Bentota Village Tour with River Safari & Tea Plantation

Crocodiles, a 160-foot Buddha statue, and tea leaves all in one morning.

A full-day village tour in Bentota combines a river safari on the Bentota River, a visit to Kandevihara Buddhist Temple with its towering seated Buddha, a tea plantation and factory, wood carving center, and gem museum, with private transportation, lunch and all entry fees included. Hotel pickup starts at 7:30am from Bentota, Beruwala, Kalutara, Wadduwa or other nearby coastal towns. The tour runs seven to nine hours and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bentota Village Tour and River Safari

• Pick-up from hotel
• Bentota River Boat Safari
• Visit Kandevihara Buddhist Temple
• Explore Wood Carving Center
• Visit Mini Gem Museum and Showroom
• Enjoy local lunch
• Travel through village
• Visit Tea Plantation and Factory
• Drop-off at hotel

The experience

The day begins with a river boat safari on the Bentota River, where you watch for crocodiles in their natural habitat and spot the aquatic life and flora that make the lagoon one of Sri Lanka's richest ecosystems. The river flows into the Indian Ocean at its mouth, and the boat moves through water dense enough with wildlife that sightings are routine rather than lucky. From there you travel to Kandevihara Buddhist Temple, set on an 18th-century hilltop. The first thing you see approaching it is a 160-foot seated Buddha statue, believed to be among the world's tallest. Inside the sacred grounds sit a 300-year-old Bodhi Tree, a Relic Chamber, a Stupa, and several smaller temples: Kataragama and Pattini Devalaya among them.

The afternoon takes you through the village itself to a working tea plantation and factory, where you see how the leaves move from plant to processing. A wood carving center and a small gem museum round out the stops. Lunch is a local meal, not a tourist version of one. Your driver-guide speaks English and stays with you throughout, and the price covers transportation, every entrance fee, every activity charge and all taxes: no hidden costs appear at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an English-speaking driver-guide.
• bottled water.
• all entry fees and activity charges.
• local lunch.
• river boat safari.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from your coastal town.

Options for this experience

6 options

From Ahungalla/KosgodaGuide in English · 07:30Pickup is included from the Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Balapitiya and Ambalangoda areas. Starting points: Ahungalla, Balapitiya and Kosgoda, Sri Lanka.

Pick-up from Bentota/BeruwalaGuide in English · 07:30Pickup is included from the Bentota, Beruwala, Aluthgama and Induruwa areas. Starting points: Bentota and Beruwala, Sri Lanka.

From Kalutara/WadduwaGuide in English · 07:00Pickup is included from the Wadduwa, Waskaduwa, Kalutara and Maggona areas. Starting points: Kalutara and Wadduwa, Sri Lanka.

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From Mirissa/WeligamaGuide in English · 06:30Pickup is included from the Weligama, Midigama and Mirissa areas. Starting points: Mirissa and Weligama, Sri Lanka.

From Koggala/AhangamaGuide in English · 06:30Pickup is included from the Koggala, Ahangama and Habaraduwa areas. Starting points: Ahangama and Koggala, Sri Lanka.

From Hikkaduwa/Galle/UnawatunaGuide in English · 07:00Pickup is included from the Hikkaduwa, Rathgama, Galle, Unawatuna and Talpe areas. Starting points: Galle, Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna, Sri Lanka.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDepartures at 06:30, 07:00 and 07:30

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Bentota Travel Mart

Is this one for you?Choose your pickup location based on where you're staying. The tour departs from Bentota, Beruwala, Kalutara, Wadduwa or other nearby towns along the southern coast, and the driver collects you at 7:30am, so you stay where you are and the logistics are already arranged.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What will I actually see on the Bentota River safari?

The Bentota River safari focuses on the river's wildlife and aquatic biodiversity. Crocodiles in their wild habitat are the main draw, along with the diverse fauna and flora of the lagoon where the river meets the Indian Ocean. The boat moves through an ecosystem dense enough that sightings are routine.

How tall is the Buddha statue at Kandevihara Temple?

The seated Buddha statue at Kandevihara is 160 feet tall and is believed to be one of the world's tallest. The temple itself sits on an 18th-century hilltop and contains a 300-year-old Bodhi Tree, a Relic Chamber, a Stupa, and several smaller temples within its sacred grounds.

Does the tour include lunch, and what kind of food is it?

Lunch is included and is a local meal prepared in the village style, not a tourist adaptation. All entry fees, activity charges, transportation and taxes are also included in the price, with no hidden costs.

What time does the tour start, and how long does it run?

The tour starts at 7:30am from your hotel pickup point and runs seven to nine hours total. Free pickup and drop-off are included from Bentota, Beruwala, Kalutara, Wadduwa, Waskaduwa, Induruwa, Kosgoda, Ahungalla, Balapitiya, Ambalangoda, Hikkaduwa, Galle and Unawatuna.

Will I see a tea plantation and factory on this tour?

Yes, the tour includes a visit to a working tea plantation and factory where you see how leaves are processed from plant to finished product. A wood carving center and gem museum are also stops on the route through the village.