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3 Family-Friendly Holiday Destinations in Sri Lanka

Places to see when you're travelling Sri Lanka with kids!

By NelushaPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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Picture Courtesy of Unsplash

If you’re searching for the best family-friendly spots to explore in Sri Lanka, you’ve come to the right place. While the tiny tropical island is a renowned travel destination in itself, not all of Sri Lanka is uber family-friendly.

Whether you’re travelling with toddlers or disgruntled teenagers, it is always safe to do your research on what you would like to expose your kids to. From the golden sandy beaches to the vibrant flora and fauna and the 1000-year-old historical sites, the teardrop island offers a variety of travel experiences for anyone.

And the best part is that most destinations are accessible all year round regardless of whether you’re travelling during summer break or getting away from the cold winters. You can always plan your trips to the island based on your kids’ school holidays as there are different types of activities you can do at each destination.

We have selected a few of our favourite destinations to travel to with family so you can plan out your travel itinerary.

1. Weligama Beach

Weligama, which translates to ‘Sandy Village’ in Sinhala, is a small coastal town in the southern province of Sri Lanka. Weligama offers a large sandy beach stretch that gently slopes into the water offering small, consistent beginner-friendly waves ideal for those young and enthusiastic surfers. The sheltered bay area protects from the wind making Weligama the ideal family beach for your adventurous kids to prance about and explore.

Simply hire a board from the local surf school and schedule a lesson for your youngsters. Before you know it, they’ll be confidently chasing after the waves of the warm Indian Ocean

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As a working beach, it is common to witness fisherman and whale watching tour operators roundabout Weligama. While you’re in the area, you can hope to snap some pictures of the iconic stilt fisherman (an ancient fishing tradition in the region) that pose for a photo opportunity.

Among the plentiful accommodation options in Weligama, we highly recommend checking out Cape Weligama. Cape Weligama has 39 luxurious villas and suites to pick from for your family to relax and unwind during this beach holiday.

Picture Courtesy of Resplendent Ceylon

Also, check out the unique activities offered through the Borderlands Adventure Center at Cape Weligama. Your kids would be blown away by their one of a kind ocean safari where they can get a glimpse of whales, dolphins and turtles in their natural habitat.

2. Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is the second most popular ancient city to explore in Sri Lanka, next to Anuradhapura. Yet it’s far less crowded and offers some of the most captivating ancient ruins, in our opinion.

Spread out across an area of 3000 square kilometres, it is the ideal location to pedal through as you try to imagine how the ancient kingdom stood in its thriving days of glory.

The city gives out a quaint and laid back vibe with small local cafes offering plentiful choices of street foods and snacks to keep you energized throughout the day. The midday sun can be a bit harsh in this dry zone climate, so make sure that you and your family carry a good amount of sunscreen with you and keep hydrated. The refreshing coconuts and a whole host of other cold beverages can be bought from the streetside peddlers to quench your thirst.

Cycling through this ancient city and the rural countryside is the ideal activity to keep your kids engaged.

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Rent out your bicycles from the hotel you’re staying at and set out on your family adventure. You can even sign up for a bike-riding tour where you’ll be provided guidance and little snippets of the rich history surrounding this ancient kingdom which is Sri Lanka’s 2nd capital city dating back to the 10th Century BC.

3. Colombo City

Colombo, apart from being the commercial capital of the country, is one of the most underrated cities for tourists. While it may not consist of the acres of historical ruins or nature reserves and animal sanctuaries to keep you enthralled, we found Colombo to be one of the richest cultural experiences our kids can have.

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Colombo symbolizes the ethnic diversity and multi-culturalism that exists within the island. From the dress, food, places of worship to festivals and celebrations, your family can experience the rich cultural influences of multiple communities all within this small city.

Stopover at the ‘Gangarama Temple’ to experience one of the oldest Buddhist places of worship in Colombo, and head on to view the magnificent ‘Red Mosque in Pettah that dates back to 1909.

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A tuk-tuk ride through the busy streets of Pettah can be quite an experience for the young ones.

Picture Courtesy of Unsplash

Make sure to stop over for some tasty snacks at the local cafes and experience the deep-fried samosas followed by a refreshingly cold faluda. Try out the local favourite ‘Achcharu’, which presents a colourful variation of pickled fruits.

Picture Courtesy of Unsplash

Follow up your cultural expedition in Colombo by heading over to ‘Galle Face Green’ in time for sunset. Observe this immense ocean-front park come alive, as people from all communities come together to experience its vibrant atmosphere in the night.

Check out the countless food trucks cooking up all varieties of authentic Sri Lankan street food, from isso wades to hoppers and cheese kottus; they are a must-try in order to complete your family trip to the island.

Aside from Colombo being a melting pot of cultures and a foodie haven, the city provides excellent shopping opportunities, film theatres and high-end restaurants that you can explore with your family.

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