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View all Colombo toursColombo Port City Guided Canoeing Session
An hour of guided canoeing on the sheltered water at Colombo Port City, with instruction and equipment provided, suitable for complete beginners.
Highlights
- One hour of canoeing on the sheltered water at Colombo Port City
- Land briefing on paddling technique before you get in
- Canoe, paddle and buoyancy aid provided
- Calm, protected water suitable for first-timers
- The Colombo skyline from the water, a short walk from Galle Face Green
Colombo Port City Guided Canoeing Session: Key Facts
| Price | From $28.26 per person |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Group size | Up to 10 people |
| Languages | English |
| Tour type | Mini Tour |
| Booking | Direct with the local operator — no OTA markup |
Full description
Port City is the newest part of Colombo, a stretch of land reclaimed from the sea alongside Galle Face over the past decade, and its sheltered water has turned into the city's easiest place to get on a paddle. This session gives you an hour in a canoe with an instructor on hand.
A canoe is paddled with a single blade rather than the double blade of a kayak, which means the technique is a little different and takes a few minutes to settle into. The instructor covers the basics on land first: how to sit, how to hold the paddle, the forward stroke and the sweep that turns you, and what to do in the unlikely event that you end up in the water. After that the hour is yours to paddle.
The water here is protected from the open sea, so conditions are calm and predictable in a way that the beach off Galle Face is not. That makes it a reasonable place to try canoeing for the first time, and a straightforward one to bring older children to. Buoyancy aids are worn throughout and staff stay on the water.
The setting is unusual: you are paddling with the Colombo skyline on one side and new construction on the other, in a part of the city that did not exist a decade ago. Late afternoon is the pleasant slot, when the heat has dropped and the light on the towers is worth having a camera for.
It is a short, self-contained activity rather than a tour of the city, and it pairs well with a walk along Galle Face Green afterwards for the evening food carts.
Tour Itinerary
The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Check in at Port City
Meet the team at the watersports point and complete the paperwork.
Safety briefing
Fitting of buoyancy aids and a land briefing on strokes and safety.
On the water
Around an hour of paddling on the sheltered water with staff nearby.
Return to the launch point
Come ashore, return the equipment and finish.
Detailed Itinerary
[{"time": "00:00", "title": "Arrival and check-in", "description": "Meet at the Port City watersports point."}, {"time": "00:05 - 00:15", "title": "Briefing and equipment", "description": "Buoyancy aid fitted, paddle technique explained on land, safety procedures covered."}, {"time": "00:15 - 01:00", "title": "Canoeing session", "description": "Paddle the sheltered water with an instructor supervising, at your own pace."}, {"time": "01:00", "title": "Finish", "description": "Return the canoe and equipment at the launch point."}]
Includes
- Use of a canoe and paddle, buoyancy aid, safety briefing and instruction, supervision on the water for the duration of the session.
Excludes
- Hotel transfers, food and drinks, towels, changing facilities beyond those on site, gratuities, personal expenses.
Important information
Meeting point
The watersports point at Port City Colombo, on the reclaimed waterfront beside Galle Face; the exact meeting spot is confirmed after booking.
Know before you go
- Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts