Day 1: Colombo
Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. When you arrive at Colombo Airport, you’ll be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your accommodation. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm to meet your local leader and the other families joining you for your adventure. After the meeting, you’ll have a welcome dinner where you can get to know the other families and get your first taste of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. If you arrive early, maybe get out and about in Colombo and explore the street markets, historic buildings, museums and restaurants that line the city’s bustling streets.
Day 2: Dambulla
Make the journey to Dambulla, where you’ll visit the Dambulla Cave Temple complex – the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka and a popular pilgrimage site. 2100 sq m of Buddhist murals cover the walls of the monastery’s five shrines, which are set into a natural cave system. Keep count of how many of the 157 Buddha statues you and the kids can spot! This active monastery has been continuously inhabited by Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BC and has undergone numerous renovations until the 18th century, as it currently stands. You’ll also have an included lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the day is free for you and your family to spend however you like.
Day 3: Dambulla
Early this morning, you’ll visit the Lion Rock – an ancient rock fortress that towers at nearly 200 m tall. This monument is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of the ancient city of Sigiriya. The kids will love the staircase that leads up the lion to enter the city – a gateway to the fortress that feels like something straight out of a storybook. Sigiriya was built by King Kassapa in the late 5th century AD. When you reach the top of the Lion Rock, the view of the surrounding jungle is remarkable. Then, this afternoon is one for the wildlife lovers! Venture out on a safari in the wildlife hotspot of Minneriya. This area is particularly well known for its high concentration of elephants. From your jeep, you and your family might also spot purple faced langurs, chital (spotted deer), toque macaques, grey slender loris and Sri Lankan leopards. This evening, join the other families for an included dinner.
Day 4: Kandy
The whole family has a chance to unleash their creativity this morning during a painting lesson with a local artist in Dambulla. This lesson will be held at the Zero Plastic Impact Centre – an Intrepid Foundation partner which showcases crafts and products made by local artists using natural and plastic-free materials. The centre celebrates traditional craftsmanship and aims to connect the local artisan community with tourism in broader Sigiriya. You’ll have lunch at a local restaurant, then make the drive to the city of Kandy, where the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Be sure to ask your local leader for the best recommendations for dinner tonight. Maybe try a bowl of kottu roti (a popular street food made with chopped roti stir fried with veggies, eggs and meat). For something sweet, how about some watalappam (coconut custard) or kiri peni (curd with treacle) – both sure to be a hit with the kids!
Day 5: Kandy
Veer off the beaten track with a visit to Heeloya village this morning. Go on a walking tour of the village, then join some of the locals in the kitchen for a cooking demonstration where you and the kids can help prepare some local specialties for lunch. After lunch, you’ll learn about how kithul treacle (a traditional Sri Lankan sweetener) is made by collecting sap from the fishtail palm tree and boiling it until it turns into a rich syrup – the same traditional method that’s been used for 2000 years. Then, your evening is free – maybe gather some of the other families and head into the city or relax in the hotel pool.
Day 6: Nuwara Eliya
Continue to Nuwara Eliya, a picturesque city located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country. In between forested peaks and valleys, thousands of hectares of tea plantations scatter this misty landscape. You’ll visit one of these tea factories today – learn about the tea-making process from planting, to harvesting, to brew-ready. After lunch go on a walking tour of Nuwara Eliya city, including a stop at the local post office, which was built in 1894 and is one of the oldest post offices in the country. Then, it’s time to hit the local fruit market. You and the kids will sample your way through fresh, juicy tropical fruits like passionfruit, guava, mango, mangosteen and jackfruit. The rest of the day is free for you to spend however you like.
Day 7: Galle
Take a private transfer to Ambewela, where you’ll hop on a scenic train ride to Ella – a small town with incredible landscapes teeming with wildlife and vibrant flora. Take in the views of the neatly formed rows of tea plantations outside the train window, then, when you arrive in Ella, make the short walk to the Nine Arch Bridge. This is Ella’s most famous monument – a 24-m-tall stone bridge with nine grand arches that stretch over the jungle. The bridge is about 90 m long (295 ft) and was constructed in 1921 entirely from bricks, stone and cement. Have lunch, then you’ll continue to Galle by private vehicle. When you arrive, you’ll check into your Feature Stay – the Jetwing Lighthouse, which overlooks the sparkling Indian Ocean.
Day 8: Galle
Spend a free morning relaxing or taking the kids for a dip in the pool. This afternoon, you’ll visit the Nagenahiru Foundation – a non-profit organisation focused on local conservation – for a boat ride through the mangroves of the Madampe River. Mangrove ecosystems are highly threatened as a result of climate change, particularly due to rising sea levels and increased frequency and severity of cyclones. Learn about the complex ecosystem surrounding you as you cruise along, then the whole family will get hands-on with some mangrove planting. Later, take a private transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galle Fort. Built in the 16th century by the Portuguese, this coastal fort blends European and South Asian architectural styles. Stroll through the site and uncover cobblestone streets lined with boutiques, art galleries, cafes and craft shops. See the iconic Galle Fort Clock Tower, which overlooks the cricket stadium below, and the Galle Lighthouse – the oldest lighthouse in Sri Lanka. Tonight, join the other families for a farewell dinner and celebrate a trip well-travelled!
Day 9: Galle
With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. A transfer to Colombo Airport is included. If you’d like to extend your stay in Sri Lanka, and it’s highly recommended you do, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time. Additional nights can be booked at your accommodation in Galle if you and your family would like to enjoy some extra beach and pool time. If you do so, the complimentary departure transfer to Colombo Airport will still be included – please advise of your flight details in advance, so that this can be arranged for you.
