Family Holiday

Start your tour of Sri Lanka in Negombo, located a short 30 minutes’ drive from the international airport. Relax, rejuvenate and prepare for your trip in the comfort of a friendly and vibrant coastal city. Negombo is a popular destination with the city accommodating a wide array of actives that range from beach sports to inbound exploration tours that navigate through Negombo’s colonial churches and narrow streets. Negombo is also home to a number of luxury hotels, boutique retail outlets and spas, making it the perfect location to help ease into your Sri Lankan itinerary.

Overnight stay in Negombo

From Negombo, Habarana is around 4 hours by car. Start your day by visiting the Dambulla Cave Temple which is en route. The Dambulla Cave Temple is home to a large network of underground caves with statues, stupas and well-preserved artworks dating back to the era of Sri Lankan kings. From here, head straight to Habarana to explore Sri Lanka’s old kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

Overnight stay in Habarana

Start your day by visiting Sigiriya. Its most famous landmark, the rock fortress has been recognized by UNESCO as the 8th wonder of the world. Make sure you pack some comfortable walking shoes as climbing this rock fortress is not for the faint of the heart with its steps often cascading into the crevices of the rock. Exploring this rock fortress is an absolute must for any trip to Sri Lanka. Following this, head to Minneriya for an afternoon safari. Minneriya National Park is particularly known for its large gatherings of wild elephants amongst other mammals. Guided safari tours can be organized for some fun family adventures.

Overnight stay in Habarana

Rest, relax and enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then hit the road for a private, fully-guided cultural tour in Habarana. Interact with locals, dive into some local cuisines, dine inside a mud hut and explore the rural villages to grab an intimate understanding and appreciation for the local way of life. Aim to spend at least a few hours as part of this village tour – with rest and relaxation being at the focal point of your day 4 itinerary

Overnight stay in Habarana

Hit the road early as Kandy is about 3-hours by car from Habarana. En route, visit a spice garden where guided tours will seek to inform you of Sri Lanka’s traditional Ayurvedic medicines and age-old practices and superstitions. Arriving in Kandy, rest and relax before heading out into town to visit a culture show with traditional dances, plays and fire acrobats sure to keep you and your family captivated.

Overnight stay in Kandy

Kandy’s most popular and iconic landmark is its Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha which was opened around 1595. This holy site is truly a sight to behold with visitors often opting to arrive at the temple by dawn to watch the ceremonious worshipping unfold with clusters of pilgrims frantically preparing themselves for the worshipping ‘puja’ process. Following this, spend the rest of your day exploring this big city. Kandy is home to a large luxury mall, boutique hotel chains, massage parlors, tea plantations, museums and many more. Its narrow streets give way to small restaurants and local kitchens which are a must-try in the region. Speak to your guide for some local, must-try kitchens when in Kandy.

Overnight stay in Kandy

No trip to Sri Lanka is truly complete until you ride aboard a local train stopping at the Nanu-Oya or Ella Station. This journey has been considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Grab yourself a comfortable seat or snatch onto an exit and claim it as yours to truly experience a ride like no other with the train running alongside forests, waterfalls, local villages and tea plantations. Following this, reach your accommodation in the comfort of your vehicle with stop-overs at local towns and tea houses.

Overnight stay in Ella

Ella is a small but popular town in Sri Lanka having been under the radar of tourists for quite a while. This town is particularly known for its natural scenery and cool climate. Ella is surrounded by tea plantations, scenic hiking trails, friendly locals and eye-catching landscapes. Some favourite travel destinations within Ella include Little Adams Peak, Nine Arch’s bridge and Ella rock, all of which require a short climb. Alternatively, Ella offers a plethora of walking tracks through tea plantations and towards the area’s 2 most famous waterfalls; Ravana and Bambaragala, both magnificent sights to behold.

Overnight stay in Ella

Transfer to Galle to experience some of Sri Lanka’s calmest and most family-friendly stretches of sand and sea in the country. Galle’s history is summed up by its fort which was built by the Portuguese in 1588, expanded by the Dutch and later occupied by the British and now is a UNESCO Listed Heritage site. Galle is home to some of Sri Lanka’s best beaches and pristine coastlines, friendly and delicious kitchens (including several acclaimed restaurants), shopping boutiques, deluxe guest houses and lastly, an array of outdoor adventures of which whale and dolphin watching are the crowd favorites.

Overnight stay in Galle

Besides the gorgeous colonial architecture, chilled out day spas and its many water sports on offer, Galle is best known for its surreal beach. Take your time to unwind at either Galle beach or its neighboring Unuwatuna beach, recognised as one the country’s best beaches for its never ending turquoise waters and its golden sand shore. Swimming, surfing and or simply relaxing by the shore are all options in this picturesque location. Be sure to sip on some king coconuts and dig into a platter of fresh seafood as you rest, unwind and reflect on your 10 days of family fun travels.

Overnight in Galle