Sri Lanka for families

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be collected from Horathapola and driven over to Sigiriya in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle. You will have the rest of the day to enjoy the countryside and perhaps wander to the local village.

This morning you have time at leisure, maybe to enjoy the hotel's pool. In the afternoon, you have a jeep safari in one of the three national parks in the area; the specific one will be chosen on the day to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife, which includes elephants, sambar deer and monkeys and a wide variety of birdlife.

This morning you will visit Sigiriya Rock accompanied by your chauffeur guide, who will be able to provide you with the history of the rock as you admire the views from the top. On your return, you will visit the Dambulla caves, which date back to the 1st century. The caves contain varying sizes of statues of Buddha. Additionally, several of the caves have impressive ceiling frescoes.

You will leave the Aliya today and your chauffeur guide will first accompany you to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second capital. The ancient city ruins have a mix of Buddhist and Hindu influences and are a great place to learn more about the history of Sri Lanka. After exploring Polonnaruwa, you will drive on for your next three nights by the coast.

Today you are free to enjoy Sri Lanka's east coast. The calm sea is ideal for swimming, or you might like to test out the hotel pool.

Another day is free to enjoy the coast. You might like to simply relax on the beach or enjoy the spa facilities. The hotel also offers excursions to a local fishing village if you would like to see some local culture.

After breakfast, you will be driven to Kandy. The drive passes rice paddies and farmland which is ideal for spotting wildlife along the way. On arrival, you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Today you will explore Kandy, taking in the Temple of the Tooth, and Peradeniya Botanic Gardens. You might like to take a walk around Kandy Lake, which is surrounded by local stalls and markets.

You will be collected from your hotel and taken to Peradeniya Train Station. You will then board the train for the approximately four-hour journey up to the tea country. The train route rises slowly through the changing countryside. From Hatton, the scenery is the most spectacular, passing waterfalls and many tea plantations. You will be collected by your driver from Nanu Oya Station and taken to your hotel for the next two nights.

An early morning start is recommended for your trip to Horton Plains as the views tend to be at their best in the morning. The 9 km (6 mile) circular route takes you past Little World's End and then World's End viewpoints before passing Baker's Fall, a 20 m (65 ft) high waterfall, on your return to the car. You will have the rest of your day at leisure to relax.

Today you will head down out of Tea Country, and back to Colombo. The drive takes around five to six hours. You will be able to make stops en route, and you may want to have lunch at Kitulgala, the location for the film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'.

After a leisurely breakfast, you will be taken to the airport in time for your flight home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.