Perfect for a family with active teens, this holiday combines the best of Sri Lanka’s culture and natural beauty with hands-on, enriching activities and experiences. This trip is ideal for the October or February half-term breaks, and can easily be enhanced if you wish to travel during longer school breaks.
Family holidays with teens deserve to be special, and we think this trip is something your whole family will look back upon with fond memories.
On arrival at Colombo’s international airport, you will be warmly greeted and transferred to your hotel in Kithulgala, a two hour drive away.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Enjoy a white water rafting session at Kelani river in the morning, a perfect way to feel energised and shake off any jet lag.
After the rafting session, you’ll leave for Adam’s Peak and check into your hotel where you can relax and rest for the evening. Enjoy your dinner, and catch some sleep in anticipation of things to come.
Late into the night, you’ll wake up and start your trek up Adam’s Peak.
Depending on fitness levels and the number of stops you make, it takes between 2.5 to 4.5 hours to complete the 5,500 steep steps to the top. The goal is to reach the summit in time to witness a most magical dawn.
The descent takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
After your descent from Adam’s Peak, tired legs will be begging for a soothing bath back at the hotel. Once refreshed, enjoy a truly well-deserved breakfast to regain your strength.
Later in the day, drive three hours to Kandy, and check into your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Giving your body time to recover from its exertions on Adam’s Peak, today you’ll embark on a gentle paced journey of discovery in a small village to observe the reawakening of village and natural life alike.
Stroll down jungle byways and through green paddy fields where buffaloes work the fields. Spot different spices thriving in their natural element – nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, coffee, cocoa, black pepper and many valuable fruit and native timber trees.
Visit Ambalama, a place of shelter built by ancient kings for travellers to break journey, take rest and spend the night. Take a ride to the local market in a tuk tuk, where you’ll see a variety of seasonal produce and learn their Sinhala names. Meet the village Ayurvedic doctor who provides herbal medicine for common cold, flu, cough and minor ailments. Walk around by yourself, speak with the vendors and try out the different types of tropical seasonal fruit.
Finally, meet our chef in her traditional four generations old kitchen, and assist in the preparation of your lunch using traditional tools such as the coconut scraper, mortar & pestle and grinding stone.
Post-lunch, visit Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth. The Sacred Tooth Relic is an object of veneration to Buddhists and the most important sacred relic in the country is.
Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The rock dominates the landscape and was both a military refuge as well as an aesthetic refuge for king who was a patron of the arts. The climb is well worth the effort, rewarding climbers with spectacular views.
Afterwards proceed to Polonnaruwa and enjoy a cycling tour of the ancient ruins. From the 10th century AD the capital of the most powerful kingdom in the island shifted to Polonnaruwa from Anuradhapura. Grand and impressive structures such as the Royal Palace, Lankathilaka image house, Gal Vihara with its great sculptures of the Buddha are the highlights.
This morning, there’s a special treat waiting on your penultimate day on this adventure, as you embark upon a hot air ballooning session and enjoy the Sigiriya landscape from air.
Afterwards, drive 4 hours to Negombo for your final night, to spend the afternoon at leisure by the beach.
On arrival at Colombo’s international airport, you will be warmly greeted and transferred to your hotel in Kithulgala, a two hour drive away.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Enjoy a white water rafting session at Kelani river in the morning, a perfect way to feel energised and shake off any jet lag.
After the rafting session, you’ll leave for Adam’s Peak and check into your hotel where you can relax and rest for the evening. Enjoy your dinner, and catch some sleep in anticipation of things to come.
Late into the night, you’ll wake up and start your trek up Adam’s Peak.
Depending on fitness levels and the number of stops you make, it takes between 2.5 to 4.5 hours to complete the 5,500 steep steps to the top. The goal is to reach the summit in time to witness a most magical dawn.
The descent takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
After your descent from Adam’s Peak, tired legs will be begging for a soothing bath back at the hotel. Once refreshed, enjoy a truly well-deserved breakfast to regain your strength.
Later in the day, drive three hours to Kandy, and check into your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Giving your body time to recover from its exertions on Adam’s Peak, today you’ll embark on a gentle paced journey of discovery in a small village to observe the reawakening of village and natural life alike.
Stroll down jungle byways and through green paddy fields where buffaloes work the fields. Spot different spices thriving in their natural element – nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, coffee, cocoa, black pepper and many valuable fruit and native timber trees.
Visit Ambalama, a place of shelter built by ancient kings for travellers to break journey, take rest and spend the night. Take a ride to the local market in a tuk tuk, where you’ll see a variety of seasonal produce and learn their Sinhala names. Meet the village Ayurvedic doctor who provides herbal medicine for common cold, flu, cough and minor ailments. Walk around by yourself, speak with the vendors and try out the different types of tropical seasonal fruit.
Finally, meet our chef in her traditional four generations old kitchen, and assist in the preparation of your lunch using traditional tools such as the coconut scraper, mortar & pestle and grinding stone.
Post-lunch, visit Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth. The Sacred Tooth Relic is an object of veneration to Buddhists and the most important sacred relic in the country is.
Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The rock dominates the landscape and was both a military refuge as well as an aesthetic refuge for king who was a patron of the arts. The climb is well worth the effort, rewarding climbers with spectacular views.
Afterwards proceed to Polonnaruwa and enjoy a cycling tour of the ancient ruins. From the 10th century AD the capital of the most powerful kingdom in the island shifted to Polonnaruwa from Anuradhapura. Grand and impressive structures such as the Royal Palace, Lankathilaka image house, Gal Vihara with its great sculptures of the Buddha are the highlights.
This morning, there’s a special treat waiting on your penultimate day on this adventure, as you embark upon a hot air ballooning session and enjoy the Sigiriya landscape from air.
Afterwards, drive 4 hours to Negombo for your final night, to spend the afternoon at leisure by the beach.
Our prices do not include international flights unless explicitly stated.
The price shown is per person, based on two people travelling and sharing a room, outside peak periods. Prices may vary depending on the time of travel, and single supplements may apply.
Opulent: Exceptional, unashamedly the best of sheer luxury. (£££££)
Luxury: Outstanding levels of 5* comfort, hospitality and facilities. (££££)
Premium: Excellent levels of comfort and hospitality and a wide range of facilities. (£££)
Mid-Range: Good levels of comfort and hospitality, with a reasonable range of facilities. (££)
Simple: Clean and simple, no frills. Often in areas of natural beauty or near wildlife reserves. (£)
