Family Holiday

Family Holiday

A Sri Lanka family holiday is one of the best experiences you can have travelling with kids. From close encounters with wild elephants in minneriya Enjoy with kids

Day 1 Beach side rest Negombo

Our staff will be there to warmly welcome you at the Airport, Take an overnight flight to Colombo. After your flight, you make the short 20 minute transfer to your first night’s accommodation in Negombo. Here you can relax after your long flight and acclimatize near the pool or in the gardens of your hotel. Please meet your tour leader in the hotel reception for a tour briefing at 6pm.

Day 2 Habarana

Today we head inland to Habarana. The journey will take approximately 4 hours as we travel into the dry zone in the heart of Sri Lanka's cultural triangle. The rest of the day is left free for you to relax or explore. You may take an optional cycle around a local lake, or relax by the pool.

Day 3 Sigiriya

Driving the short distance this morning, you’ll have the opportunity to climb to the summit of Sigiriya’s famous Lion Rock using a series of steps and walkways which zigzag their way up the seemingly impenetrable rock cliffs. The site was occupied long before the citadel was built at the end of the 5th century, and it later became a monastery before falling into disrepair. From the base, a moat surrounds impressive water gardens of landscaped beauty.

To reach the summit, you’ll ascend 200m, passing an overhanging rock under which superb portraits of native maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the rock wall. Crowning the flat- topped summit of the rock are the extensive remains of King Kasyapa’s summer palace from where there are breathtaking views.

Day 4

After the fishermen have sorted their catch, it’s time to head out on a catamaran across the lake; a real adventure. You may even be able to spot white bellied fish eagles, Brahmini kites, Ibis, Cormorants and other native birds.. In the middle of the lake is a small island, a rocky outcrop that provides great 360° views of the lake and forests beyond.

Day 5 Dambulla, Kandy

This morning you explore dwelling Golden Dambulla temple to learn its fascinating history. The Sinhalese King, Valagam Bahu, took refuge here when he was ousted from his capital. He transformed the five caves of this granite outcrop into a rock temple, decorated by statues of Buddha and frescoes, some of which are over 2000 years old but still as brightly painted. The steep 150m ascent to the top of the rock rewards you with more magnificent views down to the jungle and forest below.

Day 5 Dambulla, Kandy

This morning you explore dwelling Golden Dambulla temple to learn its fascinating history. The Sinhalese King, Valagam Bahu, took refuge here when he was ousted from his capital. He transformed the five caves of this granite outcrop into a rock temple, decorated by statues of Buddha and frescoes, some of which are over 2000 years old but still as brightly painted. The steep 150m ascent to the top of the rock rewards you with more magnificent views down to the jungle and forest below.

Day 6 Kandy

The royal city of Kandy is pleasantly set on the edge of a lake surrounded by hills. It was once the capital of a kingdom, and managed to resist European dominance for hundreds of years - long after the coastal areas surrendered.

This morning we will visit the magnificent Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, with their immense fig tree and exquisite orchid collection.

Day 7 Kitulgala Leaving Kandy we take a train journey (approx. 2 hours) through the green tea fields which cover the hills to Hatton on your way to Kitulgala. We continue to travel by road through this beautiful landscape, to Kitulgala and arrive around lunchtime.

Located amidst thick forest on Sri Lanka’s second-longest river, the Kelani, Kithulgala is rapidly becoming an adventure center and is a great place for a variety of activities. The river, setting for the epic film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ is an ideal location for swimming and other water-based activities. The surrounding forests with their wide variety of flora and fauna offer you a variety of spectacular walks, with some stunning views over the valley.

Day 8 Nuwara Eliya

Today we drive about 80km (approx 3hrs) along winding roads lined by green slopes of tea plantations. There is plenty of interests along the way, including a stop at some waterfalls. You'll reach Nuwara Eliya, heart of the tea growing industry and full of colonial charm. Built entirely during the 19th century, its quirky architecture reflects what you'd normally expect to find in an English country town, which will make you feel like you've stepped back in time. On the way we will visit Devon and St Clare's waterfalls. This afternoon we make a visit to a tea factory to see the process of making one of our favorite drinks in action. You’ll see every step of the tea making process, from bush to cup.

Day 9 Bandarawela

We set off through the hills once again. Along the way you’ll see tea pluckers deftly plucking the tips of the tea bushes and throwing them into the baskets carried on their backs. Taking the winding roads of hill country, you'll pass through the lush greenery of this region. Today's journey will end at Bandarawela, another hill town once popular with British plantation managers. You can relax in the evening with an overnight’s stay here.

Day 10 Bandarawela & Ella

After a short walk around Bandarawella and vegetable gardens that surround it, we set off down out of the mountains towards our bungalow, nestled in a clearing cut into the side of a tea mountain which overlooks a beautiful valley. This fantastic hillside location is a climatically transitional area, linking both the dry and wet zones and the hill and low country at an altitude of less than 1500m. At this altitude you can see the mist gathering across the hills. As a result, the vegetation consists of moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical Savannah forests, dry Patana grasslands and montane temperate forests, making it one of the richest biodiversity spots in Sri Lanka- a perfect location for nature lovers.

Day 11

Jungle Safari, elephant feeding time & the coast at Marissa

This morning we head south and visit the Diyaluma Falls, one of Sri Lanka's most spectacular waterfalls, before venturing approaching Uda Walawe National Park. The park has an amazing array of animal and bird life; herds of wild elephant are more numerous here than anywhere else in Sri Lanka.

Day 12 and 13 Marissa Beach

Sri Lanka is justifiably famous for its exquisite tropical beaches, washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Here, you have plenty of time to unwind on the white sandy beach listening to the lapping of the waves after the previous day’s travelling. Your time is your own here and you can either relax on the palm-fringed beach, splash around in the pool or explore further afield.

Day 14

Colombo

After your time on the beach it's time to head north back to Colombo. As we head out along the coast we reach the town of Galle. Here you can walk the walls of the famous Dutch fort or explore the maze of backstreets and market stalls. En route we can pay a visit to the turtle hatchery at Kosgoda. Turtles are kept here for the first few days of their lives before being released into the sea and the project does much to help safeguard the welfare of these endangered animals.

Day 15

Approximately 1 hour’s End of nice Tour of journey. Transfer to Colombo Bandaranaike Airport and according to your flight schedule. Back to country leave to sri lanka