Sri Lanka Family Holidays

Colombo

Touch down at the Bandaranaike International Airport and be welcomed to Sri Lanka by your personal chauffer cum guide. Your stay will begin in the capital Colombo, which has been the starting point for many a visitor, traveler and conqueror to our splendid isle. The name Colombo is derived from the Sinhalese name for the mango tree (Kola-Amba) and the city has a multicultural flavour and cosmopolitan appeal which makes it the uncontested nerve center of the whole country. From the airport to your hotel in the city, it will take you 60 minutes, whereupon you are free to unwind and relax. Adventures Lanka is proud to host you to a complementary dinner of your choice complete with the taste of our finest local cuisine. As you savor an authentic local meal get ready to ply us with all your questions about the island, its people and their customs.

Colombo

Wake up to your first day in Sri Lanka and kick start your tour of Colombo city. Colombo has an intriguing past and a promising future. First a prominent harbour it later became the focal point of Arab trade in the 8th century until it was wrested from them with the advance of the Portuguese and the Dutch. ‘Colombo Fort’ is the name given to the picturesque colonial section of the city with its unmistakable landmarks. The capital mixes both old and new effortlessly as it a great place for temples and other religious sites, local markets, bazaars, shopping, eating and immersing yourself into the teaming and vibrant melting pot that is Sri Lanka. Dying to soak up some of Sri Lanka’s famous rays? There is time for you have a break at the beach before you head back to your hotel and call it a day.

Nuwara Eliya

Swap the sweltering heat of Colombo for the cooler environs of Nuwara Eliya, 6,128 feet above sea level. This 6 hour drive through the hills showcases some spectacular scenery along the way until you finally arrive in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea plantations. Along the way we stop at a tea factory for a cuppa of freshly brewed tea and a tour of a tea factory. For as Mark Twain noted on a brief visit to Sri Lanka, at the end of the 19th century, “Tea-planting is the great business in Ceylon, now”. Once you’ve tried out the different types of tea leaves (and found out if you preferred Orange Pekoe over B.O.P) your journey will resume until you finally end up in the famous hill station cum resort of Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya

If you are not an early morning person, this might cause you some consternation but it is well worth the effort. Leave the comfort of your bed at 5am and head for the rugged but well travelled road to Horton Plains, a misty grassland renowned for its desolate beauty. Spend half a day hiking through the Horton Plains National Park with our resident naturalist. Experience the awe-inspiring World’s End – considered the best view in Sri Lanka – and Baker’s Falls named after the English explorer Sir Samuel Baker, who was credited with turning Nuwara Eliya into the English country town it is today.

Kandy

The day begins with a tour round the charming town of Nuwara Eliya. A combination of mock Tudor residences, lake, flower gardens, a red brick post-office with an bona fide English clock spire and an 18 hole golf course ensures that it lives up to its reputation of being ‘Little England’. By late afternoon you will be at the Nanu Oya Station and have boarded your luxury train carriage to Kandy, the last kingdom of the last kings of Sri Lanka.

Kandy

Encounter Kandy, the city that houses the Tooth Relic of the Buddha in the magnificent Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth). A visit to the Dalada and a city tour of Kandy on your own brings you into personal contact with a place once described ‘as the loveliest town in the world’. There is also the option of a morning visit to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens or even an evening Cultural Show to end your stay in the hill capital. However neither event is part of our official tour.

Sigiriya, Habarana or Dambulla

Depart Kandy for a foray into the Cultural Triangle and the sites of Sigiriya, Habarana and Dambulla. Climb the historic 5th century citadel at Sigiriya and marvel at the seductive heavenly-maidens painted on to the walls of this rock fortress. You can also visit the spice gardens of Sri Lanka and unravel the history and secrets held by our Island of spices.

Sigiriya, Habarana or Dambulla

Polonnaruwa was the Medieval Capital of Sri Lanka and at the center of a tug of war between local kings and the Chola dynasty of South India. A guided tour of this ancient city can be capped with an optional Elephant ride in Habarana. Don’t plan anything for the afternoon because the Minneriya National Park safari is not to be missed.

Trincomalee

Spend a lazy day by the sea in the port-side town of Trincomalee with its refreshing sea breeze and stretches of sandy beach. Sir Horatio Nelson visited Trincomalee in 1775, before he became Admiral of the British Navy, and he remembered it as ‘the finest harbour in the world’.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee, also commonly known as Trinco, is not just famous for its fabulous beaches and fine harbour on the East Coast but also for a number of interesting historical spots. Fort Frederick was a bastion of defense to the Portuguese, Dutch and British who finally named it after the Duke of York in 1803. Tirukoneswaram Kovil is rebuilt on the sight of the ‘Temple of a 1000 Pillars’ which was destroyed in the 17th Century by the Portuguese; and Lovers Leap combines tragic lore about a suicidal lover with a breathtaking view of the seas below. All of this plus a visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery will have you well immersed in the sights and sounds of Trinco.

Trincomalee

There is nothing better than spending two days in Trinco without a care in the world. Beach time is obviously the best time and we highly recommend it. However we do offer the option of snorkeling or diving, whale and dolphin watching or a visit to a private beach or island. Pigeon Island is just 15 minutes away by boat from the Nilaveli beach and if you’re interested in a sighting of the Blue Rock Pigeon this might be the place for you.

Trincomalee

Free day in Trincomalee

Katunayake or Negombo

From Trincomalee you will be transported to your final destination of either Katunayake or Negombo, both of which are in close proximity to the airport. From the East coast to the West Coast the journey should take roughly 6-7 hours.

Airport

All good things sadly but obviously have to come to an end. And while we say good-bye to you with a heavy heart we hope that you will be back soon for more adventures with Adventure Lanka Tours. We will check you out of your hotel and drive you to the airport which is just 15 minutes away before we say ‘au revoir’.

MAKE AN ENQUIRY