Sri Lanka might not be the first destination that comes to mind when considering a family holiday, but it should. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a country more warmly disposed toward children than the ‘Teardrop Island’. From the wide grins that’ll greet you and your little ones as you arrive at Bawa-style beachpads to the surprising ease of its train system that weaves across the island, Sri Lanka has become increasingly family focused. The diversity of its landscapes alone—blissful beaches, impressive national parks and mist-shrouded peaks—should keep all members of the family entertained. From mountain biking along scenic tea trails in Kandy to spotting sloth bears and elephant herds on exhilarating game drives in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka offers a journey full of unexpected wonders.
Sri Lanka might not be the first destination that comes to mind when considering a family holiday, but it should. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a country more warmly disposed toward children than the ‘Teardrop Island’. From the wide grins that’ll greet you and your little ones as you arrive at Bawa-style beachpads to the surprising ease of its train system that weaves across the island, Sri Lanka has become increasingly family focused. The diversity of its landscapes alone—blissful beaches, impressive national parks and mist-shrouded peaks—should keep all members of the family entertained. From mountain biking along scenic tea trails in Kandy to spotting sloth bears and elephant herds on exhilarating game drives in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka offers a journey full of unexpected wonders.
Forget about chaotic check-ins and delayed internal flights, or sorting your luggage into a neat 23kg. In Sri Lanka you’ll travel by car with the same driver-guide for the duration of your trip, traversing lush tea plantations in northern hill country, coastal plains along the east coast and sprawling savannahs in the south. But that’s not all; Sri Lanka also boasts a fantastic train network.
Bundle onto the iconic 100-mile journey from Kandy to Badulla, via Ella, and watch your children be stunned to silence as you rattle past tea pickers on curling plantations, cross the historic Nine Arch Bridge and tackle the Demodara Loop, where the line circles a hilltop and passes back under itself. If you think the drama might be a little too much for toddlers, the shorter 2-hour coastal ride from Colombo to Galle should be a breeze. After all, what child doesn’t like a train? Once at your destination, switch to another set of wheels, a tuk-tuk, to explore local sights. Or rent bikes with child seats to pedal through the paddy fields.
A True top tip from our Senior Travel Tailor, Alice, is to travel with your own baby or child-booster seats. Even though some tour agencies provide them, it’s best to travel with your own—for peace of mind.
If the country’s seamless transport links haven’t won you over yet, its heavy sprinkling of child-friendly hotels, intimate homestays and well-supplied beach resorts will. Choose between boutique hotels such as Why House, set just outside Galle in 3 acres of tropical garden, where custodians Henrietta and her dachshund Jelly will treat your young ones like their own, and Skye House; a peaceful South Coast retreat that feels more hideaway than hotspot, home to every imaginable family-friendly service. Or opt for opulent luxury in the form of Ani Sri Lanka, where 5 acres of beachfront bliss including 2 pools (as well as a children’s pool), a tennis court, an outdoor shuffleboard court and in-house spa therapists are all yours.
Even hotels and home stays without dedicated children’s amenities are incredibly family-friendly. Hotels such as Amangalla and The Wallawwa offer interconnecting rooms, highchairs, babysitting services and, more often than not, free or discounted stays for children under the age of 12.
A True top tip from our Global Sales Director, Pete, is to make use of the hotel’s babysitting service. They’ll typically come over once your youngest is asleep, allowing the two of you to enjoy a much needed date night.
Unlike its larger Southeast Asian neighbours, where you often end up compromising on destinations and saying things like, ‘We’ll save that for next time,’ the majority of Sri Lanka’s highlights can be explored over the course of one trip. It is most common to fly into Colombo, where you will have the option of spending the night adjusting to India Standard Time. Or you can jump straight into your itinerary and make your way to your first destination via a short transfer. Whether it’s the sun-drenched beaches around Galle or the lush, rolling hills of tea country, you’ll be greeted with warm smiles and family-friendly activities wherever you go.
We know, Sri Lanka’s rock fortress, cave temples and crumbling ancient temples don’t exactly scream family-friendly. But we reckon, once you’ve told them about the vast monkey population that lives in the lost city of Polonnaruwa, eulogised by Disney’s Monkey Kingdom, they’ll be on board. Most children will be able to tackle the climb up Sigiriya too, while babies and toddlers will be sure to enjoy the view (or chance to nap) from carriers. This region isn’t just about culture though. Back in Dambulla, you can take a tour of the surrounding plains by bike or pay a visit to nearby Minneriya National Park for a half-day safari in search of its fruitful elephant population.
For a country smaller than Ireland, Sri Lanka boasts an impressive number of national parks, each with their own unique diversity. Udawalawe National Park is widely considered Sri Lanka’s best family-friendly national park with roughly 700 elephants roaming across its low-lying scrub; making sightings almost always certain. Private guides will happily cater to families, providing immersive learning experiences and playing games while you wait for 1/5th of the Big Five to make an appearance. If you have any budding Attenborough’s amongst you, or are travelling exclusively with teenagers, venture further into the wild in Gal Oya National Park. Still relatively undiscovered, this peaceful park’s highlight is its expansive, island-filled lake, best explored by boat, where you’ll also encounter swimming elephants, crocodiles and turtles.
If you’ve got young children, Sri Lanka’s tea country is sure to be a refreshing change to the bustling beach towns of the south. Make hotels like Ceylon Tea Trails in Hatton and Rosyth Estate House in Kegalle your base to recharge and get acquainted with its surrounding lakes, waterfalls and mountains such as Little Adam’s Peak (perfect for little legs). Try a local cooking class, where you’ll learn how to open and scrape a coconut and prepare a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast. Rattle over the iconic Nine Arch Bridge in Ella and ogle at the golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. Relax while staff take your little ones on treasure hunts in the estate’s grounds and watch in awe or fear as your fearless teens take on Kitugala’s exhilarating whitewater rapids and soar through Ella’s treetops on a zipline.
The coast surrounding Galle, stretching west to Bentota and Hikkaduwa and east to Tangalle, is one of the most beautiful in Sri Lanka. Head here for some R&R at the end of your holiday, splitting your time between Bentota’s safe-swim beaches—perfect for young ones—and Weligama where you can watch your teens catch their first break. Hang out in Hikkaduwa, visiting a turtle hatchery at dusk and exploring shoreline corals with a snorkel and a pair of fins. And be stunned in Mirissa, where sightings of humpback, sperm and blue whales are sure to captivate even the most jaded teenage traveller.
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