Excellent tour especially for the price. I've never felt so welcome, Sri Lankans are one of the friendliest people! Very good mix of activities too and while it is a shorter tour it packs so much.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Discover the colourful culture and history, friendly people, and the timeless wonders of Sri Lanka on the 8-day Splendours of Ceylon. An island blessed with green forests, vast sandy beaches and stunning ancient treasures, Sri Lanka is a true hidden gem of South-East Asia. Start your adventure at the metropolitan city of Colombo and explore impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered around the island. Hop on your jeep in Walpattu, Horton Plains and Minneriya to spot elephants or the famed Sri Lankan Leopard. Trek through lush forests, climb up to temples carved in huge boulders and have a sip of exotic Sri Lankan tea.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
18-75 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura
Colombo, Sigiriya, Anuradhapura, Nuwara Eliya
40% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour, booked through Wendy Wu Tours Australia, and delivered through Aitken Spence Travel Services of Columbo, Sri Lanka. The hotels selected for our accommodation were generally of a high standard with good facilities and diligent staff. The restaurants selected for food provision were excellent and generally provided a great selection of Sri Lankan and European style dishes, catering to the diverse needs of our group. The sites visited, provided a great cross section of the best tourist attractions in Sri Lanka, and satisfied our desire to see what this beautiful destination has to offer. The services provided by our tour guide, Harsha Karunaratne, were of the highest standards. Harsha was very professional, diligent and caring, going far beyond reasonable expectations to ensure that each member of our tour group received the best Sri Lankan experience possible. Harsha's team consisting of Kumara (Security and Valet) and Bundoo (Bus Driver and Porter) were just wonderful. Negotiating Sri Lanka's back roads and busy city roads requires skill and attention to safety at all times, and Bundoo pulled it off brilliantly. Kumara made sure all the guests on the tour stayed safe and provided a great sense of fun and community during our travels. Harsha and his team's attention to detail was fantastic and helped make our stay in Sri Lanka exceptional.
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.
From the moment Sam picked us up from the airport, nothing was too much trouble for him. if he could make your stay better he would. He offered advice and local knowledge but was never over the top. As a guide he was familiar with and had a real passion for his country. The weather was bad in the south of the country for our first week, so Aitken Spence changed our itinerary so we went northeast first and south the second week, meaning we missed the rain. How many companies would do that? I recommend this company and Sam.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Polonnaruwa, Kandy
Colombo, Polonnaruwa, Kandy
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Wonderful trip with Harsha Gayal Perera. Sri Lanka is a very beautiful country. We highly recommend Aitken Spence Travel Agency for the tour guides they work with. Our tour included the visit of the ancient capitals of the country, the most important temples and also focused on the current culture and society. A mixture of nature and history, which allows you to learn a lot from this experience. Our vacation was perfect thanks also to our guide Gayal, who made it unforgettable. Aitken Spencer Travel should be proud to have a person like Gayal. We invite all readers not to worry about choosing Sri Lanka as a travel destination full of history, legends, spirituality, colours, sound and wonderful people. You can trust an expert tour guide like Gayal and you won't run into any challenges. Enjoy this country! ! !
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
Set off on a hill country tour to visit breathtakingly lush tea estates and cultural highlights such as the Temple of the Tooth that is sure to mesmerize you. From the last royal capital of Sri Lanka to a town in the mountains known as “Little England”, discover the awe-inspiring beauty of the region, which has its own unique old-world charm.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Bungalow, Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
spanish, dutch, french, italian, german, english
Destinations
Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella
Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Even though Sri Lanka is an island, it’s not all to do with sails, sand and the sea. Experience Sri Lanka’s centuries old proud history with a hint of its traditions and culture which is no doubt exclusive only to this magical island. Formally known as “Ceylon”, Sri Lanka is also called the pearl of the Indian Ocean. Start off the round tour by exploring one of the most famous fishing destinations, “Negombo”. With quite a pleasant beach and lagoon, watch how Negombo dishes out some of the best lobsters, prawns and crabs found in the country, right on to your table or simply grab your kiteboards for an enthralling fly over crashing waves. Proceed your way towards the upper central part of Lanka to get a glimpse of the ruins of ancient kingdoms and massive Buddha Stupas. Don’t forget to take a visit to what people call the World’s 8th wonder “Sigiriya Rock Fortress”.
Beach
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Anuradhapura
Colombo, Negombo, Anuradhapura, Dambulla, Kandy
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Join this eleven-day exciting adventure in an earthy paradise. Discover a wild world hidden in the Sri Lanka National Parks, witness lush landscapes, and marvel at rich biodiversity through safari, walking and cycling tours.
AdventureActive and outdoor
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Resort, Lodge
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
spanish, dutch, french, italian, german, english
Destinations
Colombo, Negombo, Wilpattu Natio
Colombo, Negombo, Wilpattu National Park, Anuradhapura, Habarana, Gal Oya National Park, Yala National Park
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.
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.
