Family Tour of  Sri Lanka

Day 1– Flying from the UK to Colombo, Sri Lanka

Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Colombo

Day 2 – Arrival into Colombo

Late morning arrival. Be met by our English-speaking representative at Colombo airport and be transferred to your hotel in Negombo and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Stay at Villa Hundira, Negombo for 2 nights on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 3 – Negombo 

A full day to relax before your adventure begins. Make the most of the hotel’s facilities, with their community arts and handicraft centre ideal for children to get stuck in to some craft activities. 

Day 4 – Negombo, Sigiriya  

After breakfast, visit Negombo fishing village and set off for the three and a half hour drive to Sigiriya. On arrival check into your hotel which nestles amidst the lush greenery of rolling hills and offers breathtaking views of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Enjoy some free time and visit the hotel’s recycling factory. The hotel recycles all of its paper into crafts and various products as well as paper mâché elephants. Make your own paper and paint a paper mâché elephant. If weather permits make a kite to fly in the hotel grounds. Stay at Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigiriya for 4 nights on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 5 – Sigiriya 

A morning visit to a local village and an opportunity to meet with local families and learn about their daily life and cultural traditions before a boat ride.

Day 6 – Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa 

This morning you will tour the city of Polonnaruwa by bicycle. Polonnaruwa is one of the ancient cities in Sri Lanka’s famed Cultural Triangle and was once the capital of the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms. Today its impressive archaeological treasures include tombs, temples, statues and stupas, with Gal Vihara temple containing a magnificent group of beautiful Buddha images carved out of granite.

Day 7 – Sigiriya 

After breakfast join the hotel’s naturalist for a sustainability and biodiversity interactive session tailored to youngsters, with a hands-on tour of the hotel identifying little creatures and learning about the importance they play in our ecosystem. In the evening set off for Minneriya National Park for a wildlife safari accompanied by a naturalist to see the Asian elephant in its natural habitat.

Day 8 – Sigiriya, Kandy 

Leave in the morning for the lush hills of Kandy, the gateway to the island’s tea country. This bustling city is home to Sri Lanka’s holiest site, the Temple of Tooth, containing the tooth relic of Buddha. Enjoy a tour of the city, driving around Kandy Lake and visit the bazaar. Stay at Mountbatten Bungalow, Kandy for 2 nights on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 9 – Kandy  

This morning visit a Kandyan folk dancing school and learn about this traditional art form and the drums of Sri Lanka. Join in with the children as they practice their dance, finishing with a performance. Return to your hotel for a relaxing rest of the day.

Day 10 – Kandy, Weligama  

Catch the morning train for the unforgettable journey to Rambukkana (Pinnawela) and visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation. A family run NGO dedicated to improving the welfare of Sri Lanka’s domestic elephants and where you can help bathe the elephants in the nearby river and visit the unique paper factory producing paper out of elephant droppings. The optional Elephant Walk Experience, following the elephants as they freely roam through the woods, is an alternative to the usual elephant riding for tourists. Afterwards, continue to the coastal town of Weligama and check in to your five star beachfront hotel for the next four nights. Stay at Marriot Resort & Spa, Weligama for 4 nights on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 11-13 – Weligama 

Time to explore independently for the next few days, or simply relax on the sandy beach and enjoy the hotel’s many facilities. There is a spa for massage treatments, an outdoor pool and a children’s pool and club with play areas and game zones. Weligama is a prime surfing destination with ideal conditions for those looking to learn with its shallow sandy beaches with long breaks (additional cost). 

Day 14 – Return to the UK 

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.