Trip was amazing. We covered all the places as per the itinerary. Our guide is very humble and great person, explained about all the places in detail. Worth visiting the coutnry with Aitken & Spence.
A real insight into Sri Lanka’s culture and heritage together with its diverse landscape. The guides wonderful positivity and knowledge really enhanced the trip experience.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Tent
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Bentota, Dambu
Colombo, Negombo, Bentota, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains National Park, Kataragama, Galle
Explore Dambulla Rock Temple, discover the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and visit iconic Sigiriya Rock. Sip on refreshing Ceylon tea and see Sri Lanka's famous wildlife on a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park before heading to the idyllic beaches of Bentota for some sun, sea and relaxation.
Beach
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara
Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Udawalawe National Park, Kalutara
Great tour with Aitken Spence for Sri Lanka. We were picked up from the airport by a transfer service wityh our guide, Oscar, too. Very efficient organization, good drivers, bus in excellent condition and kept scrupulously clean throughout our tour. All assistance provided when required. Recommended.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Sigiriya, Kandy
Colombo, Sigiriya, Kandy
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
It was definitely a trip to remember, your professionalism exceeded all standards and expectations! Our tour guide/driver Namla managed to make our trip exceptional, he was full of knowledge, very attentive and respectful. Be sure to ask for Namal as you plan your trip!
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy
Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Guided by an expert local leader, this 14-day cycling trip through Sri Lanka will take you to tea plantations, fishing villages, national parks, cities and lush green jungles. From Negombo to Colombo, you’ll see why Sri Lanka is Asia’s most exciting new destination. With pristine coastline, ancient ruins, rugged peaks and wildlife-filled national parks, it’s a dream for travellers who like to get active. In between two-wheeled treks, you can go on safari to spot leopards, take on optional food crawls, laze on the beaches of the southern coast, ride the rails (a must in Sri Lanka), explore the country’s premier Hindu and Buddhist sites, and see the famed UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya. With days of riding and nights of feasting, Sri Lanka will soon make its way to your heart.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
14-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Yala National
Colombo, Negombo, Yala National Park, Mirissa, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Kandy, Hatton, Tissamaharama
Take Sri Lanka, boil it like the tea leaves the country’s famous for and strain out all the best stuff. On this 11-day trip, you’ll travel through natural paradise, small, friendly villages and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Search for elephants in Udawalawe National Park and walk to the top of Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress. Feast on spicy curry prepared by a local in Ella and hike through lush mountains. Relax on the beach in Hiriketiya – perfect for lounging and sipping cocktails – and do it all with a new group of friends!
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Great trip, particularly being on the backroads experiencing more of the local life. Equipment was in very good condition and staff and locals very friendly.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Waskaduwa, Minneriya Na
Colombo, Waskaduwa, Minneriya National Park, Induruwa, Ahangama, Udawalawe, Banadarawela, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa
Encounter a country that radiates warmth – from its glorious sunshine to its spice-laden cuisine and kind local people. This nine-day Premium adventure through Sri Lanka will introduce you to the country’s wealth of cultural riches as you explore the ancient ruins of past civilisations, spot rare and beautiful creatures in their natural habitats and relax among swathes of green tea fields at a hilltop retreat. Receive a warm welcome from the locals as you meet local guides, tuck into homecooked food, stay in an 1891 Feature Stay and uncover the secrets of Sigiriya – Sri Lanka’s famed UNESCO World Heritage site. Discover a shining gem in the Indian ocean – the teardrop isle.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Embark on an enchanting journey through the captivating landscapes of Sri Lanka with this tour, offering an impeccable introduction to the renowned Pearl of the Indian Ocean! Your odyssey commences in Colombo, the illustrious coastal capital, where the charm of ancient colonial structures harmonizes with the glimmering modern skyline. The next leg of your adventure takes you to Kandy, a city that reveals the awe-inspiring Temple of the Tooth Relic, widely recognized as Sri Lanka's most sought-after temple. As your expedition unfolds, make your way to Waskaduwa to bask in the splendor of golden beaches and the serenity of palm-fringed vistas overlooking the Indian Ocean. Your sojourn culminates back in Colombo, serving as the final, unforgettable stop on this immersive exploration of Sri Lanka!
Discover a country that radiates warmth – from its glorious sunshine and scorching cuisine to the incredibly kind people, this is Sri Lanka. This 14-day Premium adventure through ‘the Teardrop of India’ will take you straight to the heart of the country. Explore the ancient ruins of past civilisations, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya, search for rare and beautiful animals like elephants and leopards, relax on palm-fringed beaches and soak up the hospitable welcome from the locals. From the spicy food scene to the Exclusive cooking class and high tea, this adventure sees all the best bits or Sri Lanka in style.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Yala National
Colombo, Negombo, Yala National Park, Galle, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Take in the local vibes and discover the history surrounding this beautiful city on this short, three day city break. The busy capital of Sri Lanka is a city of contrast by the seaside. Colonial buildings, Hindu and Buddhist temples, modern skyscrapers and some lakes are combined into a melting pot of cultures and people.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo
Colombo
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
This exciting journey travels through Sri Lanka’s famous cultural triangle and offers something for the whole family. Discover the wildlife that waits in the Minneriya and Yala National Parks, walk along the sandy Golden Mile and bathe in the crystal waters of Beruwala beach in this amazing adventure for all ages. This holiday is perfect for families with children aged 5 years and over.
Countryside and village visits
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Beruwala, Sigiriya, Min
Colombo, Beruwala, Sigiriya, Minneriya National Park, Kandy, Happutale, Tissamaharama
We booked the Classic Ceylon Sri Lanka Tour for our honeymoon. The tour agent was Aitken Spence Travels. Day 1: Arriving at Colombo airport, we were greeted by our guide/driver named Rane (guide and driver are the same person throughout the tour). Our first stop was the Ramada Hotel in Columbo, where we checked in. You can take advantage of the afternoon to explore the city or relax at the hotel. We have reviewed each hotel separately in this thread if you want to learn more about each hotel review in detail. Our guide agrees on a time for you to be picked up the next morni g, which was ours at 8am. to start on time. Colombo is a busy city so traffic can be very busy. Day 2: Drive from Colombo to Dambulla, which is approximately a 4-hour drive away. Your guide will make a rest stop for a drink if you wish. Once we reach Dambulla we visit the Temple of the Rock. This fascinating temple is built on the side of a rock with some historical monuments of Buddhas and paintings. Once we had visited the temple, we stopped for lunch at one of the various Sri Lankan tourist restaurants. The food is in keeping with the country and there are usually rice, potatoes, various meats and salads on the menu. We were never disappointed. Lunch is not included in the tour price so it is extra, but at approx 600 rupees it is very reasonable in terms of cost. Some days we didn't fancy lunch and you can skip this if you want. Your driver will be very accommodating. We were then taken to our hotel which would be home for the next 3 nights: Amaara Forest Hotel (review available separately). The following days consisted of: Day 3 - Drive from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa to visit the 2nd Heritage of the Capital City. This is an amazing experience that offers a fantastic insight into Sri Lankan history. After this we reached Minneriya to the national park. The opportunity to see elephants in the wild is something not to be missed. There are also wild buffaloes, monkeys, birds, and many more animals to witness. We also visited a silk shop where silk was made, and we were dressed in traditional Sri Lankan clothing, where you can take photos of each other. The ladies at this store were wonderful and we bought a few items. The woodcarving factory is also a good stop, where you can watch how they make traditional Raksha masks and other items. We really wanted to buy a pair of these and the factory store on site had plenty to choose from at reasonable prices. Day 4 - Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock). This spectacular rock of approximately 200 m high has impressive views. The only way to achieve this is through lots of steep steps so you will need to wear some good trainers as flip flops will wreck your feet. It can get quite busy on the stairs for the first part as there are historical paintings to see a third of the way which causes the delay, but it picks up soon after. Don't let this delay put you off, I almost decided not to bother you, but the wife talked me into it and I'm glad I did. When you get to about 2/3 of this way, this is where the Lions entrance is. At one point this one had a huge rock lion face on it which is sadly gone. From this point you can reach the top and the view of Sri Lanka can be seen for miles. Word of advice to all of you, there are people who offer to "show" you the rock, they will expect payment for their services, so you politely say no or agree to a cost up front. Also when on the stairs there will be men offering to help him up (at one point taking my wife's hand and escorting her down the stairs which I soon said no to) in all fairness once I say no they will leave you alone, so don't do it. Don't let this discourage you, but be prepared. This day you also have a tour of a rural town in a carriage and a boat ride. You may be offered lunch here which is a great experience and at 600 rupees well worth it. A local lady prepares dinner in her cabin in the woods, and there is a good choice to have. You won't get a chance to experience this again so totally recommend it. Day 5 - Kandy. The journey from the hotel above to here is around 2.5 hours, but it breaks down to an intermediate stop at Spice Garden, where you can see how various spices grow and are shown how to make curry mixes from scratch. The day also included a visit to a gem museum. Generally these places have a room or two showing the history of the gems etc but then a shop at the end. We found the gem shop too expensive for what we wanted to get out of our souvenir shopping, so we didn't buy anything. Again, you don't have to buy anything if you just want to look around. After you transfer to another hotel, we stopped at Earls Regent in Kandy. Day 6 - We visit the Botanical Garden which is a lovely relaxing day where you can walk slowly and take in the surroundings. After this, you can have lunch or return to the hotel to relax. Day 7: We visit a tea plantation on this day where you can see the process from tea leaf picking to the final product. We were allowed to pick tea leaves in the hills as well as visit the shop on site to pick up some reasonably priced local tea/souvenirs. From this point, you can return to the final hotel of the tour to rest in Nuwara Eliya. You can, if you wish, take a walk in the area near the hotel. Day 8 _ This is the route back to the airport, which takes around 7 hours in total, but is broken down by the different sights offering opportunities for waterfalls and a few breaks at local cafes and restaurants. As a guide, we leave at 8:30 am and arrive at the airport at 3:30 pm. Overall the tour was amazing but very tiring. It's not a relaxing vacation, so if you can get a second week in a row somewhere, you can relax. We went to the Maldives which is a 1 hour flight to Male airport. Some final points:
We were advised to tip the driver between $5-10 per person per day as an example, but you can tip what you feel was worth. Your guide will offer to take you to other places that are not listed on the tour and will be charged. If you don't want to do this, just say no thanks and they won't accept you. We almost fell for this and arrived at a spa which we were told would cost 5,000 rupees each for an hour which works out to a total of �40 so not a huge cost but we really didn't want a spa visit So we politely said we weren't interested. On the last day you will also be asked if you want to go rafting, which we didn't do as the last thing we wanted was to get wet en route to the airport. Overall, a worthwhile trip to an amazing country.
