Negombo is an excellent starting point for a family vacation in Sri Lanka. It’s just up the road from Colombo and has a lot to offer, including the opportunity to experience the way of life of a fisherman. While you’re here, you’ll go fishing with a local and try to catch your own dinner using a traditional bamboo fishing rod. You’ll then spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, where a local restaurant will cook up your catch on the grill – the perfect way to end the day!
This morning, your driver will transport you from the seaside town of Negombo to Sri Lanka’s ancient capital, Polonnaruwa. The trip to your next destination will take approximately 5 hours.
During your adventures in Sri Lanka’s ancient capital, you’ll feel like a true time traveller. You will bike through the maze of temples, relics, and ruins in Polonnaruwa, and if local food is your thing, Polonnaruwa is the place for you, with countless local restaurants serving delicious food. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the stone town at your leisure or simply relax by the pool at your lakeside hotel. To spice up your trip, visit one of the nearby National Parks to see wild elephants roaming the jungle – a truly unforgettable experience!
Then it’s time to head inland to experience rural life not far from vibrant Kandy. The private transfer will take approximately 4 hours.
You’ll spend the next few days in a local home in a village on Kandy’s outskirts. Learn about local life, take a curry cooking class, go on a city tour to see the highlights, and marvel at a cultural show at the Temple of the Tooth. There will be plenty of activities to keep you and your family busy, as well as plenty of time to learn about local Sri Lankan life from your hosts.
Your driver will then take you to the emerald green fields of Ella, a 4-hour journey.
Ella is a small laid-back village nestled among tea plantations in the mountains. You and your family will spend a few days here admiring the area’s natural beauty, which includes stunning green landscapes and lush hilltop views all around you. Your hotel is high in the hills, with a swimming pool and a stunning view for you all to enjoy. While you’re here, you can explore the hill country at your leisure; go for a walk around the countryside, have a picnic with a view, or hike up Little Adam’s Peak.
Then you’ll head to Yala National Park, stopping en route at the Elephant Transit Home, which cares for injured babies and orphans. You’ll go around feeding time to see the young elephants patiently waiting at the gate and jostling for position for the first sip of milk. Today’s driving time is approximately 2.5 hours.
Elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, and possibly a leopard or black bear – this is the part of Sri Lanka that the kids will be most excited about. Welcome to Yala National Park! You’ll spend the night sleeping in a safari tent on the outskirts of the park, complete with delicious freshly cooked food and the sounds of nature all around you. You’ll go on a jeep safari with a local guide to look for some of the country’s most famous residents. It is an experience that the entire family will remember for the rest of their lives.
You’ll get back into your private car and drive about 4 hours west to the beach at Unawatuna.
It’s time for you and your family to relax in the sun, and Unawatuna is the perfect place to end your adventure. You’ll be staying in a cozy hotel near the beach with a pool where you can all cool off. Grab a good book and relax on the golden sands while the kids jump into the waves, build castles, or snooze on the beach.
At the end of your trip, we’ll arrange for a transfer to Colombo airport, which is approximately 2 hours away, for your international flight back home.
