Ready-made plans
Ready-made plan

6 days in Sri Lanka for families

Kandy 2 nights, Nuwara Eliya 2 nights, Colombo 1 night

I built this for families who want elephants, tea hills and a famous train ride without long days on the road. It's green, gentle and very easy with kids, and vegetarian food is never hard to find.

Baby elephants at PinnawalaThe hill country train from Kandy to Nanu OyaSeetha Amman Temple and the tea estates of Nuwara EliyaBest in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec
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Hotels, 5 nightsShown for your dates when you make it yours
Prices are checked when you open the plan, a month ahead. They are never saved in it.

Day 1 Land and settle in Kandy

  1. 13:00Land at Bandaranaike International Airport, transfer to KandyAsk the driver to stop at the cashew sellers in Kajugama on the way, the kids will love the snacks.Katunayake to Kandy · about 3.5 hrs · 20,000 to 28,000 LKR per car
  2. 16:45Check in and restHave a cup of Ceylon tea and let the kids stretch their legs.Kandy · about 1 hr · FreeCar, arrive at the hotel
  3. 18:00Evening walk around Kandy LakeA flat, easy path under big trees. Walk the stretch facing the Temple of the Tooth, it lights up after dark.Kandy town centre · about 45 min · FreeTuk tuk, 10 min
  4. 19:00Early dinner at The Empire CafeSimple, friendly cafe next to the temple. Good vegetarian options, ask for the vegetable rice and curry.Temple Street, Kandy · about 1 hr · 1,500 to 3,000 LKR · Order: Sri Lankan rice and curryWalk, 5 min

Tip: Sri Lanka uses UK style 3 pin plugs, pack an adapter for phone chargers.

Day 2 Elephants, gardens and the Temple of the Tooth

  1. 09:15Pinnawala Elephant OrphanageWatch the baby elephants being bottle fed, then walk down the lane to see the herd bathe in the river.Pinnawala, Rambukkana · about 2.5 hrs · 3,000 to 4,500 LKR adults, less for children
  2. 12:00Lunch at Hotel Elephant ParkThe terrace looks over the river where the elephants bathe. Good vegetarian options on the buffet.Pinnawala · about 1 hr · 2,500 to 4,500 LKR · Order: Rice and curry buffet with dhal and jackfruit curryWalk, 5 min
  3. 14:30Royal Botanic Gardens, PeradeniyaIt sits on the road back to Kandy. Don't miss the giant Javan fig tree and the orchid house.Peradeniya · about 1.5 hrs · 2,000 to 3,000 LKR adults, less for childrenCar with driver, 1 hr 15 min
  4. 17:00Kandyan dance show at the Kandy Lake ClubOne hour of drummers, dancers and fire walkers. Kids love it, sit near the front.Sangaraja Mawatha, Kandy · about 1 hr · 1,000 to 1,500 LKRCar, 20 min
  5. 18:15Evening puja at the Temple of the ToothDrums and flowers as the shrine room opens. Cover shoulders and knees, shoes come off at the entrance.Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy · about 1 hr · about 2,000 LKR for foreign adults, children freeWalk along the lake, 10 min
  6. 19:45Dinner at the hotelAfter a full day, eat in. Most Kandy hotels do a Sri Lankan and Indian buffet with plenty of vegetarian dishes.Kandy · about 1 hr · 3,000 to 6,000 LKR · Order: String hoppers with dhal and coconut sambolCar, 10 min

Tip: Carry socks for the temple, the stone floor gets very hot by midday and cold at night.

Day 3 The famous train into tea country

  1. 08:15Scenic train from Kandy to Nanu OyaSit on the right side for the best valley views. Let the driver take your bags by road and meet you at Nanu Oya.Kandy station to Nanu Oya · about 4 hrs · 1,500 to 3,000 LKR per person, reserved seat
  2. 13:00Check in and lunch at the hotelIt's cool up here, around 15 to 20 C in the day, so pull out the jackets.Nuwara Eliya · about 2.5 hrs · 2,500 to 5,000 LKR for lunchDriver from Nanu Oya station, 20 min
  3. 16:00Gregory LakePedal boats, pony rides and a lakeside path. Easy fun for kids of every age.Nuwara Eliya · about 1.5 hrs · small entry fee, boats 2,000 to 4,000 LKRTuk tuk or car, 10 min
  4. 17:45Walk past the old Post OfficeThe red brick post office from the British days is a favourite photo stop. Buy postcards to send home.Nuwara Eliya town · about 30 min · FreeCar, 10 min
  5. 19:00Dinner at Grand IndianNorth Indian food done well, a warm treat on a cold evening. Good vegetarian options.The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya · about 1 hr · 3,000 to 5,000 LKR · Order: Paneer butter masala with garlic naanWalk, 5 min

Tip: Pack a snack box for the train, the vendors are fun but the kids may not like everything on offer.

Day 4 Tea, gardens and the Ramayana trail

  1. 08:30Pedro Tea Estate factory tourA short guided walk through the factory, then a pot of tea with views over the estate.Pedro, Nuwara Eliya · about 1 hr · 500 to 1,000 LKR
  2. 10:00Hakgala Botanical GardenRose garden, ferns and monkeys under a huge rock. Lovely for a slow family walk.Hakgala · about 1.5 hrs · 1,500 to 3,000 LKR adults, less for childrenCar, 25 min
  3. 11:45Seetha Amman TempleThe spot linked to Sita in the Ramayana, beside a little stream. Shoes off, a small donation is welcome.Seetha Eliya · about 45 min · FreeCar, 5 min
  4. 13:00Lunch at Grand IndianIf you ate here last night, the hotel's main restaurant next door does a good Sri Lankan lunch. Good vegetarian options either way.The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya · about 1 hr · 3,000 to 5,000 LKR · Order: Vegetable thali or dal makhani with riceCar, 25 min
  5. 14:30Rest at the hotelNap time. The afternoon mist often rolls in now anyway.Nuwara Eliya · about 2 hrs · FreeWalk or car, 5 min
  6. 16:30Victoria ParkNeat flower beds, a small playground and a stream. Best from March to May when it's in bloom.Nuwara Eliya town · about 1 hr · about 300 to 500 LKRWalk, 10 min
  7. 19:00Dinner at the hotelEarly night before tomorrow's drive. Ask for hoppers, most hill hotels make them fresh at dinner. Good vegetarian options.Nuwara Eliya · about 1 hr · 3,000 to 6,000 LKR · Order: Egg or plain hoppers with seeni sambolWalk, 10 min

Tip: Evenings drop to around 10 C, so bring a warm layer for everyone.

Day 5 Down the hills to Colombo

  1. 08:30Check out and drive toward ColomboA long drive broken into short stops. Keep motion sickness tablets handy for the hairpin bends.Nuwara Eliya to Colombo · about 5.5 to 6 hrs with stops · included in your driver's day rate
  2. 09:00Mackwoods Labookellie Tea CentreA free cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake with a view over the bushes. Good spot to buy tea to take home.Labookellie, on the Kandy road · about 45 min · free, cake extraCar, 30 min
  3. 10:00Ramboda Falls viewpointA quick photo stop for one of the island's tallest waterfalls, seen from the road side.Ramboda · about 20 min · FreeCar, 15 min
  4. 12:30Lunch at The Bake HouseAn old Kandy bakery with short eats, cakes and simple plates. Good vegetarian options like vegetable roti and patties.Dalada Veediya, Kandy · about 45 min · 1,000 to 2,500 LKR · Order: Vegetable roti, patties and a fresh lime juiceCar, 2 hrs
  5. 17:00Check in at the hotelFreshen up, the sea breeze makes the evening pleasant.Colombo · about 45 min · FreeCar via the expressway, 3 to 3.5 hrs
  6. 18:00Sunset at Galle Face GreenFamilies fly kites on the lawn and the food carts fry isso vadai, a crunchy prawn snack. Plain dhal vadai is there for vegetarians.Galle Face, Colombo · about 1 hr · free, snacks 300 to 800 LKRWalk or tuk tuk, 10 min
  7. 19:30Dinner at Upali's by NawalokaBusy family restaurant with a long Sri Lankan menu. Good vegetarian options and quick service.Colombo 7 · about 1 hr · 2,500 to 4,500 LKR · Order: Hoppers, string hoppers and kottuTuk tuk, 15 min

Tip: Sit kids on the left side of the car going down from Labookellie, that side faces the valleys.

Day 6 Easy Colombo morning and fly home

  1. 09:00Gangaramaya Temple and Seema MalakaA quirky temple packed with statues and gifts from around the world. The same ticket covers the little temple on the lake.Beira Lake, Colombo · about 1 hr · about 500 LKR
  2. 10:30Viharamahadevi ParkColombo's biggest park, with a children's play area and big shady trees.Colombo 7 · about 45 min · FreeTuk tuk, 10 min
  3. 11:30Shopping at BarefootBright handloom fabrics, toys and books. Nice gifts that are actually made in Sri Lanka.Galle Road, Colombo 3 · about 1 hr · variesTuk tuk, 10 min
  4. 12:45Lunch at ShanmugasPure vegetarian South Indian, much loved by Colombo's Tamil families. Crisp dosas and full meals.Ramakrishna Road, Wellawatte · about 1 hr · 1,000 to 2,500 LKR · Order: Masala dosa or the vegetarian meals plateTuk tuk, 15 min
  5. 15:00Transfer to Bandaranaike International AirportCollect your bags from the hotel first. The expressway is quick but Colombo traffic can add 30 minutes.Colombo to Katunayake · about 1 hr · 6,000 to 9,000 LKR per carFrom the hotel

Tip: Spend your last LKR on tea and snacks at the airport, rupee change back is poor.

Where to stay

Kandy, Around Kandy Lake and the hills above town · nights 1 to 2Close to the temple and lake, and on the way to Pinnawala.
  • Earl's Regency luxury · about 35,000 to 55,000 LKR a night Big pool by the river and large family rooms.
  • Hotel Suisse mid · about 18,000 to 30,000 LKR a night Colonial building right on the lake, walk to the temple.
  • Queen's Hotel budget · about 12,000 to 20,000 LKR a night Old fashioned but you can't get closer to the temple.
Nuwara Eliya, Town centre · nights 3 to 4Cool weather, tea estates and easy walks to the lake and park.
  • Heritance Tea Factory luxury · about 55,000 to 85,000 LKR a night A real old tea factory turned hotel, high in the estates.
  • Jetwing St Andrew's luxury · about 40,000 to 60,000 LKR a night Cosy colonial house with fireplaces and lovely gardens.
  • The Grand Hotel mid · about 35,000 to 55,000 LKR a night Grand old building, and Grand Indian is right inside.
Colombo, Galle Face and Kollupitiya · nights 5By the sea, close to Galle Face Green and about an hour from the airport.
  • Cinnamon Grand Colombo luxury · about 45,000 to 65,000 LKR a night Huge choice of restaurants and a big pool for the kids.
  • Galle Face Hotel luxury · about 50,000 to 80,000 LKR a night Historic seafront hotel, the sunset is right outside.
  • Mandarina Colombo mid · about 28,000 to 42,000 LKR a night Modern, clean and good value near the sea.

Hotel prices are typical. Make it yours to see today's prices for your dates.

What to eat

  • Rice and curry at The Empire Cafe, Kandy Sri Lanka's everyday meal, rice with five or six small curries. Easy to order fully vegetarian.
  • Hoppers and string hoppers at Upali's by Nawaloka, Colombo 7 Bowl shaped rice pancakes, a must try. Kids love the egg hopper.
  • Masala dosa and vegetarian meals at Shanmugas, Wellawatte, Colombo Pure vegetarian and tastes like home, a safe bet for fussy eaters.
  • Isso vadai and dhal vadai at Food carts on Galle Face Green, Colombo Crunchy lentil fritters by the sea at sunset. Dhal vadai is the vegetarian one.
  • Short eats at The Bake House, Dalada Veediya, Kandy Patties, rolls and roti from an old Kandy bakery, perfect for a road trip.
  • Paneer butter masala at Grand Indian, The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya Hearty North Indian food on a chilly hill evening.
  • Fresh Ceylon tea with chocolate cake at Mackwoods Labookellie Tea Centre Tea straight from the estate you are looking at.

Evenings are quiet and early in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, most families eat by 8 and the towns are asleep by 10. Colombo has more going on along Galle Face.

Why it is planned this way

  • I put Pinnawala first thing on day 2 so you catch the morning bottle feeding and the river bath.
  • I kept the train to the prettiest stretch, Kandy to Nanu Oya, and let the driver carry the bags by road.
  • I added Seetha Amman Temple because it's on the way back from Hakgala and means a lot to Indian families.
  • I kept the last night in Colombo so the airport run on day 6 is under an hour.

Other plans for Sri Lanka

Opening times and prices change. Tomo checks them again for your dates when you make the plan yours.

Your dates, your hotel, your pace