Wild Family Adventure in Sri Lanka

Your trip begins with a night in colonial Galle Fort on the southern coast. Spend an evening soaking up the unique atmosphere of this stunning town with its colonial history evident at every turn. It’s walls and everything inside them are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with beautiful Dutch fusion architecture, a commanding Victorian lighthouse, grand churches and mosques, all in a sultry tropical setting.

You’ll then follow the shoreline to Yala National Park for two days of safari, staying at an immersive camp with excellent guides. The park stretches from the sea inland, encompassing some 979 square kilometres (378 square miles) of forest, wetlands and savannah. This varied landscapes provides a vital habitat for hundreds of Sri Lankan elephants, crocodiles, rare wild water buffalo and elusive leopards.

Relax among the emerald hills of Tea Country and learn about how this humble crop has shaped the landscape and country since its introduction – the first tea plantations were established in Kandy in the 1860s and now most of the scenic central region’s elevated slopes are covered in contoured rows of painstakingly maintained plants.

Next, head to the remote wilderness of Gal Oya National Park. Centred around the vast Senanayake Samudra reservoir, the park is a place of beautiful landscapes covered in evergreen forest and swathes of savannah, while the lake itself is peppered with islands which were once hilltops. It’s one of the best places in the country to see elephants. You can spot herds swimming between the islets on boat safaris, following the ancient routes of their migration.

Other wildlife in the park include langurs, toque macaques, sloth bears and deer, as well as some 150 bird species which can be seen in flocks numbering in the thousands by the water. There’s also a rich cultural aspect to the region. Uncover the millennia-old Brahmi inscriptions in the Henebedde Cave and explore the sacred shrine at Dighavapi, or meet the Vedda people to learn about the deep bond they share with this land.

A world of ancient kings, ornate temples, lush gardens and vibrant traditions, Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka and its cultural capital. Nestled in the midst of hills and surrounded by tropical paddy fields and tea plantations, the town is the home of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), the country’s most important religious shrine.

Browse pulsating markets brimming with the freshest produce, local delicacies and fragrant spices, or spend the day exploring intricate temples and delving into the city’s history.

Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were the three great Sinhalese capitals, and together they form an area known as the Cultural Triangle. Known as the heart of Sri Lanka’s ancient civilisation, this historic region invites you to trace the legends etched into its temples and ruins.

Your incredible journey through Sri Lanka ends on the island’s west coast. Colombo is a sprawling city home to over five million people. It is traditionally centred around Fort, a business district with its roots as a fortified Portuguese trading post and the green waters of Beira Lake, all facing out to sea.