Sri Lankans absolutely love children and as a family we were made to feel very welcome. The locals would say hello and help out with my son at any given opportunity, even giving him cuddles (thankfully he is not shy and took it in his stride). We could genuinely see the immediate and positive effect of travel on his social skills; even having limited language was no barrier here. We ate at several family-run restaurants where the owners’ children would be playing in a quieter area. Of course, this was far more exciting for my son than joining his parents for dinner, so the owners and their families would often insist on looking after him, whilst my partner and I could enjoy (and finish) our meal together - a rarity as parents will know!
The best family activities and experiences in Sri Lanka
These were some of our favourite activities from our trip:
Hirawadunna village visit
My son absolutely loved getting stuck in with the local villagers: helping to make lunch, learning how to split the rice husks, sweeping their day areas, climbing up into their treehouse where they slept, riding the cattle-drawn wagon, and looking for crocodiles on the lake.
Scenic train ride
What kid doesn’t love a train? We took sticker books and other activities, and plenty of snacks, but for most of the journey, my son was happy looking out the window. He relished feeling the breeze in his hair and not being strapped into a car seat. We travelled between Kandy and Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya) which took us around four hours. It takes the same time by car, but the driving route involves winding hairpin roads, so the train was the better choice! Train reservations can only be made 30 days in advance and during busy times, sometimes it is difficult to book tickets.
Bonus tip: Although no guarantee, request tickets on the right-hand side of the train when travelling south from Kandy, but on the left-hand side of the train when travelling north from Ella. These seats will give you the best views of those gorgeous rolling hills.
Safari in Yala
We booked two safaris whilst staying in Yala, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You can visit two different areas within Yala National Park and each visit increases your chance of seeing the elusive leopard. Sadly, we missed seeing one by just a day, but we still thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Bouncing around in an open-sided jeep really adds to the adventure! We saw jackals, buffalo, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys - my son slept for some of the journey, even with the bumpy ride!
Dalawella Beach, close to Unawatuna
This beautiful beach has calm waters and sea turtles are regular visitors. The turtles are often seen swimming inside the rocky break area, and we were able to feed them sea grass by hand!
Turtle Hatchery
The hatchery rescues turtle eggs from poachers and releases the baby hatchlings into the ocean. Those who have been badly injured and can no longer be released back into the wild remain at the turtle sanctuary. Educationally, this site is great for kids. Watching my son’s face light up as he held a tiny baby turtle and placed it on the sand, allowing it to make its way towards the lapping waves, was simply magical.
Tuk Tuk ride
Tuk tuks are a fun and novel experience for kids. My son was always more chilled riding in one than a car, but I would only recommend using them for short distances. They are cheap and easy to flag down, just be sure to set the price before you head off.
We absolutely loved our time in Sri Lanka and some of our toddler’s first words on the trip were ‘tuk tuk’, ‘turtle’ and ‘crocodile’ or ‘doe doe’. We can’t wait to plan our next adventure!
To plan your family holiday in Sri Lanka, please get in touch with our helpful travel consultants.
