Fun for Kids in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the most child friendly places to travel to in the world. Children are always welcome and indulged and it will help you break the ice and get far more involved with the country than otherwise. The children will enjoy it too - the sites, smells, fun and elephants make Sri Lanka a winning combination for children and parents alike.

Beach or Hotel Pool
•     The beaches in Sri Lanka are a child’s paradise with golden stretches of sand as far as the eye can see backed by swaying palms to give some shade in the midday sun. There are many hotels strung out along the west and south coasts of Sri Lanka which cater for different budgets.
•     Alternatively, there is always the hotel pool where parents can keep a closer eye on their children. Most of the hotels we use have pools (other than a guesthouse or those in the Hill Country where it is just too cold to use a pool). We appreciate that children want to do a variety of things but need plenty of time to play in the pool at the end of each day and have therefore designed our Family Tour around this. Too much time in a vehicle can lead to squabbling and stressed parents!

Activities
There are many fun activities to do in Sri Lanka – the ones mentioned below we have inserted into our Family Tour:-
•     An elephant ride taking about 2 hours. Elephants will cross a lake and go in to the forest. The trekkers will spot some birds, lizards and if you are lucky, crocodiles, for you.
•     A bike ride at a leisurely pace through a series of small villages and lakes. We cycle for about 45 minutes and take a break at a farmer's house. The farmer will climb up a coconut palm and pick some coconuts for us. After the refreshments, we cycle for about another 45 minutes. We will be able to spot some birds, monitor lizards, water buffalo etc. There is a back-up vehicle following so at any point, you can get into that, if you wish.
•     White Water Rafting down the Keleni River at Kithulgala, There is a choice of either Grade 1 or 3 rapids.
•     Watching the cute orphan Baby elephants being fed milk at The Elephant Transit Camp.
•     Visiting a Turtle Hatchery to see 1, 2 and 3 day old Turtles which will then be released back into the wild.

Wildlife
Sri Lanka has an extraordinary wealth of wildlife and birds which a child just wouldn’t see back in Europe. The Elephants of course must be a real highlight of the Tour from those frolicking in the river at Pinnewala, or the babies being fed at The Elephant Transit Camp to the wild elephants in the National Parks. You would also see Buffalo, Crocodiles, Deer, Water Monitors to name but a few and the variety of birds, particularly glamorous eagles and other raptors is astonishing in the National Parks. There may always be the chance of seeing a Leopard or if you are lucky, a Sloth Bear. At Yala, you have the highest percentage chance of anywhere in the world of being able to see a Leopard.

Whilst Driving
There is always something to look at whilst driving which will capture the imagination of a young child or a sulky teenager – whether its an elephant walking up the road, dogs meandering at the side or perhaps a cow gently browsing at the roadside, children playing, tuk-tuks speeding along or upturned at the side of the road having necessary works done, or just the fantastic scenery to name but a few.

Scenery
The countryside has an extraordinary variety and beauty. From the dry plains of the cultural triangle, to the tea covered hills and the lush, tropical colour of the wet zone lowlands, Sri Lanka never ceases to amazing in the sheer diversity of its scenery. The beaches are great too - but there is much more to Sri Lanka!

Please now do take a look at our Family Tour!