Trincomalee Trip Ideas for Parents
Parents planning Trincomalee usually want to know three things: which outings are easy, which need stamina, and when the sea is safe. This page sorts the options that way.
Check the sea before anything else
The east coast has its rough season when many beaches elsewhere in Sri Lanka are calm. Between roughly October or November and February or March the north-east monsoon churns the sea, and Pigeon Island is closed to visitors. The calm months run about May to September. Surf and rip tides can make some beaches dangerous at some times of year, so ask your hotel before children paddle.
Easy outings, an hour or two
Fort Frederick deer. Spotted deer wander the old fort and the road up to the temple. Walk the road in the cooler hours, keep children beside you and let the deer come and go on their own. Please do not feed them, since plastic and human food are harmful. The fort is free, and part of it is military ground with no-photography signs.
Kanniya Hot Springs. Seven square wells, each about 3 to 4 feet deep, lie some 8 km from town. The foreigner ticket is about LKR 50 at most sources. The water is hot, so test it with a hand before a child gets in, and keep soap out of the wells.
Marble Beach. An Air Force beach about 10 to 16 km from town. Parents need passports for the gate. The entry charge is small, between LKR 20 and LKR 100. The water stays calm for most of the day, though a quick look at the waves is always sensible.
Half-day outings
Pigeon Island by boat. Boats leave Nilaveli beach for a 10 to 15 minute crossing. Count two charges, a park ticket and a boat fare, and children pay about half the park price. Ask the crew whether the sea is suitable for young swimmers and whether child-size lifejackets are carried. Go over the reef rules before landing: nothing stands on coral, nobody chases or feeds sharks, turtles or fish, and rubbish goes home. The island has no shops.
Long outings
Elephants at Kaudulla or Minneriya. The afternoon jeep drive is the big wildlife event of the trip. Kaudulla is about 75 km away, so plan roughly 2 hours each way, which is a lot for small children. The Minneriya gathering is strongest in August and September, and Kaudulla fills up from about September or October through November or December. Hundreds of elephants can gather, but sightings are never promised. Everyone stays seated and quiet.
Dawn whale boat. The boat leaves about 06:00 to 06:30 and the trip can run 5 to 6 hours. It suits older children who can sit for a long time. Dolphins show up much more reliably than whales. Boats operate between about March or April and August or September.
Packing list
- Hats, sun cream and rash vests
- Plenty of water
- Rupee notes for entry tickets, since small vendors want cash
- Seasickness tablets for the boat trips
Read more: activities in Trincomalee , day trips from Trincomalee and the Sri Lanka travel guide .
Family trips can be compared on GetYourGuide . Official sources: Department of Wildlife Conservation and UK travel advice .