Sri Lanka Family Holiday

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 and explore at your own pace. After the meeting, maybe join your group for dinner and get your first taste of the delicious local cuisine.

Your adventure kicks off today as you head to Dambulla, home to some of the world’s most spectacularly decorated cave temples. Explore this sprawling cave system where prehistoric Sri Lankans lived thousands of years ago and see the extraordinary collection of ancient murals and Buddha statues. Then, head to the Zero Plastic Impact Centre – an Intrepid Foundation partner supporting almost 100 local artisans who produce plastic-free ornaments, household items and accessories. You and the kids can opt to get hands-on with some bamboo weaving, coconut shell crafting or a plastic recycling experience while you’re here.

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 along, 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.

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 backdrop for family photos, and the old shops and restaurants will keep you busy for hours. When you arrive, spend the afternoon soaking in the rows of flowers and towering palm trees in the Royal Botanical Gardens – home to more than 4000 species of plants including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and various trees. This evening, join a local family for dinner and the opportunity to learn the steps to a traditional Kandayan dance during a lesson with local performers.

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 – it's 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 homecooked meal made by his mother, then head out to explore the tea plantation. Learn how Sri Lanka’s famous tea makes its way from leaf to cup through sustainable farming efforts and ancient landscaping traditions, then taste a cup or two served the Sri Lankan way. The rest of the day will be yours to relax and enjoy as you please.

After breakfast, hit the road to Nanu Oya railway station, just outside Nuwara Eliya. Here, you’ll all board a train to Bandarawela. Nuwara Eliya is known for its tea plantations, so as your train takes off, soak up the scenery of lush highland landscapes filled with emerald-green terraces and mist-covered mountains. This evening, soak up the views across the hills and tea plantations from your accommodation.

After a few busy days on the road, your day in Bandarawela will be at a slower pace. This quiet hill town has long served the needs of local tea planters and their families, and the atmosphere remains much like it was over a century ago. Head out on 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.