Tailormade Journeys

Sri Lanka Family Adventure

Private journey designed by you

Embark on a family-friendly adventure from the bustling bazaars of Colombo to the blissful beaches of Tangalle via the temples of Kandy, misty highland tea estates of Hatton, the heritage railway of Ella and elephant safaris in Yala National Park.

12 days

suggested length

Jan-Apr, Sep-Dec

best time to go

$6,995

price from

Masked Hero image of Sri Lanka Family Adventure

If great travel destinations were ranked for sheer variety, Sri Lanka would surely contend for the crown. Its patchwork of emerald tea estates, mist-shrouded peaks and ancient UNESCO sites meets palm-fringed coves and sleepy fishing villages at the coast, making for a journey of endless surprises, with each day of curated, family-friendly experiences more sublime than the last. Travel is seamless on this journey, with a private chauffeur guide, child-friendly journey lengths and plenty of downtime scheduled at each destination. From the capital, Colombo, your route winds east into the Central Highlands, home rolling tea estates around Ella and Hatton, and the Cultural Triangle, the pinnacle of which is the UNESCO-enshrined city of Kandy. The wilds of Yala National Park await in the country’s southwest for exhilarating game drives: the park is renowned for its herds of Asian elephants, while wild peacocks, sloth bears, mongoose and leopards roam the forests, too. The grand finale is Tangalle, a blissful beach paradise beloved by surfers, scuba divers, stand-up paddleboarders and sunbathers.

Explore the heady sights and heritage experiences of the capital, Colombo, on a walking tour, sampling street food and bartering in Pettah bazaar

Take a scenic train ride through the lush highlands of Ella, soaking in vistas of mist-shrouded hills and emerald tea estates

Embark on exhilarating game drives into Yala National Park, home to vast herds of elephants and a sizeable population of leopards

Unwind at tranquil Tangalle on the sun-kissed south coast, exploring its sandy bays and sheltered coves

abercrombie kent Sri Lanka Family Adventure-4

This Tailormade Journey is just the beginning of a beautiful adventure, ready to be customized by you. Choose the hotels you want to stay in, enhance your journey with extra experiences, and tell us where else you want to go.

Customize your itinerary further by viewing and adding to your wishlist.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

1 day

A mind-blowing, mini metropolis

suggested

From kite flying and watching the sunset on Galle Face Green to exploring the relics and statues of Gangaramaya Temple, Sri Lanka’s capital offers moments of serenity to contrast with its busy thoroughfares and bartering culture in Pettah Bazaar. Witness the country’s colonial past jostling up against shiny new high-rises and chic boutiques, all while the scents from street food stalls and spice markets perfume the air.

Your A&K Experiences: Join your local guide, the Dutch photographer Mark Forbes, on a walking tour of old Colombo, with highlights including Colombo Fort and the Pettah Bazaar, which sells everything from trinkets and textiles to spices.

Your Hotel:

Kandy, Sri Lanka

2 days

The cultural epicenter of the Central Highlands

suggested

A lively tropical city set around a tranquil lake, Kandy is woven through with the sumptuous religious relics of an independent kingdom that thrived here between the 15th and early 19th centuries. The cultural heart of this metropolis, today enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, where votive Buddhist offerings take place to the rhythmical sound of drums and the heady scent of lotus.

Your A&K Experiences: Spot butterflies and birds on a family-friendly cycling tour, led by an experienced naturalist.

Your Hotel:

Hatton, Sri Lanka

2 days

The heart Sri Lanka’s tea country

suggested

Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer in the world, its undulating Central Highlands draped with verdant tea estates first formed under British rule in the 19th century. Pocket-sized villages such as Dick oya and Hatton are dotted among mist-shrouded, forest-covered hills, where activities include mountain biking along scenic tea trails, birdwatching walks and sampling different flavored brews on plantation tours.

Your A&K Experiences: Take a guided tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory and estate, listening to stories about the pioneering era of planting and the process of picking leaves today.

Your Hotel:

Ella, Sri Lanka

1 day

Tree plantations train ride in the Highlands

suggested

A hill country village turned traveler honeypot, Ella has evolved over recent years to offer a lively artery of boutique shops, restaurants and leafy yoga shalas, but its main attractions remain timeless: enjoy slow strolls through working tea estates, climb Little Adam’s Peak or Ella Rock for breathtaking valley views, and visit the Nine Arch Bridge, an engineering marvel of the colonial era built to cross a 100ft gorge, still in use by trains today

Your A&K Experiences: The train ride from Hatton to Ella, rattling past paddy fields, palm trees and tea estates that blanket the mountains, is one of the country’s most scenic. Your hotel has an outdoor pool and flower garden in which to relax, and afternoon tea is served on the terrace.

Your Hotel:

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

2 days

Incredible wildlife encounters

suggested

Heading out on a safari in Yala, one of the country’s oldest and largest national parks, will yield far more than its headlining herds of elephants: wild peacocks, sloth bears and mongoose can be seen by the keen-eyed. It also has one of the highest leopard populations in the world, making game drives here among the most rewarding and exciting on the island.

Your A&K Experiences: Head out on game drives with an experienced naturalist, choosing from misty dawn departures and late afternoon excursions – or a mini safari after dark, using night-vision, infrared lights.

Your Hotel:

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

4 days

Beachy bliss on the south coast

suggested

A low-key coastal destination with sweeping, sanding bays backed by swaying palm trees, Tangalle offers one of the south coast’s most blissful retreats. Sheltered coves offer calm waters for snorkeling and swimming, while a wealth of attractions – from the Hummanaya blow hole and the rock temples of Mulkirigala to the turtle-nesting beach at Rekawa – make for diverse day trips.

Your A&K Experiences: Unwind at your hotel where activities include a sunset boat ride on the resort’s lagoon, movie nights and asking the "coconut guru” to shin up a palm tree to cut you a thambili (king coconut) to drink.

Your Hotel:

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

Enhance Your Journey with Add-On Experiences

Catch all the amazing add-on experiences available for your entire trip. Whether you missed something earlier or want to see everything in one place, here’s your opportunity to make sure you don`t miss out on any incredible experiences.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Learn how to cook a Sri Lankan curry

Meet cook Mohara Dole at her home in the suburbs of Colombo where she demonstrates how to prepare a range of Sri Lankan dishes that are easy to replicate at home.

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Go hiking in the Central Highlands

Unveiled in 2023, the Pekoe Trail follows centuries-old paths, rich in history, over 185 miles and 22 stages in the Central Highlands. A trailhead near Kandy affords sumptuous views across mountains and valleys, and a guided trek can be tailored to your interests and abilities.

Hatton, Sri Lanka

A children’s cooking class

Younger ones can get messy making coconut and treacle pancakes or coconut and cinnamon cookies, both local favorites, while older children – and young at heart adults – can get stuck into the more challenging Sri Lankan classic, chocolate biscuit pudding.

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Visit a turtle conservation project

Watch turtles lay their eggs or return to sea on Rekawa Beach, as part of a conservation project that nurtures them in their own habitat.

Your Stay Options

Hand Selected for an Unmatched Experience

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Galle Face Hotel

Kandy, Sri Lanka

W15 Hanthana Estate

Hatton, Sri Lanka

Ceylon Tea Trails

Ella, Sri Lanka

Nine Skies

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Uga Chena Huts

Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Wild Coast Tented Lodge

abercrombie kent Anantara Peace Heaven Tangalle Resort

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort

Tangalle, Sri Lanka

Amanwella

Explore More

Many of our travelers also love visiting these remarkable spots, consider adding these popular nearby attractions to your itinerary.

Galle, Sri Lanka

Explore this UNESCO World Heritage city on the south coast, where romantic fortifications and tangerine sunsets set the scene for sleek modern hotels, boutiques and some of the island’s best restaurants.

Maldives,

Snorkel with manta rays on coral reefs, meander among the archipelago’s atolls on a dolphin-spotting cruise, sample creative local street food, enjoy a candle-lit private dinner on the beach and immerse yourself in family activities suitable for all ages.