Sri Lanka, 15 days with children
From Lion Rock to Culinary Tips: Prepare for a Family Trip to Sri Lanka
At Christmas, we very often go on trips around the world as a family. This year we chose Sri Lanka. Discover with me the treasures of this unique destination , suitable for the whole family. From fine sandy beaches to mystical temples, follow this guide for a memorable and kid-friendly trip . Get ready to explore this jewel of South Asia with your little explorers. Let's go!
From planning the trip, to the must-sees not to be missed, explore the gems of this destination through the eyes of our family. An enriching getaway to Sri Lanka , where every moment becomes a precious discovery when traveling as a family.
Our 15-day itinerary in Sri Lanka:
Colombo: 1 night – Morning with a French guide off the beaten track, ideal for soaking up the city, while being well supervised.
Sigiriya: 1 night – Climb the lion rock and visit the Buddha caves of Dambulla.
Pinnawala: 1 night – Sleep near the river where the elephants from the nearby orphanage come to bathe.
Kandy: 1 night – Attend a traditional Sinhalese dance show. The kids loved it!
Nuwara Eliya: 1 night – Temple of the Tooth and night in the mountains.
Ella: 2 nights – Train journey through tea fields, nine arches bridge and Ayurvedic massage.
Udawalawe: 1 night - Safari to see elephants in the wild.
Tangale: 4 nights – Chill and beach for the last days, surf at Hiriketiya.
Hikkaduwa: 1 night – Swimming with turtles and beautiful beaches.
Negombo: 1 night – Last night near the airport in a hotel with swimming pool and water slide.
Before following us on our 2-week trip to Sri Lanka, I invite you to read our article "Explore Sri Lanka with your family: from the must-see to practical advice" so you don't miss any of the practical aspects of a trip to Sri Lanka.
DAY 1: Secret Colombo: explore the city differently with an off-the-beaten-track visit!
Many choose not to stop in Colombo. We chose to spend the morning with Olivier, a Frenchman who lives there. Olivier showed us the jewels of the city but also many places where tourists don't go. We loved the simple and effective explanations, the coffee at a roaster, the rice sellers, the red mosque and the temple. The visit is done by tuktuk most of the time and everything is really adapted to children.
I recommend it with my eyes closed, for an unusual visit to Colombo with children. You will find it on Instagram TukItEasyColombo .
We then took the road to reach Sigiriya.
The Uber app is well developed in Colombo. We used it for this 4h30 trip (70euros). For long trips, we choose large cars, such as 8-seater mini vans, so that everyone has space. We always leave early in the afternoon so that our daughters can take advantage of it to take a nap.
The scenery is incredible and time flies. If you're looking for something to keep your kids busy during the journey, here's a selection of podcasts especially for them .
Day 2: The majestic ascent of Lion Rock, an epic journey into the heart of Sri Lankan history!
The climb to the Lion Rock has 1200 steps to reach the summit... The site is sublime and really well laid out. A favorite for this wonder of nature and the unusual history of this place.
"The rebel king Kassapa wants the throne, but it's a bit complicated because he's not the king's legitimate son. So, he plots, walls up his father, and there you have it, he becomes king. His brother Moggallana is fired. Kassapa, a bit paranoid, chooses a rock in Sigiriya to build his fortress with an incredible view. He stays there for 18 years, surrounded by his court. You can imagine the difficulties of building a kingdom up there! Meanwhile, Moggallana builds an army in India, returns to Sigiriya. Moggallana then organizes a siege. Kassapa, confident, forgets about the supplies. A week later, hungry, he goes to Moggallana who becomes the new king. The fortress of Sigiriya is abandoned."
Entrance to Lion Rock €30/adult, free for children under 5.
Some people choose to climb to the top of Pidurangula Rock, which offers a majestic view of Lion Rock. For our part, we did not do it and it is a real regret. I had been advised against it with children because the end of the trail is really difficult to access.
We then took a tuktuk to reach the Buddha cave site in Dambulla in 20 minutes. A sublime site of several "rooms" housing Buddhas directly engraved in the rock. Don't forget to cover your shoulders and legs to access the temple.
Entrance to Buddha cave in Dambulla €11.40 for 4.
After a stop at a restaurant, we took the road for 2h30 to arrive at Pinnawala. Arrival at the end of the day for a great time at the hotel "Grand Royal Pinnalanda".
Day 3: Pinnawala: an elephantine experience, sleeping above these majestic giants
We spent the morning by the pool watching the elephants from the nearby orphanage. Every morning from 9am to 1pm, the elephants come to spend time in the river. With this spectacle under our feet, we didn't find it useful to go to the zoo or visit the elephant orphanage. After lunch we took the road to Kandy.
At the end of the day, we attended a traditional Sri Lankan dance show. We expected an amateur show, but the show was excellent, with beautiful costumes and a great performance. 1 hour of fun to the rhythm of traditional musical instruments that the children loved! Our girls really enjoyed this magnificent show, both dynamic and colorful, retracing many Sri Lankan rituals.
Entrance tickets for 2 adults and 2 children €36
At the end of the day, we had dinner in the center of Kandy, at the "Kandyan muslim hotel" which I recommend for good Sri Lankan food. Here we eat with our fingers and the children love it!
Day 4: The magic of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy: a spiritual journey steeped in history and serenity!
On Sundays, Sri Lankans dress in white to go to the temple. They bring flowers and offerings to pray and praise their gods.
The Temple of the Tooth in Kandy is a Buddhist temple. Nestled in the palace complex of the Kingdom of Kandy, it houses a precious relic of the tooth of Buddha . Kandy, the last royal capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partly because of this iconic temple. Here you will see the elephant that carried the tooth for years and was stuffed after its death.
Entrance is €5.50 for an adult and it opens at 5:30am and closes at 8pm. It is located near the lake and the sunsets are fabulous.
After this visit, we went to see the city, the market and the lake. We didn't really fall in love with this city that is teeming in all directions. So we cut our time in Kandy short and, if you follow us, after lunch we took the road to reach a city in the heart of the island and in the middle of the Nuwara Eliya mountains, about 2 hours drive in the middle of the tea fields. It was sublime!
The town is super cute and there is a great park for kids and a food market in the evening on the village square.
Day 5: Train journey to Ella: an unforgettable adventure through the Sri Lankan mountains!
So, if you are ready for a railway adventure, fasten your seatbelts, because in this article, we delve into the captivating world of the famous Sri Lankan train! Taking the train across the island of Ceylon is an unmissable experience.
This morning we took a tuk tuk to reach the small Nanu Oya station. At the station, we bought our tickets 10 minutes before departure, €1.10 for 4 tickets, unbeatable! (tickets are not sold in advance, you buy your ticket on the day of departure).
Little tip: ask if the train is blue. The blue train has more carriages and is faster, 2 hours to reach Ella. The red train only has 4 carriages (therefore we are more crammed) and is quite slow, 4 hours of travel to reach Ella.
During the journey, we get up to take the famous photo at the window and then we dream with our eyes fixed on these incredibly green landscapes. The journey is very pleasant, we have great encounters with the locals and other travelers.
We arrived in Ella at lunch time and were wowed at first sight. We then spent the afternoon at the hotel pool.
Ella, Sri Lanka's hidden gem! This charming town, nestled in the heart of the mountains, seduced us with its peaceful atmosphere and breathtaking landscapes. Many hiking trails are possible from this town. You can visit lush tea plantations that surround the region, and discover the famous Nine Arch Bridge, an engineering masterpiece offering spectacular panoramic views.
Ella is also renowned for its soothing Ayurvedic massages. Of course we tried them! And it was an authentic wellness experience in the heart of lush nature.
Day 6: The Nine Arches Bridge in Ella: a masterpiece of engineering and a spectacular view, the magic of the Sri Lankan mountains!
To reach the Nine Arch Bridge, we took a tuktuk, the only vehicle waiting for the bridge. This railway bridge, built by the English in 1921, is not only magnificent, but what really impressed us was its enchanting setting. Imagine a green theater, palm trees as far as the eye can see, and nature of flamboyant green: Simply sublime! As a bonus, you can walk on the rails, and with a bit of luck, come across one of the three trains that cross it every day.
In the afternoon, we treated ourselves to massages in Ella. A city renowned and known for its amazing Ayurvedic massages, and honestly we had a great time! Our 6 and 3 year old daughters also had their little moment of relaxation. A good way to have a nice time when it rains in Ella.
Expect to pay €8-10 for a half-hour head to back massage per adult.
Day 6: Traditional picking and visit to a tea factory: a sensory adventure in the heart of Sri Lankan plantations!
That day, we visited a tea factory. During the visit, we learned how tea is picked in the fields, directly with a basket on our backs. An activity that our children really liked, fun and outdoors. After that, we returned to the factory to taste different teas.
We got back on the road to reach Udawalawe and its national park in the afternoon.
Arriving at the end of the day, we took advantage of the hotel swimming pool and had dinner at the hotel since the next day we were leaving at 5:30 a.m. to observe the elephants in their natural environment.
The safari was organized by our hotel. I simply exchanged by WhatsApp with the host and they offered me several formulas for the safari outing. We opted for a 4-hour outing with breakfast included for €160 for the 4 of us.
Day 7: Udawalawe Safari with Kids: A Wild Adventure in Sri Lanka for the Whole Family!
A great organization that we owe to our host. The jeep was waiting for us in front of the hotel at the agreed time the day before in order to be at the entrance of the park at the opening at 6am. It is still dark when we start and the sunrise is super beautiful.
The safari lasts 4 hours. Installed in a raised 4x4, we crisscross the park's paths in search of animals. Our guide makes several stops to show us all the animals. We mainly saw birds, peacocks, jackals, elephants and a crocodile during the safari.
The safari is a magical moment that our girls loved. Looking for elephants and observing the animals through binoculars, taking the time to observe the elephants in their environment was incredible.
My point of view is still quite mixed concerning this safari outing... Honestly, we see a lot more elephants in semi-freedom when we sleep at the hotel overlooking the river in Pinnawala. The safari was a bit long for my 3-year-old daughter.
We returned to the hotel around 12:30pm and then drove to the coast with a stop in Tangale for the next 4 nights.
For the second part of our trip to Sri Lanka , I invite you to dive into this article dedicated to the second part of the trip . While the first part was dedicated to the authentic sides and incredible landscapes of Sri Lanka, this new article takes us to the end of our vacation filled with sun, waves and fascinating encounters.
Discover the heavenly beaches, the thrilling surfing experiences and the emotion of meeting sea turtles in their natural habitat to best organize your stay in Sri Lanka.
Prepare to be enchanted by this other magical side of Sri Lanka, where adventure mixes with relaxation under the radiant sun of the Indian Ocean. To read us about the end of the stay , it's here.
