Sri Lanka with Family

Barely having set foot on the ground, our driver welcomes us warmly at the Bandaranaike International Airport. We have truly arrived in Sri Lanka.

We take the road towards Unawatuna, located on the south coast, where beautiful beaches with turquoise waters are revealed.

We settle into our family bungalow and take this day to rest at the Unawatuna Beach.

Early in the morning, we head to the fort of Galle. Drawing its architecture from various colonial styles, the fort built in the 17th century, is located in an isolated part of the city.

With the appearance of a small town, it is a place where a calm and peaceful atmosphere prevails. We will take a tour of its ramparts, its lighthouse, one of its churches and its multiple souvenir shops.

In the afternoon, it will be on two wheels! Under the guidance of a local guide, we set off on an excursion through the Sinhalese rural landscape.

Green rice fields, vegetable gardens and small villages unfold before us. We pedal for an hour and a half.

And if thirst calls us along the way, why not refresh ourselves with coconut water.

We leave Unawatuna heading towards the Udawalawe National Park and take the road along the south coast, one of the most beautiful roads in the country.

On the way, we can ask to make a few small stops to observe the stilt fishermen or discover the lighthouse of Dondra.

In the afternoon, we board a jeep for a safari within the park, renowned for its elephant population.

The latter, created in 1972, is home to an interesting elephant population and a multitude of bird species. We can also spot bears, sambars, monitor lizards, crocodiles and leopards.

We continue our journey to our ecolodge in Buttala. Here, many family activities are possible: swimming in the river or tree-top adventure course for example.

In the morning, we set off to visit the "Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home". This facility takes care of baby elephants to provide them with care before their release into the wild. The visit does not allow you to get too close or touch the young elephants.

We then head towards Buttala. On the way, we can make a short stop at Buduruwagala known for its Buddha statues carved in stone.

In the morning, we take advantage of the activities offered by the ecolodge before heading towards the mountainous region of Ella.
Upon arrival in Ella, we can hike up «Little Adam's Peak» (allow 2 hours round trip).

The hike takes us through the tea plantations before reaching the summit where we enjoy a magnificent panorama of the surrounding landscape.

The tuk-tuk will be our beneficial morning transport (approximately 4 hours). This small basic vehicle takes us through rice fields, forests and tea plantations.

Along the way, our driver lets us enjoy the landscape with a few stops and sections on foot. He then takes us to the small town of Haputale. This town nestles in the heart of a magnificent mountainous corridor.

Things we can do there :

• visit « Lipton's Seat », a place where a tea genius used to unwind

• wander through the tea plantations

• understand the tea leaf maturation process, accompanied by an assigned guide

• meet the tea pickers

• enjoy a good cup of this famous aromatic beverage

For the return, we have the option of walking down or taking a tuk tuk. A descent that marks the end of our unusual family safari.

We complete this day with a visit to a tea factory in order to uncover all the secrets of how this beverage is made.

This morning, we board a train heading to Nanu Oya.

The journey offers us incredible landscapes and reveals all the beauty of nature and the Sri Lankan countryside.

Our driver picks us up at the train station and we continue our journey to the city of Kandy.

Along the way, we can make a few stops to discover the Ramboda waterfall and the Kotmale Reservoir.

Visit to the famous Tooth Temple. This lovely temple, a major pilgrimage site, is said to house a relic of one of Buddha's canine teeth.

We end this wonderful day by heading to our guesthouse nestled on the banks of the Mahaweli River.

The Sri Lanka peninsula stands out particularly for its generous nature. We can attest to this after visiting the Royal Botanic Garden of Peradeniya.

This charming spot spans 60 hectares and is bordered by the Mahaweli River. It is pleasant to stroll there for a few hours.

You find yourself immersed among the royal palms, the flower beds, the orchids, and the cannonball trees.

We then head towards Kegalle through a mountainous area.

Along the way, the scenery is absolutely stunning. Sri Lanka's green gold captivates us with its beauty: rice paddies, mountains and coconut plantations.

In the afternoon, we go to meet the elephants at the "Millennium Elephant Foundation", with its 8 elephants (the best choice if you want to get close to these animals in complete safety).

Our morning is marked by culinary delights with a Sri Lankan cooking class given by our host. It's an opportunity to discover the country's typical dishes and all the spices.

Then we head to the Cultural Triangle, which covers the region between Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa.

On the way, we will see the Golden Temple of Dambulla, nestled at the top of a hill. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It stands out for its eighty coloured caves and its incredible viewpoint. Other things to see in this pagoda: its five caverns with their murals, their small Buddhist statues and their stupas.

We continue our journey with a visit to the market where exotic fruits and vegetables are sold.

We then head to our eco-lodge in Sigirîya.

At dawn, we embark on the climb and discovery of the "Lion's Rock". It is an enormous block of stone topped with an old dilapidated castle at Sigirîya. From its height of 200 meters, the view of the surroundings is breathtaking.

Our guide shows us the best spots on the site: natural caves, the frescoes of the Maidens, the ruins of Kasyapa's palace and its pastoral gardens.

We then head to the village of Hiriwaduna. At this place, a picturesque countryside reveals itself to us in all its beauty. We enjoy this rural atmosphere through an ox-cart ride and a typical local lunch.

In the afternoon, we set out to explore the natural reserve of Ritigala on foot. The sites are enhanced by the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery hidden within lush jungle. The walk in the shade of the trees is very pleasant.

Today, we meet up with our driver and head towards the northwest coast of the island. Along the way, we can make a short stop to admire the 12-metre high statue of Aukana Buddha.

Despite its age, the statue is particularly well preserved. It is said to have been built as a result of a competition between a master sculptor and his apprentice.

We then head to the peninsula of Kalpitiya. Between a lagoon and the Indian Ocean, Kalpitiya and its region are considered a paradise for kite surfers.

If time permits, we take one last opportunity to enjoy the beach or the pool before heading to the airport.

We will end our little getaway as well as our adventure on this beautiful Asian island by taking our flight at the international airport in Colombo.