Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Activities
The vast lagoon and river mouth make this an excellent area for water sports. Windsurfing,
waterskiing, jet-skiing, deep-sea fishing and everything else watery are offered by local
Riverside Rd, Aluthgama; 9am-sunset)
and
Diyakawa Water Sports
( 077 916 5330;10
Riverside Rd)
are independent operators that are both right on the riverfront. Besides renting
out a wide range of equipment, they also run courses, which include windsurfing
(US$130) and waterskiing (US$30). There are also snorkelling tours, canoeing, deep-sea
fishing and diving courses.
Boat journeys along the
Bentota Ganga
(US45 per group)
are a peaceful, popular and
bird-filled way to pass a late afternoon. Tours travel through the intricate coves and islands
on the lower stretches of the river, which is home to more than a hundred bird species.
Most trips last for three hours. Both of the above companies organise trips, otherwise all
hotels can point you to operators.
Sleeping & Eating
In among the package-holiday resort bubbles are a number of divine boutique hotels and
guesthouses, as well as one or two very rare budget offerings.
Almost all the hotels and guesthouses double as restaurants, and seafood is generally at
the top of the list of offerings. The
Wunderbar Hotel and Restaurant
( 227 5908;Galle
Rd)
has an enjoyable 1st-floor restaurant open to non-guests and sea breezes, and has a de-
cent selection of seafood and Western dishes (Rs 500 to 800).
If you want to escape the confines of your hotel then there are a number of busy, tasty
and cheap places in Aluthgama town.
Aluthgama
Hotel Hemadan
GUESTHOUSE
( 227 5320;
www.hemadan.dk
;25 Riverside Rd;s/d incl breakfast from Rs 4345/5335; )
A cosy Danish-owned guesthouse that has 10 large, clean rooms in an ageing building.
There's a leafy courtyard and prime river-viewing opportunities. Better rooms have bal-
