Sri Lanka with Kids

Drive Time –Approx. 1 hour

Accommodation – Shangri La Colombo

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner with special kids menu included

On arrival in Colombo, meet your English speaking chauffeur guide who will be great with families, and transfer to your comfortable hotel to relax and get used to the time difference.

You will receive a warm welcome, amazing food and this is ideal to get rid of jet lag. Shangri La is a luxury hotel overlooking the lovely ocean. The cozy and spacious rooms, yummy food, easy access to city and beaches will mark for an excellent starting point for the whole family.

Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, so there are more than enough things to enjoy as a family. If the kids love to play, enjoy all that Viharamahadevi Park has to offer – a playground with water fountains to run in, a small train, pony-riding, and an aquarium. While kids are having fun, you could enjoy reading a book or just watch them on a wooden bench shaded with trees.

In the afternoon take a leisurely walk on Galle Face Green, the ocean-side park just opposite your hotel. On a day with good weather, kids will love to fly colorful kites running, around on the grass. Some yummy ice creams, crunchy potato chips and prawn wadey will add more flavor to the evening.

Drive Time –Approximately 4 hours drive

Accommodation – Jims’s Farm Villa

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included with special kids menu included

Today morning, before leaving to the cultural triangle, make a visit to the Gangarama Temple with your kids. Buy some fresh lotus and incense sticks for a cheap price as kids would love to walk up to the sacred Boo Tree to offer the same. Fill a small brass pot with water and pour it to the tree while walking around the tree to get the blessings of Buddha. The chief incumbent of the temple will offer you a pirith chanted thread to be wrapped on your wrist and it will keep you safe and sound throughout the tour.

With the blessings obtained, start your family adventure! Continue driving to Matale-Dambulla where a lot of magic and authenticity is waiting.

Stop at Kajugama to buy the crunchy cashews freshly roasted for your delight!  Kids will surely want more to take home as well.

Next stop at Millennium Elephant foundation en route and take up a walk with the gentle giants. Both kids and adults will love the elephants who are residents there. Walk leisurely along the village paths with them and bathe them in the river.

Get yourselves treated with an authentic Sri Lankan meal. Sri Lankan rice and curry meal with a creamy curd and treacle for dessert – what more would you want? The spice levels of all meals can be moderated as per your kids’ taste buds.

As you reach Sigiriya, it will be afternoon which is the best time to climb. Sigiriya Lion’s Rock is one of the country’s most mind-blowing sites – most children, even younger ones, manage to climb to the top generally.

Enjoy the climb up to the fortress with the antics of the local monkeys to amuse you and the art and architecture on every level to reward your climb. It is exciting, adventurous and of course a safe climb. The top, remains of a royal palace, is a panoramic viewpoint across the patchwork of farms and jungle below. End the day by experiencing an amazing sunset atop the Sigiriya Lions Rock.

Once you come down, the kids will enjoy a drink of a fresh king coconut and a slice of pineapple from a local vendor!

You will be staying at Jim’s Farm Villa specially chosen for the kids and for the excellent spa. A working farm, there’s plenty of space here to roam and run around. Kids will love the coconut-tree-fringed pool too. Further, sightings of elephants, deer and monkeys are common here.

The spacious room and natural setting will make this an ideal and memorable family place.

Drive Time –Approx. 2 hours’ drive-one way drive

Accommodation – Jim’s Farm Villa

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included with special kids menu included

Take the morning garden walk to learn the spices and veggies and also try your hand at activities as diverse as milking a cow and yoga.

The kids can plant a tree in the garden and it will be named after them! A gift to the Mother Nature, a great example for the kids and they will be remembered in Sri Lanka for many years to come….

Then make a trip to Polonnaruwa to learn the ancient history of Sri Lanka.

The roads are very scenic, shaded with trees and you can stop for some snacks – perhaps some coconut flat cakes and hot tea cup from a small shop on the way.

As you reach Polonnaruwa, the well preserved ruin city, take up a bicycle tour to explore as a family. Teach your kids the irrigation advancements in age old times, rich culture, amazing architecture and landscaping.  Spend time learning and admiring the beautiful Buddhist statues, relics and temples. Some of the sites are now “ruled” by monkeys and kids will love these sightings. If they wish, you can even visit the Monkey Kingdom in Polonnaruwa which the famous Disney movie ‘The Monkey Kingdom’ was filmed!

Tip– Do not feed them your food as they will follow you all throughout.

Drive– Approx. 2.5 hours

Accommodation– Villa Rosa, Kandy

Meal Basis – Breakfast Included with special kids’ activities and menu included

Today drive to the serene hills of Kandy. Kandy is a countryside hamlet with cool breeze, leafy green landscapes and misty mountains gathered around the lake. In a quick visit to the market, you can find a lot of seasonal fruits, vegetables and spices.

Pay a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which houses what is believed to be an ancient relic of Lord Buddha. Offer an oil lamp and flowers to the temple joining the local devotees! This is a fascinating place to teach kids about one of the world’s oldest religions.

Family tip – When visiting the Temple of the Tooth, remove your hats and shoes and store them with a shoe keeper or in the rucksack. If you just leave your shoes, monkeys around might snatch them.

This evening, join a local family for dinner and learn the steps to a traditional Kandyan dance during a performance from local performers. The kids will especially delight in the fire dancers!

You will be staying at beautiful Villa Rosa which is a high end guesthouse with maximum authenticity in Kandy in a beautiful location. A two-bedroom family suite is just perfect for peace and comfort of your family.

Drive Time -Approx 1.5 hours drive

Accommodation – Wild Glamping Knuckles with special kids’ activities included

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included

Today morning, you get to be visiting a village kindergarten. The small local kids will be very happy to see you. Your kids will love to learn a small Sinhala nursery rhyme and you also can sing a simple English rhyme for them. This is a wonderful opportunity for your kids to make some little friends from Sri Lanka.

Then, venture towards the mountains for a family adventure!

Wild Glamping is located in the Knuckles range itself and will offer you an original camp stay overlooking breath taking scenaries. It promises comfort in the midst of pure and pristine wilderness. Kids will surely love the spacious tents, comfortable bedding, generous en suite bathroom and specially the fabulous view just outside your tent.

There are a list of treks and excursions to choose from and take up the best after discussing with your spouse and kids. The Naturalist will brief you regarding each excursion and preparation plan.

Drive Time – Trekking: 4 hours or more

Accommodation –Wild Glamping Knuckles with special kids’ activities included

Meal Basis – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Adventure begins! Pack your back pack for an interesting waterfall trekking.  Kids too can have a small backpack with all their favorite sweets, mints and snacks. This is a professionally guided trekking experience hence everyone will be well looked after.

Leave your camp by 06.30am and it will take 4-5 hours for the completion of the trek but the treks can be customized as per the kids’ ages and capabilities.

Hidden away from the world’s eye, somewhere in the depths of the Knuckles forest reserve, is a beautiful waterfall. Make your way through the attached tea plantations before you enter the extravagance of the green forests of the Knuckles.

Spend some time near the waterfall and why not have a dip as well? Remember to pack extra clothing and some swimsuit since the kids want to enjoy water and a bath in this natural and safe pool.

As you head back, rest and relax and tonight’s dinner will be a barbeque treat! Sing some songs by the fire and make it a classic memory for all of you!

Drive Time –    Approx 4 hours

Accommodation – Jetwing St Andrews, Nuwara Eliya

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included with special kids menu included

After an early breakfast, today you will travel up to the Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and magical region – the Hill Country –the quiet town of Nuwara Eliya

The drive to the scenic mountain region is a highlight of any trip. You will take winding roads through the beautiful green plantations past tea bushes trimmed by daily picking.  You can enjoy this picturesque route watching the green sculptures fading up and down the cloudy hills.

Sri Lanka is synonymous with tea and it’s great for kids to see how it’s grown and produced. En route stop by a tea factory and you will learn the art of Ceylon tea making. Kids will love to watch how big machines do operate. At the end of the session, you get to taste a freshly brewed cup of Tea and we can arrange a tea tasting session for you if further interested.

Continue your journey -cool off and enjoy the clear mountain air. With brick and stone-built houses, nice scented rose gardens and ideal lawns, Nuwara Eliya, in many ways resembles a small ‘English village’. Afternoon time, make a trip to Gregory Lake where you relax and sample some fresh strawberries and waffles as a family! You and kids all can try pony riding and a boat ride!

Jetwing St Andrews is an old bungalow converted to a beautiful hill country resort.  The well kept garden is full of pretty flowers. The deluxe room with attic is just perfect for a family and kids will definitely want to sleep in the attic.

Drive Time –Train Journey: 2.5 hours

Accommodation – 98 Acres, Ella

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included with special kids’ menu included

Today morning after breakfast drive to Nanu Oya station to take the scenic train to Ella. Hop in to the train and get a seat in second class carriage since you can open windows and encounter many locals who will be in the same carriage.

This dramatic ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is considered one of the Asia’s greatest train journeys. Kiddos will love the music of clacketty-clack through dark tunnels and the scenic journey passing tea bushes, up and down the misty hills and silvery waterfalls.

While on board buy some “short eats” from food vendors and you will see some local musicians who will sing at the top of their lungs for a few rupees. Enjoy your journey with kids– this is the complete experience. Your chauffer guide will pick you up from the station and drive to Ella

Welcome to everyone’s favorite hill-country village and the place to ease off the travel accelerator with a leisurely stay and of course combined with interesting adventure as a family.

Today, you can rest & relax amidst this breath taking sceneries! Book the Family room and the view from the balcony is heavenly!

Accommodation – 98 Acres, Ella

Meal Basis – Breakfast Included with special kids’ menu included

If you can rise a bit early and get the kids ready, climb Little Adam’s peak to enjoy the astounding sunrise atop. If the little feet can walk, continue the cross country hike across Demodara Railway Station which is situated near the famous Nine Arches Bridge with its rampant history. The Demodara Railway Station with its unique ‘looping’ railroad, is surely a must visit piece of architecture.

Also if your kids are a bit older, why not trying the zip line? The ride offers a magnificent bird’s eye view of the beautiful hills and the green estates of the surrounding area.  Staff is well trained and they ensure all safety measures are implemented prior to the ride making is all good for those who are brave enough. (However, there is an age limit for this-check this with the hotel)

Drive Time –Approx 3 hours drive

Accommodation – Grand Udawalwa with special kids’ activities included

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Lunch Included

From hills to the wild life!

Make your journey to Udawalawa where wild elephants are mostly inhabited.

Take an afternoon safari at Udawalawa National park which will ensure to keep your kids both younger and older fully occupied. It is less crowded in comparison to other national parks and offers a more quiet and rewarding experience overall.  The landscape is green grassland with scattered bushes and majestic twisted trees. As your Jeep drives along, you might see an elephant calf or two appearing behind a bush with their parents, or a large herd taking their evening walks munching on the grass. Human family will meet elephant family here! This safari is three hours long, the perfect length of time for little ones. There are plenty of peacocks and colourful birds to see. There are also monkeys, water buffalo, crocodiles and wild boar.

Drive Time –Approx 1.5 hour drive

Accommodation – Ananthara Peace Heaven, Tangalle

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included with special kids menu included

You must not forget to visit Udawalawa Transit Home- The elephant calves are taken in, nurtured and cared for back to health. Since the elephants here are not chained, they can freely roam. The feeding session will be special and enjoyable for kids.

Then drive to the blue belt of the Island-the beaches of Tangalle.

Last days of your holiday should be memorable and Anantara Peace Heaven is best choice in the area. The garden is spectacular. The pool is with two levels and kid’s pool is huge for a good swim and fun time. The hotel has special kid games and play areas so that kids will be more than happy to stay here with all the luxuries. The beach is a golden sandy stretch and the waters are clear and inviting if you’d like to go for a splash.

Family tip – Mirissa which is one hour drive from Tangalle is a great place to go whale and dolphin watching during the months from November to April. However, parents should note that these boat trips are bit longer so usually best suited to older children who are happy to spend hours in the sea.

Drive Time –Approx 1.5 hour drive

Accommodation – Anantara Peace Heaven, Tangalle

Meal Basis – Breakfast & Dinner Included with special kids menu and kids club included

Spend your morning leisurely in the hotel by the beaches!

Kids love to listen to stories and folk lore. Sri Lanka has its own puppetry popular as a kind of rural drama. Make a drive to Ambalangoda and everyone will like to watch a puppet show where almost life-size puppets thrill and amuse the audiences.

On the way back, stop by Galle. Why not a leisurely walk in the Galle Fort? The picturesque Galle Fort is a perfect combination of blue ocean, history and culture. And surely you will spot kite flying. If the colours of the kites don’t get the kiddos excited, the kaleidoscopic hues of the sunset surely will.

Drive Time – Approx. 3 hour drive

With all the happy family memories, drive to airport to take your departure flight home! Safe Flight!