Sri Lanka Family Adventure: Wildlife & Dream Beaches 15 Days

Points of Interest : Negombo
Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport you are warmly greeted by your chauffeur. You are driven to your hotel in Negombo and check in. The rest of the day is free to relax and gently acclimatise. Together with your children you get a first impression of Sri Lanka: jump into the hotel pool, take a boat trip on the lagoon or enjoy a walk along the sandy beach.
Drive time: around 30 minutes.

• Meals included : Breakfast depending on arrival time or from the next morning
• Accommodation : Sea Horse Hotel, Negombo

Points of Interest : Negombo, Galle, Unawatuna
Early in the morning you can visit the famous fish market in Negombo, where busy fishermen sell their fresh catch. After breakfast you drive south towards Galle. On the way, if you wish, you take an exciting boat safari on the Maduganga River through dense mangrove forests and may spot jungle animals such as monkeys and crocodiles. In Galle you explore the charming colonial fort, a centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the thick ramparts you discover the lighthouse, small atmospheric streets and learn more about the life of the Dutch colonists. Afterwards you continue to Unawatuna, a neighbouring coastal town of Galle, and check into your hotel.
Drive time: around 2.5 hours (without stops).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Thaproban Pavilion Resort & Spa, Unawatuna

Points of Interest : Unawatuna
Today is completely free for your own beach time. Swim in the turquoise Indian Ocean or stroll along the bay to the small Buddhist temple at the far end. Along the beach many water sports activities are offered that guarantee fun for the whole family. Numerous little restaurants and boutiques invite you to relax, snack and browse right by the sea.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Thaproban Pavilion Resort & Spa, Unawatuna

Points of Interest : Tissamaharama, Galle
After breakfast you drive along the south coast towards Tissamaharama. If you like, you stop at the southernmost point of Sri Lanka to climb the dazzling white Dondra lighthouse, whose viewing platform offers sweeping views of the rugged coastline and the ocean. You can also visit the fascinating Mulkirigala rock temple near Tangalle, with its cave shrines and painted Buddha statues set high in the rock. On arrival in Tissamaharama you check into your accommodation and enjoy the surrounding nature, keeping an eye out for wild animals and abundant birdlife.
Drive time: around 3 hours (without sightseeing stops).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Tamarind Tree, Tissamaharama

Points of Interest : Tissamaharama
Before sunrise you set off in a 4×4 jeep for an exciting safari in Yala National Park, which is renowned for one of the highest leopard densities in the world. With some luck you will encounter elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles and many other exotic animals and birds. Along the way you enjoy your packed breakfast as a picnic on a wild beach inside or near the park. Around midday you return to the hotel for some free time. In the afternoon you take a short drive to Kirinda, considered one of the most beautiful and often deserted beaches on the south coast, where you can relax by the sea.

• Meals included : Breakfast (picnic breakfast during safari)
• Accommodation : Tamarind Tree Hotel, Tissamaharama

Points of Interest : Bandarawela
Today you leave the coast and head into the green hill country. En route you stop at the Buduruwagala rock statues, more than a thousand years old. This impressive rock face displays several carved figures and is a remarkable testimony to the artistry of ancient Sinhalese stonemasons, including a towering 15-metre-high standing Buddha. You then continue to climb into the highlands, driving to panoramic viewpoints and enjoying sweeping vistas over valleys, tea-covered slopes and distant peaks. A stop at Lipton’s Seat, where tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton once admired his plantations, offers one of the most beautiful outlooks in the region. You then continue to your guesthouse in Bandarawela and settle in.
Drive time: around 3 hours (without stops).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Villa Perpetua, Bandarawela

Points of Interest : Haputale
Today you enjoy an easy family-friendly hike to Little Adam’s Peak, named after the famous pilgrimage mountain Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada). While the larger mountain requires climbing over 5,000 steps, Little Adam’s Peak is reached in around two hours on gentle paths with rewarding views of the hill country. At the summit adventurous family members can try the spectacular mega zip line that stretches across the valley. Afterwards you visit the iconic Nine Arch Bridge near Ella, part of the Demodara loop. The graceful nine stone arches span a lush jungle gorge, with tea fields growing under the tracks and forest rising behind the railway line—an ideal spot for memorable photos.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Villa Perpetua, Bandarawela

Points of Interest : Kandy, Haputale
In the morning you check out and drive to the nearby railway station. From there you board the train to Nanuoya. The tracks wind slowly through one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful landscapes: rolling tea plantations, deep ravines and cascading waterfalls. From the open doors and windows you can watch rural life along the route and feel the cool mountain breeze. In Nanuoya your chauffeur picks you up and you continue by car to a tea factory near Nuwara Eliya, where you see how freshly picked tea leaves are withered, rolled, fermented and dried before tasting the finished product. Afterwards you drive via the Kotmale reservoir and the Ramboda Falls towards Kandy. On arrival you check into your hotel and have free time in the lakeside city.
Travel times: about 3 hours by train; about 2.5 hours by car.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Mount Blue Kandy, Kandy

Points of Interest : Kandy
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Kandy. Late in the morning you visit the world-famous Temple of the Tooth, which houses a sacred relic of the Buddha and is one of Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist sites. You learn more about Buddhism and local rituals, then stroll along the shore of Kandy Lake, see the historic royal bathing pavilion and browse the lively market filled with spices, fruit and handicrafts. The rest of the day is free. If you wish, you can drive to the nearby Millennium Elephant Foundation in Kegalle, about an hour from Kandy. Here former working elephants are given a safe home, and you can observe them being cared for and see a small paper workshop where high-quality paper is made from elephant dung. You then return to your hotel in Kandy.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Mount Blue Kandy, Kandy

Points of Interest : Habarana
After breakfast you check out and head into Sri Lanka’s famous Cultural Triangle. On the way you visit Nalanda Gedige near Matale, a small stone temple originally built by Hindus and later used by Buddhists, set picturesquely amidst greenery. You then continue to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched high on a rocky hill. Inside five adjacent caves, magnificent wall paintings and countless Buddha statues await. Children will also be entertained here, as playful monkeys roam around the steps and viewpoints, and from the top you enjoy wide views over the surrounding countryside. Afterwards you drive to nearby Habarana, check into your hotel and relax at the pool amidst nature.
Drive time: around 3 hours (without visits).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Jay’s Holiday Resort, Habarana

Points of Interest : Sigiriya, Anuradhapura
In the morning you climb the spectacular Sigiriya Lion Rock, rising nearly 200 metres above the plains. On the way up you pass a sheltered rock gallery with the famous frescoes of the “cloud maidens” and reach the massive stone lion paws that once formed the entrance to the royal palace. At the top you explore the ruins of the ancient palace complex and enjoy panoramic views of forests and lakes. Late in the morning you continue towards Anuradhapura. En route you stop at the towering Aukana Buddha statue, the tallest ancient standing Buddha in Sri Lanka, carved from a single rock. On arrival in Anuradhapura you check into your hotel. In the late afternoon you drive to Mihintale, the sacred hill monastery where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka. Among rock steps, white stupas and forested slopes you soak up the peaceful atmosphere before returning to your hotel.
Drive time: about 2 hours (Sigiriya to Anuradhapura, excluding stops).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Alakamanda, Anuradhapura

Points of Interest : Kalpitiya, Anuradhapura
In the morning you explore the ancient royal city of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, either by car or by bicycle—an ideal and fun option for families. Spread over a vast 50-square-kilometre area embedded in lush nature, you discover well-preserved stupas, sculptures, palace remains and still-active temples. Highlights include the enormous Jetavanarama Dagoba, the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree and the Archaeological Museum. Monkeys, birds and colourful butterflies are likely to cross your path. Afterwards you drive to the remote Kalpitiya Peninsula on the northwest coast. You check into your beach hotel and enjoy free time on the usually empty sandy beach, perfect for unwinding after the cultural visits.
Drive time: around 2.5 hours (Anuradhapura to Kalpitiya).

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Kiteatlantis, Kalpitiya

Points of Interest : Kalpitiya
Spend a leisurely day by the sea on the long sandy beaches of Kalpitiya. The area is known for its rich marine life, and various optional water activities are available, such as boat trips to watch playful dolphins, sailing outings, surfing, diving and snorkelling—great fun for children and teenagers. Your chauffeur remains at your disposal for short excursions in the surroundings, for example to the picturesque Dutch Bay or to the Catholic pilgrimage church of St. Anne. In the evening you return to your beachfront hotel.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel Kiteatlantis, Kalpitiya

Points of Interest : Kalpitiya, Bandaranaike International Airport
Your family adventure in Sri Lanka comes to an end. Depending on your flight time you may still have some moments to enjoy the beach or hotel facilities. Your chauffeur then drives you from Kalpitiya to Bandaranaike International Airport in good time for your departure flight, and you leave the island with many colourful memories.
Drive time: around 3 hours.

• Meals included : Breakfast, if flight schedule allows
• Last day : Private transfer from Kalpitiya to Bandaranaike International Airport