Sri Lanka With Kids: 3, 7 and 10 Day Plans

The right Sri Lankan family trip depends on how many days you have, because every extra stop adds a long car ride that small children feel.

Three days: one coast, no transfers

Stay in one place and do short outings. From November to April the south coast has calm seas and is the usual base, with Mirissa, Unawatuna and Tangalle all offering sheltered sand. In the other half of the year, May to September, Nilaveli and Passikudah on the east are calmer.

  • Spend mornings on the beach and keep the middle of the day for shade and lunch.
  • Walk the Galle Fort ramparts near sunset. They are free, the walk is flat and the fort has cafes in old colonial warehouses.
  • Fresh king coconut from a roadside seller is about LKR 100 to 200 and cheaper than most drinks.

A 3-day base works well with the 3-day itinerary .

Seven days: add elephants and hills

With a week, add one animal day and one cool day. Udawalawe is the easiest park for children, with elephants through the year and flat tracks, and the Elephant Transit Home nearby is run by the wildlife department with Born Free support since 2002. Orphaned calves are fed from a viewing platform and later released. Reported entry is about US$5 plus VAT for adults and US$3 for children, so check prices and feeding times with the wildlife department.

Choose it over Pinnawala, which draws criticism over chained elephants and commercial bathing.

Then head uphill to the Peradeniya botanical gardens near Kandy, or stroll the 3.2 km shaded loop round Kandy Lake. The hills are cooler, so pack a layer. If you want a jeep with a guide for the park, compare Udawalawe safaris on GetYourGuide .

Ten days: a slow hill stop

Ten days allows a night or two in Ella, with the scenic train from Nanu Oya to Ella and Badulla as the treat. Get to Nanu Oya by road, check Sri Lanka Railways for the current timetable, and book seats online up to 30 days ahead through the railway reservation portal , which allows up to 5 seats a booking. Keep children seated away from the open doors.

The Nine Arches Bridge is a walk through tea bushes from Ella town, free to view, and children enjoy waiting for the blue train. Leave Ella Rock for older teenagers, since its route follows live railway tracks.

What helps on every plan

  • Plan no more than one outing a day, and keep drives to about 3 hours.
  • Carry water, sun hats and snacks. Heat builds quickly after 10:00.
  • Dress children in clothes covering shoulders and knees for any temple stop, and teach them to face Buddha statues in photos, never turn their backs on them.
  • Use a car with a driver, which typically costs LKR 18,000 to 30,000 a day.

Verdict: for a first family trip, do 7 days with one safari, one beach week and one cool night in the hills.