Small Feet, Big Journeys

Small Feet, Big Journeys Big backpacking adventures for small people (and their parents)! 🌏❤️ Follow along for family travel inspiration and practical tips!

I don’t know about you, but a ‘quiet Sunday in the house’ usually results in all 4 of us losing our minds by lunchtime! ...
02/02/2026

I don’t know about you, but a ‘quiet Sunday in the house’ usually results in all 4 of us losing our minds by lunchtime! 🤣🫣 Cabin fever and playing with (i.e. fighting over sharing!) the same old toys… versus exploring a brand-new and exciting place… I think travelling with kids is genuinely easier than the rigmarole of everyday life! Maybe Pete would disagree! 🤣 What do you think??

🐘If you have kids who love elephants (who doesn’t!), visiting an elephant orphanage can be a really special experience i...
19/01/2026

🐘If you have kids who love elephants (who doesn’t!), visiting an elephant orphanage can be a really special experience in Sri Lanka. 🐘

But choose carefully - not every place that calls itself an orphanage puts animal welfare first! A little research helps make sure your visit supports a genuine charity doing the right thing.

One place we felt really good about is Millennium Elephant Foundation, which has been caring for rescued elephants since 1979. It costs them $50 per elephant per day to provide food, medical treatment and daily care, which is a huge amount in Sri Lanka. Tourism is what keeps their doors open, so every visit makes a real difference.

The experience itself is calm and respectful. You can help feed the elephants, join them for bath time, and walk alongside them through the jungle while learning about their stories and daily routines.

A meaningful and memorable activity that we recommend! ❤️

Practicalities: Located in Kegalle, 1 hour from Kandy. Costs $30 per adult to visit. 🤓

Udawalawe 🐘 safari!
09/01/2026

Udawalawe 🐘 safari!

Polonnaruwa: Sri Lanka’s thousand-year-old ancient capital, now crazy ruins in the jungle and a natural playground for b...
08/01/2026

Polonnaruwa: Sri Lanka’s thousand-year-old ancient capital, now crazy ruins in the jungle and a natural playground for boomers - best explored on rickity old bikes! ❤️🇱🇰🚲

Hello Sigiriya Rock! 👋 Esme (4!) climbed all the way to the top and back down again on her own two little legs and with ...
07/01/2026

Hello Sigiriya Rock! 👋 Esme (4!) climbed all the way to the top and back down again on her own two little legs and with a smile on her face - I am so proud of her! 💪 And Cosmo did a good job of being lugged up! 🤣

Wondering how to do Sigiriya Rock with kids? 👀

Don’t be put off by the heat/crowds/hornet internet stories, it’s totally doable and very worth the effort! You just need high sugar snacks (obvs) and the right mindset! I really believe that anything ‘adult/boring/hard’ can be made magic for a kid if you put the energy into bringing it to life and making it so! And if you wind up carrying them up, it’s just a gym session and you’re earning your G&T later! Better to do something hard and get to do it….than not do it at all!

🧐 Practicalities: it’s 30 mins by tuk tuk from Habarana / 2 mins from Sigiriya town by tuk tuk (or just walk towards the very large rock!) Entrance is $35 per adult (kids under 6 are free and ages 6-12 are half price), and the climb takes around an hour or so depending on how often you stop. Around the base there are also nice shady gardens and a forestry area with cool boulders to explore before/after.

Stay in Sigiriya town (nice restaurants there - try ‘Little Hut!) if you are only here for Sigiriya Rock, or stay in Habarana if you’re planning on a few day trips in the area (ie Polonnaruwa, Dambulla) and want a geographically-logical base.

Last few days spent searching for an elusive 🐳 and also discovered our new fave beach - just sand and water and a shack ...
03/01/2026

Last few days spent searching for an elusive 🐳 and also discovered our new fave beach - just sand and water and a shack selling coconuts, water and beer and… nothing else at all, which sadly it isn’t very easy to find nowadays!

☀️8 Things to Do With Kids in (or Near) Ahangama, Sri Lanka! ☀️ 1. Surf (obviously)! 2. Hit Kablana Beach3. Eat food lik...
27/12/2025

☀️8 Things to Do With Kids in (or Near) Ahangama, Sri Lanka! ☀️

1. Surf (obviously)!
2. Hit Kablana Beach
3. Eat food like this!
4. Swim with giant turtles on nearby Dalawela Beach
5. Enjoy this view with ice cream on Ahangama Beach
6. Discover ‘The Cove’ beach and likely have it all to yourselves
7. Scratch the playground itch!
8. Sunset cocktails at Hotel d’Uncle’s! 👌

Happy Christmas from Ahangama, Sri Lanka! 🎄🇱🇰 We spent the day beachside, then the kids chose a random toy each from a l...
25/12/2025

Happy Christmas from Ahangama, Sri Lanka! 🎄🇱🇰

We spent the day beachside, then the kids chose a random toy each from a little shop (tuk tuk for C and binoculars for E!) and we treated ourselves to a fancier-than-usual meal at our new fave Ahangama restaurant, The Bus Stop!

Getting kids to sleep on a long-haul flight: basically perseverance and desperation in equal parts, plus luck and a swif...
25/12/2025

Getting kids to sleep on a long-haul flight: basically perseverance and desperation in equal parts, plus luck and a swift blow to the head (joke!)

The downside to getting 4 seats now Cos is 2 is that we have to pay for 4 seats. The upside is we can now do this! 🙌🏼

And we are off! Byeee UK 👋 Hello 5 weeks backpacking in Sri Lanka with the boomers! ❤️🤪🌏
15/12/2025

And we are off! Byeee UK 👋 Hello 5 weeks backpacking in Sri Lanka with the boomers! ❤️🤪🌏

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Elephant Roda (Thanamalvila Rd)
Udawalawa
70190

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