Kid-Friendly Activities in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, the tiny island in the Indian Ocean, is the perfect spot for your vacation with your kids. The country is loved by visitors from all over the world. Plus, there are many kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka that will make your children’s vacation incredible. The country has it all, including beach time, good food, a glimpse of the country’s post-colonial history, and lush greenery.

If you would like to see what you can do in Sri Lanka with kids, we have to keep reading this post. We’ll be discussing all about kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka that will bring happiness to everyone travelling with their families.

Is Sri Lanka child-friendly?

Before discussing kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka, let’s see if Sri Lanka is child-friendly. Yes, of course, Sri Lanka is a child-friendly vacation spot. Sri Lanka is one of those vacation spots that is suitable for both couples and families. There are several child-friendly activities that will help your children fall in love with the area. You may visit the beach, museums, and, most notably, elephant safaris. Your children will love bathing the elephants.

The best kid-frindly activities in Sri Lanka

1. Discover and learn about colonial history

Learning history is a lot more fun when you get to witness and explore ancient ruins and monuments in person. Your children would love this experience. Discover Sri Lanka’s colonial history by spending a day in this delightful little city called Galle. The roads are good, and the monuments are as well. However, these are not the only reasons why you should visit this charming town. 

You can travel to the Maritime Museum, take a stroll with the kids to the gorgeous lighthouse, and see the majestic mosque as the sun sets. Galle, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its rich legacy stretching back to the Dutch era, is unquestionably the best destination to spend your Sri Lanka family vacation. This is why it’s one of the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

2. Release turtles into the ocean

Animals and nature in general teach amazing lessons. Take a chance to teach your children how to care for other earthlings from an early age. The goal of the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is to conserve sea turtle eggs while increasing hatchery rates. They also keep a watch on injured people and treat and care for them. 

Apart from learning about environmental conservation, your children will help release newborn turtles back into the ocean at sunset. This is without a doubt the kids’ favourite memory from their vacation, which makes it among the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

3. Discover the cultural significance of the Temple of the Tooth relic

Among other kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka, discovering different cultures and traditions needs to be on this list. Exploring and learning about Sri Lankan culture would be an incredible experience for you and for your kids. It helps kids expand their horizons and understand different cultures. 

Take some time to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. It is believed that this sacred place is where the actual relic of the Lord Buddha’s tooth is. What makes the temple even more intriguing is that it was originally built in the 16th century.

4. Bond with elephants in their natural habitat

A large elephant population calls this beautiful island country home. Spend a touching day at Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage, seeing orphaned newborn elephants and watching them scramble to be offered milk. The positive thing about this sanctuary is that tourists are kept a few metres away from the animals, which stops them from being upset. 

They return the youngsters to the wild when they have grown into large elephants. This shows how genuine they are when it comes to caring for these wild animals. Take this chance to help your children appreciate and understand the importance of caring for these animals. Other than being one of the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka, this would make one of the most fascinating and fun learning experiences for your kids too.

5. Go on a safari

If your kids can’t get enough of animals, you may take them to Yala National Park for an ethical safari ride. The park is home to a large number of leopards. If you’re lucky, you might also get the chance to see other animals like deer, wild pigs, buffalos, mongooses, golden jackals, and monkeys. Use this experience to teach fascinating animal behaviour and about wildlife preservation.

Entry tickets are usually around $15 for a foreign adult and $8 for a foreign child (conversion to local money depends on the current exchange rate); an additional fee will be charged for the jeep safari.

6. Go on a village tour

Discovering Sri Lanka’s indigenous roots and learning about its tribal people’s culture will provide your children with a unique experience. This is why it’s one of the most interesting, knowledgeable, yet fun kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka. Meet the ‘Veddas’ on an unforgettable village tour. Fun fact: the Veddas are the island’s only preserved indigenous community. 

Tour providers provide packages that allow you to immerse yourself in the way of life of these indigenous people. You can even visit their chief’s private residence, have a brief conversation, and learn how to wield the bow and arrow. This is an instructive experience that will also allow you to help the Veddas. Also, this experience is a great way to introduce your kids to different cultures, traditions, and customs.

7. Learn how to surf with your kids

Sri Lanka is a popular surfing destination due to its fantastic waves and uncrowded beaches. Contrary to popular belief, children may also enjoy surfing! The good news is that the island has beaches with gentle, beginner-friendly waves. So don’t pass up this opportunity for your children to learn the sport as early as now! There are also surf schools that you can contact to help out with surfing lessons. We are certain that your kids would love the experience, making it one of the most fun kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

8. Go snorkelling

Another water sport to try! If your kids and you enjoy water sports, we recommend visiting Pigeon Island National Park to try snorkeling. The island’s pristine white beaches and pure blue waters are ideal for the activity. Your kids will appreciate the speedboat ride to the deep sea, and they will be even more captivated once they see the ocean’s diverse assortment of colourful fish and magnificent corals. This is among the most kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

9. Climb the infamous Lion’s Rock

Take your entire family on a hike to the summit of Sigiriya Fortress, also known as ‘The Lion’s Rock’. Make sure not to miss out on this magnificent landmark, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Have your kids join you on this expedition while learning about the fascinating history of this magnificent, enormous rock. To begin with, King Kasyapa chose Sigiriya Fortress as his royal palace in order to shield himself from potential attacks by his brother Moggallana, the legal heir to the kingdom. 

Your kids will be fascinated by the mysteries, tragedies, and majestic stories about ancient kings, battles, and betrayals behind this incredible monument. This experience would be fun and also such a learning experience, making it one of the top kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

10. Go bird-watching

Bird watching is among the fun and exciting kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka that you need to experience during your visit. Sri Lanka is home to a variety of bird species of different colours, sizes, and shapes that distinguish them from one another. You can expect to see birds such as the Greater Flamingo, black-tailed godwit, ruff, brown-headed gull, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian spoonbill, Eurasian wigeon, shoveler, and northern pintail, among others. The best way to go birdwatching is to visit a national park, such as Kumana Park.

11. Try out hot-air ballooning

Watch the lovely lushes of Sri Lanka from a unique vantage point! Hot air ballooning in Kandalama is an incredible combination of thrills and calm, as you will see stunning landscapes while drifting in bright hot air balloons in the clouds. This is something you should not miss out on when in Sri Lanka on vacation. Of course, your children would love the experience so much, which makes it one of the most memorable kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka that you need to try during your family vacation.

12. Visit tea estates

The island country is known for its incredible tea. Tea estates in Sri Lanka are such a great way to get close to nature. Take a chance to visit the immaculate tea and herb gardens in this island country. You can also visit a tea factory and learn about the tea-making process. This would be a fun learning experience for your children as well.

13. Day at the beach

It won’t be a perfect vacation if you visit Sri Lanka and miss out on the chance to visit a beach. There are many wonderful beaches in Sri Lanka, and what is the point of visiting this beautiful island country if you do not see at least one of its palm-fringed golden beaches? One of the biggest draws to visiting the island is the unsurpassed peacefulness of its outstanding beaches. There are numerous alternatives in Sri Lanka, which is flanked by the emerald-green waters of the Indian Ocean. 

We highly propose that Unawatuna and Mirissa assist you with this. These are some less-crowded, off-the-beaten-path locations where you can relax and picnic with the entire family. Spend as much time as possible on the beautiful beaches, enjoying the water, the sunshine, and the comforting breeze. Encourage your children to have a fun beach day by building sandcastles and teaching them to swim too. It’s one of the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

14. Go to Viharamahadevi Park

This is Colombo’s most well-known public park. It was built during the British colonial era and was once known as Victoria Park. It is located directly across from the colonial-style town hall. A big Buddha statue, a series of water fountains, and nicely planted paths greet visitors as they enter the park. 

The finest time to visit with children is in the evening. It is a popular meeting place for college students in the afternoon. A children’s play area with slides and a miniature train is also available, making it one of the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka. That would make your children the happiest.

15. Go on the infamous train ride from Kandy to Ella

Another highlight of Sri Lanka is the 6-hour train excursion from Kandy to Ella, which delivers the finest of ethereal scenery. The train trip across the greatest tropical island nation is one of the most gorgeous train rides in the world. The scenery is nothing short of bizarre, as the ride passes through hills, waterfalls, tea plantations, clouds, and mist.

 The train operates daily from Colombo Fort to Badulla, passing through Kandy and Ella on the way. We can guarantee that your children will love this train ride and the gorgeous scenery throughout the journey.

16. Take a ride in a tuk tuk

Tuk tuks are an excellent mode of transportation in Sri Lanka, which is unlike any other. It will be a unique and exciting experience for them. However, because they are noisy and slow, we recommend utilising them only for short distances. You should also avoid taking tuk-tuks on routes such as the south coast up to Ella. The route is curving, and enormous trucks and buses travel on it. It is far safer to travel by automobile. 

Tuk tuks are everywhere, and you won’t have to wait long before flagging one down. They are also a cheap mode of transportation, but make sure you agree on a price before you go. This mode of transportation will make your kids’ day, and that’s why it’s among the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka that you need to try.

17. Go to a game of cricket

Cricket was originally brought to Sri Lanka in 1802, when the island became a British colony. It didn’t take long for the game to catch on, and it’s now the country’s most popular sport. Despite its small size, the island has hosted eight international cricket matches, including in Colombo, Kandy, and Galle. The Galle International Stadium was built in 1829 as a horse racing track but was quickly taken over by stumps and wickets. Today, it is one of the world’s most scenic test sites, with views of the Dutch Fort from the stadium. 

If you’re lucky, your family vacation will coincide with a Test match, and even if you can’t acquire tickets, you can watch from the fort ramparts with the locals. This experience would be most fun for your children, too. That’s why it made it to our list of the best kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka.

Wrapping up

There you have it! Now you know so many kid-friendly activities in Sri Lanka that you can experience with your kids during your visit. There are so many options to choose from, and the best part is that these activities can be fun and exciting while also being informative, compassionate, and a learning experience for the kids and you too. 

Take your chance to get close to nature, try out tuk-tuk rides, learn about indigenous people, and discover cultural and historical significance during your visit. Whatever activities you choose, you and your entire family will have such a fun and memorable vacation in Sri Lanka.