Travelling in Sri Lanka with kids
From wild elephant safaris to whale watching, rainforest to rafting, paddy fields to pristine beaches, Sri Lanka brings children not only close to nature but also to local young people. Bring a cricket ball and cricket shirt with you and you’ll make best friends for life. The beaches are superb but don’t just hide in a multinational resort. To go this far and not engage with real people, incredible food, mountains and monuments, is the modern day version of going to the seaside and staying in your car with a flask and a newspaper. Sri Lanka has a culture that celebrates family. So get out and join the party.
Activities for families in Sri Lanka
Rafting & canyoning
With all that serene white in Sri Lanka’s temples,
there is one white place where it is OK to scream – the white water rapids on the Kelani River at Kitulgala, where you can go rafting, canyoning and jumping into rock pools. The minimum age is usually ten and safety gear, modern rafts and experienced instructors are all a must.
Climb Little Adam’s Peak
The baby of one of the island’s highest peaks, Adam’s Peak, it’s like a kids’ menu only with real ingredients. A 4km gentle climb up through tea plantations with the most rewarding views, including that of Ravana Falls. Accessible from Ella Station, which you could come to the night before, on one of the most stunning train journeys from Kandy.
The Big Blue
There is no better cure for sea sickness than when children spot their first whale. Especially if it is a blue whale. You can see up to ten different species between late November and mid-March, with trips going from Mirissa and Galle in the south but also on the Kalpitiya peninsula in the north. See our guide to responsible whale watching for more details.
Sri Lanka family holiday
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Sri Lanka
From
£2750 to £3250
15 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka family adventure holiday
Sri Lanka active tour with children with best family hotels
From
£2980
13 days
inc UK flights
Family holiday in Sri Lanka, Forts & Monkeys
Sri Lanka wildlife & culture family holiday / private tour.
From
£1925
15 days
inc UK flights
Sri Lanka family holiday, tailor made
Family tailor made tour & beach stay
From
£2170
15 days
ex flights
Family holiday in Sri Lanka
Experience the culture and wildlife of Sri Lanka
From
£1500 to £1633
12 days
ex flights
Family highlights of Sri Lanka holiday
Join us on an action-packed family adventure in Sri-Lanka
From
£1299 to £1769
9 days
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Contact Us
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Responsible Travel asks the experts
Ishara De Silva, Managing Director of one of our suppliers, Srimal Plantation and Ayurveda Hotel:
"Be wary of street food vendors, especially with younger children. Eating in people’s homes is generally the best way to eat out on a low budget and you can pretty much guarantee hygiene standards there."
Liddy Pleasants is Managing Director (and a Mum who loves to bring her kids to Sri Lanka) at our supplier Stubborn Mule Travel.
“The main thing for families is to not overdo it. I would advise them to spend three or four nights in one place and then move on to the next. So, for example, go to the Cultural Triangle, and just stay put for a few days seeing everything from there. We give our guests a local driver to take them around, who will do things like stop at lovely fruit stalls along the way and you can try all sorts of tropical fruits you haven’t heard of before.”
John Beswetherick, Managing Director of our supplier Tikalanka (UK) Limited:
“I think Sri Lanka is a very safe place to take children because the Sri Lankans are very family orientated, and so the children get very well looked after wherever they are. In terms of water activities, the places we go always have the necessary safety equipment and are licensed, as people do need to be careful around water. When you are on the south and southwest coast, for example, be aware that there is an incredibly strong rip, and so for children it is only really safe in protected bays. “
“I think Sri Lanka is a very safe place to take children because the Sri Lankans are very family orientated, and so the children get very well looked after wherever they are. In terms of water activities, the places we go always have the necessary safety equipment and are licensed, as people do need to be careful around water. When you are on the south and southwest coast, for example, be aware that there is an incredibly strong rip, and so for children it is only really safe in protected bays. “
More Sri Lanka articles
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Find all of our Sri Lanka guides in one place, for particular types of holiday we offer such as culture, cycling, wildlife or more.
