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Galle Fort Hotel

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Stunning boutique hotel with 12 rooms
- Central Galle location - UNESCO heritage site
- Swimming Pool

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Overview

Originally an eighteenth century Dutch mansion and warehouse, Galle Fort Hotel was carefully restored in 2003. Located in the heart of thriving Galle Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site of huge historical importance on Sri Lanka’s southern coast, this beautiful boutique hotel comprises 12 air conditioned rooms and suites with a traditional feel and some luxurious contemporary touches. Meals are served in the grand dining room, in the bar or on the terrace and there’s a pretty central courtyard with a 10 metre swimming pool with massage treatments available on site. Built by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century and then fortified by the Dutch in the 1700s, there’s a wealth of historical sites to visit in vibrant Galle Fort, along with convenient access to other cultural, beach and wildlife destinations nearby.

All 12 rooms and suites have king-sized beds with canopied mosquito netting, ceiling fans, air conditioning and complimentary Wi-Fi. Rooms range from the three Garden Rooms which are suitable for two people with French doors opening out onto a small private garden with pretty wall fountains, to a series of luxurious suites, the most opulent of which is the majestic Grand Apartment which houses two spacious king-sized bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and its own private salon-cum-dining room. Note that mosquitoes and other insects may be present, so it’s worth packing some repellent.

Places worth visiting nearby include the fisherman’s market and the Maritime Museum. It’s well worth taking a stroll around Galle’s walls and fortifications and a peek at the beautiful coral reefs from the beach. Galle Fort is a great base for exploring other beaches such as Thalpe, Habarduwa and Dalawella which are a little quieter and more relaxed than popular Unawatuna. About an hour away, there’s a beautiful stretch of clear water and a lake at Koggala, perfect for long strolls or gentle boat trips. For anyone seeking out wildlife, the Kottawa Rainforest, a little further to Galle’s North East, is home to many species of birds and butterflies, the Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, Toque Monkey and Giant Squirrels.

Children are welcome at Galle Fort, with a choice of suites suitable for families. Children will doubtless enjoy spending time in the pool, playing at the beach, or spotting animals in the rainforest. Parents are reminded that the pool is unfenced and unguarded, and some suites are on two floors, so children must remain under adult supervision at all times.

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 517 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • Yes everything went incredibly smoothly , excellent guide and set up u have . I might need a new pair of calves though !!! Thanks for sorting ALL the changes out. Regards Charlie

    Missingcharles b reviewing 6 Day Toubkal Circuit on 03 May 2023

  • Hi Lisa, We had a fabulous time thank you. The accommodation and other ideation were all terrific - that’s so much for your help. The apartment in Cape Town was particularly good - we would never have found that: Boschendal was great as well and game lodge was superb. Thanks again, Alistair

    MissingAlistair A reviewing Cape Town, Garden Route and Kruger on 28 April 2023

  • Dear Lisa
    Well, we are back and still buzzing. We have had a marvellous time. The weather helped. We left Manchester in the snow and arrived in Marrakesh at 30 degrees. We were well looked after in the Riad. I'm glad we booked a meal for the first evening - ate it on the roof terrace. We can recommend that. It was delicious. We ate at the Foundouk, as per your recommendation and on the following night we ate at Le Jardin - got lost on the way to it!. We can really recommend Le Jardin.
    The following day we went to Majorelle gardens. Fortunately we had looked it up before we travelled because you have to book in advance online only from Jan 2023. We found our own way to the Medera Ben Yousef and Latifa took us to Bahia Palace - both were stunning.
    The following morning our lovely taxi driver Mohammond collected us to go to the EcoLodge. Yet another Mohammond made us very welcome. Again we ate well! You were right, the pool was freezing, but I can't sit next to water and not get in. Once you're in you forget how cold it is! I wasn't the only person to try the pool.
    Rashid, our guide for our walk collected us. He was brilliant. It was hard work, but worth it. I was determined I would make it. Kevin is fitter than me! The Berber family were lovely. We stopped when we were nearly there to see how rag rugs were made. When we got back Rashid and Mohammond confessed that Mohammond had said to Rashid that he should get us to a road if we got too tired and they would send a taxi (or a mule!) to collect us - or me, but Rashid was sure that I'd be OK. He was right. I think they wondered about these 2 70+ year olds. We can't praise Rashid enough. He had walked over from Imlil in the morning and was going to walk back after he left us.
    Thank you so much for putting our holiday together. We never thought it would be 3 years before we went. We are so glad we persevered. We did wonder what we had let ourselves in for as 2 oldies!
    Fiona and Kevin

    MissingFiona B reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 21 April 2023

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