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
This was an amazing trip and a lovely way to see India, the drivers and tour guides were fabulous and knew their stuff! They were flexible and took in your needs as well go ensure you saw what you wanted.
I would recommend this trip to anyone how wants to visit the golden triangle.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-90 yrs
Operated in
english, french, spanish
Destinations
New Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra, Rant
New Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra, Ranthambore National Park, Jaipur
We had an absolutely wonderful week with Explore in Sri Lanka. Our tour was packed with amazing locations and fascinating experiences, but our tour guide, Sudesh, still managed to fit in a few extras requested by the group.
Our only regret at the end of the trip was that the wild elephants had evaded us, but that was just bad luck!
For us, this trip was the perfect way to experience a very different country and culture with the insight and knowledge that comes from an excellent local guide.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Wilpattu Natio
Colombo, Negombo, Wilpattu National Park, Mihintale, Kandy, Koggala
Explore leader: for Sri Lanka only satisfactory. Not easy to understand, didn't seem to feel part of the group, didn't join us for meals, a poor communicator (relative to past explore trips)
For the dhoni Maldives cruise: Moosa was excellent in every way.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
"This tour company organized my 10-day trip in India, which included visits through Delhi, Agra with the Taj Mahal, Ranthambore for a safari, Jaipur, and Varanasi. Overall, this felt like a perfect introduction to India, with each city offering completely different experiences in a concise manner. In addition, the tour operator offered additional options in each city that further tailored the experience based on individual preferences. Just a great, organized set-up where it felt that you were able to enjoy the cultural experience - while at the same time having the appropriate amount of time to refresh/reset for a holiday. The value/cost of the tour - from service, experience, hotels, etc - was great.
The entire tour was very well set-up from start to finish, and could not have been more happy with the entire experience. In every instance, there are experienced individuals to assist you in every aspect of the visit to avoid any confusion or lost time - from pick-up at the airport to private drivers to reputable tour guides. The private driver throughout the tour was a great, kind individual and felt very safe throughout the trip. Further, the tour guides selected by the tour operator were great. You could tell that this company had developed a very good niche in the market over time with hiring/selecting these individuals, given their vast experience and knowledge; in addition to their desire to answer all questions and hold good dialogue and conversation throughout the tour (everyone spoke very good English for Westerners).
Finally, the main contact points organizing and managing the trip were exceptional. They always available for any further assistance (even calling my upon arrival) - which all added to the personal touch of the experience. Also, in my case, I actually forgot some personal items on my trip back to India and they assisted with shipping back to me. You can very much tell that these individuals made huge efforts throughout to make the most out of this unbelievable experience. To both Mr. Azhar and Ms. Anu - thanks again for all the assistance throughout the entirety of the trip! Very much appreciated!"
City sightseeingNational parks
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, The Golden Triangle
New Delhi, The Golden Triangle, Varanasi, Ranthambore National Park, Agra, Jaipur
I warmly recommend this travel specialist for international travelers who want to visit India safely with the best experience. The tour was very well designed and the hotels chosen were great. The sights were amazing. Our driver Shankar was very safe and reliable. A great experience!
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
2-90 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Rantham
New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Ranthambore National Park, Old Delhi, Bharatpur, Ranthambhore National Park
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
"We had our tour with a private driver and locals tour guides at all four spots (Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur).
The driver was very professional so we felt always safe while we pass those chaotic streets of India. The tour guides were excellent too. They let us feel their passion.
We would recommend this tour to everyone who is thinking about India. It's a great mix of everything."
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Rantham
New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Ranthambore National Park, Delhi & Golden Triangle