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Wild Sri Lanka & Beach for Families

13 days

This exciting journey travels through Sri Lanka’s famous cultural triangle and offers something for the whole family. Discover the wildlife that waits in the Minneriya and Yala National Parks, walk along the sandy Golden Mile and bathe in the crystal waters of Beruwala beach in this amazing adventure for all ages. This holiday is perfect for families with children aged 5 years and over.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Free cancellation
Free amends
Available on all departures booked at least 40 days in advance. Cancel or change your booking for FREE for up to 7 days after booking

Tour Overview

Duration

13 days

Starts

Colombo

Ends

Colombo

Range

Signature

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 4 / Max 18

Minimum age

5 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

Saturdays

Hotel Rating

3-4 star hotels

Countries

Sri Lanka

Arrival Transfer

Yes

Departure Transfer

Yes

Meals included

Breakfast: 12
Per person from
NZD$3,135.00
Total From
NZD$6,270.00
Deposit From
Final payment
NZD$1,000.00
$5,770.00

Tour Highlights

Yala National Park - Go on a jeep safari in search of Asian Elephants, Sri Lankan krait, crocodiles and elusive leopards
Minneriya National Park - Go in search of wildlife on a jeep safari in this haven for wild Asian elephants
Beruwala - Relax by the Golden Mile beach and swim in the Indian Ocean at this popular holiday resort on Sri Lanka's West Coast
Dambulla - Discover over 150 images of Buddha in the incredible complex of caves at Dambulla Rock Temple
Kandy - Ride a Tuk Tuk into the hills, explore the Temple of the Tooth and enjoy a cultural performance
Sigiriya Rock Fortress - Climb to the top of the iconic 5th century Lion Rock fortress and see the Heavenly Maidens
Polonnaruwa - Explore the ancient capital city of Ceylon, with its impressive temple of Gal Vihara and 12th century Royal Palace
Happutale – Take a scenic train ride to Happutale and explore Sri Lanka's spectacular Hill Country
Ella - Marvel at the Ravena Ella Falls, one of the wildest waterfalls in the country with a 30 foot drop
Hambantota Village - Ride a farm tractor and play traditional Sri Lankan games with the villagers
Colombo - Enjoy a guided tour of the city including the Old Fort area and impressive Gangaramaya Temple
Matale - Learn all about Sri Lanka's herbs and spices at the spice gardens in Matale

Included

Breakfast daily
12 nights 3-4 star hotels
Guided sightseeing - Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Happutale, Ella and Colombo
Jeep safaris in Minneriya National Park and Yala National Park
Scenic train journey from Kandy and Tuk Tuk trips
Escorted by an English speaking national guide
Airport arrival and departure transfer on days 1 and 13
All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned tourism vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Tip for your tour guide. We suggest USD$25 – 35 per adult for the entire tour. Tipping your tour guide is an entirely personal gesture
Entrance Fees: USD$220-$240pp, paid in USD
Tipping Kitty: USD$55-$65pp, paid in local currency. No tip kitty for children
Tipping is not a natural part of many Western cultures and many of us feel uncomfortable, or unsure, about when, or how much, to tip. However, in the places you will visit, tipping makes up a significant part of many people's wages so it's important that we get it right. For this reason we've developed a very simple system to take all the hassle out of tipping. With our 'tipping made easy' policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour. Our 'tipping made easy' doesn't include a tip to your group tour leader. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you as tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Colombo

Welcome to Sri Lanka! You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city of Negombo. Here you will have the rest of the afternoon to settle in and explore the highlights at your own leisure.

Overnight: Negombo

Day 2 - Sigiriya

Negombo - Sigiriya. After breakfast we bid farewell to Negombo and set off for the town of Sigiriya, home of the famous Sigiriya ancient rock fortress and near to the Dambulla cave temples. Spend the rest of the afternoon getting better acquainted with this lovely town. Sit back, relax and try some of the local traditional foods including pittu.

Overnight: Sigiriya
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Sigiriya Rock & Village

Sigiriya Rock and Village. Our first stop this morning is to the ancient Sigiriya rock fortress of the 5th Century King Kasyapa, undoubtedly one of the most iconic sights of Sri Lanka. Let the kids’ burn off some energy with the climb up to the ruins of the palace and penthouse. Once we reach the ruins we have time to wander through some of the oldest landscape multi-tiered gardens in the world, and revel in the breathtaking landscape of the surrounding jungles.

After descending from the ruins we make our way along the village path to a typical village lake, known as a “Wewa”, passing by homes surrounded by green woods and watch huts which the locals use at night to keep a lookout for wild elephants and boar. Here we cross the lake by canoe arriving at a local farm where we meet the owners and spend some time watching them share the secrets of Sri Lanakan cuisine before we sit down to enjoy the delicious meal which has been prepared using a traditional hearth.

Overnight: Sigiriya
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Polonnaruwa & Minneriya National Park

Polonnaruwa and Minneriya. After breakfast we make our way to the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa. Here we take time to wander along the shimmering waters of the man-made lake, the Parakrama Samudra and uncover intricately carved lotus pillars, meditative halls, ceremonial towers, as well as magnificent royal baths and palace ruins before stopping at the famous Gal Vihara Temple.

This afternoon we head to Minneriya National Park where we search for wildlife by Jeep Safari. Despite its relatively small size there is an unusually wide range of habitat types, from dry tropical forest to wetlands and grasslands found here which is home to elephants, sambar, spotted deer, macaque and purple-faced langur monkeys, sloth bears and if we are incredibly lucky we may spot a leopard on our game drive. Every year from July to November, hundreds of elephants migrate to a man-made watering hole in Minneriya, which is one of the few water sources not to dry up in the hot weather. This is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles to be seen anywhere in the world.

Overnight: Sigiriya
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Dambulla Cave Temple to Kandy

Sigiriya - Kandy. This morning we discover the Golden Cave Temple in Dambulla, the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. Boasting over 2000 sq meters of painted walls and ceilings and a 14 meter Buddha made from rock.

Our next stop of the day is to a spice garden in Matale to get a better understanding of the process of growing the various different spices Sri Lanka is famous for before finishing our day in Kandy, the city of colonial architecture.

Overnight: Kandy
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Kandy Sightseeing

Today we explore the last capital of Sri Lankan kings by tuk tuk. We start our tour driving around and taking a dip in the lake built by the last Sinhala King in 1798 before going back into the town and exploring the Bazaar, the gem museum and a local lapidary.

After freshening up at our hotel we end our day with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, where it is said that whoever holds the relic holds control of the country, for an evening of traditional entertainment and dancing.

Overnight: Kandy
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Sri Lanka's Hill Country

Kandy - Haputale. Today we board the scenic train passing through tea plantations and amazing waterfalls until we reach the town of Haputale, on the southern edge of the Hill Country. After checking in and freshening up at our hotel we have the rest of the day to explore our spectacular surroundings. Go hiking in the Thangamale woodland or visit the Lipton’s Seat lookout where Master Lipton planted the first seeds for what is now Sri Lanka’s most popular tea – Lipton Tea. For those looking to relax, the hotel pool offers amazing views of the surrounding landscape.

Overnight: Haputale
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Yala National Park

Happutale - Ella - Tissamaharama. This morning we venture through the clouds to the village of Ella where we meet our local guide before making our way to our first stop - Ravena Ella Falls, one of the wildest falls in the country with a 30 foot drop. It is said the king who kidnapped princess Sita from India hid her behind the falls.

Returning to our hotel, there's time to relax before we embark on a jeep safari through Yala National Park where we search through the thorny scrubs and dense forests in hopes to see the resident elephants, leopards and bear. If we’re lucky we also get the chance to see the feathered King Fisher and migrant birds being protected from Predator Eagles.

Overnight: Tissamaharama
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 - Hambantota Village & Beruwala

Tissamaharama - Hambantota - Beruwala. This morning we travel just outside of Tissamaharama to a local village called Hambantota. Here we wander through the farm and taste some home grown tea in a fresh coconut shell and play some traditional Sri Lankan games with the villagers. After an afternoon of fun we return to our bus in tractors used on the farm and set off to our last point of call for the day, Beruwala where we have the evening at leisure to spend on the beach.

Overnight: Beruwala
Meals: Breakfast

Days 10-11 - Beruwala Beach

The next two days are at leisure to explore Beruwala. Take a stroll along the beach known as the "Golden Mile" or go for a walk through the lively fish market. You can meet the local fishermen and taste some of the days catch. Those looking for something different may wish to visit the water sports centre or sea turtle hatchery. Here you can learn all about the turtles that come to lay their eggs on the beaches here. You even get to meet some of the baby turtles!

Overnight: Beruwala
Meals: Breakfast x2

Day 12 - Colombo

Beruwala - Colombo. After breakfast we make our way to Colombo, originally known as "the garden city of the east”. Meet our guide and enjoy a sightseeing tour of highlights including the old clock tower and the impressive Gangaramaya Temple. Our tour ends with a spot of souvenir shopping in Paradise Road and Lakmedura. We then have the rest of the evening to continue exploring Colombo’s streets or sit back, relax and watch the world go by.

Overnight: Colombo
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 - Colombo

Our tour comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport. We hope you enjoyed your holiday!

Meals: Breakfast

Extras and add-ons

If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.

Pre Accom Negombo Family

Double

$95per passenger

Twin

$95per passenger

Single

$175per passenger

Post Tour Accom Colombo Family

Double

$115per passenger

Twin

$115per passenger

Single

$195per passenger

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.

Goldi Sands Hotel
Negombo

The Goldi Sands Hotel is a modern resort style hotel nestled on the golden beaches of Negombo, and just 15 minutes away from the Bandaranaike International airport. Surrounded by colonial Dutch buildings, Negombo also offers a huge fish market, lagoon boat rides and water sports such as windsurfing or water-skiing. Guests can enjoy massages or beauty treatments at the Ayurveda Spa The guestrooms and suites feature private balconies which overlook the beautiful Indian Ocean. All rooms are stylishly decorated and well equipped with a variety of amenities. The on-site restaurant serves traditional Sri Lankan dishes and fresh seafood. Drinks and light refreshments can be enjoyed at the bar, and with regular theme nights and beach barbecues there’s plenty on offer for evening entertainment.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Sigiriya Jungles
Sigiriya

Nestled amidst lush green landscapes and overlooking the iconic Sigiriya Rock, Sigiriya Jungles is the ideal holiday resort for cultural explorations in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle. Spread across a picturesque 10-acre property with individual chalets, the resort offers three restaurants, two bars, free WiFi, and an array of amenities, including an outdoor pool, spa, and fitness center. Each room offers a seating area, TV, minibar, and a private bathroom with a rainshower. The resort's unique 100 feet wooden bridge provides stunning views of Sigiriya Rock and the Pidurangala Monastery, adding to the enchanting experience.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Hotel Topaz
Kandy

Hotel Topaz is a charming hotel with a stunning roof top view. The elegant rooms are spacious and accentuated with splashes of vibrant colour with private balconies and good facilities. The large outdoor pool is a lovely spot to unwind with far-reaching views of the surrounding hills. Buffet meals can be enjoyed at the hotel's restaurant with theme nights that include Chinese and Mexican cuisine. Guests can also relax in the spa or the TV lounge which stocks a large collection of DVDs.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
Melheim Resort
Haputale

Boasting breathtaking views of the surrounding forests, this boutique resort is set on the slopes of Blackwood Mountain in the Beregala Hills. Each guestroom features an ensuite, tea and coffee making facilities and a minibar, with a private deck opening out to the stunning mountain vistas. Other amenities include free bicycle rental, a fitness centre and an outdoor pool with a Jacuzzi. The onsite restaurant offers both Eastern and Western cuisine, which you can enjoy seated inside or out on the terrace with uninterrupted views of the surrounding scenery.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
Chaarya Resort
Tissamaharama

Surrounded by lush greenery, this charming resort offers a wonderfully peaceful escape from the bustle of Sri Lanka’s cities. Its cosy and elegantly designed guestrooms have an inviting ambiance, featuring a private balcony, tea and coffee making facilities and WiFi access. The landscaped garden is often visited by migratory birds and overlooked by an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and inviting bar. The restaurant also serves a delightful range of traditional Sri Lankan, Oriental and Western cuisine. And after your adventurous safari in Yala National Park, you can take time to rejuvenate at the Ayurveda spa.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
The Palms
Bentota and Beruwala

The Palms resort on Beruwala Beach offers sea-view rooms with modern amenities, including a TV, minibar, and air conditioning. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, fitness center, and multiple dining options, including an open-air restaurant and a seafood venue. Conveniently located, the resort allows easy access to nearby attractions like Kande Viharaya Temple and Mirissa for whale watching. Day trips to Galle City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be arranged at the front desk, along with exciting activities such as deep-sea fishing and parasailing.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Radisson Hotel Colombo
Colombo

The Radisson Hotel Colombo (formerly OZO Colombo) is a modern and stylish hotel, with sweeping Indian Ocean views from its rooftop infinity pool and many of its rooms. There's free WIFI access throughout the hotel and the guestrooms are bright and airy with all modern amenities. To top it off, there's also a fantastic fitness centre and a restaurant serving delicious, authentic Sri Lankan cusine. The hotel is centrally located on Marine Drive, near Galle Road and just a 10 minute drive from the city centre.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Sofia Colombo City Hotel
Colombo

Sofia Colombo City Hotel is located near Kollupitiya Beach and offers modern accommodation with excellent amenities. The hotel features an outdoor pool, a rooftop terrace with a restaurant and bar, and free WiFi throughout. At Sofia Colombo’s Seascape Restaurant, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the Indian Ocean alongside delicious meals. Additionally, guests have access to a fully equipped fitness centre, as well as 24-hour front desk and room service, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable stay for all.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. Child prices are for children aged between 5 - 11 yrs We also offer a triple share option on this tour, please contact us for details. All departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons.

This trip is for families only, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who’d like to come along. As long as you’re travelling with a person under 18 years of age, you’re a family in our eyes.

2024
Twin/Double
Single
21 Dec - 2 Jan
Adult - $3,555Child - $2,495
$5,055
28 Dec - 9 Jan
Adult - $3,555Child - $2,495
$5,055
2025
Twin/Double
Single
18 Jan - 30 Jan
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
1 Feb - 13 Feb
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
15 Feb - 27 Feb
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
1 Mar - 13 Mar
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
15 Mar - 27 Mar
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
29 Mar - 10 Apr
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
12 Apr - 24 Apr
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575
19 Apr - 1 May
Adult - $3,135Child - $2,195
$4,575

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