Family Highlights of Sri Lanka

Another excellent trip with Explore! Amazing tour leader, so knowledgeable about a vast array of subjects. Beautiful country The Group got upgraded for accommodation on the trip twice which is a nice surprise. That said a few of the hotels we stayed in were dated and bathrooms a bit mouldy! The trip is a lot of a driving around which is only downside - would have liked more time in Kandy to explore so the itinerary was a bit full on

Fantastic busy itinerary, lots of variation in the days & full of adventures. I would recommend removing Wilpattu as the safari and accommodation both were less than desirable. Great for birders, not so much families. That might would have been enjoyed more in Kandy or Hikkaduwa. Also, the wave of highs and lows with accommodation just didn’t work. From guesthouse to 5 star is just too inconsistent. Moving from bougie Kassaba Lions Rock to mold on the walls at Kilulgala Guesthouse didn’t go over well. Rama was a great guide & the driver/assistant did a magnificent job.

Sri Lanka is a truly wonderful country to visit. We enjoyed every part of the tour and it was fantastic how our guide made sure our son got to have the most exciting experiences. Highlights of the trip were spotting elephants, river rafting, lions rock at sunrise, the game safari, drinking tea and tasting the delicious local food. The Sri Lankans made us feel very welcome and our local guide Ash was brilliant, very informative and made sure we were well looked after.

Really excellent trip - we saw and experienced so many things. Only downside is it meant a lot of travelling on the bus and only one night in every hotel. Highlights were the Safari - seeing the elephants especially. Climbing Lions Rock at 6am and the delightful food we had along the way. Our guide, Chamodi was very enthusiastic and friendly. She was especially good with the children.

Chamo is an exceptional tour leader. Beyond being highly knowledgeable, well-organized, caring, and friendly, she often went out of her way to enrich our experience. Whether it was gifting us necklaces made of seashells, organizing lunches and dinners on our free days, or arranging a spontaneous visit to the Fish Market in Negombo, she consistently added thoughtful touches. She paid close attention to each member of the group, accommodating individual needs while still keeping the tour running smoothly. Her enthusiasm and passion for Sri Lanka shone through, and it was truly a pleasure to travel with her. The itinerary, however, has room for improvement. At times, it felt like there was a lot of driving and not enough opportunity to fully enjoy the places we visited. For example, Ella is a stunning town, but we didn’t have time for activities like hiking or ziplining since we arrived in the evening and left the next morning. Extending the tour by a few days would make it feel less rushed and allow for more meaningful experiences. Our favorite activity was rafting, and my son especially loved the swimming pools. The safari, on the other hand, was a bit tiring and somewhat disappointing, with long drives and not much to see. Thank you!