Welcome to Sri Lanka! Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the island offers travellers palm-studded beaches, rolling plantations, and sacred sights steeped in spirituality. There are no activities planned today until your group welcome meeting at 5 pm. Negombo

Accommodation: Ruvisha Beach Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals: There are no meals included on this day.

Special information:

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. T his has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

For more information on the Spirit of Negombo day tour, speak to your booking agent

Begin the adventure by heading to Dambulla by private vehicle, located at the end of a moderate 4-hour drive from Negombo. This town plays home to some of the world’s most spectacularly decorated cave temples. Upon arrival, choose whether to join an optional excursion to the vegetable wholesale market, a labyrinth of shops and stalls that offers a fascinating look at the vast range of produce grown in Sri Lanka. Later, explore the Dambulla cave temples, where prehistoric Sri Lankans lived thousands of years ago and thousands of ancient murals and statues depicting the Buddha are on display.

Accommodation: Pelvehara Village Resort or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Included activities:Dambulla - Cave Temples

Special information:

Dambulla

Today’s adventure takes you from Dambulla to Sigiriya, a colossal stone monument hosting a ruined fortress. Let the kids burn off some energy with a climb to the top of enormous rock, checking out the murals and caves along the way. If the weather is playing nicely, you should be able to take in sweeping views of the thick forests from the summit before descending. Once you return to Dambulla, take the family for a pleasant bike ride around the countryside. After a day full of activity everyone should be nice and tuckered out by the time night falls.

Accommodation: Pelvehara Village Resort or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Included activities:Sigiriya - Bike ride

Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit

Sigiriya

Say farewell to Dambulla in the morning and make a 3-hour drive to beautiful Kandy, often called the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. The verdant hills surrounding the city, along with the tranquil lake in the centre, creates the perfect scenery for family photo opportunities, and the old shops and restaurants will keep you busy for hours. Spend the afternoon basking amongst rows of flowers and towering palm trees in the Royal Botanical Gardens, home to more than 4000 species of plants including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and various trees. It’s a leisurely walk full of colour. Continue to the Spice Gardens to learn about Sri Lankan spice plants and herbs.

Accommodation: Hotel Senani or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Included activities:Kandy - Botanical Gardens

Matale - Spice Garden

Optional activities:Kandy - Cultural Dance Performance - USD7

Matale

This morning, visit Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Tooth), which houses the country's most sacred relic: a tooth said to belong to the Gautama Buddha. Pilgrims have been coming to pay homage at this site since the 16th century and they still come in droves today, making it a fascinating place to teach kids about one of the world’s oldest religions still being widely practiced. This evening join a local family for dinner and learn the steps to a traditional Kandayan dance during some lessons from local performers.

Accommodation: Hotel Senani or similar (1 night))

Included activities:Kandy - Temple of the Tooth

Meals: Breakfast

Dinner

Special information:

Family tip – When visiting the Temple of the Tooth you must remove your hats and shoes. Store them with the ‘shoe keepers’ for a small charge or put them in your rucksack, as if you leave belongings outside monkeys will run off with them.

Temple of the tooth

After breakfast hit the road by private bus past lush green hills to Nuwara Eliya (3 hours), a former colonial hill station built entirely during the 19th century. The old world architecture reflects what you might expect to find in an English village and the town is a fascinating mix of water buffalo and brick Victorian buildings, golf courses and tea plantations. From here board a train to Bandarawela (2 hours). Enjoy views across the hills and tea plantations from your accommodation this evening.

Accommodation: Orient Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Lunch

Included activities:Train ride from Nanu Oya to Bandarawela

Special information:

If the local train is full the group will continue by private transport to Bandarawela.

Bandarawela

After a few busy days on the road, today unfolds at a slower pace. Bandarawela is an unhurried, unpretentious hill town that exists to supply the needs of the tea plantation workers and their families. Another distinctive feature of Bandarawela is the colonial flavour still preserved in the many old buildings, including the Bandarawela Hotel and the old supermarket. Enjoy a leisurely morning walk through the countryside, past tea workers plucking the tips of the plants and throwing them into the baskets on their backs before settling in for a local home cooked lunch. The afternoon is free for your enjoyment.

Accommodation: Orient Hotel or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Lunch

Included activities:Bandarawela - Country side trek

Bandarawela - Tea Plucking Experience

Bandarawela

After a hearty breakfast and 8.30 am checkout, drive to Udawalawe National Park (approximately 3 hours). This park has an amazing array of animal and birdlife, with more herds of wild elephants than anywhere else in Sri Lanka. Following lunch, hop in a jeep for a safari inside the park. Other wildlife regularly spotted here includes macaques and larger monkeys, spotted deer, crocodiles and sometimes even leopards. This is a real safari experience, nothing like a zoo or safari park – truly an adventure for all ages! Check into the campsite at around 6 pm after a full day of adventure.

Accommodation: Udewalawe Camping (with basic facilities) or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Dinner

Included activities:Udewalawe National Park - Wildlife safari

Special information:

Camping - Tents are fitted with a bedroom and an en suite bathroom with hot & cold water. The beds are raised and fitted with comfortable mattresses. Pillows, bed linen, towels, a flashlight, and basic bathroom amenities are provided.

Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast this morning it's time to farewell the camp and head west towards the coast and the unique town of Galle Fort. Kids will be able to learn about the interesting history of the town and see the remains of the walled fortress, now one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. After lunch kids will love getting hands-on and making their very own kites to fly. Kite flying is a fun and popular pastime activity for local families and if visiting in the summer you're likely to see skies filled with colour along the coastline. Kites in hand it's then time to head to our final destination for this evening, the chilled-out beach town of Mirissa where you will spend the next 2 nights.

Accommodation: Paradise Beach Club – Mirissa or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Included activities:Mirissa - Kite Flying

Special information:

Previous travellers have raised animal welfare concerns about whale watching experiences in Mirissa. Intrepid follows the best practice guidelines for whale and dolphin watching provided by our Intrepid Foundation partner, Whale & Dolphin Conservation. Unfortunately, there are currently no operators in Mirissa that comply with these guidelines. For this reason, we are currently not able to offer or recommend whale and dolphin watching as an optional activity here.

Mirissa

Mirissa is one of the best spots in Sri Lanka and you and your family will enjoy a full free day to explore it your way. Wander around the scenic waterfront or consider gathering the family together to head to the nearby Weligama by tuk-tuk or bicycle to see colourful fishing boats bringing in the daily catch to sell along the shore. Enjoy some fresh fish for lunch and perhaps go for a splash in the clear waters of the Laccadive Sea or relax on the sandy beaches.

Accommodation: Paradise Beach Club – Mirissa or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Special information:

Previous travellers have raised animal welfare concerns about whale watching experiences in Mirissa. Intrepid follows the best practice guidelines for whale and dolphin watching provided by our Intrepid Foundation partner, Whale & Dolphin Conservation. Unfortunately, there are currently no operators in Mirissa that comply with these guidelines. For this reason, we are currently not able to offer or recommend whale and dolphin watching as an optional activity here.

Mirissa

Check out of the hotel and head towards Colombo. Once you arrive, take a bit of time to wander through the bazaar and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling market. Afterwards, enjoy a bit of free time. You’re in the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, so there’s more than enough things to occupy the whole family. The waterfront is full of life and makes for an excellent starting point. Regroup in the afternoon and head to Galle Face Green – five hectares of ocean-side park bliss – with your fellow families.

Accommodation: Fairway Colombo or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Colombo

Your Sri Lankan family holiday concludes this morning after breakfast. There are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart the hotel at any time after check out at 12 pm. If you are departing later in the day, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. Additional accommodation is available through your agent at the time of booking, subject to availability.

Accommodation: Le Grand Galle or similar (1 night)

Meals: Breakfast

Special information:

Airport drop can arrnage anytime.(Not included package)

Colombo