Personalized trips to Sri Lanka
for independent travelers

Our recent trip to Sri Lanka was nothing short of spectacular, thanks to the exceptional hospitality and professionalism of our driver/tour guide, Anura Kumar, and the outstanding service at Hilton Resort Yala – Safari Ranger, where Sanka made our stay truly memorable.

From the moment we arrived, Anura Kumar ensured that our journey was smooth, comfortable, and packed with insightful experiences. His deep knowledge of Sri Lanka’s history, culture, and hidden gems added immense value to our trip. Whether it was exploring ancient ruins, enjoying scenic coastal drives, or discovering local delicacies, Anura’s warm personality and expertise made every moment special. He went above and beyond to accommodate our requests, making sure we had a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout.

Our stay at Hilton Resort Yala – Safari Range was the perfect retreat after days of adventure. Nestled close to Yala National Park, the resort offers breathtaking views, luxurious comfort, and world-class service. Sanka, in particular, stood out with his exceptional attentiveness and dedication. His personalized service, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality made our stay extra special.

The Yala safari itself was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were fortunate to witness incredible wildlife, including leopards, elephants, and exotic birds, all while being guided by expert ranger who ensured a responsible and respectful wildlife experience.

Overall, this trip exceeded all expectations. Sri Lanka’s natural beauty is breathtaking, but it’s the people—like Anura Kumar and Sanka—who make the experience truly unforgettable. If you’re planning a visit, I highly recommend both Anura as your tour guide and Hilton Resort Yala for a luxurious yet immersive adventure.

The trip was very good. The accommodations, with one exception, were excellent. The itinerary was also very good. Our guide, Aruna, was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable about all of the places visited. Furthermore, he was very good at identifying birds which was of interest to us. He was also flexible regarding the schedule. An example, we arrived early into Colombo and to our hotel at the Heritance Kandala (excellent hotel!!). By the time we checked in we we had a few hours free so we went to the Dambulla caves instead of visiting them on the way to Kandy. Visiting them on the way to Kandy would not have provided enough time as the drive to Kandy is long. The only hitch in the itinerary was the day in Kandy. We did not attend a puja at the temple of the tooth which we now realize was something that we should have done. We visited the temple of the tooth but a puja would have made the visit better. In Kandy the hotel was too far outside the city. A very nice place but it would have been better to be in the center so that we would have wandered around the city a bit. The stop at the Gem museum in Kandy was not good. We understood that it was an attempt to sell us jewelry which is o.k but, unfortunately, the mineral displays were very week. Not much to see except what was for sale. At least the spice stop was interesting. We were glad the our train tickets were 2nd class so that we could open the windows. Our walking tour of Galle by Aruna was very good. We are glad that we did not do any of the optional activities because Galle was a nice place to just wander around. All in all an excellent trip with an excellent guide.

Hotel Reviews

SKYLOFT KANDY

Kandy

Good hotel but too far from the center of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heritance Kandalama

Dambulla

Fantastic hotel!!! Great rooms, excellent food and wonderful design and location. Very good staff. The only negative is the very slow and bumpy access road to the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Excellent architecture.

Location

Blends nicely into the hillside. Great views overlooking the lake.

Staff

Very good massage services

Cleanliness & Comfort

Broomfield by Jetwing

Nuwara Eliya

Excellent location near Victoria Park. Very good food and interesting a history of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

History back story of the hotel as a place owned by a former women prime minister

Location

Staff

Very small staff. Efficient and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was a bit small but very comfortable

Taru Villas Rampart Street

Galle

Excellent location. Hotel was a former villa with a nice swimming pool. Great staff. Well decorated and very comfortable rooms with 4-poster bed and mosquito net. Very good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Set in a former villa so very authentic

Location

Staff

Very helpful and friendly. Always available.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

Very special place but also very crowded. We went mid-morning because the poor weather meant no sunrise but it was still very crowded. The route up was crowded and for those that are afraid of heights or in poor shape something to be avoided. However, even if you don't make the climb to the top the site is a good place to visit. The paintings on the side of the site that are seen on the descent are wonderful. Photos are prohibited of the paintings but the museum does have reproductions that can be photographed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dambulla Cave Temples

Sri Lanka

It was pouring rain when we were there but that was o.k. because the art is in the caves that are out of the rain. Wonderful Buddhist art...paintings and statues.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aruna was very knowledgeable about each cave. He also gave us as much time as we wanted to spend at the caves. He also had umbrellas which were useful give the heavy rain.

Transport

Afternoon Safari at Minneriya National Park

Sri Lanka

We actually visited the Hurulu Eco park which is near Minneriya and is a better place to see elephants this time of year. We did have some great views of the elephants and some very good bird sightings. We did get some rain but the open jeeps could be enclosed when it was raining so we stayed dry.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aruna was very knowledgeable about the birdlife in the part. Our driver was very good at getting good views of the elephants when there were a lot of jeeps all together.

Transport

The open jeeps are good for wildlife viewing and could be enclosed when it rained.

Tour the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

The 1000 year old ruins of Polonnaruwa were amazing! The extent and qualify of the ruins were surprising. The area is big but all the important sights were accessible by vehicle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide/drive was very knowledgeable about each site and the birds.

Transport

Very comforable car but the back windows were tinted that did obscure views out of the windows.

Tour the Sacred City of Kandy

Sri Lanka

The temple of the tooth was fascinating. However, it would have been better to visit during a puja so that we could also see the temple drumming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka

The train ride from Kandy was excellent. Comfortable and scenic. Good visit to a tea plantation and a nice walk around Victoria park (some excellent birds in the park).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Glad that the staff arranged for second class tickets instead of first class.

Transport

Very fun train ride from Kany to Nuwara Eliya

As a senior woman travelling solo my 6 night tour of southern Sri Lanka could not have been more perfect. Kapila, a lovely gentleman who was my guide and driver, was incredibly knowledgeable, kind, and flexible. Whether a riverside yurt/tent in the forest, beachside, or downtown urban setting, all the accommodations were perfect: clean, modern, with helpful staff. The arranged safaris and tour of the Galle Fort were amazing, but I think my favourite part was Kapila sharing a visit to his Buddhist temple and just completely relaxing on the beautiful Weligama beach. I could not have asked for a better experience.