Golden Sands & Natural Wonders
Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 – Fishing boats in Negombo
Your family trip to Sri Lanka starts in a relaxed way with a short 20-minute transfer from the airport to the beach town of Negombo. You’ll be staying here for the next two nights.
Fishing provides a livelihood for many families in Negombo, and whilst you’re here, you’ll join a local fisherman and try to catch your own dinner with a traditional bamboo fishing rod. You’ll then head back to the beach, where a local restaurant will cook up your catch for lunch. The rest of your day is free to relax.
Day 3 – Climb Sigiriya’s rock fortress
After breakfast, your private driver will take you from the seaside Negombo to the ancient capital of Sri Lanka: Polonnaruwa. The journey will take around 5 hours. As you get closer, you’ll see Sigiriya’s mighty rock fortress rising from the ground. In earlier times, this rock fortress was covered with hundreds of frescoes and the grand palace of King Kasyapa stood atop. If you’re feeling active you can climb to the top of the rock, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the wild green jungle. Or stretch your legs with a walk around the base of the rock. Then continue onto your hotel where you have time to relax and refresh in the swimming pool.
Day 4 – Cycle through the ancient kingdom
This morning, feel like a real time-traveller as you explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa by bike. The town was once the capital of Sri Lanka’s ancient capital and there are many interesting relics and ruins leftover from this period. After you’ve pedalled your way through the ancient ruins, it’s time for lunch in a small authentic restaurant.
Your afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the pool at your hotel. If you’re kids love elephants we can arrange a jeep safari into nearby Minneriya National Park, home to large herds of Asian elephants. Ask your Travel Specialist to add this into your travel plan.
Day 5 – Experience local life in Kandy
Next, its time to head inland to experience rural life. Over the next few days, you’ll stay in a local home in a village on the outskirts of Kandy. Your family will be warmly welcomed, will have plenty to keep you busy and time to learn about local Sri Lankan life from your hosts.
Whilst the homestay is comfortable, you may prefer to stay in a hotel with more facilities in Kandy. Not a problem. We have a good selection of family friendly properties located in and around Kandy and your Travel Specialist can offer recommendations.
Day 6 – Cooking lesson & cultural show
Start the day with a stroll through the village before a hearty breakfast with your hosts. Then you’ll head to the market to pick up some tasty supplies and learn about the ingredients on offer here, taking in the colourful sights along the way. A local cook will teach you how to whip up a Sri Lankan curry using the fresh produce before you tuck in and try the dish for yourselves.
This evening you will head into the city for a cultural show at the Temple of the Tooth. This is one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world and this evening you and your family will get to see the rituals and traditional cultural practices up close. There is drumming, acrobatics, fire-eaters and even walking over hot coals to marvel at, which should amaze all ages!
Day 7 – Head to the hills of Ella
After bidding farewell to your homestay hosts, you’ll continue your journey into the hills to Ella. To get here, you’ll drive through the beautiful hilly countryside and pass under the famous railway bridge before finally reaching the laid-back town of Ella. On arrival check into your family friendly hotel, enjoy the surrounding views and splash in the pool.
Day 8 – Free time to explore Ella
We haven’t included any activities for today. You’re free to explore the hill-country at your own pace. Take a walk around the countryside, have a picnic with a view or take the Little Adam’s Peak hike. If your family is up for an adventure, we can also arrange an exhilarating ziplining experience. You’ll start at mini Adam’s Peak and fly over iconic tea estates and lush greenery overlooking the famous Ella Gap. The two-wire zip-line stretches for more than half a kilometre, slides at 80kmph, and offers a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful hills of the island. If this sounds like fun, ask your Travel Specialist to include this in your travel plan.
Day 9 – Wildlife encounters in Yala
The next stop on your itinerary is probably the part of Sri Lanka which the kids will be most excited about – Yala National Park. You’ll stop off on the way at the Elephant Transit Home where injured and orphaned baby elephants are cared for. You’ll visit around feeding time and watch as the young elephants wait patiently at the gate and jostle for position for the first sip of milk.
Continue onto the tented camp where you will spend the night. Don’t worry, it’s ‘posh’ camping with proper beds, private bathrooms and good food, which is all included. Pretty soon it’s time to head out on your jeep safari, along with an experienced local guide who knows all the best spots. You’ll travel by jeep across the park’s wild terrain, spotting monkeys swinging through the trees, crocodiles lurking along the river banks and elephants stroll close to your jeep as you pass by. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a leopard! It’s an experience the whole family will remember forever.
Days 10 – 12 – Relax on Tangalle’s palm-fringed shores
After a hearty breakfast it’s time to head to the coast for some relaxed family time. Your destination is the palm-lined beach of Tangalle – a quiet spot on the south coast with pretty bays, peaceful palm-fringed sands and tropical lagoons. You’ll stay in a family friendly property in a quiet location overlooking the beach. Though the sea looks appealing, it’s not possible to swim here as the tides can be rough. However, the hotel has a swimming pool. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind.
If tnights on the beach is not long enough, just ask your Travel Consultant to add extra nights in Unawatuna to your Travel Plan.
The coastline around Tangalle is still relatively undeveloped and various types of sea turtles come here to lay their eggs on the beach at night. One evening during your stay we’ll arrange for you to travel by tuk tuk to nearby Rekawa beach – a popular, sandy spot for sea turtles to lay their eggs (especially from February to August). Patience is needed as you wait (in a small group) for the turtle to be spotted. Then you’ll be permitted to go onto the beach, quietly and slowly, to watch the turtle dig a large hole which she will then drag herself into and lay her eggs. After this, the turtle slowly shuffles back towards the surf and you travel back to your resort by tuk tuk.
Day 13 – The bustling capital, Colombo
After a leisurely breakfast and a final walk along the beach, your driver will collect you and drive you to Colombo for your last night. Colombo may not be the place you’re most excited about in Sri Lanka, but the country’s capital has plenty to offer and is a real eye-opener for kids to see daily life in a big working city. As the sun sets you may want to join the locals on Galle Face Green – a grassy promenade beside the ocean dotted with street food stalls, locals taking an early evening stroll and children playing cricket and football. If you want to explore more of the city we can arrange a fun city tour by tuk tuk. Ask your Travel Specialist for more details.
Day 14 – Time to depart Sri Lanka
Sadly, your Sri Lanka holiday has come to an end and today your private driver will transfer you to Colombo International Airport in time for your international flight back to the UK.
Accommodation
