If you are keen to arrange a unique holiday for your family our Experience & Adventure itinerary is for you.
Carefully designed, this itinerary covers all the things that Sri Lanka is most famous for without falling into any of the normal tourist traps, as you stay off the beaten track. Camp under the stars, interact with remote local communities, witness age old traditions such as the pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak, enjoy some thrilling adrenaline sports and spot wild animals in the lesser visited Wilpattu National Park.
With a wonderful blend of back to basics accommodation and luxurious comfort, you will come back feeling rested while the children will have had a proper adventure.
Land at Colombo International Airport from where your driver will transfer you immediately to The Mud House in the remote Puttulam District of Sri Lanka.
The Mud House is a eco project located on the outskirts of a typical, rural, Sri Lankan village. The majority of the people are farmers and the area is surrounded by acres of paddy fields which are irrigated by the various tanks (lakes). Most of the roads are made of earth and the local village of Paramakanda was only connected to mains electricity in 2012.
There are endless things to do while at the Mud House and most can be reached by bicycle. Therefore start your day with a guide bike ride through village roads to the Paramakanda Temple and Tonigala Rock. For lunch enjoy a lakeside picnic and then some kayaking or swimming. Other activities include nature trails, bird watching and cookery classes with the Mud House’s excellent team on hand to look after you throughout.
From the Mud House it is not far to Wilpattu National Park. Large and just as impressive as the well known Yala National Park in the south, Wilpattu’s location means it benefits from smaller visitor numbers. This means you are unlikely to find yourself in a traffic jam and almost feel as though you have the park to yourself.
We recommend doing a tented safari with Kulu Safaris. While a fairly expensive option, the team are superb and camping under the stars is a great experience.
After leaving the safari park you will make your way to Jim’s Farm, stopping en route at Anuradhapura – which was Sri Lanka’s first capital and a vast monastical centre that saw the introduction of Buddhism to the country. Again, this sight is less visited by tourist compared to the second capital Polonnaruwa, but it is of huge significance to the people of Sri Lanka to this day. Therefore you are able to observe people practicing their religion in an authentic way.
In the afternoon, climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress which was originally carved into the shape of a lion, before arriving at Jim’s Farm.
By this stage you should be ready for a rest day and a comfy air-conditioned bedroom. Jim’s Farm is the perfect spot to relax, set on a extensive fruit and spices planation which you can amble through and some lovely surrounding scenery.
You will have an early start from Jim’s Farm and a busy day today. Arrive in to Kandy just after nine o’clock to explore the Temple of the Tooth, Commonwealth Cemetery and (if it is of interest) the Royal Botanical Gardens.
After lunch continue on to Gampola which is 45 minutes south of Kandy. You will be staying at Ellerton Bungalow, a former tea manager’s estate.
This morning you can explore the surrounding plantations by bicycle, go for a tour of the Orange Field Tea Factory and sample some tea.
Then, head to Borderlands Adventure Camp in time for a delicious curry lunch overlooking the river. In the afternoon you can go canyoning and kayaking or head off for a jungle trek up to to a cave.
End your trip with 4 or 5 nights on the beach in Bentota. Club Villa is a traditional family run villa with direct beach access. There is plenty to do in the area and the beach is safe for swimming and surfing. For the most authentic local experiences however we recommend taking the train down to the UNESCO Galle Fort, visiting the Beruwela Fish Market and enjoying a fishing catamaran tour on the Lunuganga Lake.
Your driver will depart on arrival at Club Villa but return to transfer you to the airport.
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