Family travel in Sri Lanka FAQs

Helene Cooper from Stubborn Mule: “Some people might be wary of climbing Sigiriya with kids, but it depends on the children. Yes it is steep and vertiginous, but if they are used to climbing it’s fine. I wouldn’t hesitate taking my four year old up. Keep a close eye on them at certain points as it does get very crowded and some tourists just barge past rudely. Get up at the crack of dawn and get to Sigirya first thing, so you don’t have to deal with so many people.

The crowds are more of a danger than the actual stairway, as a lot of the stairway is enclosed. There are only short sections that are potentially a hazard in terms of drop. The most precipitous bit is right at the top and you don’t have to do that final top bit if you don’t want to. So you don’t have to exclude youngsters, and of course, if they are under two years old, carry them in a backpack and you’ll be fine. Just because you’ve got kids, don’t let it stop you doing these wonderful things.”

Helene Cooper from Stubborn Mule: “You aren’t ‘templed out ‘in Sri Lanka. It’s not like Vietnam or Cambodia with so many temples and ruins that kids whatever age might just think ‘yawn’. You’ve got the Lion’s Rock or Sigiriya – kids love that, because they take one look and say, ‘how on earth do we climb that?’ So, it’s temples with a twist here, if you know what I mean. We bike around Polonnaruwa too, so you are not going to get bored following a guide around another temple.”

You won’t get many lifeguards on Sri Lankan beaches, so always seek out local advice. There are fishing communities everywhere so no better people to ask about tides and currents. In general, however, when you are on the south and southwest coast, be aware that there is a very strong rip, so best to keep to the small, enclosed bays when swimming. And learn how to recognise a rip current and how to get out of it if you find yourself in one. Here are some good tips from RNLI.

A responsible tourism company will always check that their local drivers adhere to the safety standards we are used to, with seat belts a minimal requirement. We do advise you to bring your own car seats or booster seats for children, as safety standards are different in Sri Lanka and we can’t guarantee their reliability.

This is one country that ticks beautiful boxes for all age groups, particularly on a tailor made holiday. That way you have your own driver who can take adults to an ancient site in the morning while teenagers hang at the beach, or take granny white water rafting if that is her thing, while the others go off to market to shop for spices. With beaches, surfing, wildlife filled national parks, tea plantations, ancient sites, hiking and cycling, fabulous food and a driver at your beck and call, Sri Lanka keeps a smile on everyone’s face. Older members of the family may want to consider extending their stay to go on a volunteering holiday here, too.

Helene Cooper: “I put together an itinerary for a family where the grandparents were paying for the whole thing. However, the grandparents were keen golfers, and that wasn’t going to work for the kids. So I had them staying at the beach, and then the driver was able to take the grandparents off to the local golf club for the day, and then came back and brought the kids to other sites.”

Sri Lanka is very low risk when it comes to malaria, although you should take precautions including covering up in the evenings, using repellents and sleeping under a mosquito net. See the NHS website for more details and keep an eye on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for up to date details or risks. During the rainy season dengue fever is also a risk, but few families travel during this time, and you just need to use the same precautions.

You just need to take the usual precautions, and if you travel with an expert local guide, they will know the reputable food outlets, from street stalls to sit down restaurants. However, do carry anti-bacterial hand gel to be safe; you can never have enough wipes (bring eco friendly ones please); and always check that meat or fish is fully cooked. Fruit that hasn’t been peeled and coconuts are always safe. Tap water is not great at all, so use bottled water or a filtering system such as LifeStraw, and avoid ice in drinks.

Sri Lanka is far from perfect in this respect. However, a tailor made holiday is superb if you have family members with special needs as you can discuss all of these in advance with your tour operator, who will ensure that everything that can possibly be done to help, will be done. From ensuring the best type of vehicle for being driven around in, to making sure you have refrigeration for medication wherever you go, or selecting the best hotels for travellers with autism or a visual impairment. It is also worth noting that in Sri Lanka most of the properties are on one level, which makes them a lot easier access wise.

There is a great mix of accommodation, but because family is at the heart of Sri Lankan culture, children are always welcome and accommodated comfortably. So, for example, they are very good at providing adjoining or interconnecting rooms. Or if families are happy to be flexible, hotels can put a beautifully made up mattress on the floor. On a tailor made holiday you can also choose between the likes of a luxury hotel on the beach, a plantation guesthouse or a family homestay – or a lovely mix of all styles. Tailor made doesn’t have to mean the Saville Row of holidays at all.

Although there are anti discrimination laws applying to sexuality in Sri Lanka, same sex sexual activity is illegal here. However, in practice this law is rarely enforced, particularly for tourists, and shouldn’t be of concern. In fact, because you are either on a small group holiday with other families, or on a tailor made holiday with your own driver, you can sit back and enjoy so much of the trip if you are a busy single parent for example. For same sex couples travelling en famille, we have never had an issue in Sri Lanka. For all travellers, we do recommend avoiding overt public displays of affection, particularly in more conservative, rural areas. And do double check with your tour operator to be sure they have selected properties which are known to be welcoming to same sex couples. There should be plenty to choose from.

This is Sri Lanka not Surrey, so health and safety works on a different level. When you travel by tuk tuk, for example, a three wheeled vehicle that’s like a taxi, there are no seat belts. Swimming pools won’t have gates or alarms, and not all activity operators will be accredited. If you are travelling with a responsible tourism provider, however, they will do risk assessments with the adventure companies they use, ensuring there are helmets and buoyancy aids when necessary, along with qualified guides and safety equipment, and so on.