Highlights of Sri Lanka

Fabulous trip and tour leader was helpful and gave us info about history. I'd have liked more about current governance society etc. On travelling he needs to point out more landmarks . He was kind and friendly but unlike other explore trips did not guide us to local restaurants so everyone tended to have the same hotel buffet

A very full and well planned trip - hectic schedule but as expected . Glad I tagged on 3 extra days on own to relax on beach . Loved The Koggala Beach hotel setting

The trip was well planned and the tour lead Viraj was excellent. We saw a huge amount of Sri Lanka with lots of additional detail from a local perspective. Full on as per the trip notes! Lots of early starts which made the best of our time. The holiday was wonderful. To provide constructive feedback, The hotel in Anuradhadura was called Lakeside, but the lake was not in view, only accessible via a garden, locked gate, over a road etc, the paths to the rooms were not lit and were of various gradients and steps, I'm afraid an accident waiting to happen. No hot water, inadequate A/C and security lights left on all night outside our room meant little sleep. I understood that negative feedback on this hotel had already been offered to Explore, it really was disappointing. An incidental finding was the change in hotel on arrival, an 'upgrade' we were told, in Negombo We decided to stay on in Sri Lanka and had booked the original pre upgrade hotel on our last night and found the Earl's Regent superior to the Jet Wing, in rooms, facilities and beach side location, and staff attentiveness. The time in Kandy was too short.. we arrived late afternoon, virtually at dusk and so trying to see the temple was a flying visit. It could have done with more time. The trip from Kandy to the coast road Near Columbo to get to Galle was hard work, very slow and little to see. We later went on a similar route from Nuwara Eliya to the same location via Kigulgala, which was stunningly scenic with tea plantations and wide ranging views, would recommend a change in future trips? Opportunity here for a tea plantation safari which we loved. Overall an excellent trip lots of happy memories and experiences. Thank you

This is a fabulous trip, perfect if you only have a week. Lots of variety and jam-packed. I really felt we made the most of every day. Our tour leader, Viraj, was excellent, and gave us so much insight into the country, as well as being super organised, fun and caring. He arranged a few extra visits, a highlight was the optional elephant safari in the evening, which was also great for birds.

Great guide- well organised and informative, happy to answer questions and talk about any subject. Great variety of places visited during the trip. Feel it would be improved by an extra day free in Kandy both to explore and recharge from some early starts. Also, an extra day in Koggala as Galle deserves more time. Restaurant choice poor in the evening and some hotel food poor too. Spice garden and village lunches excellent. At Koggala, better to take Tuktuks into Galle for nicer restaurants.