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Private Tour · 3★ & 2★ hotels Kandy, Nuwara Eliya & South CoastElephants, a temple city, tea hills, waterfalls, a river rafting stop and three beach nights at Bentota, planned for families with a private vehicle and driver-guide. Private Tour · 3★ & 2★ hotelsEasy intensityEnglish-speaking guide Tour priceFromUSD 484per person A 7 day Sri Lanka family tour has to keep everyone interested, from the adult who loves temples to the child who wants to see something move. This route does that by mixing short, varied outings with long beach evenings. You start with the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala and the hill city of Kandy, climb to the tea country around Nuwara Eliya, stop at a pair of waterfalls and a river famous for rafting, then settle for three nights at Bentota on the south-west coast. A last night in Colombo keeps the airport transfer easy. Why choose the 7 day Sri Lanka family tourThe long journeys are placed where they hurt least. Day one is mostly a drive with a break for the elephants, day three crosses the island from the hills to the sea, and the three beach nights give children room to run about. Everything else is short: a boat ride, a turtle hatchery, a walk through tea bushes. The programme suits families with children from roughly six upwards, and with a little preparation younger ones can join too. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire so we can set seats, rooms and rafting arrangements accordingly. Compared with a shorter hills-only trip, this version adds the sea and a day of real rest; compared with a longer one, it skips the ancient cities and safari parks. The route and your six nightsThe nights are split like this: Kandy first, then Nuwara Eliya, then three at Bentota, and one in Colombo to finish. Kandy gives you a lake, a sacred temple and a dance show. Nuwara Eliya, high in the hills, feels more like an English village than a tropical town, with cold evenings that children often find exciting. Bentota is the relaxed centre of the trip, with sand, a calm river for water sports and day trips to Galle and the Madu River, so the family can unpack once and stay put for a while. Colombo, on the last night, is mainly a practical stop that leaves only a short drive to the airport. Moments children rememberThe riverside bath at Pinnawala is usually the favourite, closely followed by the chance to paddle or raft on the Kelani river at Kitulgala, where trained guides run the trips. Others include the mangrove boat on the Madu River, with its tickly fish spa, and the turtle hatchery, where you can see young turtles up close. Galle Fort adds climbing along a rampart wall, and the dance show in Kandy brings drums and fire. Comfort, breakfast and your driver-guideThroughout the week you travel in one private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, so there are no queues for tickets or taxis and you can stop whenever a child needs a break. Hotels are comfortable 2 and 3-star properties, and each morning starts with breakfast. For other meals you choose, and your driver-guide knows family-friendly places. Entry tickets and activity charges are settled locally. When to goDecember to March is the most reliable window for both the hills and the south-west coast, and April often stays pleasant too, so these months fit this route best. Outside the dry season expect showers, higher rivers and a greener countryside. Waterfalls look their fullest after rain, while sea swimming at Bentota is best when the water is calm. Pack warm clothes for Nuwara Eliya whatever the month. Making the plan fit your familyIf your children prefer water to waterfalls, a second night in Bentota or a different rafting stop is easy to arrange. If you want an extra day in the hills or a wildlife park, we can lengthen the programme. Send us your dates, the ages of your children and what everyone enjoys, and we will adjust the tour. Tour highlights
Day-by-day itinerary Someone from Volata Travels holds a name board in the arrivals hall, and the family sets off inland towards Kandy. The drive takes about three hours without stops, but Pinnawala sits on the way and turns the journey into the first real highlight. Morning arrivals suit this day best, since there is a lot to fit in before evening. Elephants arrived here in 1975, when the Wildlife Department fenced off a coconut property of around twenty-five acres on the Maha Oya riverbank as a safe home for calves that had lost their mothers or been hurt in the jungle. The idea is to keep life as natural as possible, with two cheerful exceptions that children adore. Twice a day the whole herd lumbers down to the water for a bath, and the youngest, aged under three, are fed from big milk bottles by their keepers. Give it a couple of hours, put on shoes that can get dusty, and bring a hat and sun cream. After lunch you carry on to Kandy, the final royal capital of the Sinhalese kings, laid out around a small lake. Then comes the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a relic said to have been carried into Sri Lanka in the fourth century by a princess who concealed it in her hair. Pilgrims arrive with lotus buds, and the atmosphere is calm. Everyone, children included, should have covered shoulders and knees, and shoes stay outside. The cultural show runs from five to six in the evening. Drummers, dancers in spangled costumes and fire-walkers fill a small stage, and even tired children usually stay wide awake. Afterwards you check in to your hotel in Kandy for the night. Accommodation Devon Hotel, Kandy or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you leave Kandy and begin the long, winding climb into the highlands. Count on three to four hours of road to reach Nuwara Eliya; with the stops, the whole day is used. Anyone who gets carsick should sit near the front and keep a window open. First comes a tea estate with its own factory, not far from Kandy. Central Sri Lanka grew into the world of Ceylon tea during British rule, and the crop remains the pride of the hill country. You walk between the bushes with a guide, watch how the leaves are processed, and learn that a basket of fresh leaf can become a drinkable cup of tea in a single day. The visit ends with a tasting. Children who do not like tea can often try juice, and the machinery keeps them busy. Higher up at Ramboda, a mountain-top shrine, the Shri Bhakta Hanuman Temple, appears. The Chinmaya Mission built it, and it houses an 18-foot figure of Hanuman, the tallest of its kind in Sri Lanka. The monkey god is a favourite among children because of the stories told about him in the Ramayana. Ramboda Falls is close by, a good place for photographs and a leg stretch. By the time you reach Nuwara Eliya the air is crisp. The town has a lively market, and the afternoon brings a short city tour with Hakgala Botanical Gardens, a terraced garden of roses, tree ferns and orchids below a steep crag, where monkeys and blue magpies sometimes show up. The Seetha Amman temple, nearby, is a bright shrine covered in painted figures. Wrap up warm for the evening; the temperature drops fast. Meals Breakfast Accommodation London Eye Hotel Nuwara Eliya or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 This is the longest travel day, so you set off after breakfast and cross the island from the cool hills to the warm sea. The journey is broken into pieces so that nobody is stuck in the vehicle for more than a couple of hours at a time. The road descends past tea estates to St Clair's Falls, beside the Hatton to Talawakele road. It is one of Sri Lanka's widest waterfalls, which is why it is called the Little Niagara of the island, and it takes its name from the St Clair tea estate through which it flows. Soon after comes Devon Falls, nicknamed the Veil of the Valley. The fall hangs at about 1,159 metres above sea level, and the water plunges over craggy rock into a forested hollow. A British coffee planter gave it his name. Both falls are viewed from a safe lookout, and they are at their fullest after rain. The next highlight is Kitulgala, in rainforest beside the Kelani river, where most of the island's adventure sports are based. The old film The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed in these hills. Here you can join a white-water rafting session, with trained local guides, lifejackets and helmets provided. Rapids vary in strength through the year, and operators set age and swimming requirements, so please tell us in advance if you travel with young children and we will plan a gentler alternative if needed. From Kitulgala the road continues towards the coast, and you reach Bentota by evening. Swimming is not essential tonight; a cold drink on the beach and an early night are the better choices after such a long day. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Laluna Ayurveda Resort or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today stays close to the coast and mixes nature with history. After breakfast you drive a short way along the coast road towards Galle, with three planned visits and plenty of time to rest between them. The first is a turtle hatchery near Kosgoda. Five kinds of sea turtle come ashore along this stretch, and the hatchery buys or collects the eggs to keep them safe, treats injured adults and lets the hatchlings go in the sea. Children can look at the baby turtles in their tanks and learn why the work matters. Ask your guide to explain why the animals are not touched or picked up. Next is the Madu River estuary, a maze of 64 islands over about 915 hectares of wetland, and people live on a few of them. Seven tributaries feed it, and the channels are lined with mangroves. A boat takes you slowly between the trees. Stops usually include an island where cinnamon bark is peeled and rolled into quills, a tiny temple island, and a fish spa where small fish nibble your toes. Most children find that last one hilarious. In the afternoon you reach Galle Fort. The Portuguese began the walls in the sixteenth century, and the Dutch strengthened them in the seventeenth century, after which the British took over. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage town of narrow lanes, cafes and small shops. Climb on to the ramparts and follow them past the lighthouse and clock tower, then peek into the Dutch Reformed Church. The sun is hot on the stone, so carry water and wear hats. You return to Bentota in the evening. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Laluna Ayurveda Resort or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Nothing is planned today, and that is the point. After breakfast the beach is yours, with warm water and wide sand just a short walk from your hotel. Children can build sandcastles and swim while adults rest after four busy days on the road. If the family wants something more active, Bentota has options you can book on the spot. On the calm river, local operators run kayaks, banana boats and jet-skis, all paid separately. The town is also known for Ayurveda treatments, and many people enjoy a massage while the children play. Anyone who likes gardens can ask about the landscaped grounds associated with the Bawa brothers, a short drive from the beach. Swim only where the sea looks calm, and keep a close eye on small children, because currents can be strong on this coast. In the evening there is no fixed plan; a stroll on the sand at sunset and dinner at a restaurant of your choice are plenty. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Laluna Ayurveda Resort or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After a relaxed breakfast you check out and head north to Colombo, about an hour and a half on the road. Rather than going straight to the airport, you give the capital a day, then sleep at a hotel in Colombo before your flight. The tour picks out sights that families enjoy. Galle Face Green is a long seafront lawn where kites fly and snack sellers set up. Viharamahadevi Park gives shade and room to run, and Colombo's museum puts the island's history under one roof. You also drive past the Old Parliament building and the Fort district, and stop at Independence Hall on Independence Square. Because the city is so mixed, your guide can show you mosques, churches, Hindu kovils and Buddhist temples within a few minutes of each other. Everyone can choose how much to walk; the heat in the middle of the day is tiring, so ask for air-conditioned breaks. Some time is set aside for last souvenirs such as tea, spices, textiles and crafts. There is no need to buy anything you do not want. Late afternoon is a good moment to head back to the hotel for a swim or a rest, since the heat and the traffic of a busy city can tire children out. Dinner is your own choice, and your driver-guide can recommend a restaurant with food that suits both adults and fussy eaters. Pack your bags tonight so the final morning is calm. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Best Western Elyon Colombo or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Your last morning starts with breakfast at the hotel. Check out at a time that suits your flight, and your driver-guide will take you to the airport, roughly an hour from central Colombo. Leave a margin for traffic. If you have a little time before leaving, you can ask for a short stop for last-minute gifts. Otherwise the tour ends at the departures hall, with a farewell from your driver-guide. Meals Breakfast Included Activities
Landmarks
Route mapWhere you'll stayThese are the hotels we plan to use. If one of them is full on your dates, we book another hotel of the same standard (“or similar”) and tell you its name before you travel. Devon Hotel, Kandy or similarKandy 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel London Eye Hotel Nuwara Eliya or similarNuwara Eliya 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Laluna Ayurveda Resort or similarBentota 3 nights · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel Best Western Elyon Colombo or similarColombo 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 3-star / 2-star hotel What's included
What's not included
Pickup & drop-offPickup: Your Volata Travels driver-guide meets you in the arrivals hall at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Katunayake, with a name board. Pick-up from a hotel in Colombo or Negombo can also be arranged. Drop-off: Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) for your departure flight, with the timing planned around your flight. Important informationItinerary order and overnight stops can be adjusted to fit your dates and pace — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed departure. Cancellation policyAll cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. 19.1 Unless otherwise specified in your quotation, the following cancellation terms will apply to your booking: 19.1.1 Cancellations received between the date of booking and 61 days prior to departure will result in the loss of the deposit. 19.1.2 Cancellations received 60 – 46 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 25% of the tour price. 19.1.3 Cancellations received 45 – 29 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 50% of the tour price. 19.1.4 Cancellations received 28 – 15 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 75% of the tour price. 19.1.5 Cancellations received 14 days or less prior to departure will be subject to a forfeiture of the entire tour price. 19.2 Cancellation of airline tickets will be subject to the refund policy of each individual airline and may be greater than the percentages above particularly when low cost/net-based fares are used. 19.3 The purchase of special event tickets is subject to the refund policy of each individual event. Please refer to the specific event policy for details. 19.4 Volata reserve the right to charge for financial penalties, fees and losses incurred in excess of your cancellation fee as a result of cancellation.... What travellers say5.0 average from 3 customer reviews EW Ethan Wilson, Canada Great Sri Lanka HolidayBeautiful trip with a good balance of sightseeing, hotels and free time. AK Amith Kattiyal, Italy We had a fantastic experience in Sri Lanka. The professional service and comfortable journeys made our trip special. WM William Miller, United Kingdom We had a memorable holiday in Sri Lanka. The plans were well coordinated, the itinerary flowed naturally, and traveling around was comfortable and easy. It was a relaxing way to discover the country. You might also like       Ready to plan your Sri Lanka trip?Tell us your dates and interests — we'll put together a private itinerary within a day. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 days enough for Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and the south coast with children?
It is a good length for a first family visit. You see elephants, a temple city, tea country and the sea without spending every day in the car. The main journey days are the first and the third. If you would like more beach time or a wildlife park, we can lengthen the plan, but most families find this balance comfortable.
What ages is this tour suitable for?
The pace suits children from about six, and many families bring younger ones too. The activities are short and varied, and the free day at Bentota gives everyone a rest. White-water rafting has operator age and swimming limits, so tell us your children's ages when you enquire and we will plan a gentler alternative where needed.
How long is the drive from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?
By road it usually takes three to four hours, though stops at a tea estate, Ramboda Falls and the Hanuman temple make it a day-long outing. The road is winding in places, so children prone to car sickness should sit near the front. The scenic train between these towns is a separate option and takes about four to five hours.
Is the rafting at Kitulgala safe for children?
Trained guides run the trips and provide lifejackets and helmets, and the rapids vary through the year. Operators set minimum ages and swimming requirements, which we will check for you. If the water is too strong or your children are too young, we can replace rafting with a gentler river or forest activity. Nobody has to take part.
What is the best time of year for this family tour?
The hills and the south-west coast are at their driest from about December to March, and April is often good too, so those months are the best match. At other times you may meet showers, but the countryside is greener and the waterfalls fuller. Evenings in Nuwara Eliya are cold in any season, so pack warm clothes.
What should we bring for the hills and the beach?
Pack light clothes that cover shoulders and knees for temples, a warm jumper or fleece for Nuwara Eliya, a rain jacket, swimwear, sun cream and hats for the coast, and sturdy shoes for rafting and the fort. Bring insect repellent for the Madu River boat ride and a refillable water bottle. A small first-aid kit with child medicines is sensible.
What is included and what do we pay separately?
The tour includes the private air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking driver-guide and hotel nights with breakfast each morning. Entrance fees, activity fees such as rafting and boat rides, lunches and dinners are paid separately. Your guide explains what each stop involves before you arrive, so families can decide on the day which optional extras are worth doing.
Can we change the programme or add more beach nights?
Yes. Every itinerary can be customised, whether that means a second night in Kandy, an extra day in the hills or a longer stay at Bentota. You can also swap rafting for a quieter activity or add an early-morning visit to Horton Plains. Tell us what your family enjoys and we will propose a revised plan.
What's included in the 7-day tour price?
Meet and greet at Bandaranaike International Airport; 6 nights in 3-star and 2-star hotels (or similar), double or twin room sharing; a single room if you travel alone; Daily breakfast at your hotels (bed and breakfast); All transfers and sightseeing in a private air-conditioned vehicle; English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour; Fuel, parking, driver accommodation and highway fees. The tour costs USD 484 per person when two adults share a room, or USD 930 for one traveller in a single room, for 6 nights / 7 days. These prices are valid for travel from 8 October 2026 to 30 November 2027.
What's not included?
International flights and the Sri Lanka ETA visa fee; Lunches, dinners and drinks (breakfast is included); Entrance fees and activity fees (Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and cultural show, Hakgala Botanical Gardens, rafting and adventure activities, turtle hatchery, Madu River boat ride, Galle Fort sites); Optional tours and optional activities; Train tickets (if you choose the scenic train); Hotel supplements when you travel on 24 December and 31 December (New Year), and the Christmas supplement on 24 December; Tips, porterage and personal expenses; Early check-in and late check-out at hotels; Travel insurance and bank charges.
Is the price the same on 24 and 31 December?
Not quite. Hotels charge a compulsory supplement for the nights of 24 December (Christmas Eve) and 31 December (New Year's Eve), and these supplements are not included in the tour price. If your dates include either night, tell us when you enquire and we will confirm the supplement for the hotels on your route before you book.
Can I customize this tour?
Yes. The order of stops, the number of nights in each place, the hotels and the activities can all be adjusted to your dates, pace and budget — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed group departure. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised quote.
What is the cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. Cancellations received up to 61 days before departure result in the loss of the deposit. Between 60 and 46 days before departure a charge of 25% of the tour price applies; between 45 and 29 days, 50%; between 28 and 15 days, 75%; and 14 days or less before departure the entire tour price is forfeited. Airline tickets follow the refund policy of each airline, and special event tickets follow the policy of each event. The full Terms & Conditions are at www.volatatravels.com/terms-and-conditions.