Bentota itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Bentota

1. 01

   Day 1: Beach, river and one garden

   Start with a walk on Bentota beach in the cool of the morning. Go on to Lunuganga for the late-morning guided garden tour, then have lunch and rest. In the late afternoon, sit by the river estuary near the bridge and watch the light go, or take a gentle river outing if the weather is fine.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Bentota Beach	1 to 3 hours	Easy	Early morning or late afternoon; December to March for calmer sea

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Plan 02

2 days in Bentota

1. 01

   Day 1: Beach and estuary

   Beach walk early, long rest through the heat, then the river estuary in the late afternoon. Visit Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara if you want a quiet old temple.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara	30 to 60 minutes	Easy	Morning; avoid midday heat

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Gardens and a hill temple

   Go to Lunuganga for a guided tour, then to Brief Garden. After lunch, cross to Kande Vihara near Aluthgama and see the seated Buddha. Dress modestly and take a car for the whole day.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Brief Garden	About 1 hour	Moderate	Morning; avoid heavy rain
   Kande Vihara	1 to 2 hours	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Brief Garden: Garden paths are likely to be uneven and may include steps. Take it slowly, wear sturdy shoes and carry water; rest spots may be limited.

   With parents at Kande Vihara: The temple sits on a hill, so expect a climb and steps; sandy and stone surfaces can be hot with shoes off. Take it slowly and use the shaded areas for rests.

Plan 03

3 days in Bentota

1. 01

   Day 1: Slow beach day

   Beach, pool, and a walk along the shore in the evening. Keep it free for jet lag or travel from Colombo.

2. 02

   Day 2: Lunuganga, Brief Garden and Kande Vihara

   Do the two gardens in the morning, a long lunch, then Kande Vihara late in the afternoon when it is cooler.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Brief Garden	About 1 hour	Moderate	Morning; avoid heavy rain
   Kande Vihara	1 to 2 hours	Moderate	Early morning or late afternoon

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Brief Garden: Garden paths are likely to be uneven and may include steps. Take it slowly, wear sturdy shoes and carry water; rest spots may be limited.

   With parents at Kande Vihara: The temple sits on a hill, so expect a climb and steps; sandy and stone surfaces can be hot with shoes off. Take it slowly and use the shaded areas for rests.

3. 03

   Day 3: Turtles and the river

   Drive south to the Kosgoda turtle hatchery in the morning, return for a rest, then spend the late afternoon on the estuary and Galapatha temple.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; dry months

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Bentota trip for parents and children

• Plan sightseeing for the morning and rest after lunch. The sun and humidity are strong all year.
• Ask the hotel for a ground-floor room or a lift; many resorts spread across large grounds, so check the walk to the beach and dining room.
• Lunuganga and Brief Garden have steps, slopes and uneven ground. Go slowly, wear shoes with grip, and ask the guide to shorten the route if needed.
• Take travel insurance and carry medicines with a prescription. Hospitals are in Galle and Colombo, about an hour or more away, so older travellers with conditions should know their nearest clinic.
• Swim only where lifeguards or locals do, and avoid the sea in the monsoon. Currents on this coast can be strong.
• Book a car with driver for the garden and temple day rather than relying on tuk-tuks in the heat.

Bentota with elderly parents: the full guide →