FIREFLIES & SURF

Tucked a few minutes inland from Galle’s enticing beaches, Why House is the first stop on this family vacation to Sri Lanka. Flying into the capital of Colombo, you and the children will be transferred to the southern shores, where you’ll spend four nights Galle and its coastal draws. We recommend starting in Galle’s heart by touring through the historic Galle Fort, a 17^th century walled fortification built by the Dutch, and soaking up the nostalgia of the mighty ramparts. A great excursion for all, cycle the surrounding area, passing brightly-coloured kingfishers and grazing buffalo, to see the green paddy fields and quiet villages that encircle Galle. After you’ve explored Galle’s streets and countryside, it is time to hit the beach! Just five minutes from Why House is the Wijaya Beach, with reef-protected swimming and a great snack bar – just ideal for a leisurely day by the ocean.

From Galle, you’ll board Jade 52, a catamaran that houses up to 8 passengers, for an overnight cruise around Sri Lanka’s southernmost tip. During the day, you can jump off the side and swim around the blue waters or snorkel to see the colourful fish. The teens and older kids can paddle boarding around the quiet coves and bays, while the deck is just ideal for soaking up the sun – also a great lookout point for spotting breaching whales and playful dolphins. In the evenings, you can dine al fresco under the stars, and if your fishing trip was successful, barbeque your own catch of the day.

Once you’ve been returned to the harbour, you and the family will be collected and taken east to the leopard mecca, Yala National Park. Here, you can go on morning and evening game drives into the national park where you’ll be able to glimpse leopards (of course), sloth bears, buffalo, macaques, Asian elephants, red slender loris and fishing cats – to name just a few. Though most of your day will be spent on safari, in between outings you can rest at your lodge, the luxurious Chena Huts. Perched between the borders of Yala and the golden shore of the Indian Ocean, you’ll have the best of both worlds, where you can go walking along the beach after a game drive to track and spot sea turtles laying eggs.

The last five nights of this family vacation is made up of three ingredients: sun, sea and beach. Wake up each morning to the sound of lapping waves in your Geoffrey Bawa-designed hotel, the Last House, and kick off the day with a dip in the lilo-ladened pool. After a hearty breakfast of delicious pancakes and Sri Lanka specialities, step from the hotel’s garden right onto the golden sands of Mawella beach, where you build sandcastles, fly a kite or boogie boards in the shallows. For a bit of authentic Sri Lankan life, you can take a tuk-tuk into Tangalle to see its bustling markets and harbour or make the journey to Kataragama, one of the most sacred religious sites in Sri Lanka.