Family Fun in Sri Lanka

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Explore Sri Lanka together and build some amazing family memories on this luxury family holiday to Sri Lanka. Encounter playful elephants at the orphanage and then try to spot the wild ones in their natural habitat on your safari. Visit Buddhas most sacred temple and some ancient caves, enjoy a cycle ride around the ruins, learn to cook a local dish and watch a spectacular cultural show. Take in the changing scenery from the lush green mountains to the coast and round it all off with quality fun time together on the golden sandy beach beside the calm Indian Ocean.

This 13-night fun packed tour of Sri Lanka is sure to be one of the best family holidays to treasure with something to satisfy every family member – a wonderful culture with local traditions, Sri Lankan wildlife and stunning tropical beaches. Designed especially for a holiday with kids, this package can be taken during half term breaks as well as during quieter holiday periods and is suitable all year round.

Itinerary Highlights:

Experience Local Culture & Traditions
Wildlife Safari & Elephant Orphanage
Smell Spice, Taste Tea & Cook a Sri Lankan Dish
Palm-lined Sandy Beach Relaxation

15 Days

4+ Age

Beach Holidays

Culture and History

Family

Romance

Destination

Day 1: International Flight

Depart from the UK on an international flight to Colombo, travelling overnight.

Day 2: City Stay

Upon arrival in Colombo, you will be met by your driver and escorted to a nearby city hotel in Colombo (approx. 1-hour drive time). You will be staying near the Colombo fort area, the perfect location from which to enjoy a relaxing stroll beside the sea along the Galle Face Green promenade. You might even wish to visit the Colombo Dutch Hospital, the oldest building in Colombo and now a heritage building, shopping and dining precinct before returning to your hotel to enjoy a local dinner and a refreshing overnight comfort stop.

Day 3: Cultural Triangle via Elephant Orphanage

Heading inland to Kandalama today (total drive time approx. 4 hours) to the lush green centre of Sri Lanka known as the Cultural Triangle. Calling en-route for lunch at Pinnawela village, you will also visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, home to over 90 wild Asian elephants - this orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world, perfect for those precious ‘family selfie’ moments. Upon arrival in Kandalama, the remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax as you choose, perhaps by the hotel pool with cocktail in hand whilst the children splash away any remaining energy.

Day 4: Relax in Style

Built overlooking the eighth wonder of the world, The Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, your tranquil hotel is perched up high on the hills and offers sensational panoramic views across the most stunning scenery. With 3 impressive swimming pools to choose from as well as other activities such as bird watching, tennis, a well-equipped gym and the luxury Coco Spa, you will all be spoilt for choice. The hotel also offers various excursions like mountain cycling and lake safaris for you to get out and enjoy the breath-taking landscape that surrounds the hotel.

Day 5: The Lions Rock & Local Village Experience

Today is a local day and we recommend an early start to avoid the midday heat. The remarkable rock citadel of Sigiriya, known as Lions Rock, is one of the most famous landmarks in Sri Lanka and dates back to the 5^th Century. Passing through the carved lion’s feet and bravely climbing the 1200 steps to the summit of this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will be rewarded with sensational 360-degree panoramic views for miles around as well as the beautiful gardens below. Return to the hotel for hearty breakfast and refresh. Around midday, you are invited to experience traditional Sri Lankan village life including a cookery lesson from a local villager, during which you will make your own lunch, followed by an oxen cart ride through streets of this rustic rural community.

Day 6: Cycle Tour & Wildlife Safari

After a leisurely breakfast, you will head to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa (approx. 1 hour each way) for lunch and a gentle guided cycle tour to explore the many well-preserved ruins of Ceylon; these include palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Later in the afternoon, have your camera ‘at the ready’ for a 2-hour exciting jeep safari drive at Minneriya National Park. Here you may witness herds of elephants enjoying their natural habitat as well as spot many other mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles – you might even be lucky enough to catch a sighting of a leopard or sloth bear!

Day 7: Cave Temple & Sri Lankan Spices

Driving south today to Kandy (total drive time approx. 2.5 hours), the charming hill capital of Sri Lanka and its second largest city. On the way you will visit the UNESCO world heritage site, Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka which is fascinatingly built into and underneath the overhanging cliff. Further into the journey, you will also visit the Matale Spice Garden to gain an insight into this age-old industry of spice production which attracted many European and Asian merchants to the ports of ancient Sri Lanka. Upon arrival in Kandy, the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy the hotel facilities and marvel at the lush green surroundings of the hillsides.

Day 8: City, Markets, Tooth Temple & Cultural Show

Enjoy a lazy morning of leisure and some family fun time in the hotel pool before lunch. The afternoon will comprise of a city tour of Kandy with an opportunity to browse the local markets before visiting the most sacred Buddhist temples of all, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, located in the royal palace complex. This golden-roofed Temple houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of Buddha. In Kandy town, you’ll watch the Kandyan Cultural dance show, a stimulating Sri Lankan Arts, Dance and Cultural Heritage Show which encompasses various forms of traditional dancing including some ancient rituals; the children are sure to be awed by the acrobatic performances too with their leaping pirouettes, back flips and various stunts such a plate spinning and a dramatic fire walk!

Day 9: Optional leisure day or Tea Estates & Waterfalls

Today can either be taken as a leisure day for your family to freely explore the local area and enjoy the hotel facilities or we can take you to Nuwara Eliya (approx. 2.5 hours’ drive time each way). Known as ‘The land of tea estates and waterfalls’, Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of Sri Lanka’s tea industry from the early 19^th century – in all directions you will see rolling hills decked up with green tea leaves. In addition to visiting a tea plantation & factory to taste the freshest tea imaginable, you will have lunch at a quaint café overlooking Ramboda Falls, Sri Lankas highest waterfall. You could also visit Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple, located on the summit of the picturesque mountain in Ramboda – home to the tallest Hanuman statue in Sri Lanka. The town of Nuwara Eliya has many attractions worth exploring too, including the beautiful Lake Gregory reservoir.

Day 10: Fly to the Coast

Today, you have a short 1-hour flight to Dickwella close to the sandy beach town of Tangalle on the south coast (total time door to door approx. 4 hours) for your final few family relaxation days beside the palm-lined, wide, sandy beach.

Day 11 - 14: Sun, Sea and Sand

These remaining 4 days are beach leisure days for you to enjoy Tangalle and this idyllic coastline as you please. Alternatively, we can arrange additional local tours such as whale/dolphin watching, a short drive to the historic city of Galle or a visit to a turtle hatchery where you might even get to release a baby turtle into the ocean. An additional activity we highly recommend, popular with youngsters, teens and adults alike is the Mask-Making Workshop. Masks are an important part of Sri Lankan culture and this 3-hour hands-on session teaches you the history and their various uses, before the host then assists you to design and carve your own Kolam Mask.

Day 15: Fly back home

Sadly, all good things come to an end and today you will be driven back to Colombo (drive time approx. 4-hours) for your return flight to the UK. *note:

You will be travelling in a private airconditioned vehicle with your own chauffeur. This means that morning departure times are flexible each day, as is the amount of time you wish to spend at each site/activity. Your guide will advise on suitable travel times to avoid peak congestion and recommended the best time of day to ensure maximum enjoyment of the activity.

All travel time to/from locations are quoted in the itinerary, but please understand that these are only approximate to give a general guide. You will discover that Sri Lankan roads (and their users) are quite unique and appear somewhat chaotic – and it’s not just pedestrians, cyclists, bikers, tuk-tuks, dogs, slow moving heavy goods and agricultural vehicles that cause congestion. Don’t be surprised if you see the occasional elephant, monkey, land-lizard or cattle strolling across the road too! Consequently, ‘we expect the unexpected’ and work on anticipate travel times based on 30-40 kms per hour.

Make Your Own Memories

- Scheduled international flights (economy travel) from most of the major airports in the United Kingdom
- 13 nights accommodation at 4* standard hotels sharing a room
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Travel in a private vehicle with your own chauffer guide
- Entrance fees to all sites and experiences as specified on the itinerary
- Domestic flight from Nuwara Eliya to Dickwella
- Sri Lanka ETA visa
- All applicable taxes with no hidden charges