Activities & Experiences

When you’re planning your family holiday with your Sri Lanka travel specialist, they’ll suggest and include a number of our favourite local tours and experiences to help you get to know the places you’re visiting. Our family team have picked these experiences specifically with kids in mind, and they’ve often tried them out with their own children too.

Spotting elephants in Yala National Park, surfing in Arugam Bay, learning to cook curry in Kandy… we have some wonderful ways to spend your days! Your travel specialist will talk you through the options and tailor the included activities to your family’s tastes.

Sri Lanka’s capital is a vibrant jumble of neighbourhoods, markets and streets, and it’s quite an eye-opener for kids used to the relative order of European cities. As with so many cities, traffic can be an issue so the best (and most fun) way to explore is by tuk tuk. With a friendly driver who knows all the best spots for sights and street food, this is a brilliant way to get a feel for life in Colombo!

Included as part of our Colombo’s Tuk-tuks and Temples bite-sized trip.

Given that Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s best surf destinations, it’d be a shame not to catch a wave or two while you’re there. Arugam Bay is a laid-back village close to some of the country’s finest surf spots, and we’ll arrange a local surf guide to take the whole family out (or whoever fancies giving it a go, anyway).

No experience necessary – the guide will tailor things to your abilities and suggest the easiest spots and boards for beginners. We include this as standard in our Catch Some Waves at Arugam Bay bite sized trip.

Yala National Park is bound to be a highlight of your family holiday, and it’s one of our favourite wildlife spots in all of Asia. Not only will you sleep under canvas with nature all around, but a local wildlife guide will take you out to spot some of the iconic animals that call this place home. Elephants, monkeys, crocodiles and birds come almost guaranteed, while the lucky ones might even see a jaguar or black bear roaming around!

Safari jeep tour is included as standard in our Wildlife Encounters in Yala bite-sized trip.

Dating back almost 1,000 years and filled with beautiful temples and crumbling ruins, Polonnaruwa gives a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s ancient past. But we know that kids and history tours don’t always mix well, so instead we arrange bikes so that you can head off exploring at your own pace (or your kids’ own pace, more likely) and with a little bit more excitement.

Bikes included as standard in our Cycle Through the Ancient Kingdom bite-sized trip.

One of our favourite experiences is our Negombo fishing trip, where you’ll hop onboard with a local fisherman and head along the coast in search of dinner. Bamboo rods in hand, you’ll learn the basics and see a master at work, and with any luck you’ll catch a few fish of your own. Either way, it’s a wonderful way to see how many Sri Lankans have made their living for centuries, and you’ll top it off with freshly barbequed catch of the day on the beach afterwards – bliss!

Local fishing trip is included as standard in our Fishing Boats in Negombo bite-sized trip.

If your family is anything like our families, then food is going to play a major part in your holiday. Some say that Sri Lanka has some of the most interesting cuisine in Asia, and during your homestay on the outskirts of Kandy you’ll get to try making some delicious Sri Lankan dishes of your own. After heading to the local market with your hosts to pick up fresh ingredients, it’s time for the whole family to get into the kitchen and rustle up your own very special lunch!

Local cooking lesson included as standard in our Experience Local Life in Kandy bite-sized trip.

These are just a few examples of the activities we recommend for families in Sri Lanka, but there’s more where these came from! Your travel specialist will be happy to talk you through the options so you can choose excursions that’ll be perfect for your kids.

Ready to start planning? Get in touch!