The view from Sigiriya
Beautiful landscapes, delicious curries, ancient sites, wild elephants, magical beaches, surf spots, and playful monkeys—Sri Lanka is a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be explored. After five years of dreaming and planning, we finally embarked on a family holiday that had been in the works since 2019. Initially, we had our sights set on this stunning island, but due to an unsettled economy and the needs of our small children, we diverted to the Yasawa Islands in Fiji instead. Now, having finally made it to Sri Lanka, I can confidently say it was truly amazing and exceeded all of our expectations—a perfect destination for teens! We opted for an authentic experience over luxury, spending plenty of time immersed in nature.
Day 1: Dambulla Cave Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site 30 minutes’ drive south of Sigiriya/Lion Rock.
Day 1 - 3– Sigiriya & Habarana Treehouse
We arrived in Sigiriya and stayed just nearby at Habarana Tree House Mutu Village, tucked deep into the forest. Our home for two nights was a two-level A-frame treehouse with a private pool—the perfect mix of comfort and adventure.
The forest around us was alive with monkeys, who were charming (and cheeky), so the open-air bathroom had clever plastic netting to keep them at bay. We woke to the sounds of the jungle and enjoyed incredible traditional Sri Lankan breakfasts
Habarana Treehouse
Habarana Treehouse
Elephants Everywhere
I’d hoped to see elephants in Sri Lanka, but I never imagined we’d see so many—herds with babies and young ones everywhere. We did our first afternoon safari in Minneriya National Park, just a short drive from where we stayed and truly one of the highlights of the trip.
Minneriya National Park
We climbed both rocks, Pidurangala Rock first—it was a bit of a scramble near the top, but the view across to Sigiriya was absolutely worth it. The next day, we started early for the sunrise at Sigiriya Rock itself. Both climbs were different but incredible in their own way—Pidurangala felt wild and peaceful, while Sigiriya was rich with history.
Sigiriya Rock
Day 3 — The Blue Train to Ella
Today we travelled to Kandy to board the iconic Blue Train to Ella — an unforgettable experience in itself. The journey winds through lush mountain landscapes, with the scenery becoming more spectacular the closer you get to Ella. Rolling tea plantations, misty peaks, and local life along the tracks made this one of the most scenic train rides we’ve ever taken.
Ella Mount View Guest Inn - The view over Ella
Ella Eco Lodge - Cheeky monkeys
Days 8–11 — Arugam Bay
A laid-back surf town on the southeast coast — and one of the main reasons we came to Sri Lanka was for the kids to really learn to surf, and Arugam Bay delivered in the most magical way. Warm water, gentle waves, and a relaxed rhythm made it the perfect base.
Each day started and ended with a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride to Peanut Farm — a gorgeous beach break that’s ideal for learners. We spotted wild elephants in the rice paddies — and one just metres from the road. It was such a surreal and special moment, and a reminder of how close nature is here.
Tuk-tuk to peanuts surf break, elephant spotting on the way
Surf at Arugam Bay
Days 12–13 — Kingdom Eco Lodge
We spent two nights at Kingdom Eco Lodge, where we stayed in a treehouse nestled in a peaceful eco farm. A safari took us bumping through the landscape on the back of old jeeps, and we saw a large herd of elephants and buffalo. We also kayaked on the lake at dawn and dusk, seeing the elephants crossing the lake. It was a raw, rugged, and unforgettable experience.
Eco Farm on the edge of a lake
Rustic Tree huts on the edge of the lake.
Large herd of wild elephants
Hiriketiya Beach
Days 14–19 — Hiriketiya
If it could get any better, we saved the best for last. Hiriketa, you have my heart. There are few places in the world I truly love, and this is one of them. With its perfect horseshoe bay, surf beach, beautiful warm water, and charming shops and cafes, amazing food and great surf.
The kids, filled with confidence, paddled straight out the back and rode huge waves that I could only have imagined before we left.
The perfect mix
RAA - Restaurant - owned by the same please as Smoke and Bitters and equally amazing.
The Shaker House
The view from The Ruin Cafe at Hiriketiya beach - where I swapped football mum for surf mum!
Day 19 — Homeward Bound
A long drive back to Colombo to catch our flight home, but we made the most of the journey. Along the way, we stopped at a turtle hospital and hatchery, and spent some time wandering the historic streets of Galle — a beautiful way to end the trip.
Thank you Sri Lanka we will be back…
