Sri Lanka: Wild Family Adventure

Flights usually depart London in the evening.

The adventure begins at our start hotel, which is approximately 20 minutes’ drive from Bandaranaike Airport in Colombo. This evening, we have a welcome briefing and group dinner at the hotel – a great chance to meet your travel companions. The tour leader will advise on the time and location.

Accommodation: Amagi Aria Hotel (or similar)

We leave the coast and head to Sigiriya, the journey takes around 3hr 30min but there are breaks en route. Passing the impressive Elephant Rock in Kurunegala city, which rises 1,037ft (315m) from the plains, we stop at a nearby lake for a comfort break and to stretch our legs before continuing to our hotel.

In the afternoon, we hop on bikes for a gentle cycle through paddy fields, quiet villages and landscapes enveloped by the grandeur of the Sigiriya fortress. With the help of our tour leader, we can interact with local people along the way and learn about their daily routines and lifestyles.

If you prefer not to cycle, there’s no need to miss out. You can hire a tuk tuk to follow the group and explore the same sites by motor. The tuk tuk ride can be arranged through your leader for 4,000 rupees (US$13) per tuk tuk.

Accommodation: Sigiriya Village Hotel (or similar)

After an early breakfast, we climb up the rock fortress at Sigiriya, a giant ruin-topped granite peak high above the jungle. Now a UNESCO site, it was once used as a haven from invaders; crowning the flat summit are the extensive remains of the fifth-century Summer Palace, from where we can enjoy breath-taking views of the countryside.

The route to the top is via a series of steep steps and gangways. The descent is much easier and takes a lot less time.

Please make sure your children are always accompanied as there are some steep drops. It is, of course, optional and you may not wish to climb all the way to the top of the fortress itself.

This afternoon, we enjoy a family-favourite activity: spotting elephants on safari! To give us the best experience, we visit one of three parks: Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park or Hurulu Eco Park. The park we visit is determined by our local knowledge of where the elephants are congregating, giving us the best chance of spotting big herds!

Accommodation: Sigiriya Village Hotel (or similar)

This morning, we leave Sigiriya and journey to Kandy, the former capital of Sri Lanka. The drive takes approximately three hours with a comfort stop along the way.

Kandy is a picturesque hill town on a lake and it’s home to the Temple of the Tooth, which holds the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka: the Tooth of Buddha. This was taken from his funeral pyre in 543 BCE and only found its way to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE.

The rest of the day is free to relax and cool off in the hotel pool. Alternatively, you could wander around Kandy, visit the Royal Botanical gardens, or take a taxi up to the surrounding hills for wonderful views over the town.

Accommodation: Hotel Suisse (or similar)

It’s a slow start this morning, so enjoy a lie-in or spend time by the pool. Later, we travel down to Kitulgala (approximately three hours’ drive). Nestled amid forested hills, Kitulgala is bordered by the Kelani Ganga, a river that provides a stunning backdrop and white-water rafting opportunities (which we take full advantage of tomorrow!).

Today, we may have time for an optional walk to Makul Ella waterfall in Makandawa, a lesser-known rainforest with a diverse range of plants and animals (some of the resident birds can only be found here). To get there, you can either cross the river using a bridge or take a hand-pulled ferry. The tour leader can advise on the best route and will accompany you on the walk. Please note, there is an entrance fee of 500 rupees (US$1.50) per person for the rainforest, payable locally.

Accommodation: Kithulgala Rest House (or similar)

After breakfast, we enjoy an exhilarating white-water rafting session. Navigate the scenic Kelani Ganga, conquering five major rapids and four minor ones – a thrilling adventure tailored for adrenaline enthusiasts. The experience includes safety gear, modern rafts, and a comprehensive briefing from our expert white-water rafting instructors. You have the flexibility to choose a distance ranging from 1.25mi-3mi (2km-5km); however, there may be some limitations on the route for children based on height/weight. Once we’ve dried off and packed up, we drive (approximately one hour) to Watawala, where we board the train to Ella.

The journey takes approximately four hours. It’s not fast but it’ll be a ride to remember! During the journey, we enjoy a picnic lunch and breath-taking views of the remote hill country – you may want to bring additional snacks to keep you going along the way.

Arriving into Ella station, we are transferred to the hotel and then have free time to explore this little hill town. It comes to life in the evenings with shops and restaurants to suit all tastes.

Accommodation: Hotel Onrock (or similar)

We have an easy start to the day, leaving the hotel late morning to visit a local village house for a Sri Lankan cooking class and lunch. Our host talks us through traditional cooking methods and shows us how to create authentic Sri Lankan food, while also discussing the family’s values and culture. We then feast on our creations! An excellent chance to sample new and unique flavours.

This afternoon, we visit the Nine Arch Bridge, an iconic construction also known as the Bridge in the Sky. The walk down to the tracks is approximately 30-minutes and if we’re lucky, we may even see a train roll over the arches and through the tunnel.  Following that, we head to the trailhead for Mini Adam’s Peak (also known as Little Adam’s Peak) – named after the holy mountain Adam’s Peak (locally called Sripada) because of their similar shapes.

Our Mini Adam’s Peak route is a relatively easy hike (approximately 1.2mi/2km) but the final ascent includes about 10 to 15 minutes of steps – save energy for that! At the top, we can enjoy 360-degree views with clouds rolling in; on a clear day, you can almost see to the south coast.

The visit to Mini Adam’s Peak and Nine Arch Bridge will fill the afternoon – we return to Ella just before sunset; however, if you wish to skip the hike, you can relax at the hotel, enjoying the pool or just a little downtime.

For adrenaline fanatics, Ella also has the Flying Ravana, the first-ever zip line in Sri Lanka, located amid the tea estates. The two-wire line stretches for more than 1,640ft (500m), slides at 50mph (80kph) and offers a bird’s-eye view over the beautiful hills. This is an optional activity, close to Mini Adam’s Peak which can be arranged through your tour leader for an additional cost (details in the Trip Notes).

Accommodation: Hotel Onrock (or similar)

This morning, we leave for the coast through Ella Gap, where we have spectacular views of the coastal plain nearly 3,280ft (1,000m) below. Almost the entire southern part of the island should be in view and, on a particularly clear day, the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible.

On the way, we stop off for lunch at a local restaurant before heading on to visit the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe. Located on the outskirts of Udawalawe National Park, the transit home is run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation and supported by the Born Free Foundation. It provides a safe environment for orphaned elephants, who are typically cared for at the home until they reach four or five years old, at which point they are released back into the wild. Our visit coincides with feeding time, where the juveniles are given bottled milk by park rangers and the noisy spectacle can be witnessed from the viewing platform.

From Udawalawe, we continue to Ahangama (approximately two hours’ drive), a small fishing village on the south coast with golden sandy beaches. Arriving early evening, we can relax for a few days on the beach, sinking toes into the sand and taking dips in the pool!

Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)

Over the next two days, we have free time with a chance to do any one of numerous optional activities, which our tour leader can help arrange.

On Day 9, the tour leader will arrange a round-trip transfer to Weligama Beach, a great spot for surf lessons or snorkelling with plenty of beachfront bars and restaurants.

From November to April, there is also the opportunity to go whale watching but as public boats are not recommended, the more of you keen to go, the lower the cost for a private boat hire.

On Day 10, the tour leader will arrange a beach barbecue dinner (included) for the group. The perfect setting to gather and enjoy sundowner drinks and delicious Sri Lankan barbecue bites.

Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)

We set off today and drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates to the 17th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After sightseeing and souvenir shopping in Pedler Street, we continued along the expressway to Colombo, reaching our hotel in the late afternoon. As our trip comes to a close, take a moment to savour the sights, sounds and flavours you and your family have experienced.

Accommodation: Fairway Colombo (or similar)

The adventure ends today and it’s time to begin your return journey home. It’s been a culture-packed adventure, so if you’re craving a little R&R, speak to your sales representative about joining our post-trip getaway to the Maldives. Alternatively, if you’d like to explore Sri Lanka a little more, you can book an extension to your stay at the beach or in Colombo.