Sri Lanka Family Holiday - 12 Days



Who is this trip for
Age range
5 - 99Start / End
- Negombo
- Colombo
Physical rating
Group size
1 - 16Meals included
15Highlights
- See the ancient rock fortress Sigiriya – from the massive stone lion paws at the entrance to the 200-metre climb to the top, this UNESCO World Heritage site will impress the whole family!
- Spot elephants in their natural habitat during a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park – this is something your kids (and you) will never forget.
- Share dinner with a Sri Lankan family before sealing the friendship with an informal lesson in traditional Kandyan dance.
- Explore the Dambulla cave temples, where prehistoric Sri Lankans lived thousands of years ago and ancient murals and statues depicting the Buddha are on display.
- Soak up some sun during your beach break along the palm-fringed sands of Mirissa, where the kids can splash, and you can relax.
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Summary
Naturally gorgeous, culturally captivating and steeped in mysticism, Sri Lanka makes for a wonderful introduction to the Indian subcontinent for both kids and adults. Embark on a 12-day family adventure and discover temples carved from cliffs, fortresses built on boulders and wildlife-rich parks. Expose your family to different ways of life while cycling through peaceful villages and touring working tea plantations. Search for the local wildlife when you go safari, looking out for wild elephants, deer and crocodiles, and chill out by the beach in Mirissa with the other families. Educational, active and leisurely paced, this trip is everything you could want in a family getaway.
Itinerary
Day 1
Negombo
Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the island offers travellers palm-studded beaches, rolling plantations and sacred sites steeped in spirituality. Your adventure begins in Negombo with a welcome meeting at 5 pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and the other families travelling with you. If you arrive early, why not go out an explore at your own pace or book yourselves into the Urban Adventures day tour. After the meeting, maybe join your group for dinner and get to know the delicious local cuisine.
Day 2
Dambulla
Today you’ll officially start your adventure by heading to Dambulla – this town plays home to some of the world’s most spectacularly decorated cave temples. When you arrive, you can choose whether to join an optional excursion to the vegetable wholesale market – a labyrinth of shops and stalls that offers a look at the vast range of produce grown in Sri Lanka. Later, explore the Dambulla cave temples, where prehistoric Sri Lankans lived thousands of years ago and thousands of ancient murals and statues depicting the Buddha are on display.
Day 3
Dambulla
Today’s adventure takes you from Dambulla to Sigiriya – a colossal stone monument hosting a ruined fortress and an impressive UNESCO World Heritage site. Let the kids burn off some energy with a climb to the top of the enormous rock, checking out the murals and caves along the way. If the weather is playing alone, you should be able to take in sweeping views of the thick forests from the summit before descending. Once you return to Dambulla, take the family for a bike ride around the countryside. After a day full of activity everyone should be nice and tuckered out by the time night falls.
Day 4
Kandy
Say farewell to Dambulla this morning and drive to Kandy, often called the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. The hills surrounding the city, along with the lake in the centre, creates the perfect scenery for family phots, and the old shops and restaurants will keep you busy for hours. This evening, join a local family for dinner and opportunity to learn the steps to a traditional Kandayan dance during some lessons from local performers.
Day 5
Kandy
This morning, visit Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Tooth), which houses the country's most sacred relic – a tooth said to belong to the Gautama Buddha. Pilgrims have been coming to pay homage at this site since the 16th century and they still come in droves today, making it a fascinating place to teach kids about one of the world’s oldest religions still being widely practiced. Then drive to Ambagasthenna village, where hotel and tea plantation owner Mr Thilina will guide you around his neighbourhood. For lunch, feast on a delicious home-cooked meal made by Mr Thilina’s mother. You’ll visit the tea plantation, learn about the cultivation process and try a cup or two served the Sri Lankan way. He’ll share inside knowledge about local crops, sustainable farming and ancient landscaping traditions. The rest of the day will be yours to relax and enjoy as you please.
Day 6
Bandarawela
After breakfast, hit the road to Nuwara Eliya – a former hill station built entirely during the 19th century. The old world architecture reflects what you might expect to find in an English village and the town is a fascinating mix of water buffalo and brick Victorian buildings, golf courses and tea plantations. From here, you’ll all board a train to Bandarawela. Soak up the views across the hills and tea plantations from your accommodation this evening.
Day 7
Bandarawela
After a few busy days on the road, today will be at a slower pace. Bandarawela is a quiet hill town that exists to supply the needs of the tea plantation workers and their families. Another distinctive feature of Bandarawela is the preservation of the many old buildings, including the Bandarawela Hotel and the old supermarket. Enjoy a leisurely morning walk through the countryside, past tea workers plucking the tips of the plants and throwing them into the baskets on their backs, before settling in for a local home-cooked lunch. The afternoon is free for you to relax, go for another walk or explore at your own pace.
Day 8
Udawalawe
After a hearty breakfast, you’ll drive to Udawalawe National Park. This park has an amazing array of animal and birdlife, with more herds of wild elephants than anywhere else in Sri Lanka! Following lunch, hop in a jeep for a safari inside the park. Other wildlife regularly spotted here includes macaques and larger monkeys, spotted deer, crocodiles and sometimes even leopards. This is a real safari experience, nothing like a zoo or safari park. Check into the campsite at around 6 pm after a full day of adventure.
Day 9
Mirissa
After breakfast this morning it's time to farewell the camp and head west towards the coastal town of Mirissa, where you'll spend the next 2 nights. Upon arrival you'll have the rest of the day free to enjoy this chilled-out beach town however you and your family choose.
Day 10
Mirissa
Mirissa is one of the best spots in Sri Lanka and you and your family will enjoy a full free day to explore it your way. Wander around the scenic waterfront or consider gathering the family together to head to the nearby Weligama by tuk-tuk or bicycle to see colourful fishing boats bringing in the daily catch to sell along the shore. Enjoy some fresh fish for lunch and perhaps go for a splash in the clear waters of the Laccadive Sea or relax on the sandy beaches.
Day 11
Colombo
Today it's time to farewell Mirissa and head towards Colombo. Along the way stop in to the town of Galle Fort where the kids will be able to learn about the interesting history of the town and see the remains of the walled fortress – now one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. Kite flying is a fun and popular pastime activity for local families here and if you’re visiting in summer, you're likely to see skies filled with colour along the coastline. The kids will love taking part in a fun kite flying activity then after lunch the drive to Colombo continues. When you arrive in the afternoon, you'll have some free time to enjoy the hotel swimming pool or take a walk around the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. You might like to wander through the bazaar and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling market or enjoy the waterfront which is always full of life. Regroup this evening for an optional group dinner with fellow families and toast to an amazing adventure.
Day 12
Colombo
Your Sri Lankan family holiday ends this morning after breakfast. There are no activities planned for today and you can depart the hotel at any time after check out at 12 pm. If you are departing later in the day, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. IF you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
What's Included
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Camping (1 night)
Meals
Breakfasts: 11, Lunches: 2, Dinners: 2
Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
Vegetarian options availableLocal Guide
GuidedThis adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
Wifi
Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.
Dates & Prices
Dec 25
from £1,430Jan 26
from £1,610Mar 26
from £1,610Apr 26
from £1,590Jun 26
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from £1,590Sep 26
from £1,590Oct 26
from £1,610Dec 26
from £1,590Jan 27
from £1,590Mar 27
from £1,590Apr 27
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from £1,590Aug 27
from £1,590Sep 27
from £1,590Dec 27
from £1,590
- Sun 21 Dec 2025 > Thu 1 Jan 20266+ spaces of 16 left£1,435
- Tue 23 Dec 2025 > Sat 3 Jan 20266+ spaces of 16 leftBest offer£1,430
- Tue 30 Dec 2025 > Sat 10 Jan 2026🔥3 spaces of 16 left£1,730Book for£250 today, pay the rest later
Customer reviews & ratings
Having booked our Sri Lanka holiday before the Easter terrorism events, we thought very carefully about whether we should proceed on the trip with our 10 year old son. We are so delighted that we came - the trip has exceeded all our expectations! Sri, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable but, more importantly, was very engaging and made us feel safe and relaxed at all times. Our itinerary was an ideal mix of cultural insights, outdoor adventures and chill out time. The Sri Lankan people were welcoming and friendly without exception. We would recommend this trip to all our friends with children!
Danelle Nov, 2019 VerifiedThank you Intrepid for a trip of a lifetime! I am a single mum and quite nervous traveller but the group holiday made me feel safe and we hugely enjoyed the entire trip. Very well organised and executed. We can't wait for our next adventure!
Stefanie Nov, 2019 Verified
Essential trip information
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