Quick answer
A 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday costs a family of four roughly US$2,000 to US$3,000 on a budget, US$3,500 to US$6,000 at a comfortable mid-range level and from US$8,000 for luxury, excluding international flights. Accommodation takes 40 to 50 per cent of the total, the car and driver 15 to 20 per cent, and entrance fees, safaris and the train another 10 to 15 per cent. Prices rise by 30 to 60 per cent over Christmas and New Year.
Key takeaways
- Accommodation is the largest cost of a family trip to Sri Lanka, typically 40 to 50 per cent of the land total.
- A car and driver for ten days costs roughly US$500 to US$900, and a van US$700 to US$1,100.
- Sigiriya Rock's foreign adult ticket is roughly US$35, with children aged six to twelve at about half.
- A private jeep safari for a family of four typically costs roughly US$90 to US$160 in total, including park fees.
- Hotel rates between about 20 December and 5 January are commonly 30 to 60 per cent above the rest of the high season.
The totals at three levels
How much a 10-day Sri Lanka family holiday costs depends above all on the standard of rooms. The figures here are for two adults and two children under twelve, nine nights, on the standard family route, in high season outside Christmas, before flights.
All amounts are approximate and in US dollars, the usual reference for tourism prices in Sri Lanka. Exchange rates and local prices move, so treat them as a guide to proportion, and ask for a current quotation before fixing a budget.
- →Budget: roughly US$2,000 to US$3,000.
- →Mid-range: roughly US$3,500 to US$6,000.
- →Luxury: from roughly US$8,000.
Accommodation
Accommodation ranges widely. Clean guesthouses with a family room and breakfast cost roughly US$40 to US$80 a night. Mid-range hotels with pools, the level most families choose, cost roughly US$120 to US$250 for a family room or two connecting rooms. Luxury properties start at around US$400.
Nine nights at mid-range therefore come to roughly US$1,300 to US$2,300. The beach nights in peak season are the dearest and the Udawalawe night the cheapest. Children's ages matter: under-sixes often stay free, which can cut the bill by a fifth.
Transport
Transport is the second line. A car and driver costs roughly US$50 to US$90 a day, including fuel and the driver's expenses, so US$500 to US$900 for ten days. A van for a larger family adds about US$20 a day.
The train from Nanu Oya to Ella is the bargain of the trip: reserved seats cost a few US dollars each, a little more through an agent. Tuk-tuks for short hops in Ella and at the beach add perhaps US$30 to US$50 over the stay.
- →Car and driver: US$500 to US$900.
- →Train seats: under US$40 for the family.
- →Tuk-tuks: US$30 to US$50.
- →Driver's tip: US$80 to US$150.
Tickets and safaris
Entrance fees for foreign visitors are high by local standards and add up for a family. Sigiriya Rock is the largest, at roughly US$35 for each adult and half for children of six to twelve. Polonnaruwa is roughly US$30 for each adult, and Dambulla and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic about US$7 to US$10 each.
Safaris are priced in two parts: the jeep, at roughly US$40 to US$60 for the vehicle, and park fees for each person plus service charges and tax. A family of four pays roughly US$90 to US$160 a drive. Two safaris and all the main sites total roughly US$400 to US$600.
- →Cultural sites: US$180 to US$280 for the family.
- →Two safaris: US$180 to US$320.
- →Elephant Transit Home, dance show, small sites: US$40 to US$70.
Food and extras
Food costs depend on where the family eats. Breakfast is usually included with the room. Lunch at a local restaurant costs US$3 to US$6 a head; a hotel dinner US$10 to US$25. A mid-range family spends roughly US$40 to US$80 a day on meals and drinks.
Extras are the lines people forget. Tips for drivers, guides, trackers and hotel staff come to US$150 to US$250. Add laundry, a SIM card, sunscreen bought locally at high prices, a surf lesson and souvenirs, and US$300 to US$400 disappears without effort.
Where families save and where not to
Savings are easiest on rooms and timing. Travelling in the first three weeks of December, in March or after mid-April costs noticeably less than Christmas or February. Half board at resort hotels is usually cheaper than paying for dinners separately.
Do not save on the vehicle, the driver or the pool. A cheap car with no rear belts and a hotel without a pool cost a family more in comfort than they save in money. Lankan Stays & Trails prices family trips line by line, so parents can see what each choice changes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family holiday in Sri Lanka cost?
A ten-day family holiday in Sri Lanka costs a family of four roughly US$3,500 to US$6,000 at mid-range level before flights, including hotels with pools, a private car and driver, entrance fees, two safaris and most meals. Budget and luxury trips fall either side.
Is Sri Lanka expensive for families?
Sri Lanka is not expensive for families compared with most long-haul destinations. Hotels, food and transport are good value. The costs that surprise visitors are foreign entrance fees at major sites, safari charges and peak-season beach hotels.
How much is Sigiriya for a family?
Sigiriya Rock costs a family of two adults and two children aged six to twelve roughly US$105 in total at current foreign visitor rates, with children under six free. Prices are set in US dollars and revised from time to time.
How much spending money do we need in Sri Lanka with kids?
A mid-range family of four needs roughly US$60 to US$120 a day in spending money in Sri Lanka for lunches, dinners, drinks, tuk-tuks, tips and small purchases, assuming hotels, transport and main entrance fees are already paid.
Are flights included in Sri Lanka family holiday costs?
International flights are not included in the land costs quoted here and often equal or exceed them. Fares for a family of four in school holidays vary enormously by origin and date, so price flights first when setting a total budget.
When is the cheapest time for a family holiday in Sri Lanka?
The cheapest times for a family holiday in Sri Lanka are May, June, September, October and November, when hotel rates fall by 20 to 40 per cent. Within the school calendar, Easter after mid-April and October are the best value.