We are just back from India. If I could give more stars for this tour I would. Deepak met us at the airport even though we were delayed for over 2 hours in passport control. He introduced us to our driver who stayed with us for all our holiday. The next day we were picked up in our hotel and shown the sights of Delhi by our fantastic guide. We then moved to Agra which was stunning which was enhanced by our guide. Next on to Jaipur which was also fantastic. I would like to mention our guide who went above and beyond the call of duty. When my wife became ill for this leg of our tour. Loved the Indian people and country. I would highly recommend this tour
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Kathmandu, Jaipur, Ag
New Delhi, Kathmandu, Jaipur, Agra, Patan
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
"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
60% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Your tour will be instantly confirmed when you book.
Go wild in Sri Lanka on this 10-day wildlife tour from coastal Colombo to the misty hills and lush national parks. Explore ancient cave temples in Dambulla, climb the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, and wander the historic ruins of Polonnaruwa. Discover the charm of Kandy, take a scenic train ride through the tea plantations to Nuwara Eliya and then head south for wildlife safaris in Udawalawe, Yala and Bundala National Parks. Spot elephants, leopards and vibrant birdlife, then unwind in beachside Mirissa before heading back to Colombo.
Countryside and village visits
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa
Colombo, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Udawalawe National Park, Yala National Park, Mirissa
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Explore during this 10-day tour Sri Lanka high and low with this fascinating round-trip starting in the capital, Colombo, and taking an inland loop that covers all the main historic, cultural and natural attractions of this magical island. Discover a world of lushlandscapes, picturesque lakeside cities, historic temples and ancient citadels. Meet some of the friendliest and gentlest creatures in the animal kingdom andenjoy the lush green tea plantations spread through the hill county.Conclude the tour with a few relaxing days on the beautiful beaches of Bentota.
My guide Raju was spectacular. He really knew how to get things done in the tea houses. The logistics are all taken care for you, no worries. I made some really good friends along the route that ended up staying in the same place multiple nights and had a lot of great conversation. The views of the hike were great and I think this is a great selection over EBC and Annapurna.
IT was an incredible adventure Trip with incredible impressions and great encounters. Our Nepali Tour Guide Narayan was very friendly, helpful, Had a great knowledge and was cery well organized. This Trip ist highly recommended
Wildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House, Resort
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Pharping, Kurintar, C
Kathmandu, Pharping, Kurintar, Chitwan National Park, Pokhara
27% OFF TODAY
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Explore the best of Rajasthan by joining our 10-day tour, which will take you to the adventure of the fascinating medieval history of North India. Get on the vibe by walking in the busy streets of Delhi, and admire its unique contrasts between the old and modern influence. Go through the real Indian adventure once you take a local train to Ajmer, this magic pilgrimage center for Muslims and Hindus. Rajasthan will display its colors while you will visit the ‘Venice of the East´, Udaipur and the pink architecture of Jaipur will wake up your romantic feelings before entering the awe-inspiring Taj Mahal, love poem in the stone. This tour will expose the gems of Rajasthan and will fulfill your expectations and inspire your senses.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Pushkar, Udaipur, Jod
New Delhi, Pushkar, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Agra
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Dear Sir,
Warm Greetings from Dubai!
I apologize for the delay in giving the feedback for the wonderful Punjab & Himachal Tour which we had during the month of March-April.
I am extremely happy with my experience and have recommended your tour to many of my friends.
Thank you to all your team member and a wonderful driver for our pleasant memories.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
1-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
New Delhi, Amritsar, Manali, Dha
New Delhi, Amritsar, Manali, Dharamshala, Shimla
60% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
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.
Live and breathe the culture of Sri Lanka as you take a walking tour through the picturesque backstreets of Colombo, see the famous fortress of Sigiriya set upon its rocky outcrop and visit Rahju’s Contemporary Art Gallery in Kandy. For something truly unique, take part in a Nuwara Eliya tea experience—an all-immersive tea leaf picking and fresh tea tasting affair, at one of the world’s most beautiful tea plantations. Voyage into the depths of the jungle on a game drive in Wilpattu National Park and keep your eyes peeled for leopards and elephants. Before the journey home, be sure not to miss the exquisite fragrances of the National Spice Garden in Matale and the architectural wonders of Anuradhapura—the capital city of Sri Lanka’s first kingdom that ruled for a thousand years.
National parksWalking tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Wilpattu National Park
Colombo, Wilpattu National Park, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
13% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Fantastic guide! Nimal Wijeratne, Aitken Spence's Travels. Because of Nimal we have had a great holiday as he showed us his beautiful Sri Lanka in so many different ways. He was helpful, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Sri Lanka and the trip. We have been to restaurants and places where we would never have been without Nimal. We have had a good connection with Nimal and he became a true friend.
