Let’s Never Settle

← All articles · Sri Lanka · 30 July 2025

Galle, Sri Lanka: Sunset on the fort ramparts and a turtle hatchery down the coast

Sri Lanka's south in one film and two photo sets: elephants in Yala, Dilmah tea, sunset on the Galle Fort ramparts and hatchling turtles down the coast.

The southern coast of Sri Lanka rewards slow travel, wildlife parks, tea, beaches and markets all within a few hours of each other. Here’s the whirlwind film of our few days on the island, and the photos that came home with us.

Three days across the south

Sri Lanka in two minutes: elephants, tea and beaches. Watch on YouTube

Our route ran from the bustle of Colombo and a visit to Dilmah Tea down to the wild beauty of Yala National Park, where we spotted elephants, monkeys and deer in their natural habitat. We stayed at the Hilton Weerawella, explored Hambantota’s exotic birdlife, relaxed by the ocean at Araliya Resort in Unawatuna, and stopped at a turtle hatchery to see conservation in action. An independent trip, no sponsors, just pure travel joy, squeezed into two minutes of film.

The markets got a film of their own in the end: an off-season hunt for woodapple, soursop and king coconut, plus a first go at harvesting straight off the tree.

Got questions about the route or where we stayed? Ask in the comments on any of the videos, happy to help.

Photos from July 2025

One more from the beach, July 2025 edition. When the evening torches get lit and someone hands you a king coconut with a straw in it, the day is officially won.

Inga on the beach at dusk holding a king coconut with a straw, a flaming torch and the sea behind her — Sundowner, island style: king coconut, beach torch, sea breeze.

A grey crowned crane with a golden spray of head feathers and a red throat patch, head down feeding in tall wet green grass — Also from July 2025, a short drive out of Galle: a grey crowned crane working through wet grass, wearing the best hairstyle on the island.

Photos from June 2014

A set from further back, our first time here: a first wander around the old town inside Galle Fort, a coconut stop on the coast road, and a turtle hatchery where we got to hold the residents.

Dileep standing with a camera on a street inside Galle Fort, a green tuk-tuk and a lorry passing behind him — Fort streets, camera out, tuk-tuks providing the soundtrack.

Inga in a straw hat on a street of old colonial buildings in Galle Fort, a red tuk-tuk parked to one side — Old Dutch streets that haven't been in a hurry for three centuries.

Inga and Dileep drinking from king coconuts at a thatched roadside stall hung with bunches of orange coconuts — The 2014 edition of the king coconut stop. Some traditions started early.

A black bowl part-buried in sand holding a clutch of round white turtle eggs — At the hatchery: turtle eggs that look exactly like ping-pong balls, and are guarded rather better.

Inga and Dileep each holding tiny dark turtle hatchlings up to the camera — Hatchlings a few days old, each one about the size of a biscuit.

Inga and Dileep together holding a large green turtle between them at the hatchery — The grown-up version takes both of us.

Inga holding a young sea turtle up to her face, nose to nose, in front of the hatchery tanks — Nose to nose. The turtle remained professional.

Dileep in a hat standing on the grassy ramparts of Galle Fort at dusk, waves breaking below and crowds along the wall — Sunset on the fort ramparts, where the whole town turns up every evening.

Inga buying a snack from a street vendor with a bowl of fried treats on the fort wall at dusk — Rampart economics: the snack man knows exactly where the sunset crowd walks.

There’s more from this trip on our YouTube channel, we film the real sights and sounds, no fluff. You’ll also find us on TikTok and Instagram.

The Hilton Weerawella we booked through American Express Travel, which came out cheaper than booking direct.