Family Friendly Sri Lanka Tour | Luxury Holidays

Itinerary Highlights

Experience the fire dancing and traditional performances of Esala Perahera festival in Kandy
Feel the thrill of the rapids as you white water raft down the Kelani River
Witness one of the world’s greatest elephant migrations in Minneriya National Park
Climb the Lion’s Rock at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Best time to travel August

What's Included

Accommodation Throughout
Breakfast
English Speaking Guide
International Flights

14 nights from £5,205 per person

Nicola

Travel Specialist

01244 722 137

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Create unforgettable memories as a family on this once-in-a-lifetime tour of Sri Lanka, covering Colombo, the Tea Country, Kandy, Dambulla, Wilpattu National Park, the east coast beaches and Negombo.

During the 15 days of this tour, you and your family will discover some of the Indian Ocean island’s most fascinating sites, see its wildlife and culture up-close, and experience the diversity of its stunning landscapes.

Your journey begins in Colombo on the west coast of Sri Lanka, taking a tuk tuk tour of the city to see its temples, churches, port and parks.

From here, you’ll stop at the tea capital, Hatton, where the green plantations of tea bushes cover the hills, and board a vintage train to the island’s second largest city, Kandy. Experience one of Sri Lanka’s most incredible sites: the golden-roofed Temple of The Tooth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and important place for Buddhist worship. Then travel to Dambulla for its game drives at Minneriya National Park, Wilpattu to search for leopards and sloth bears, and Trincomalee for a boat trip to see whales.

Your final stop before heading home is a dreamy beachside resort in Negombo, perfect for relaxing.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Colombo

On arrival in the Sri Lankan capital you’ll be met at the airport and taken to your boutique hotel. That afternoon you’ll explore the city by tuk tuk, learning about the cultural, colonial and religious history of Colombo, and stopping to visit Sivan Kovil temple and the Red Mosque.

Day 2 | Colombo to Kitulgala to Hatton

After breakfast your driver will collect you for your journey to Kitulgala in the island’s tea country, where the thrill of a white water rafting experience awaits. After a safety briefing you’ll head into the class II and class III rapids and temperate waters, which make the Kelani River a good introduction to the sport of whitewater. That evening you’ll be taken to your boutique hotel.

Day 3 | Hatton

Today you’ll learn about Sri Lanka’s famous tea production, discovering the secrets of Ceylon tea, watching locals plucking tea leaves among the tea estates (and giving it a try yourself), then visiting a nearby tea factory where you’ll be talked through how the same estate produces different grades of tea catering to various markets.

Day 4 | Hatton to Kandy

Today is certain to be a highlight of your trip, beginning with a vintage local train journey taking you from Hatton to Kandy, witnessing the forests, villages, waterfalls and tea estates as you travel. On arrival you’ll be collected from the station and driven to your hotel in the Buddhist hill city of Kandy. We’ve timed this tour so during the evening you’ll be able to watch the Esala Perahera Procession which takes place in Kandy every August. One of the best festivals in Asia, you and your family will be amazed by the sight of the decorated elephants, stilt walkers, fire dancers and drummers, who’ll march past whilst you sit in comfort on your hotel balcony with a superb view.

Day 5 | Kandy

Your day begins with a trek to Heeloya Village, with the opportunity for your family to gain insight into life in Sri Lanka. The main livelihood of the village is paddy cultivation, and villagers engage in toddy tapping, handicrafts, bee-keeping and traditional dances, giving you firsthand insight into this remote community and having the chance to taste local dishes. In the evening you’ll explore the Temple of the Tooth and walk around the market in Kandy city, before heading back to your hotel.

Day 6 | Kandy to Dambulla

How many families can say they’ve done a treasure hunt around a UNESCO World Heritage site? On this Amazing Race experience you’ll search for treasure and clues, with a guide, around the alleyways and buildings of the sacred city of Kandy, hunting for the Lost Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha (not the real one of course!). Afterwards you’ll be driven to Dambulla for your next stay in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle.

Day 7 | Dambulla

What a thrilling day awaits, starting early with a climb to the UNESCO Sigiriya Rock Fortress; ruins of the capital dating back to 477AD that were built by King Kassapa I on a granite peak called the 'Lion's Rock'. Certainly one of Sri Lanka’s most famous sights, this will be a walking tour through history for the whole family to relish. In the afternoon of day seven you’ll be taken on a game drive in Minneriya National Park to see “The Gathering” of the elephants at the Minneriya reservoir. The gentle giants come here each summer in search of water, forming one of the world’s greatest elephant migrations.

Day 8 | Dambulla to Wilpattu

Wilpattu National Park

After breakfast you’ll be collected for a day of bucket list proportions thanks to your family’s private Jeep safari in the Wilpattu National Park. Your guide will help you to spot elephants, leopards and bears, before driving you back to your campsite for a tasty lunch.

Day 9 | Wilpattu

Head out into the Wilpattu National Park for a full day’s Jeep ride through the Sri Lankan landscape in search of elusive leopards, sloth bears, wild elephants, wild boar, Sambur deer, spotted deer, water buffaloes and many species of bird. The park is one of the best places in the world to see leopards and offers a quieter wildlife-spotting experience than other parks on the island.

Day 10 | Wilpattu to Trincomalee

Trincomalee

After breakfast you can enjoy the scenery on your private transfer to the east coast of Sri Lanka, watching the changing landscapes on route to the historic town of Trincomalee. Renowned for having one of the most picturesque natural harbours in the world, it blends coastal charm and places to explore with beautiful beaches and bathing. Your accommodation will be on the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean, so you can spend the first afternoon relaxing on the beach or by the pool.

Day 11 - 13 | Trincomalee

Coming to the end of your family’s tour of Sri Lanka we’ve scheduled in a few days for you to chill by the beach on the Indian Ocean coast. However, if the urge to explore is still strong, there are plenty of optional experiences nearby, like visiting Trinco town, exploring the 17th-century Dutch Fort and Koneshwaram kovil, or taking a boat to Pigeon Island where you can venture out into the shallow waters on a snorkelling adventure to see turtles and reef sharks. Whilst here many visitors make the most of the superb marine life tours, with a whale watching trip to spot blue whales, sperm whales and spinner dolphins.

Day 14 | Trincomalee to Negombo

After breakfast a driver will collect you and take you to Negombo, which is close to Colombo airport (the option to fly is also available for an additional cost). On your last evening you can indulge with a beach barbecue at your coastal hotel, as the sun sets on your final night in Sri Lanka.