Quick answer
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday on a budget costs a family of four roughly US$2,000 to US$3,000 before flights. It uses family-run guesthouses at roughly US$40 to US$80 a night, local rice and curry, the Nanu Oya to Ella train, and one safari instead of two. Savings come from choosing Pidurangala over Sigiriya Rock, visiting Udawalawe and skipping Polonnaruwa, and travelling outside peak weeks. A car and driver is still worth its cost for at least the long transfers.
Key takeaways
- Family rooms in Sri Lankan guesthouses typically cost roughly US$40 to US$80 a night with breakfast.
- Pidurangala Rock costs a few US dollars to climb, against roughly US$35 for each adult at Sigiriya Rock.
- A rice-and-curry lunch at a local restaurant costs roughly US$2 to US$5 a person and is usually refilled free.
- Reserved train seats from Nanu Oya to Ella cost only a few US dollars each.
- Children under six enter most state-run sites and national parks free, and those aged six to twelve pay about half.
Where the money goes
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday on a budget begins with knowing the four big costs: rooms, transport, entrance fees and safaris. Food is cheap almost everywhere. A family that controls the first four can eat well and still come in under US$3,000.
The route stays the standard family one: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Udawalawe and the south coast. Changing the route saves little. Changing what is done at each stop, and where the family sleeps, saves a great deal.
- →Rooms: US$400 to US$700 for nine nights.
- →Transport: US$450 to US$800.
- →Fees and one safari: US$200 to US$350.
- →Food: US$350 to US$600.
Guesthouses with family rooms
Guesthouses are the budget family's great advantage in Sri Lanka. Family-run places with three to eight rooms are found at every stop, and many have a room with a double and two singles. Hosts cook dinner on request, help with tuk-tuks and usually have children of their own.
Pools are the compromise. Most guesthouses lack one. At the lowland stops, look for the minority that have a pool, or ask a nearby hotel about day use, often available for a few US dollars a head or the price of lunch.
Transport: where a driver still pays
Transport is where budget families should think twice before cutting. Buses are very cheap, crowded and slow, and with luggage and young children they turn a three-hour transfer into a five-hour trial. A car and driver at roughly US$50 to US$60 a day is good value by comparison.
A middle course uses a driver for the long legs, from the airport to Sigiriya, Sigiriya to Kandy and Udawalawe to the coast, and trains and tuk-tuks elsewhere. The train covers Kandy to Ella in full, six to seven hours, or Nanu Oya to Ella by taking a local taxi up to the station.
- →Driver for three or four transfer days.
- →Train through the hills.
- →Tuk-tuks for local trips; agree the fare first.
Entrance fees: choosing carefully
Entrance fees are the easiest place to save. Sigiriya Rock costs a family of four with school-age children roughly US$105. Pidurangala, the neighbouring rock, costs a few US dollars each and gives the famous view of Sigiriya. Families with children of eight and over can choose it without regret.
Polonnaruwa, at roughly US$30 for each adult, can be dropped. Dambulla Cave Temple and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic are modestly priced and worth keeping. The Elephant Transit Home costs a few US dollars and gives children their calves.
- →Choose: Pidurangala, Dambulla, the Elephant Transit Home.
- →Consider: Sigiriya Rock, if the story matters to your children.
- →Skip: Polonnaruwa and a second safari.
Free and nearly free things children love
Free pleasures fill a budget itinerary. Walking round Kandy Lake, watching the temple drummers from the lower hall, Little Adam's Peak, the Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls, the ramparts of Galle Fort and every beach cost nothing.
Food can be an activity too. A plate of kottu chopped on a hot griddle, hoppers cooked to order, a king coconut opened with a machete and curd with treacle from a roadside stall are entertainment for very little money. Markets in Kandy and Galle are free theatre.
What not to cut
Some savings cost too much. Do not cut the one safari; a private jeep at Udawalawe for roughly US$90 to US$160 is the best money a family spends in Sri Lanka. Do not book rooms without fans or nets, or vehicles without seat belts.
Travel insurance, bottled or filtered water and sunscreen are not optional. Lankan Stays & Trails plans budget-conscious family trips with good guesthouses and a driver for the long days, and is frank about which savings are false economies.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do Sri Lanka cheaply with kids?
You can do Sri Lanka cheaply with kids. A family of four can travel for ten days on roughly US$2,000 to US$3,000 before flights, staying in guesthouses, eating local food and choosing activities carefully. Comfort is simpler but the experience is rich.
How much is a family guesthouse in Sri Lanka?
A family room in a Sri Lankan guesthouse costs roughly US$40 to US$80 a night, usually with breakfast. Prices are lower in Ella and Udawalawe and higher on the south coast in peak season. Most rooms have a fan or air conditioning.
Is it worth paying for Sigiriya on a budget?
Sigiriya is worth paying for if your children are six or over and interested in the palace and its story. If the view is what you want, Pidurangala next door costs a small fraction and suits children of about eight and above.
Can we use buses in Sri Lanka with children?
You can use buses in Sri Lanka with children, and they are extremely cheap. They are also crowded, hot and driven fast, with little luggage space. Most families use them only for short hops and take a car or train for long journeys.
Is local food safe and cheap for children in Sri Lanka?
Local food in Sri Lanka is cheap and generally safe for children when it is freshly cooked and served hot from a busy kitchen. Rice, dhal, roti, hoppers and fruit you peel yourself are reliable choices. Ask for dishes without chilli.
What is the cheapest month for a family trip to Sri Lanka?
May, June, September and October are usually the cheapest months for a family trip to Sri Lanka, with hotel rates 20 to 40 per cent below peak. Choose the east coast in May, June and September for the best beach weather.