Educational value for kids

• Introduce kids to Sri Lankan folklore with a visit to the traditional mask and puppet makers of Ambalangoda.
• Visit the sacred city of Kandy. It’s the ancient capital, one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Just over two hours’ drive from Colombo.
• Tea might not interest children as a drink but Sri Lanka’s south west tea plantations are magnificent.

• Festivals all year round all over the country are captivating: look out for summer’s Galle Face Kite Festival and the Poson Poya full moon festival.
• Sri Lanka has quite a few large museums, but smaller local collections are often a lot more engaging and intriguing.
• Slowly but surely, trains are being reintroduced across Sri Lanka, even a short journey with older kids is fun.
• In Sri Lankan culture, dance is one of the most expressive arts. Try to catch a performance with kids, the stories and costumes are mesmerising.

• Whale watching, Mirissa Harbour
  From November to March every year hundreds of whales journey along the Sri Lankan coast. Mirissa Harbour is the best location to see Blue Whales, Sperm Whales and, occasionally, Killer Whales. Good for dolphin spotting all year round. 
• Colombo City Tour
  Sri Lanka’s capital isn’t all-round pretty but it’s full of interesting pockets. See the good bits on an open-top double decker London bus tour – the first of its kind in the country.
• Yala National Park
  Sri Lanka’s favourite national park is one of the finest places to see great herds of the country’s legendary elephant population roaming free.
• Golden Temple of Gambulla
  This first century BC temple is a World Heritage site and Sri Lanka’s most important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists. To see the collection of treasures and marvellous frescoes even non-pilgrims have to climb barefoot to the top.
• Sigiriya Rock
  200m high Sigiriya Rock is one of Sri Lanka’s most famous landmarks. Known as the Lion Rock it was originally the site of a 5^th century fortress. Little remains of the original buildings except two enormous lion paws. There’s a steep staircase but bold kids will love the climb and views are astonishing. Sigiriya Rock

• Colombo National Museum Tour
  Take a guided tour of Colombo National Museum to give kids a hint of the Sri Lankan splendour they can expect in the country’s exotic temples and monuments.
• Old Town Galle
  Galle’s at the heart of Sri Lanka’s beautiful, beachy southwest coast and home to World Heritage Old Town Galle and Galle Fort. Both were built by the Portuguese in the 17^th century and later added to by the Dutch during the 1800s. 
• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
  A must-do visit with kids in Sri Lanka, this orphanage gives a close-up view of the country’s important conservation work – seeing babies being giant-bottle fed is unforgettable.
• Leopard Safaris, Yala National Park
  Balance the beach with an inland leopard safari. Several packages are designed for families and incorporate fun kids activities as well as wildlife.
  
• Minneriya Elephant Gathering
  The largest gathering of elephants on earth happens in Sri Lanka’s Minneriya National Park between August and September every year.