Top 5 Things to Do in Sri Lanka with Kids

Devika Khosla

Last updated: Apr 11, 2022

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Sri Lanka is a great place to travel with children. The island is small enough to travel around without spending endless hours in the car, and there are so many great things to see, do and experience on the way! Here are our top five things to do with the kids in Sri Lanka and thankfully there is plenty for the adults to enjoy here too!

1. See Baby Turtles

On the East coast between Bentota and Hikkaduwa is the tiny town of Kosgoda. Although ravaged by the tsunami, it has now rebuilt some of its turtle hatcheries. It is here that you can learn about the turtle hatching process, hold a turtle egg and release a tiny baby turtle back into the ocean; a joy that your children will remember for years to come. Don’t miss the old and rare, bright white Albino Turtle.

Sri-Lanka-See-Baby-Turtles — Visit the turtle hatcheries in Kasgoda and let your children experience something truly wonderful

2. Climb Little Adam’s Peak

While the “big” Adam’s Peak is the highest summit in Sri Lanka, Little Adam’s Peak is the perfect adventure trek for tiny legs. The trek is four kilometres and takes you through the tea plantations around the area surrounding the hill station of Ella. Your children can enjoy the fauna and watch tea being picked as you marvel at the spectacular 360-degree view at the top including the lovely Ruwana Falls.

Sri-Lanka-Mount-Adams — Climb up to the Little Adam’s Peak - a perfect adventure for the little ones

3. Splash Around at the Beach

The beaches in Sri Lanka are clean with crystal clear, blue water and what could be better than grabbing a boogie board and splashing in the refreshing water with your kids. Some of the best seaside resorts are located on the South East coast of the country, with white sandy beaches that are ideal for building sandcastles with the kids! For a great family getaway try Bentota, Unawatuna or Hikkaduwa beaches.

Sri-Lanka-Clouds-over-beach — Spend quality time with your kids at one of many seaside resorts in Sri Lanka

4. Explore an Elephant Orphanage

The Pinnawela Elephant Orphange is home to the largest herd of elephants in captivity, in the world. It is here that these great creatures are nursed to good health and also bred to ensure the growth of their population. Children can experience watching the elephants being fed and bathed at close quarters, or perhaps even get close enough to feed an elephant themselves! Education is a big part of the orphanage, so there will also be an opportunity for your children to learn more about caring for these gentle giants of the jungle.

Sri-Lanka-Milk-Time — Take your kids to say hello to the gentle giants at the Elephant Orphanage

5. Take a Scenic Train Ride

One of the most scenic rail routes in Sri Lanka is between the two hillside towns of Nuwara Eliya and Ella. While you enjoy the beautiful the views of the rolling emerald hills and tea plantations, your children will take joy in the great adventure that is this train journey! The train snakes its way slowly through the countryside and inside no less than 21 narrow tunnels.

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Sri-Lanka-Riding-by-train-in-Sri-Lanka — Enjoy the scenic rail journey between Nuwara Eliya and Ella

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Devika Khosla

Devika’s always going ‘somewhere’. Obsessive foodie, spa junkie, animal lover, mountain goat and global citizen. That’s her story.

Comments

Domi | on 14 August 2018

Unfortunately Pinnawela Orphanage it is not a place I would recommend. The animals are kept in concrete spaces, and in 2012 it was reported that some of the elephants who regained their health were sold off back to the people who would keep them in slavery. In addition the place become such a tourist trap- every tourist seems to be going there. Better to visit a smaller and less touristy Millennium Elephant Foundation.