Mangroves, monitor lizards, a turtle in your palm.

The slowest of our tours — a two-hour boat safari through Madu River's 64 islands, a stop at a cinnamon-making family, and a visit to the Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project. No long walks, no temple stairs.

Duration

7–9 hours

From

$55 / person

Vehicle

Private sedan / van + boat

Min. ship hours

10 hours in port

— Itinerary

Down the coast at river pace.

A sample 8:30am–5:30pm itinerary. The gentlest of our tours — perfect for travelers who want photos, not stairs.

Soft sunset over the south coast of Sri Lanka — palm-fringed headland and Indian Ocean waves

08 : 30

Cruise terminal pickup

Driver waiting at the terminal. Onto the southern expressway by 9am — Madu River by 10:30.

10 : 45

Madu River boat safari

Two hours on a private flat-bottomed boat. 64 small islands, mangrove tunnels, monitor lizards basking, kingfishers, and a 200-year-old Buddhist temple on its own island.

12 : 00

Cinnamon island

A family that has made cinnamon by hand for four generations. Watch them peel the bark, smell the oil, take a $3 packet home.

13 : 15

Lunch — riverside curry

Rice-and-curry on a deck overlooking the river. Freshly caught prawns optional. $10–15 per person.

14 : 30

Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation

A working hatchery that rescues nest eggs and releases hatchlings at dusk. Hold a one-day-old turtle. Entrance $3.

15 : 30

Bentota beach stop (optional)

30 minutes for toes-in-the-ocean photos before the drive back. Skip if your ship needs you back earlier.

17 : 30

Back to the cruise terminal

90 minutes before your all-aboard call. Settle with your driver, board with time to spare.

— What's included

What you get, and what you don't.

Included in the price

Private air-conditioned vehicle, your party only
English-speaking driver-guide, decades at this port
Private 2-hour Madu River boat (your party only)
Cruise terminal pickup & drop-off with name board
Fuel, tolls, parking, driver and boatman tips
Cold bottled water & cool towels

Not included

Turtle hatchery entrance (~$3 per person)
Cinnamon island entrance (~$2 per person)
Lunch and drinks (budget $10–15 per person)
Souvenir cinnamon or spices