Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
Sri Lanka was an amazing country to experience. The Explore itinerary is well thought out to cover a variety of places and experiences, as much as it can be done in a short two weeks time. I loved the Sigiriya climb and the Hortons plains walk the most. And the elephants and their babies, of course.
The accommodation was good. The food was plentiful, and usually not an issue to find something for everyone's taste. There were times when I felt we had been faced with one too many buffet options, when lighter choices would have been more desirable. But I understand that a buffet was usually the most expedient way to accommodate a group of our size.
With 12 people in the group, mostly solo travellers, we had a very good dynamic. People were always included if they so desired, and also had the option to step out of the group bubble and do their own thing.
Hector, our driver, was a joy to be around, always attentive, safe, and going out of his way to make sure we were all taken care of, always with a smile. Thank you Hector!
And not the least, Nala, our tour leader, was the secret ingredient that made it all even better. Always with a big smile and a big heart, assessing everyone's needs and desires and trying to accommodate everyone, Nala was a treasure trove of information about Sri Lanka. Thank you Nala for sharing your love and passion for your country with us.
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, Hostel, Guest House
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Demodara, Udaw
Colombo, Negombo, Demodara, Udawalawe, Koggala, Wilpattu National Park, Mihintale, Giritale, Sigiriya, Kandy, Adam's Peak, Nuwara Eliya
Lahiru was fantastic to work with! He was incredibly responsive and provided us with the trip of a lifetime in Sri Lanka. We enjoyed the extra experiences that were so unique and felt like we truly experienced the best of Sri Lanka, even though we were only there for a week. We always appreciate trips that inspire us to return! Without a doubt, we would gladly choose this tour operator again in the future!
We reached out to several operators but chose to work with Lahiru due to his honesty and straightforwardness. We provided him with a list of our desired activities and accommodations for our 15-day trip, and Lahiru responded with an excellent itinerary and fantastic hotel recommendations. The price was reasonable, and the all-inclusive package meant we didn’t have to worry about any additional services.
The hotels we stayed at was great, excellent food and amazing hospitality. The van was in good condition, equipped with air conditioning, and our driver, Asanka, skillfully navigated Sri Lanka's challenging roads. Lahiru, who also served as our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and kind, making our experience even more enjoyable.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best tour operators in Sri Lanka.
Thank you,
Linda and John
Adventure
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Anurad
Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Galle, Ella, Yala National Park, Colombo, Tissamaharama
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, Puerto Río Tra
Colombo, Negombo, Puerto Río Tranquilo, Bentota, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains National Park, Ella, Yala National Park
Looking back at our photos now we've returned to the UK we can't believe the amount we saw and the amazing experiences we had on this tour. Sri Lanka is an amazing beautiful country with some much going on - we only scratched the surface. Our tour leader Cham worked so hard to make sure that we had everything we needed, resolving our problems and sorting out food for our fussy son! His knowledge about Sri Lankan history and wildlife was immense. He even found the best place to buy genuine Sri Lanka cricket shirts for the sporty members of our group. The only thing we'd change was the pace of the second half of the Sri Lanka leg of the trip. The first half gave us time to chill and bond as a group, as well as hang out in the pool at Giritale and play cricket. The second half we moved every night and covered a massive distance, though interesting, this was quite tiring (especially for the kids), so we'd suggest that a two night stop in the middle of this element would resolve this issue easily. This was clear in the notes, however, as was the high chance of not getting the train. The pace did slow considerably for the Maldives element, with a lot of time on our boats travelling between reefs. The snorkelling was quite frankly mind-blowing, and even the more nervous swimmers loved it. The crew were fantastic, and the food was delicious. The guide knew his stuff, and made sure we had great snorkelling experiences. Our only criticism of this part of the trip was that splitting the group when we'd got to know each other and were getting on really well was disappointing. There were larger boats, and we'd have preferred to be on a single boat given how long we spent travelling separately. The crew did what they could to mitigate this by tying the boats together when we moored for snorkels, meals and overnight and that was great. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable trip, and with a few very small tweaks it'd be perfect!
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Our 20-day tailor-made trip to Sri Lanka was truly unforgettable, largely thanks to our wonderful guide Lahiru. We had the pleasure of visiting some of the country's most famous national parks, including Wilpattu and Yala, and Lahiru's extensive knowledge of the wildlife, regions, and local cultures made the experience all the more enriching. He went above and beyond to ensure that our trip was a success, and we couldn't have asked for a more helpful and accommodating guide.
Throughout the planning process, Lahiru was extremely communicative and clear in his explanations of everything from airport pickup to lodging to costs. The lunches provided were delicious, with a warm lunch on the first day and quintessential 'boxed' lunches on subsequent days. The dinners were all buffet-style, but with plenty of options, including vegetarian.
Overall, we feel that our trip was worth every penny and would jump at the chance to do it all over again. Thank you, Lahiru, for an incredible Safari adventure!
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Eco Lodge, Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Negombo, Sigiriya, Mirissa, Anur
Negombo, Sigiriya, Mirissa, Anuradhapura, Galle, Ella, Yala National Park, Horton Plains National Park, Sinharaja, Wilpattu National Park, Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, Nuwara Eliya
We recently concluded a two-week trip travelling throughout Sri Lanka using World Expeditions. With our input on sites to see, hikes to take, places of interest to visit, accommodations etc., the World Expeditions team provided an excellent and customized itinerary for our comprehensive private journey to Sri Lanka. The entire team was highly responsible and provided professional input up to the moment we departed for the trip. Upon arrival we were greeted by our guide and driver who provided dedication, attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to excellence all throughout the trip, consistently going above and beyond his responsibilities as a travel guide ensuring we would experience the "real” Sri Lanka. He consistently anticipated our needs to ensure that our questions or concerns were addressed and resolved. Being very intuitive, in addition to the hikes, temples and ancient cities visited in our itinerary, he also further customized our trip to include additional activities he knew we would both enjoy as wildlife and photo enthusiasts. Overall, this was an incredible experience and very satisfied that we used World Expeditions to organize this trip.
Bicycle toursAdventure
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
Negombo, Colombo, Ella, Udawalaw
Negombo, Colombo, Ella, Udawalawe National Park, Galle, Anuradhapura, Habarana, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
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
