Sri Lanka: 1 month with the family in the land of elephants
The ocean, the mountains, the surf, the elephants, the spices . A rich culture and genuinely welcoming locals. Here's a summary of our family trip to Sri Lanka, which was part of a three-month trip (Spain, Sri Lanka, Bali, Maldives).
THE JOURNEY
Duration: 29 days, in January 2024.
Family: 2 adults and 2 children (3 years and 4 months).
Budget: I don't know the exact amount for Sri Lanka, but our three-month trip totaled $20,000 (including $5,000 saved from our credit card points, #travelhacking 😉 ).
SRI LANKA WITH THE FAMILY: TIPS FOR FLIGHTS
Flights to Colombo are available from Montreal with one or two stopovers. To maximize our time and money, we used the multi-destination flight technique , which allowed us to save money and add Spain to our itinerary.
Bonus: if you've been dreaming of the Maldives too , now's the time! Colombo is only a 1.5-hour flight away, for around $150 one way.
| 📚 Read: 9 essential tips for flying with your baby |
LUGGAGE TIP
If you're traveling through Kandy and Ella by train, you can travel light. It's common for local hosts to offer the service of collecting your luggage at the airport and storing it until your arrival. Had we known this, we probably would have added this to our itinerary.
4 EQUIPMENT WE DIDN'T REGRET HAVING
1. BabyJogger City Mini GT Stroller : Rolls on all surfaces, a large sun canopy, our oldest could use it, and it even fits in tuk-tuks!
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👉🏻 Discover our compact strollers for rent!  |
2. Linen baby carrier : This is such an ideal material for (sur)viving in the heat. Always with us at the airport in case the stroller ends up at the baggage carousel, trust me, you don't want to experience that!
3. Rechargeable fan : Essential for surviving the heat and lack of wind, to be used on strollers as well as on restaurant tables.
4. Portable Booster Chair : Very useful, as high chairs were rare. We love the Pop n' Sit.
SRI LANKA WITH THE FAMILY: THE ITINERARY
When planning your itinerary, you should pay attention to the monsoon season because the seasons vary from one part of the island to the other. We explored the southwest part. We travel in slow travel mode , so we like to stay in one place for several days (5-6 days minimum).
- 1 night: Colombo
- 5 nights: Midigama
- 2 nights: Udawalawe
- 3 nights: Midigama
- 6 nights: Weligama
- 10 nights: Ahangama
- 2 nights: Negombo
With 29 days, it's perfectly possible to add Kandy and Ella for the iconic train ride. There's also the east coast, via Arugam Bay, which is worth a visit. Spoiler alert: there, you can see elephants crossing the streets .
SRI LANKA WITH FAMILY: ACCOMMODATION
Sri Lanka offers a wide variety of accommodations for all budgets: hotels, guesthouses, hostels, and private homes. We found affordable prices, ranging from US$25 to US$65 per night (except for the Marriott, thanks to our credit card points!).
We had only booked our first six nights before our arrival and couldn't find accommodation with a pool within our budget. This was a challenge given the extreme heat and the girls' ages.
| 💡 Our takeaway: mandatory air conditioning and a swimming pool are a big plus. We've got some tips in the activities section if you find yourself in the same situation as us! |
💙 Accommodation favorites:
- Swanee Grand (Negombo): Ideal for a transit near the airport, with generous meals and a swimming pool.
- Forest Edge Safari Villa (Udawalawe): 10/10 for cleanliness, meals, host and safari organization.
- Plantation Surf Inn ( Midigama ): Family atmosphere, on-site restaurant, beaches and restaurants within walking distance. We stayed in the shared villa and our eldest was able to play with our host's children.
- Marriott Bay Hotel Weligama (Weligama): 5-star hotel with entertainment, children's activity center, very long beach, restaurants and shops nearby.
SRI LANKA WITH THE FAMILY: TRAVELLING
We used taxis for airport transfers and on a daily basis, we used tuk-tuks, which we paid around $5 for a 30-minute ride. The driver waited for us during stops (grocery store, bakery, etc.). We always did business with our hosts for tuk-tuks and in this way we encouraged their family and friends. There is also the option to rent a tuk-tuk for $20/day, but we didn't have the risk tolerance to drive.
SRI LANKA WITH THE FAMILY: FOOD
We usually rent apartments with kitchens, but it was difficult to find since we booked last minute. Luckily, there are really many restaurant choices, it's affordable, delicious and the portions are generous: $3 per plate in local restaurants $7 to $15 in tourist restaurants. Typical dishes not to be missed: rice and curry, kotu and rotis. We stop on the side of the road to stock up on fruit and have a good iced King coconut.
💙 Restaurant favorites:
- RocKvin Cafe (Midigama): For their welcome and their love of children. They even made us some custom recipes.
- AFTER SURF Cafe Rooftop (Weligama): For sunset views and a rooftop play area.
- Cactus (Ahangama): For the grassy area for children to run around.
- Veda Café (Kabalana): For all-you-can-eat rice and curry for $7, right in front of Kabalana Beach.
SRI LANKA WITH THE FAMILY: HAVE FUN
Activities, beaches, surfing, and more! Our days were mostly spent on beaches and surfing, and here are the other must-sees: Safaris, the cities of Galle and Kandy, ruins, mountains, places of worship, tea plantations, and jewelry shopping in the kingdom of precious stones.
| ℹ️ Beach Info: Restroom facilities are scarce, so use nearby restaurants. Good news: Beaches offer beds with umbrellas for $5, and there are plenty of smoothie stands. |
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💙 Ideal for the beach, this compact and lightweight set will entertain your little ones! 
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💙 Favorite activities:
- Udawalawe National Park Safari : We booked with our Forest Edge Safari Villa accommodation and loved our experience. We woke up at 5am to watch the sunrise in the private Jeep and stopped counting the number of elephants, so many we saw.
- Galle Tour : A UNESCO World Heritage Site fortified city where we spent the day walking, shopping, visiting the church, lighthouse and enjoying the ocean views.
- Kurumba Bay (Weligama): A must-see if your accommodation doesn't have a pool. Access to a beach, a free pool, umbrellas and sunbeds, and on-site restaurants, toilets, and a mini-golf course.
- Palm Hotel (Ahangama): For a day spent with a pool and excellent cuisine, just outside the city. Paid admission is deductible with the purchase of on-site meals.
- Rukmani Devi Park : Large park area + picnic + trail. While in transit in Negombo, it's a $2 well spent to get the kids moving ☺
Sri Lanka as a family: A love story that is not over...
Our greatest highlight of the trip was the kindness and authenticity of the people we met, thanks to their warmth and hospitality. We always felt safe and welcome, whether with family or when I was out walking alone with my daughters. We will be visiting other parts of the world in the coming years, but we will definitely return, because there is so much to see.
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Written by Sandra Lussier :
Satisfied by a coffee by the ocean, a good swell, and an afternoon hike, we decided to pursue our passion for exploring the world with our daughters. Already 12 countries for the little ones in the family, and we don't plan on stopping. Our priority: traveling together. Our passions: discovery, living slowly, and surfing.
Sandra, François, Billie and Nao.
