Don’t Miss
- Learn about elephants at the Millennium Elephant Orphanage
- Golf, ride horses and play tennis in the Victoria Golf & Country Resort
- Camp by the riverside in the rafting town of Kitulgala
- Cycle the rural lanes inland from the Galle Coast
- Go water-skiing, banana boating or wind surfing on Bentota Lagoon
- Observe the endangered marine turtles in Kosgoda
PACKAGE INCLUDES
- Accommodation in a shared double / twin room
- Chauffeur-guide and vehicle for the duration of the tour (including leisure days)
- Both airport transfers
- Expert advice and support prior to and during the tour
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Price shown is a starting price and is subject to change, depending on travel dates / the number of people travelling etc.
- Price shown is based on two people sharing a double / twin room
- See our Booking Conditions for more details
Day 1 & 2 Negombo, North-West Coast
Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer to a convenient hotel close to the international airport. Relax and unwind after your flight, preparing yourself for the adventure ahead.
Accommodation: Jetwing Beach
Day 3 Habarana, Cultural Triangle
After an early breakfast, travel to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle via the Millennium Elephant Orphanage in Kegalle, a remarkable project where animal rights workers and elephant experts provide captive elephants with a retirement home. A guided tour around the centre will explain the good work being done at the Foundation and is the perfect way for the family to appreciate the wonder of the elephant. Travel on to the Cultural Triangle and your family-friendly hotel where the chance to splash around in a swimming pool is a must.
Accommodation: Habarana Village by Cinnamon
Recommended Activities: Millenium Elephant Foundation
Day 4 & 5 Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Consider a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park best known for the biggest gathering of Asian Elephants. The Cultural Triangle sites can tax the patience of some children, but a clamber to the summit of Sigiriya Rock will delight many and Ritilgala Forest Monastery also has a touch of Indiana Jones about it as you climb up the partially-concealed steps. And a discovery of the ruined city of Polonnaruwa can be enlivened by a story of Polonnaruwa’s warring monkeys.
Accommodation: Habarana Village by Cinnamon
Recommended Activities: The Monkey Kingdom of Polonnaruwa , Minneriya National Park , Sigiriya Rock Fortress , Ritigala
Day 6 & 7 Victoria, Kandy
Travel on to Kandy which is steeped in history and culture. Visit the ancient Temple of the Tooth where a tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined. Continue on to the Victoria Golf and Country Resort 20 kms east of Kandy. Check into the Victoria Golf Chalets set within the magnificent 500 acre estate surrounded by the scenic Kandyan Hills and the Victoria Reservoir. Facilities include an 18-hole golf course, putting green and practice range, floodlit tennis court, swimming pool, Saddle club, riding lesson for adults and kids, horse safaris, bird watching, and bike trails.
Accommodation: Victoria Golf Chalets
Recommended Activities: Victoria Golf and Country Resort , Temple of the Tooth
Day 8 Kitulgala, Sinharaja & Kitulgala
A night’s camping in Kitulgala is a great place for a bit of under-the-stars adventure. There is an opportunity to go trekking, canoeing or white-water rafting if that suits the family’s disposition, or simply enjoy the camping experience. We have only scheduled one night here, but you can stay longer or chose instead to head straight to Galle in search of more time on the beach.
Accommodation: Borderlands
Recommended Activities: White-Water Rafting and Canoeing
Day 9 & 10 Galle, Galle Coast
Journey down to the Galle Coast and spend two days in a beach hotel conveniently placed for a yomp around the famous Galle Fort. The fort’s well-preserved ramparts, overlooking the cricket stadium and the Indian Ocean, are a great excuse to use up any pent-up energy and there are a collection of characterful craft and art shops, boutiques and cafes alongside the beautiful boutique hotels and villas that now adorn the streets. The most energetic families might also consider a guided cycle ride around Galle’s rural inland lanes.
Accommodation: Sielen Diva
Recommended Activities: Galle Dutch Fort , Galle Restaurant Guide , Galle Guided Bicycle Trails , 6 Best Water-Sport Activities in Sri Lanka
Day 11, 12 & 13 Bentota, West Coast
A short journey north takes you to the family-orientated coastal town of Bentota where you can relax and enjoy the broad sandy beaches and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Children will be kept entertained with the numerous water-sports on offer on the calm Bentota lagoon, alongside the sea including banana-boating, water-skiing, jet-skiing, windsurfing and wave boarding. They will also love seeing the baby turtles at the Kosgoda Turtle Conservation Project and can enjoy their own Sri Lanka puppet show in Balapitiya.
Accommodation: Cinnamon Bentota Beach
Recommended Activities: Windsurfing in Sri Lanka , Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery , Sri Lankan Puppets
Jetwing Beach
Negombo, North-West
Jetwing Beach is tastefully designed along contemporary lines with Bawa influences, taking the surrounding seaside landscape into full view. Interiors are minimalist and elegant with cement floors and walls enhanced with dramatic contemporary art. The hotel is very much a home away from home, and has something special for everyone
4.5
Habarana Village by Cinnamon
Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Habarana Village by Cinnamon is a successful mid-range hotel in the Cultural Triangle with an excellent reputation for reliability among its mix of individual holidaymakers and package tourists. It is set on an acre of garden edged by a serene lake that brings nature right to the doorstep.
3
Victoria Golf Chalets
Victoria, Kandy
The Victoria Golf Chalets offer exceptional value and are perfect for the golf enthusiast, who wants to waste no time before getting on the first tee. The Victoria Golf & Country Resort also offers a host of recreational activities that even non-golfing travelling partners as well as children will enjoy. All chalets have private verandahs with stunning views of the Knuckles Mountain Range.
Borderlands
Kitulgala, Sinharaja & Kitulgala
Borderlands camping is based in Kitulgala, a riverside village that offers Sri Lanka’s best white-water rafting experience. Accommodation is in tents and wooden cabins on stilts and built right over the river.
5
Sielen Diva
Thalpe, Galle Coast
Sielen Diva is a quiet seven-bedroom boutique beach hotel in Thalpe, about 2.5 hours from the airport. This is an ideal stop for your beach stay and is in close proximity to the Galle Fort and Mirissa for whale watching.
Cinnamon Bentota Beach
Bentota, West Coast
Cinnamon Bentota Beach enjoys one of the finest beach positions in Sri Lanka, standing on a prime piece of land where the Bentota River meets the Indian ocean. A 5-star resort which was not just renovated but reimagined in 2019 and which once again can claim to be a prince among Sri Lanka’s traditional beach hotels.
Following are recommended optional activities
Millenium Elephant Foundation
Kegalle, Kandy
Learn about the key role elephants play in Sri Lankan culture and issues which arise from this. Accompanied by an expert, walk with, bathe and feed the elephants that are looked after here.
The Monkey Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa, Cultural Triangle
Quite apart from the incredible ruins of this medieval city, Polonnaruwa is home to a large monkey population who were famously featured in Disney’s engaging documentary film ‘Monkey Kingdom’.
Minneriya National Park
Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Minneriya National Park is a small but popular wildlife park home to a wide range of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. It is also the site of the world-renowned wildlife event ‘The Elephant Gathering’.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most majestic, awe-inspiring and stunning historical locations in the world, built in the 5th century AD by ‘mad’ King Kasyapa.
Ritigala
Anuradhapura, Cultural Triangle
Ritigala is nestled deep inside a jungle-covered nature reserve, the ruins of an extensive Buddhist monasty which was abandoned during the invasions of the 10th and 11th centuries.
Victoria Golf and Country Resort
Victoria, Kandy
There are golf courses that are scenic, but the Victoria Golf and Country Resort is simply spectacular. Even non-golfers will love it here, as a range of other activities are on offer.
Temple of the Tooth
Kandy
Tradition relates that a sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka in 4th century A.D. and has been enshrined in the Dalanda Maligawa, or Temple of the Tooth, since the late 1500s.
White-Water Rafting and Canoeing
Kitulgala, Sinharaja & Kitulgala
Enjoy an exciting rafting adventure in a jungle paradise. The Kelani River is famous for its white-water rafting and boasts rapids suitable for beginners and those with more experience.
Galle Dutch Fort
Galle Fort, Galle Coast
Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally built by the Portuguese before it was further developed by the Dutch and British, covers nearly 4sqkm and houses a range of old colonial buildings.
Galle Restaurant Guide
Galle, Galle Coast
Galle offers a range of charming cafes, bars and restaurants within the ancient Dutch Fort: choice ranges from simple snacks and Sri Lankan rice and curries to five-star fusion cuisine.
Galle Guided Bicycle Trails
Galle, Galle Coast
Cycle through Galle’s beautiful countryside, passing paddy fields dotted with iconic white egrets and water buffalo, quiet villages, tea and rice fields. Choose from a range of routes.
6 Best Water-Sport Activities in Sri Lanka
Island-wide
Discover the 6 best water-sport activities in Sri Lanka, from athletic surfing, kite-surfing and windsurfing to laidback snorkelling and sailing trips.
Windsurfing in Sri Lanka
Negombo, North-West Coast
Windsurfing in Sri Lanka was first started in Negombo, which continues to be a popular spot for windsurfing during the season from December to April, as is Kalpitiya, another north-west coastal town.
Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery
Kosgoda, West Coast
Of the seven species of marine turtles, five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka and the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery which primary operates as a hatchery, is a great place to observe collected and rescued eggs hatch.
Sri Lankan Puppets
Balapitiya, West Coast
The traditional folk theatre of Sri Lankan puppetry was a major form of entertainment in old Ceylon.
