Example Itinerary
Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.
Pack up the whole family and prepare for a cultural, invigorating and relaxing adventure, all tied into one when you embark on this 13-day Sri Lanka family-friendly itinerary. Be prepared to hike, swim, raft and view ancient monuments as well as relaxing seaside on this well-rounded trip. Travel from Colombo to the Cultural Triangle to Kandy to Kitulgala and finally to Bentota. There’s something for everyone in the family!
This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.
Begin your family’s adventure in the country’s beautiful capital, Colombo. Arrive in the cultural Mecca and check into a hotel. Let the kids burn some energy with an evening walk to check out the gorgeous colonial architecture lining the winding streets.
The day begins with a visit to one of the most important places of learning and spirituality - the Gangaramaya Temple. Continue onto the Seema Malakaya Temple, a tiny temple built on a lake and can only be reached by a small bridge. Head on over to the local markets, and stock up on traditional goods. Tour the National Museum and pay a visit to the Fort before wrapping up your day and returning to your hotel.
Rise early and travel to Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, around 4 hours from Sri Lanka. Reach the Cultural Triangle and spend the night in Sigiriya.
Get things moving this morning with a hike up to Sigiriya Fortress. Take it easy and enjoy the views of the plains - and the monkeys! - as you ascend to the top. In the afternoon, relax and enjoy the resort.
Embark on a day of adventure as take an exciting jeep safari in Minneriya National Park. The park is best known for having the largest gatherings of Asian Elephants. In the dry season, herds of up to 150 can be spotted. Keep your eyes peeled for Sambar deer, toque monkeys, cormorants and painted storks.
Your next adventure will take you to the lush green city of Kandy, the island nation’s cultural capital, and a 2-hour drive from Dambulla. This was the last kingdom of Sri Lanka. Check out the Temple of the Tooth. The temple contains the relic of the tooth of Buddha.
Take a tour of the Bahirawakanda Monastery, and see how Sri Lankan monks live and worship. See the Temple of the Tooth lit up at night by thousands of tiny white lights: a magical sight to behold. For golf aficionados, there’s an 18-hole golf course, putting green and practice range. For non-golfers, there’s still plenty of activities to choose from with a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool, saddle club, riding lessons for all ages, horse safaris, bird-watching and bike trails. Spend your final evening resting up to journey to the western foothills tomorrow.
Drive for 90 minutes into the western foothills of the central highlands to spend the night in the tropical rainforests. Enjoy the winding rivers and natural beauty of the area. Discover your wild-at-heart side as you raft down the mighty Kelani. If you or the kids aren’t feeling up for the grade three rafting, feel free to canoe the river instead. Spend the night at Borderlands camping and fall asleep on stilted platforms resting over the river.
Enjoy a scenic 3-hour coastal drive as you make your way to historical Bentota. Check into Heritance Ahungalle or Saman Villas for a five-night stay. It’s time for relaxation and endless days lounging or playing on the sand.
Children and adults alike will love visiting the Kosgoda Turtle Conservation Project. This innovative project works to conserve the dwindling marine turtle species. You are welcome to observe the turtles in their natural breeding habitat without disturbing or harming them. Return to your hotel in Bentota for a restful evening.
Visit the UNESCO site of Galle’s 17th-century fort. View period Portuguese and Dutch architecture. Wander through the town’s narrow alleys, imagining life centuries ago. Enjoy lunch at the Lighthouse Hotel, designed by Geoffrey Bawa in 1994. The Lighthouse maintains a Portuguese style, reenacting the country’s landing at Galle in brass and bronze on the expansive main stairwell. The kids will love seeing where knights once strode.
If you’re feeling active or looking to wear the kids out, try the town’s many watersports. You can rent a banana boat, water ski, jetski, attempt windsurfing or wave boarding. Lessons with English-speaking instructors are available. Enjoy as much sun and surf as you can alongside the picturesque Indian Ocean.
Savor a delicious Sri Lankan meal on your final morning in the country. Depending on your departure time, fit in a final swim in the sea or walk along the hotel’s lush gardens before packing up and catching your flight back home after a full 13-days of adventure, culture and relaxation.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
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