Child Friendly Holiday Activities in Sri Lanka

No matter your child age there is something for them to enjoy when they visit Sri Lanka. Below are the fun and exciting child-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.  

Sri Lanka is an Island country and on top of the list child-friendly activities in Sri Lanka is to explore the coastline where the children can do several things like building sandcastles, walk in the shore, swimming and much more. 

The best time to visit the South coast is between November and April. It is also the ideal time to visit the south and southwest coastline because there are is no monsoon. The best time to visit the East Coast is between May to September.

One of the famous stops is at The Nine Arch Bridge between Ella and Demodara stations. The bridge is famous to only in Sri Lanka but in the region. 

You cannot miss to include this activating among the best things to do in Sri Lanka for the kids. You can take train ride from Colombo to Badulla. The ride will start from Colombo deep and will end in the hills.

During this ride you will catch stunning views from the windows tea estates, steep ridges, cliffs, waterfalls, hills, shrines, mountains and amazing landscapes. The trains make different stops and you can get off to admire the surroundings with your children. 

One of the famous stops is at The Nine Arch Bridge between Ella and Demodara stations. The bridge is famous to only in Sri Lanka but in the region.

Tea is the main cash crop in Sri Lanka and you can show the kids where’re the tea they drink come from how it is grown and processed. 

The best place where you can see tea plantations is the central hills. There are tea huge plantations such that you cannot see the end. 

After seeing the tea plantations you can take the children to the factory where they will learn how the green leaves are processed to tea. It will be both fu and education activity.

Wildlife safari offers the children chance to see wild animals in their natural habitat in Sri Lanka. It is both exciting and education activity for the kids. 

They will be drive across the park or a conservancy where they will get to spot different animals. The guide will tell the children animal name, about behavior and conservation.

You can choose to take your kids to the national parks like Yala, Wilpattu, and Udawalawe. The child will get to see wildlife animals such as elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, jackals and an array of colourful birds up close. You ma=y also get to see the leopards and lions. 

If you and the children want to embark on a thrilling adventure, there is not better one compared to whale watching.  The children will get a life time opportunity to see the marine mammals up close. 

The southern coast of Sri Lanka is one of the best spots in the world to see majestic blue whales up close since it appears to be near the deep seas of a continental shelf. 

You can book a whale watching tour offered by the local tour providers in Sri Lanka. The tour starts in the morning hours and will take like 3 hours cruising in the sea. 

It is not advisable to get to close to the whales as this gives them stress. You should maintain a distance and watch as they swim. It is easy to spot them because they swim by jumping. 

The village tour is one of the activities which to do with Kids when visiting Sri Lanka for authentic culture experience. The children will get to know the indigenous roots of Sri Lanka. During the tour they will also learn about different local cultures. 

One of the villages which to consider visiting is where the Veddas tribe live. It is the only preserved tribal community in Sri Lanka. When you visit them you will get to learn what they do each day, their briefs and interact with locals. The children will interact with the local kids. 

You can even enter their chief's private residence, engage in a brief conversation, and get knowledge about bow and arrow techniques. 

If you want to have parent bonding with your children in Sri Lanka the best activity you can do is go fishing. You should get to learn how the local fish because they do it in a unique way using stilt poles to perch on aiming to catch a fish. 

It is educative activity and required concentration to master the skill. The children will be excited once they catch a fish. From there can proceed to cooking the fish with the locals.

The pristine beaches and different surfing waves attract a lot of tourist in Sri Lanka. There are several surfing schools especially around the surfing spots where you can take your children for a lesson how to surf. Well, they should be older kids. 

Although many thinks surfing is only for adults kids are also allowed to surf in Sri Lanka around the beginner-friendly waves. It is a thrilling child friendly activity for kids which should definitely consider. 

Sigiriya Rock also called Lion rock is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site to visit with the children in Sri Lanka. The children will have fun as they strive to get to the peak of the rock. As they climb they will pass through the lion shaped gateway while striving to the summit which stands 200 meter high. 

The older kids may take less time to get the peak compared to the smaller children. So as a parent will have to try keep up with their pace. During the visit to see this rock the kids will get to learn about Sri Lanka culture and history. 

The guide will explain to you the importance of this rock and the history behind it. The guide will also give you the explanation and meaning of the frescoes painted on the walls. When you get to the summit of the rock you get to catch spectacular views of the surrounding. 

The children can learn how the local cuisines are prepared by cooking with the locals during your visit in in Sri Lanka.

The locals will show the children the species used to prepare the dishes and during the cooking will get to see the aroma then tasting delicious dish they have seen prepared. 

The kids will learn these cooking skills and also will be taken to the farm to see where the ingredients used to cook are grown. This will give them firsthand experience about the locals in Sri Lanka livelihoods. 

Another educative and child friendly activity to do in Sri Lanka is visiting turtle hatcheries. The kids will get an opportunity to see the sea turtles up-close from the biggest to smallest as old as one day.  

The kids will be educated on the importance of conserving the turtles, the challenges they face and the measures which have taken to conserve them. The children may be given a chance even to hold the turtles and even assist in releasing them back into the ocean. 

One of the most well-known hatcheries is Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project. The turtles are released during the evening hours at around :15 p.m. back to the sea. 

The hot air balloon tour is the most exciting activity and child friendly activity you can do in Sri Lanka as a family.  You can book the tour with local provider. Your kids will be so excited that they will beg to do it again.

The best time for this tour in Sri Lanka is between November and April. The weather is pleasant and sky is clear. The best tour to book is the sunset air balloon tour. You can catch the amazing sunset view as it reflects on the surroundings. 

You will fly over various landmarks such as Sigiriya Rock, the Dambulla Cave Temples, and the medieval city of Polonnaruwa. You can see all these attractions from up there and if luck will get to see elephants.

There are numerous birds species which live in Sri Lanka and dome of them are indigenous and are only found in this island nowhere else in the world. One of the best places where you can see these bird species is Chundikulam National Park.

At the the kids will get a chance to see various birds up close and among them are Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Wigeon, Curlew Sandpiper, and greater flamingo.  Youn should bring binoculars for better up close view.

If your children had a wonderful time on the train, they will certainly enjoy tuk-tuk rides. It is a child friendly activity for the kids to do in Sri Lanka and shiuld include on your itinerary. 

Tuk-tuks aren't the best option for long trips, but they're a fun way to go short distances. You should give your kids chances for this experience give tuk tuk are not used in many countries as mode of transport but is common in Sri Lanka.

There are many attractions which draw tourist to visit Sri Lanka and on top of the list is breathtaking scenery and wildlife. If you're visiting the wonderful island with your kids or teenagers, make sure to visit the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage.

At the orphanage is where the untamed Asian elephants that were abandoned by their mothers are taken care of. This orphanage is located Pinnewala village and it is a famous tourist’s destination. 

The child will get to see the elephants up close as they play and bathe beside the riverbed. You might even be lucky enough to see them being fed tamarind, coconut, jackfruit, or tiny ones—via a bottle.