hot air ballooning over Galle – the perfect start to the day!

KEY DATES for Galle and the Fort
. 1505 Portuguese first land in Galle
. 1589 Portuguese establish permanent settlement
. 1640 Galle is seized by the Dutch
. 1663 Dutch build Galle Fort as it is today
. 1796 Galle is ceded to England
. 1842 First P&O passenger boat arrives in Galle Harbour
. 1863 New Oriental Hotel (now the Amangalla) built
. 1873 British build the main city gate
. 1884 Original lighthouse built (Total of 3 lighthouses built in the Fort and you can still see the remains of 2)
. 1988 Galle declared a UN World Heritage Site
. 2003 The Fort celebrates its 400th birthday
. 2004 Boxing Day - Galle hit by massive tsunami, devastating the entire modern city, leaving the Fort relatively undamaged.
. 2007 Celebrates the Fort's inaugural literary festival.

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Accommodation
Galle is home to a range of accommodation to suit all needs.Many hotels are offering discounts to Festival visitors. More details will be posted soon.
. Luxury Hotels
. 3 to 4 Star Hotels
. Guest Houses
. Galle Fort Villas
. Coastal Villas

LUXURY and BOUTIQUE HOTELS

GALLE FORT

Amangalla
Rooms start at US$550.00 per night
No. of rooms: 31
For Bookings: Ph: +94 91 22 33388 (see website for toll free numbers from Canada & the USA)
E: Amangalla@amanresorts.com
www.amanresorts.com/amangalla/resort.aspx

The Fort Printers
Rooms start at US$120.00 per night
No. of rooms: 5
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912247977

The Galle Fort Hotel
Rooms start at US$160.00 per night
No. of rooms: 14
For Bookings: ph: +94 91 2232870 E: info@thegalleforthotel.com
www.galleforthotel.com

GALLE
The Dutch House
Rooms start at US$320.00 per night
No. of rooms: 4
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 4380275 E: info@thesunhouse.com
www.thedutchhouse.com

The Light House
Rooms start at US$130.00
No. of rooms: 63
For Bookings: Ph: +94 91 2223744 E: lighthouse@lighthouse.lk
http://www.jetwing.com/JW%20hotels/JW-LHS/hotels_lhs_index.php

The Sun House        
Rooms start at US$175.00 per night
No. of rooms: 7
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 4380275 E: info@thesunhouse.com
www.thesunhouse.com

Tamarind Hill 
Rooms start at US$150.00 per night
No. of rooms: 12
For Bookings: Ph:+94 (0) 91 222 6588 E: sales@taru.lk
www.taruvillas.com

GALLE & BEYOND

Aditya  
Rooms start at US$165.00 per night. $231
No. of rooms: 12 suites
For Bookings: Ph:+94 (0) 91 2267708 E: adityavilla@sltnet.lk
www.aditya-resort.com

Apa Villa
Rooms start at US$ 230.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 7
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 2283320 E: villa-srilanka@sltnet.lk
www.villa-srilanka.com

GALLE & BEYOND

Kahanda Kanda
Rooms start at US$250.00
No. of Rooms: 5
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912286717 E:manager@kahandakanda.com
www.kahandakanda.com

The Fortress
Rooms start at US$310.00
No. of Rooms: 49
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 914380909 E: info@thefortress.lk
www.thefortress.lk

Villa Illuketia
Rooms start at US$160.00 per night
No. of Room: 6
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 2283320 E: villa-srilanka@sltnet.lk
www.villa-srilanka.com

Why House
Rooms start at US$150.00 per night
No. of Room: 7
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 2233430 E: whyhouse@hotmail.com

Mirissa Hills
Rooms start at US$150.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 4
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 773 290 999 E: malinga@bellmail.lk
www.mirissahills.com

3 to 4 STAR HOTELS

GALLE

Noit Gedacht
Rooms start at US$150.00
No. of Rooms: 20
For Bookings: Ph: 091- 2223449 E: nooitged@sltnet.lk

The Closenburg
Rooms start at US$60.00
No. of Rooms: 16
For Bookings: Ph: +94 91 2224313 E: closenberghtl@sltnet.lk
www.closenberghotel.com

The Lady Hill
Rooms start at US$65.00
No. of Rooms: 12
For bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 2244322 E: Ladyhill@sltnet.lk
www.ladyhillsl.com

UNUWATUNA

Unuwatuna Beach Resort
Rooms start at US$58.00 -
No. of Rooms: 63
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 914380549 E: ubr@sltnet.lk
www.unuwatunabeachresort.com

Secret Garden Villa
Rooms start at US$40.00
No. of Rooms: 15
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 777614119 E:secretgardenvilla@yahoo.com
www.secretgardenvilla.lk

Dream House
Rooms start at US$40.00
No. of Rooms: 4
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91- 4381541 E:dreamhouse@libero.it

Strand Homestay
Rooms start at US$30.00
No. of Rooms: 5
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91- 2224358 E: strand.heritagehome@gmail.com

HIKKADUWA

Amaya Reef
Rooms start at US$65.00 net per night
No. of Rooms: 54
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 438 3244 E: amayareef@amayaresorts.com
www.amayaresorts.com

GUEST HOUSES

GALLE FORT

Lighthouse View Inn
Rooms start at US$:20.00
No. of Rooms: 3
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912232056

Mamas Guest House
Rooms start at US$65
No. of Rooms: 2
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912226415

Ocean View
Rooms start at US$35.00
No. of Rooms: 12
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 777608542 E:oceanview@sltnet.lk
www.oceanviewcottage.net
The New Old Dutch House
Rooms start at US$45.00
No. of Rooms: 7
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912232987

Mrs. Khalid’s Guesthouse
Rooms start at US$15.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 4
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912234907 E: sabrik@sltnet.lk

GALLE & BEYOND

The Beach Wijaya
Rooms start at US$25.00
No. of Rooms: 10
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912283610

Rockside Guest House
Rooms start at US$25.00 per night
No. of rooms: 6
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912283753      

Point De Galle
Rooms start at US$33.00
No. of Rooms: 7
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 9122832063

Beach Haven Guest House
Rooms start at US$15.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 10
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 91 2234663 E: 65beachhaven@sltnet.lk
www.beachhaven-galle.com

GALLE FORT VILLAS

Ambassadors
Villa rates start at: US$450.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 5
For Bookings: E: enquiries@edenvillasonline.com
http://www.srilankainstyle.com/property.php?type=Hotel&id=39&name=Ambassadors%20Villa

Eden Villas
Rooms start at US$300.00 per night.
No. of rooms: 14 Villas
For Bookings: Ph:+94 (0) 91 223 2569
www.edenvillasinsrilanka.com

The Fort House
Villa rates start at: US$350.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 4
For Bookings: E: info@theforthouse.com
www.theforthouse.com

Palm Villa
Villa rates start at: US$350.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 3
For Bookings: Ph: +94 112396666 E: info@srilankainstyle.com
http://www.srilankainstyle.com/property.php?id=37&name=Palm%20Villa&type=Hotel

Thambili House
Villa Rates start at US$300.00 per night
No. of Rooms: 3 double rooms with en-suite bathrooms and lovely pool
For Bookings: +852 27910722 (Hong Kong GMT +8 hours) E: russelldavison@mac.com
www.reddottours.com/Accommodation/Villas/Profiles/GalleFortVillas/Thambili.php

 
COASTAL VILLAS

Galle

Ambalama
Rooms start at US$350.00
No. of Rooms: 4
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912232569

The Beach Hut
Rooms start at US$: US$350
No. of Rooms: 2
For Bookings: Ph: +94 (0) 912232569

Auraylia
Rooms start at: US$385
No. of Rooms: 6