Tuk tuk with a side
of Safari

Sri Lanka was on our radar for a while, after making this a solo destination years ago we were keen to experience it as family friendly version and let me tell you—it delivered everything from elephants up close, to kids learning to surf, to us parents sneaking in cocktails with our toes in the sand. Here’s how our family adventure unfolded (with a few travel hacks and plenty of monkey sightings).

Sri Lanka for the Win!

Thinking of taking the kids to Sri Lanka? 🌴🐘 From tuk tuk rides through rice fields to swimming with turtles, safaris surrounded by elephants, and lazy beach days with surfboards and coconuts in hand — this trip had it all. Here’s how we travelled around, where we stayed, and the family-friendly highlights that made Sri Lanka one of our favourite adventures yet.

7+ days break

We recommend this destination as a week minimum getaway.
But that’s only due to our love of the country.
A direct flight in and out from the UAE makes it a perfect short escape. And prices are decent enough you will want to go back.

  • Fly into Colombo – the main international airport. We organised a private driver (the same one Aussie families keep recommending) and honestly, best decision ever. He drove us between all our stays, which saved us wrangling kids + bags into random tuk tuks for long drives. Pro tip: Colombo itself is busy and chaotic, so treat it as a stopover, not the destination.

    • Colombo – SriLax
      Cute little guesthouse above a café. Great for one night, close to the action, but Colombo isn’t where you want to linger.

    • Unawatuna/Galle – Leisure Land
      Standard rooms but step outside and you’re in rice fields with monkeys swinging about. The kids loved the tree waterpark, and it’s just a 10-min tuk tuk into Unawatuna (amazing cafés) or a short trip to Galle Fort.

    • Udawalawe – Kottawatta Village
      Budget tent stay with a pool and monkeys running around. Basic breakfast, but the location makes up for it. This is the launchpad for Udawalawe National Park safaris.

    • Weligama – Beachfront Airbnb
      Our splurge stay! Right on the beach, so the kids could run out with surfboards while we sipped coconuts. Close to Weligama town (surf schools + food options) and 10 mins to Ahangama for magical sunset dinners.

    • Unawatuna – Swim with giant turtles! Grab a drink at Wijaya Beach Restaurant so you’ve got a base while the kids snorkel. Best cafés:

    • Galle Fort – Wander in the evening when it’s cooler. Charming streets, historic walls, and great spots for ice cream.

    • Udawalawe Safari – Organised by our campsite, around $65 AUD for a 3-hour drive through elephant country. It’s less crowded than Yala (which has leopards), but you’ll get incredibly close to elephants. Go for the 2:30pm slot, stay one night, then move on.

    • Weligama – Perfect for families learning to surf. Chill beach vibes, surf lessons everywhere, and loads of good food. Check out:

We flew into Colombo and had a private driver — He became our chauffeur for the trip, whisking us from hotel to hotel without us needing to brave Sri Lanka’s rather chaotic traffic.

We spent one night at SriLax, which sits above a sweet little café. Cute, clean, and amazing food and coffee to wake up to. But Colombo itself? Let’s just say this is a city you want to be in only long enough to charge your phone and catch your breath.

We highly recommend Srilax for a city stop over. HIDDEN GEM!

Colombo: In and Out, Thanks Very Much

Leisure Land: Monkeys, Rice Fields & a Not-Sus Waterpark

Two nights at Leisure Land—which, despite its name, doesn’t involve dodgy neon signs—turned out to be a winner. The accommodation is pretty standard, but step outside and you’ve got rice fields with monkeys hanging about, plus a waterpark tucked into the trees.

From here, it’s a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride to Unawatuna for great cafés (and great coffee—praise be) or a quick trip to Galle Fort for a bit of exploring.

Cafés we loved:

  • The Garden House – Outdoor café, tasty food, kids’ play area = winning combo.

  • The Hideout Unawatuna – Legit the best Mexican food we’ve ever had. And yes we have been to Mexico.

And then there was the turtle beach. We parked ourselves at Wijaya Beach Restaurant, ordered a beer, and while the kids swam alongside giant turtles, we pretended this was our normal Tuesday routine.

Kottawatta Village: Elephants, Tents & The Wild Side

Next stop: Kottawatta Village near Udawalawe National Park. We opted for tent accommodation—cheap, cheerful, and, yes, monkeys running around like they own the place. There’s a pool to cool off in, and breakfast is… let’s just say functional.

The real star here is the safari. Udawalawe is elephant heaven. Forget leopards (those are at Yala, a longer drive away), this park is about herds of elephants just there in front of you. For $65 AUD total, our campsite organised a 3-hour safari that was nothing short of magic. If you can, roll in around 2:30pm, do the safari, stay one night, and then move on. The kids were buzzing.

Weligama: Surfboards, Smoothies & Airbnb Splurges

Our last stop was three nights in an Airbnb on the beach. It was the priciest accommodation of the trip, but absolutely worth it. We shared it with our travel buddies, and the kids basically lived in the ocean. You can hire surfboards right on the beach, grab fresh coconuts across the road, and tuk-tuk into Weligama for food or surf lessons.

We also popped over to Ahangama (10 minutes away) which had some of the best oceanfront spots we’ve ever been to.

Cafés & restaurants worth bookmarking:

Final thoughts

Sri Lanka is one of those destinations that gives you a little bit of everything: surf, safaris, ancient forts, monkeys stealing your snacks. For families, it’s got just the right balance of adventure and downtime. Go for the elephants, stay for the food, and don’t forget the mozzie spray.

Family travel tips

Organise a driver before you go

Don’t overpack. Tuk tuks + suitcases + kids = chaos.

Always say yes to coconuts. 🥥