Travelling To Sri Lanka With Kids
All the travel advice you need to enjoy a hassle free family holiday in Sri Lanka or simply contact us for customized holidays in Sri Lanka with kids. Our itineraries take into account travel times, distances covered in a day, interests, weather and much more.
Do hotels and boutique villas offer only Sri Lankan cuisine?
All family hotels and boutique lodges we choose for our family holidays in Sri Lanka can cater to fussy eaters and sensitive stomachs that can’t handle spices, so you can enjoy a wonderful variety of cuisine which includes both non-Sri Lankan food and the most delicious Sri Lankan Curries throughout your holiday to Sri Lanka with kids. Special dietary needs are always informed to the hotels when we book you into our chosen family hotels - ensure to inform us well in advance. Special kids’ menus are also available in most hotels.
I don’t want journeys longer than 4 hours
We are mindful that children don’t want to be cooped up in a vehicle for too long. Travelling around Sri Lanka with kids can include a few journeys which sometimes take longer than expected, due to road conditions, especially when guests ask us for an active family holiday in Sri Lanka covering as many essential highlights as possible. As always, our Travel Designers will discuss the options. We might advice you to break your journey at a beautiful mid way point not usually found on a holiday to Sri Lanka, or even combine a day out by road and rail to keep it interesting. We always advice guests about the driving distance each day and discuss with our chauffeurs how to factor in time to take short walks to stretch your legs. Our chauffeurs are very accommodating and kid friendly, and will always be happy to assist you.
My kids are under 6 years, can they handle the local experiences?
We will discuss each activity in detail when curating your family holiday in Sri Lanka including the duration of each activity, whether it’s age appropriate for your kids, what time to wake up and leave for the activity (e.g; Sigiriya is best done early am, its about a 1000 steps, very doable, but the last bit of the ascent is windy and steep for young children) etc. Sometimes, we shorten the length of an activity or tailor make it in consultation with our local community based guides who are wonderful licensed guides and handpicked by us for their ability to keep kids engaged.
Is the Sigiriya Rock climb too hard for kids under 5?
Children under 5 years on tour with Ayu in the Wild have climbed to the summit of the rock with our wonderful guides. It would depend on the physical fitness of each child. If the climb up to the summit is too much, an adult can stay behind with the kids up at the half way point, where there are wonderful views and a cool breeze. The entire climb is punctuated with plenty of rest stops where you can sit and catch your breath before continuing to the summit.
Responsible Travel Advice for a Family Holiday in Sri Lanka
Ask the right questions before visiting a Turtle Hatchery.
Kids love Turtles. We get it. Yet, poaching, and manhandling of turtle eggs and baby turtles - and then selling them to turtle hatcheries has become a big business fueled by tourism in Sri Lanka.
Ayu in the Wild posed some questions to a random selection of 8 Turtle Hatcheries along the southern coast that are popular among travelers to Sri Lanka with kids, about the practices they adopt. Some refused to answer our questions while the answers given by others were quite alarming. They indicated that they purchase turtle eggs from residents in the area - the higher bidders securing more eggs than others; no gloves are used when reburying the eggs or handling the hatchlings making them highly vulnerable to infections and later deformities; only 70%-80% of the hatched baby turtles are released while others are kept back for tourism etc. One even admitted they try to increase the temperature of the nest to obtain more female Turtles (the temperature affects the sex of the embryos). Irresponsible interference in the nesting process is one of the biggest threats to sea turtles, and can affect nesting habits for decades to come. We would always advice that you avoid visiting turtle hatcheries that keep turtles in tanks or at least ask some questions prior to the visit, to ascertain if the Turtle Hatchery adopts responsible practices aimed at conserving Turtles.
A wonderful alternative to visiting a turtle hatchery on your holiday to Sri Lanka with kids, is to stay in the many luxury family hotels along the coast in Sri Lanka where you might see turtles in their natural habitat, swimming in the ocean or coming ashore.
Please #SayNo to elephant back safari rides.
Baby elephants are separated from their Mums, for tourism. Read here to see what’s done to make them tame enough for an elephant back safari ride.
Please do not pay for captive wild animals like pythons and monkeys, and elephants in orphanages to be paraded for tourism.
Is the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe a good place to visit?
This is a very responsible travel experience with kids. Kids are not allowed to touch the elephants and can only observe the staff feeding the adorable baby elephant being fed. The Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe is one of the most ethically run homes for elephants where injured elephants are treated and released into the wild, unlike in orphanages where the elephants are kept in chains most of the day and brought out under the supervision of mahouts simply to perform and bathe for the viewing pleasure of tourists at designated time.
Ayu in the Wild does not promote visits to any elephant orphanages in Sri Lanka which keep elephants chained up.
Do hotels have facilities for differently-abled kids?
We love to tailor make inclusive family holidays in Sri Lanka and go above and beyond to ensure that families with differently-abled children have the most wonderful time on their family adventure in Sri Lanka. Great care will be taken to speak with the management of each hotel to ensure that all facilities they offer - in-room as well as general facilities are able to cater to children who are physically challenged.
Can I get a Booster seat or a toddler seat for my child?
Yes, we do offer child seats in our vehicles. Please ask us for images of the types of seats we have to suite different ages and request for the specific type at the time of confirming your holiday in Sri Lanka. *Please note that our vans do not have 3 point seat belts.
Are entrance tickets required for 5 year olds?
No they do not require a ticket. Half priced tickets need to be purchase for kids above 5 years and upto 12 years.
CAN A FAMILY OF 4 STAY IN A Family Room?
The children’s policy for accommodation varies across hotels and villas. In some hotels kids are considered to be below 12 while at others its 10 years and in some the ages between 2 to 16 are treated as kids. In most hotels a maximum of one child can be accommodated with two adults in a room, where only one extra bed will be provided (at an extra charge) and the other child needs to share the bed with the parents if you are a family of four.
Ayu in the Wild will make every attempt to find interconnecting rooms for families traveling with kids but for last minute family holidays during Sri Lanka’s peak season there may be occasions where we may be required to book two rooms. Some boutique hotels have a minimum age policy to accept tiny guests and we will advice you accordingly. If you are traveling with older kids, note that some hotels do not allow more than three adults in a room. Kids above 12 are generally considered adults, but this can vary. In some hotels kids under 4 years (can vary) will not be charged if sharing the bed with parents, while kids between 04 - 10 years (can vary) will be charged for meals at 50% on the meal rate.
What is the minimum age for whale watching?
Whale watching in Sri Lanka is generally offered for kids as young as 6-7 years but some tour operators in Mirissa do allow younger kids if they are up for the adventure. Please check with us before booking your whale watching tour.
Are there seat belts in safari jeeps AND ARE THEY SAFE FOR KIDS?
Some of the safari jeeps we use are fitted with seat belts and it is best to check and pre-book these before the start of the tour. The safari jeeps that we use across all Wildlife Parks in Sri Lanka are owned and driven by community based safari drivers - and is part of our purpose-driven policies to sustain rural livelihoods. The drivers have been whetted and handpicked by Ayu in the Wild for their ability to drive safely, and are people who take great care about the comfort of our guests on safari. They are especially great with kids.
The Jeep rides can be rather bumpy and are usually in open sided jeeps with bar handles for protection. The roof is generally canvas or metal but you will be safe from the sun and rain. Be prepared for a bit of wind, dust and the thrill of being in one of the top destinations outside Africa for Wildlife and you will have the time of your life!
Is glamping and tented camping safe for kids?
Yes, they are. Ayu in the Wild only works with reputed campsites run by professional staff. These campsites are well equipped to ensure that the guests are safe.
These are exciting glamping or camping options we choose to make your family adventure in Sri Lanka even more exciting. Immerse with the sounds of nature. You may find the odd insect or reptile when taking walks around the campsite. Please wear covered shoes at all times and it’s best to walk through well lit paths after nightfall or in the company of our Naturalist.
Can we alight from a safari jeep for kids to take a break inside National Parks?
Ayu in the Wild ensures sufficient stops during a safari drive for snacks, tea and coffee or a juice, and will stop at only designated places where guests are allowed to alight from the safari jeep. Unfortunately, washroom facilities inside the national parks cannot be recommended.
Is cycling in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa safe for kids?
Cycling tours inside Sri Lanka's cultural sites like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa with Ayu in the Wild are safe with kids, as our handpicked licensed community based guides will ensure the best route is taken to explore with kids. The cycle tours are done at a gentle pace avoiding any roads that have too many vehicles.
Are there children's bicycles and cycles with toddler seats available at the cultural sites?
Yes, these are available and Ayu in the Wild will ensure they are pre-booked for your tour with our licensed community based guides.
Are the guided tours at ancient ruins and World Heritage sites kid FRIENDLY?
The wonderful local community based guides handpicked by Ayu in the Wild at each cultural site are not only licensed and knowledgeable but know how to keep kids engaged. Based on the age of the kids, and their attention span, the guided tour can be shortened for families traveling to Sri Lanka with young kids.
What happens if the kids play up and don’t want to do an activity?
Cost of entrance fees can be excluded from your tour cost, so you pay only if you go. Check with us about which activities are included and which ones are ‘optional extras’.
Are tree houses safe for younger kids?
We don’t recommend the tree houses that are part of the Eco Lodges we use if you are traveling to Sri Lanka with kids under 5 and toddlers. An alternative can be the family cottages which are part of these Eco Lodges, which are more enclosed and are ground floor options.
Is ‘curd’ safe for kids to eat?
Curd is a popular Sri Lankan dessert made out of Buffalo Milk and is served in many of the best family hotels across Sri Lanka. Although rich in calcium and other nutrients it’s not advisable for kids with sensitive guts.
This post from June 2019 has been updated in January 2020.
For more Travel Advice for family holidays in Sri Lanka, please visit our FAQ page
or
Contact us for a tailor made family adventure in Sri Lanka