Quick answer
A typical day on a 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday starts early and stops in the middle. Families are out by 6.30 or 7am for one main activity of two to three hours, back at the hotel pool by 10.30 or 11am, and either resting or driving two to three hours over midday. A second, shorter outing follows from about 4pm, with dinner at 6 or 6.30pm. Sunrise is at about 6am and sunset near 6.15pm all year.
Key takeaways
- Sri Lanka's day length barely changes through the year, with sunrise around 6am and sunset around 6.15pm.
- Lowland temperatures commonly reach 30 to 33 degrees by 11am, making midday outings uncomfortable for children.
- Of the nine full days on the family route, five include a drive and four have no transfer at all.
- Sigiriya Rock opens early in the morning, and the first two hours after opening are the coolest and least crowded.
- Hotel kitchens in Sri Lanka will usually serve children's dinner from 6pm if asked at breakfast.
The shape of the day
A typical day on a 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday is built around the sun. It rises at six, is fierce by eleven and gone soon after six in the evening. Days here have two good halves with a gap in the middle, and children's holidays work best when they follow it.
Parents used to late holiday mornings may resist the early start. It pays for itself within a day. Children wake early in a new time zone anyway, wildlife is active at dawn, and the famous sights are empty and cool.
- →6 to 6.30am: wake, light breakfast or packed breakfast.
- →6.30 to 10am: the day's main activity.
- →10.30am to 3.30pm: pool, lunch, rest or drive.
- →4 to 6pm: a short second outing.
- →6 to 7.30pm: dinner, then bed.
The morning outing
The morning outing is the day's centrepiece, and there is only one. On the family route it is Sigiriya Rock on day two, Polonnaruwa on day three, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya or the drive to the train on day five, Little Adam's Peak on day six.
Two to three hours is the right length. Many hotels pack breakfast boxes for early starts, or serve a full breakfast on return at 10am, which children love. A banana and a biscuit at 6am keeps everyone going until then.
The midday break
The midday break is what makes travelling in the tropics with children sustainable. From about 10.30am to 3.30pm nobody sightsees. The pool does the work of a kids' club, lunch is slow, small children nap, and adults read.
On moving days the break becomes the drive. Leaving at 11am after a swim puts the two to three hours on the road in the hottest, least useful part of the day, in air conditioning. Toddlers often sleep the whole way and wake at the new hotel.
- →Stay days: five hours of pool, lunch and rest.
- →Moving days: swim, drive, swim.
- →Either way: no sightseeing between 11am and 3pm.
The late afternoon
The late afternoon is for something small. An elephant safari is the exception, taking three hours from about 2.30pm, when the animals come to water. Otherwise it is Dambulla's caves at 4pm, the temple drummers in Kandy at 6.30pm, the Nine Arch Bridge, or Galle Fort at sunset.
Light at this hour is soft and the heat has gone. It is also when tiredness shows. If the children are happy in the pool, the second outing can be dropped without loss on most days; the route has more options than it needs.
Evenings and sleep
Evenings on a family trip in Sri Lanka are short. Darkness falls quickly after 6.15pm, and most children are ready for dinner by six and bed by eight. Order early; a kitchen cooking from fresh can take 40 minutes.
Parents get their time afterwards. A veranda outside the room, a baby monitor or connecting doors, and room service or a table within sight of the door make an adult dinner possible. Many families find they sleep by nine themselves, and are glad of it at 6am.
Rest days and when to break the pattern
Rest days are already inside the family route. Three nights at Sigiriya leave one flexible afternoon, the second day in Ella is light, and the full day at the beach has nothing fixed. A day with no outing at all is always available if someone is unwell or simply tired.
The pattern breaks twice, for good reason: the train day, when lunch is on board, and a dawn safari for those who choose one. Lankan Stays & Trails writes each family day as one main event, one optional extra and a pool, so nothing is lost when the extra is dropped.
- →Day 3 or 4: the natural point for a slow morning.
- →Day 6: Ella, with one walk and a free afternoon.
- →Day 9: the beach, with nothing planned.
Frequently asked questions
What time should we start sightseeing in Sri Lanka with kids?
Start sightseeing in Sri Lanka with kids at 6.30 or 7am. It is cool, quiet and matches the early waking that jet lag causes. Aim to finish the main activity by 10am and reach a pool before the heat builds.
How much can children do in a day in Sri Lanka?
Children can comfortably do one main activity of two to three hours and one shorter outing of an hour or so each day in Sri Lanka, with a long break between. More than that leads to tired, hot children by mid-afternoon.
Do we need rest days on a 10-day Sri Lanka family trip?
You need rest time, though not necessarily whole rest days. A daily four to five-hour break at the pool, a light second day in Ella and a free beach day provide it. Families with toddlers may add one fully empty day.
What time is dinner in Sri Lankan hotels?
Dinner in Sri Lankan hotels usually runs from 7 to 9.30pm, later than many children eat. Most kitchens will serve children from 6pm on request. Ask at breakfast or on arrival, and pre-order to shorten the wait.
How do naps work on a Sri Lanka family itinerary?
Naps fit naturally into the midday break. On stay days, toddlers sleep in the room after lunch. On moving days, a departure at about 11am lets them sleep in the car. Morning outings should end before nap time.
Is there any free time for parents on a family trip to Sri Lanka?
Parents do get free time on a family trip to Sri Lanka. The midday pool hours and the evenings after children's bedtime are quiet. Hotels can often arrange babysitting, and a private driver removes the work of navigation and planning.