Temporary track Sri Lankan itinerary for adventure and tranquility
Away from the tourist trails of Sri Lanka Hotel on the southern coast, you will find an island paradise with many different landscapes on a trip that offers many different experiences.
I went to Sri Lanka to test the best itinerary for families with teenagers and replied: “Is Sri Lanka good for family vacation?” Yes. Apart from the beach resort, experience a hotel hidden deep in the heart of the rainforest, or take a quiet boat cruise around the hustle and bustle of Colombo City.
In recent years, Sri Lanka has become an indispensable destination, seen as a tropical shelter, and remains largely immune to modernity. In 2019, due to the recent opening of new hotels, emerging surfing scenes, rich culture, abundant wildlife and friendly to tourists, the Lonely Planet named Sri Lanka the best country in the world.
This is a
A country that is truly in the spotlight.
“The Sri Lanka you are experiencing now is like Bali fifteen years ago.”
Palm Stone Retreat
Our first stop is Palm Stone Retreat In Kitulgala, a boutique hotel owned by Amber Collection, is located in the heart of the rainforest.
During the three-hour drive from Colombo Airport (reservation can be made via palm rock), we passed tiny country villages, beautifully decorated stalls for sale of coconuts and winding roads, leading us further into a dense jungle, living, screaming birds and monkeys playing among the trees.
In this dramatic lush wilderness, it is like a little oasis. The central hub is all clean lines and chic furniture, in a tropical modernist style inspired by Sri Lanka’s most outstanding architect Geoffrey Bawa.
This open-air restaurant offers a wide range of traditional Sri Lankan dishes, along with some Western choices, plus a special kids menu. For a truly special breakfast experience, ask for a local green hopper breakfast, sit on the deck overlooking the huge waterfall.
Immersive jungle soundtrack includes
The boutique size of staff retreat and attentiveness creates a feeling of staying in someone’s palatial home rather than a traditional hotel. There are only six rooms and cabins in total, cocooned in the jungle and accessed through Lit Walkways.
All apartments use floor-to-ceiling, absorbing views of the Bab Creek that travels through the resort. Larger groups can book interconnected rooms, while Araliya Suites comes with a private attraction pool or steam room, while Nelum Apartments’ river is the best.
All bedrooms are in turquoise and pastel tones, including all the amenities that one expects, including king size bed, private deck, ensuite shower room and a minibar.
Sri Lanka Vacations in the Jungle
However, as luxurious as palm stone, you will never be far away from the wilderness of the surrounding jungle. One night, we were given a good reminder when we walked from the restaurant to our apartment, three large boars were covered in our path and woke us up to our rear coma!
The noise also continues to symphony – from the serenade of birds and monkeys overhead, to the small and impressive noisy frogs, or the sudden vibration of rainfall, their rapid arrival (with waterproof!).
The size of the snail is winding and the air emits a strong smell of flowers. Living in the rainforest is a truly immersive experience that children will never forget.
Kitulgala Jungle Activities
Palmstone Retreat also organized a guided trek through the rainforest to reach the magnificent Secret Waterfalls where you can swim in a private lagoon. This kind of lake activity is recommended for ages 8 and over.
The Palm Hotel is also an ideal location for family water sports, as there is an adventure sports center on the nearby Kelani River. The area claims to be the shooting location for the “Bridge on the Kwai River”, some of which were even selected as Extras in the 1957 film.
One-day tour from Kitulgala
In addition to this amazing wildlife, Palm Rock offers many activities and day trips. We visited the ancient Belilena Cave which is less than 1.5 km away. It is one of the largest prehistoric caves in Sri Lanka where a 12,000-year-old skeleton remains of a man were found, while fossils believed to be 32,000-year-old were found.
Given its historical significance, it is surprising that the caves and surrounding areas are almost completely deserted and seem to fall under the tourist radar.
Adam's peaks (pictured at the top of the page) are two hours' drive from the Palm Rock resort, attracting thousands of tourists every day. The Holy Mountain is located in the center of the island and has great religious significance between multiple beliefs.
The temples and botanical gardens in Kandi, Sri Lanka’s second largest city, are also within driving range, as are Nuwara Eliya’s tea gardens and colonial Nuwara Eliya due to the lasting influence of the British colonial period.
If you want to extend your visit to Sri Lanka again, it is worth mentioning that you will increase your safari trip. Wilpattu National Park is famous for its lakes and leopards, Minneriya National Park has many elephants, and Yala National Park is where crocodiles, leopards and exotic birds are found.
Day Trip to Colombo
A day trip to the Colombo capital is easy to arrange. Once there, head to Pettah Market – not necessarily selling slightly versatile merchandise, but exploring the bustling streets filled with local life.
From here you can walk or catch up with Tuk Tuk to reach many vibrant Hindu temples, mosques, Catholic churches and Buddhist places of worship that reflect the various religious compositions of the island.
A day trip to Colombo wouldn't be done without spending time in the historic Dutch hospital shopping area. The region dates back to 17Th For a century, cobbled streets and low Terracotta tiled buildings remained when it provided hospitals for Dutch soldiers.
Crab department
Now, it is a buzzing destination with shops, bars and the most famous restaurants in Sri Lanka. Crab department This is the creativity of the famous chef restaurant Dharshan Munidasa, working with Sri Lankan cricket legends Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara.
However, please note that you may need to book a few weeks in advance as the restaurant has become a major hot spot in Colombo and can be booked by both locals and visitors.
I tried the tasting menu and found that pepper crab was the best dish I tasted, and the freshness of the crab meat blended with the heat of the pepper gravy, which was spectacular!
We'll go Botanik This is a great tavern in the heart of the city with stunning views of the historic area of Colombo.
Plan Sri Lankan Family Holiday
Our Sri Lankan adventure, the wilderness of the rainforest is the perfect antidote to mass tourist trails, providing a small experience connecting visitors to this truly beautiful and resilient island on a deeper level.
Best time to visit Sri Lanka
Due to its close proximity to the equator, the average annual temperature in Sri Lanka is 80°F. However, there are two monsoon seasons on the island to keep in mind when planning a visit.
Best time to visit the western and southern coasts and mountain villages in Sri Lanka (where Palm stone Located between December and March, the best weather on the East Coast is April or May to September.
Sri Lanka Airlines Fly to Bandaranaike International Airport, from London Heathrow Airport, Dubai, Tokyo and Colombo in Singapore.
