Sri Lanka - Family Tour
(10 Days )
Day 1 : Negombo
The town of Negombo, which is adjacent to Bandaranaike International Airport, is where your trip starts. There are no activities scheduled for today, so you are free to arrive whenever you choose. You can experience Sri Lanka's coastal culture by watching the local fishermen at work and possibly indulging in some fresh seafood.
You can also go to the water's edge and board kayaks to tour the Kala Oyu River's backwaters. We have an excellent opportunity to try and locate birdlife because the river is calm and peaceful.
Other options include sleeping in instead of going out and enjoying the sunrise from your balcony.
Day 2 : Wilpattu
For a Jeep safari in Wilpattu National Park, we're up early today. A quick transfer will allow us to be at the park as the wildlife awakens and the light is at its best for shooting. Together with a wealth of wildlife, the park is well-known for its sambar deer, elephants, and leopards. We'll spend around four hours wandering around, and we'll pack a picnic breakfast to eat while admiring the park's breathtaking scenery.
The afternoon is left open for leisure activities at our lodge, local exploration on foot or by bicycle, or further time by the river, possibly swimming or kayaking. We'll have a Barbeque by the riverbank this evening.
Day 3 : Anuradhapura
We'll travel to Anuradhapura after breakfast, where we'll rent bikes and explore the historic ruins at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was first inhabited about 500 BC, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world. We'll ride bikes to the Brazen Palace, the Holy Bodhi Tree, and the Ruvanvalisaya Dagoba, a 90-meter-tall temple that towers over the surrounding area. As we travel from site to site, we will cover about 10 kilometers of flat terrain during the morning.
Day 4 : Habarana
After breakfast, we are heading to the Sri Lankan hamlet of Hiriwadunna. The relaxed rhythms of small-town life are on display during this private day trip to the village. You can observe crocodiles, butterflies, and birds in the reservoir while the locals fish and wash their clothes.
After a boat trip, board a bullock cart and go through rice fields and rural vegetable plantations to a traditional village house, where you will eat a complimentary lunch that is really Sri Lankan!
Day 5 : Sigiriya
We're getting an early start today because we want to climb Sigiriya Rock before the masses arrive and while it's still chilly. One of Sri Lanka's top tourist destinations, the ruins of this fifth-century "Sky Fortress" are a magnificent sight to see and a masterpiece of engineering. It is regarded as one of the greatest preserved instances of ancient urban design in the entire world and was constructed in just seven years as a fortified palace to safeguard the reign of the cruel King Kassapa, who had murdered his father and removed his brother. Despite its legendary impregnability, the king was unfortunately overthrown here by his brother after only 18 years in power.
To reach the top, a sequence of steel stairways and switchback steps are used. The famed frescoes, the Sigiriya Damsels, with their colors still burning, are located halfway up, tucked beneath a sheltering overhang of rock. The only remnants of the old doorway that gave Sigiriya, the "Lion Rock," its name, are a pair of giant lion paws carved out of the rock that we walk through before making the final journey to the peak. Arriving at the 200-meter summit, one can take in stunning views of the surrounding countryside and jungle.
Day 6: Kandy
After breakfast, we go to Kandy, which is bordered by a lush jungle, where you'll be welcomed with a sumptuous home-cooked meal. Enjoy a welcome drink made from homegrown juice before feasting on traditional Sri Lankan food and a piece of sweet kithul thalapa for dessert. Check into your accommodation following lunch, then go see the temple that houses a tooth relic belonging to the Lord Buddha. The appropriately called Temple of the Tooth is one of Sri Lanka's holiest sites, and regardless of your level of spirituality, you must experience the silence and solemnity of the shrine. Visit the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, which used to be a royal Kandyan playground, if you have some free time this afternoon. Join your group this evening for a traditional dance performance to percussive traditional music.
Day 7 : Kitulgala
Some of the best whitewater rafting in the nation can be found on the Kelani River, which is surrounded by a spectacular scenery of towering cliffs and untamed water. The grade 2-3 rapids nearby offer us the ideal balance of sight and thrill. The surrounding jungle served as the backdrop for the 1957 movie Bridge on the River Kwai. We raft down to Kitulgala through a 7 km stretch of river, passing through 8 rapids, which typically takes 1.5 hours to complete (dependant on water levels).
Day 8 : Galle
If we're lucky, we could catch a glimpse of the renowned stilt fishermen teetering perilously above the ocean as we travel through Koggala on our way to the charming seaside town of Galle in the afternoon. The fortifications that can be seen at Galle today, an important trading hub since ancient times, were built by the Portuguese and then the Dutch between the 16th and 17th centuries. The harbor and a variety of intriguing historic homes, churches, and warehouses are all protected by the fort ramparts of this World Heritage Site.
The town now exudes a strong artistic aura, with local and international poets, designers, writers, photographers, and artists finding inspiration in their surroundings. The town's boutique stores and eateries display their creations. The town has a lot to discover, so spending an afternoon just exploring its streets and taking in its distinctive vibe is a terrific idea. You have the option to return tomorrow if you think your afternoon sightseeing trip didn't give you enough time to see everything.
Day 9 : Mirissa
You might enjoy riding a bike or taking a tuk-tuk to see the vibrant fishing boats return with their catch of fresh fish to sell along the shore, or you might want to hire a boat to see whales and dolphins. Do you prefer to unwind? Have a beverage and relax while you watch surfers battle the waves.
Meet a local fisherman this morning to learn about their trade and how their lives have altered since the tsunami to gain a fresh perspective on local life. With a fisherman's family, have the freshest seafood meal imaginable; a delicious crab curry is probably on the menu. Continue on to Galle, a beautifully preserved colonial township that blends South Asian culture with European architecture. Take a tour of the Royal Dutch Fort in the evening to learn more about its 400 years of fascinating history and twisting maze of gallery-filled, tiny alleyways. To spend the night, go back to Mirissa.
Spend the day at a beach since life is one. accompanied with a book, a drink, and a bottle of sunscreen. Consider leaving early for a whale-watching excursion that is optional or "bikesplore" the less well-known parts of the city. Take advantage of the numerous beachside eateries and pubs that line the shoreline as you will be sleeping at a guest house on the beach tonight.
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Day 10 : Colombo
After breakfast, watch the world go by on the drive to Colombo and take in some of the city's main sights on a bus tour including Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum, finishing with a shopping opportunity for a good cause. Here you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. If you are lucky enough to be in Colombo on a Saturday, visit Good Market – a local market full of stalls showcasing social enterprises and responsible businesses. Tonight, you will be taken on the famous “Isso Wade – Prawn patty” food tour which you can experience local street food with your travel crew to celebrate your Sri Lankan journey together.
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