Kimkim Trip Reviews for Sri Lanka

Overall a very enjoyable and enlightening trip. A real mix of nature, beautiful scenery, fascinating people, remarkable history, delicious food - and scary driving (not by our driver).
The diversity of the country was surprising - beautiful and relatively clean sandy beaches - better than most you will find in Asia.
The accommodation in general was very good - topped by the historic and immaculately presented Grand Hotel at Nuwara Eliya, although the Deer Park Hotel out close to the ancient remains at Polonnaruwa had a beautiful setting overlooking a broad lake and with interesting features. The only disappointment was the Yala Adventure experience where the glamping tents could have done with some maintenance and the mosquitoes were too friendly.
The history at Polonnaruwa and Lions Rock was amazing - equal to any we have seen elsewhere in the world..
We did enjoy our brief stay in Kandy but found the hotel selected - although providing a beautiful outlook across the broader Kandy area, was just too far out and on a steep incline to allow an easy exploration of this ancient capital. Our program had us somewhat stranded for the afternoon in the hotel when we would rather have been exploring.
The traditional meal preparation provided by some local families was surprisingly good.
Our driver and guide, Shan, we always very well presented, spoke excellent English and thankfully a safe driver - we always felt safe in his clean and modern Prius car. We would have appreciated it more if he had joined us climbing Lion Rock and when we were walking around Kandy and the botanical gardens so we could have learnt more of the history and culture of this intriguing island and its varied people.

We had a great experience with kimkim.

Shalindra was very helpful during the organising phase. He was quick to respond, adapt and had our best intentions at heart.

Our guide, Ossie was just as good. Not only did we get a personal chauffeur but a local who cared greatly about his country. He wanted us to experience Sri Lanka fully (which we did!). The experience wouldn't have been half as good without him!

The hotels selected by the local specialist Shalindra were all good quality and value options. The driver organised through the local specialist was a very experienced driver and a great tour guide with good local knowledge of the history and customs of the area. The trek to the Knuckles Mountain Range was a highlight, we had the expertise of a local guide, tracker and medic all accompany us on the tour. The visit to the local village was a little unorganised, the bike tour was short and not very well explained by our guide, but we had a great lunch in the village and the food was exceptional. We were a little disappointed by the tour of Kandy, which took in a gemstone factory and wood making workshop, which were not part of our original itinerary and were not of interest to us, so felt like a bit of a waste of our time, as we had not requested these stops and would have liked more time in the city. We also were unsure around tipping throughout the trip, as we had spent a significant amount of money already on hotels and food, to then be told by the driver that tipping at least $1000 RP per tour guide was expected this was annoying as we had assumed all tours and guides had already been pre-paid. I would suggest that the tour company should be more upfront about these additional costs, other it seems like there are many hidden costs, that although the tipping is voluntary, we were not made to feel like this was the case. Overall we were happy with the itinerary and tour organizer, but more detail from them around what was covered in the costs and the tours would have been invaluable before we arrived.

As someone who usually plans all my own travel.........I am happy we went with KimKim!
As someone who usually plans all our own (extensive) travels and doesn’t particularly like traditional tours, KimKim’s model intrigued me. I liked that they surveyed the type of trip I was looking for. I loved the fact that they use destination contacts local to the region. I loved the fact that they did all the vetting of guides and accommodations for me. Then, with so many options in my chosen destination and unfortunately a tight time schedule, I appreciated the customization based on all of the above.
We had a wonderful (albeit too short) tour of Sri Lanka. Shalindra listened to us well and put together the exact itinerary we were looking for. He was knowledgeable, communicative and responded quickly to any questions or concerns. He was available for support before and during the trip. Kapila, our guide, was friendly and knowledgeable. He was good company and a very safe driver at what appeared to us to be very challenging road conditions???
We loved the chosen boutique hotels and found the country fascinating. We will return to Sri Lanka to cover more ground when we can allot the amount of time that It deserves. Thanks to all involved.

We had plan to visit Sri Lanka this year, however after the events at Easter time we almost gave up this trip. We are glad we have done it. Just spend 2 weeks in Sri Lanka with Kimkim and I totally recommend it.
We had a great time here and we have visited amazing places. Sri Lanka is an amazing destination that combines awesome nature, landscapes, history, beach and food.
Anoj was great, always helpfull during the trip, making this a wonderful experience.

I didn't have any expectations about it, and the whole trip surprised me, specially my driver: what a good mood, i have to say. Since we had to drive for several hours almost every day he truly made the difference. Hotel and food were good as well, so the tours, the places; its entire history. I believe this opened my mind about Sri Lanka, and that's one of my favorite feelings about a trip.

Dear KimKim
Our driver Nishantha was very helpful, polite, punctual and always provided a clean car each morning. He opened the door for me and was forthcoming with helpful information during our trip.
Our favourite part of our time in Sri Lanka were the safari camps. Mahoora safari camps were excellent. Our first camp in Wilpattu was exceptional. Our naturalist/guide was so interesting and informative. Everything about the camp was exceptional. The food, service, facilities, vehicles and safari's were wonderful. Our second safari camp in Udawalawe was wonderful also. We didn't particularly like the dogs in the park but apart from that the experience was fabulous. We didn't have a naturalist there like in Wilpattu but the guide/operational manager was most helpful. The food was beautiful and the staff were just wonderful. We just loved our experience in both safari camps. I will certainly recommend them to our friends. Our accommodation during our stay was good. Unfortunately my husband got Salmonella while staying in Cassandra Cultural resort which was most unfortunate. He ate some meat at dinner which he feels resulted in his illness. He was unwell for at least four days which made his holiday less enjoyable. Unfortunately he was not well enough to go to the Tooth Temple and cultural show or travel on the train as per our itinerary. He was too weak and when not travelling spent the rest of his time in our hotel bedroom. Our last hotel in Colombo was a bit disappointing as they did not serve alcohol in either the hotel or restaurant. I wish we had know this prior to booking this accommodation. We like to spend our evenings over dinner with a nice bottle of wine. Therefore we had to find a restaurant in Colombo in the pouring rain where we could relax over dinner. I should have checked the miles/kilometres we would be travelling before finalising our itinerary as I felt we did too many miles. We probably should have gone to Yala safari camp and Udawalawe which were closer together rather than all the way up to Wilpattu. We loved our hotel in Kandy, I could have stayed there longer. I should have stayed at a nicer place in Nuwara Eilya. We went to dinner at The Grand Hotel which was a beautiful establishment. The villa we stayed in was nice but small and I much preferred The Grand Hotel. Anyway, these are things I have learned during our visit to Sri Lanka that will assist me when booking future holidays. Regards Julie Stretton

We had an absolutely amazing Time. Mr. K was a gracious host, extremely knowledgeable, personable and a great conversationalist. I would recommend this trip to anyone.

What an amazing tour. From the moment we considered this trip Shalindra offered assistance. We catered everything to our wants and our dreams were fulfilled. Kapudeh (forgive the spelling) was informative and helpful but also intuitive, giving us time to breath, time to enjoy and time to sit back and watch the amazing scenery of Sri Lanka pass by. Our guide went above and beyond. We stopped where we wanted, ate what we wanted and shopped where and when we wanted. We loved the Leopard Safari, the Elephant Safari and the home cooked meals in a working farm. The tea plantations were amazing. The hotels were all great but our favourites were Deer Park and Fern Gully. Deer because it was first class with first class food (dodgy internet but worth it for the breathtaking location. Fern because it offered an oasis of quiet. The grounds were spectacular and the peace was blissful. With only a couple of rooms, this hotel offered privacy in an old, authentic, colonial building. We met the happiest man on earth who worked there. Shalindra, you offered us a great trip and we received a spectacular one. Thank you

We are a couple in our 60’s so this trip was going to be quite adventurous for us.
We made a late decision to visit Sri Lanka so to be fair to our specialist Natasha there wasn’t a lot of time for communication.
After the Easter bombing we decided to ignore advice not to go. Security was tight & we could not have felt safer. The people were so welcoming & grateful that we had come!
Our personal driver Loxely had good knowledge, was very calm /reliable & a cautious driver.

Most memorable - Sigiriya Lion Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, Ella nine arch bridge, Galle Fort, Arugam Bay, Kandy Esala Pera Hera

Least memorable - Travelling far North, Delft Island, 3 safaris (1 is enough)- we saw more wild animals roadside,
Travelled the full length of the country (mostly 70km limit) & return in 22 days.
We probably tried to fit a little too much in so would have liked less temples & more down time esp at the beach.

Best coffee experience - not cheap but worth it!
Hideaway Cafe, Arugam Bay
Espresso Italiano, Sigiriya

We were do happy we did not cancel out trip to Sri Lanka. The country felt very safe and we loved every minute of it. The Easter Sunday bombings were a terrible blow to this country but we hope in no time tourism will be thriving again.
Our specialist Shalindra was excellent at working with us in developing an itinerary that fit our desired and also our driver Mr Anoj, was great and we felt well looked after.
Thank you very much KimKim team for providing us with a memorable trip.

Our 15 day tour with our guide and driver Sanjaya was most enjoyable. We visited most of the main tourist sites. Sanjaya was both knowledgeable and informative about the history and culture of this beautiful country and was a confident and competent driver. We really enjoyed his company and attention to detail. He took a little extra care to show us some of the foods and fruits of the island and always knew a good place to eat.

The various types of accommodation were just as we had requested them. All of them were reasonable in price, clean and with the basic amenities that we needed. We didn't want anything flash and yet we wanted an opportunity to meet people. The accommodation arranged met those requirements. We stayed in hotels, homestay, a safari camp and self contained BnB types of accommodation. Of particular note were our homestay at Alex's Homestay in Kandy where we enjoyed home cooking and great conversations with our hosts. They were lovely people. In Jaffna, we stayed at D'Villa with Raj and his team and once again enjoyed his company and his home cooked Sri Lankan breakfasts. He loved a chat and was always on hand to provide information or assistance.

The Lion Rock at Sigiriya was most impressive though we needed some help from the guides to climb the 1 200 steps. We could only marvel at the ingenuity of the third century artisans and craftsmen who built the water gardens and sculpted the rock formations. Similarly, the rock temple at Anuradhapura , with its beautifully sculpted Buddha and ancient roof paintings, captivated us. indeed, all the temples in the various cities were of great interest to us, particularly with Sanjaya's guidance and information on their part in the culture of the country. We were disappointed not to be able to explore the highland tea country a little more because of the weather - foggy and rainy.

In summary, we believe we got great value for money and, despite arriving at a difficult time after the Easter bombings, we felt safe and comfortable wherever we went. We can certainly attest that the situation is well in hand and encourage people to come and experience this magnificent country and meet its friendly people.

Thanks to the folk at Kimkim for putting together a fantastic trip.

We had a amazing experience in Sri Lanka, our tour guide Rukan was so helpful and supportive to us on our trip. He was a very safe driver and organised our days very well.
Sigiriya rock’Lion rock’, was wonderful to see and to climb to top for breath taking view.
Kandy, we enjoyed, visiting the Temple of Tooth and our Cooking class at Thotupala Residence.
Train ride to Nuwara Eliya; was a experience, lots of scenery and lots of singing by the locals.
Udawalawe- Leopard trails, was a great highlight on our trip, accommodation could not fault, safari tours were amazing.
Accommodation at CEU Ceylon was great, looked after us very welcoming, enjoyed our stay.
Thambapanni Retreat our least favourite accommodation, transferred to Thambapanni waves pavilion, it was exceptional..... wish we stayed there the 1st night.
Overall we had a great time and hope to come back one day!

Shalindra was great from the first contact. He listened to what I suggested and offered a good selection of hotels and itinerary and was happy to change when I made suggestions. Anoj was our driver/ guide and was excellent. Initially confusing due to airport changes that were last minute due to the increased security but we caught up finally. Hopefully the next client will be met and escorted to the car park. Anoj was quite flexible and made changes for us to visit the elephant safari instead of orphanage when I commented that I would prefer to see them in the wild. The safari was a highlight of the trip. Only one disappointment when the Pigeon Island day trip was not delivered as expected. This was an expensive day that was changed to another area without consultation which pailed in comparison to the expected. There was no refund or apology. Luckily the additional pricey seafood lunch redeemed the morning. Anoj was very knowledgeable and was a talented guide. He was a safe driver and handled all the armed roadside checks in his stride.
I would not recommend the Spice / Herb garden. It was interesting but was an opportunity for a high pressure commission sale that did not deliver the price discount as promised and left us feeling very uncomfortable.
The recent bombings caused massive cancellations of foreign tourists which left many of the hotels we visited almost empty which did influence the service and meals offered to us but this was out of everyone’s control.
My husband and I had a great time. Colombo Court Hotel and Maalu Maalu Resort in Pasikudah were the highlight for accommodation and the crystal blue water and beach in Pasikudah was breathtaking.
I would recommend both Shalindra and Anoj for anyone travelling in Sri Lanka.
Regards,
Wendy & Ross
Sydney Australia.

Sri Lanka lived up to our expectations and then some. The people, the places, the food. Incredible! The vast majority of accomodation selected by Shalindra was fantastic, whilst our guide Indika was knowledgable, friendly and kind. In spite of the horrible attrocities that occurred during our time in Sri Lanka our memories are treasured. Sure to be back one day!

My wife Anthea and I had never been to Sri Lanka previously so we had no real understanding of the country or people and really no expectations for the trip other than what we had heard from others.

However we have come away from our trip absolutely stunned, amazed and thoroughly satisfied, it is the most beautiful country and warm and friendly people and we have bought away memories that will stay with us for our life time.

We can not fault the engagement and support we have had from our liaison Sandun, he was prompt, listened carefully to what we were after, was always helpful with the questions we had and overall built for us a truly amazing itinerary!

Arriving in a new country for the first time is always daunting and full of concern however we were incredibly lucky to be met by Mr Dammika Bandara who we learnt was to be our guide for the trip. He quickly became a long life friend (!!!!!).....and look after us through the chaos of the Easter Sunday bombings, through driving us always safely across many miles or country side and busy roads, through always taking time to point out things of interest and having us visit places we didnt know existed, through sharing meals of friendship and finally a warm goodbye and promise we would be back and the opportunity to meet his lovely son!

We thank Dammika's family for sharing him with us for our two week journey and we hope one day we will get to meet them in person :)

There were many highlight places for us but none more so than Wild Grass Resort, Sigriya Rock, Yala National Park and Galle and Thropoban Pavilion Resort. Dammika and I conquered the Little Adams Peak trek!!! and Anthea and I adored our special dinner night at Mahoora Luxury Safari Park. We were incredibly lucky to view both elephants and leopards in the park and we loved our afternoon at the Galle Fort a Sugar Bar and Bistro.

We are absolutely going back again and exploring the north of the island!

Yasantha did a great job and managed to tailor an amazing trip based on "Trails of an Ancient Kingdom" that perfectly fitted our desires. We decided to extend the 10-day programme, and modifying the itinerary, adding extra days of hiking, planning accommodation and connecting us with local trekkers and guides was always done instantly. Communication before our trip was excellent and ran very smoothly, all the questions that we had were answered which gave us the impression to be taken care of in a very personal way that you usually can't expect while using a booking platform. In the country itself we got in contact with awesome local guides, all the staff of Eco Team Sri Lanka works in an outstanding way, well trained, so kind and helpful and with a stunning experience and awareness of the nature (Knuckles Manigala trekking, Eshan and his team for the Belihuloya trek through the jungle, Adam's Peak and Russell and all the people at the Udawalawe Big Game Camp). Thanks to our driver Sanjaya who took us safely to all the exceptional places that this country has to offer.

A wonderful holiday, made better by our local guide and driver, Dammika.
Very saddened to hear about the bombings.

Had an amazing trip to Sri Lanka with a group of friends in March/April 2019. The Blue Whale watching in Marrissa was a highlight (for me) as was the safari tour where we came very close to elephants and all sorts of wildlife. Travelling on the roads in Sri Lanka is not for the faint hearted - our driver Anoj was excellent and we felt safe and comfortable at all times. Distances can be deceiving - one day travelling a few hundred kilometres took us over 6 hours - which was exhausting - some roads are narrow and congested with traffic of all sorts (including domestic cows wandering about). Our accommodations (suggested by Kimkim) were all excellent choices - we especially loved the riverside tent camp. A useful tip for people using this service is to check beforehand or specify if you wish your accommodations to be near multiple options for your evening meal, quite often we found ourselves with only the option of eating at the hotel where we were staying - which were all excellent, we had amazing food and was all very reasonably priced. Also due to the time travelling to each destination meant that we often went without lunch, which wasn't really an issue as the breakfasts included in each hotel were plentiful and always included a hot meal option. Meeting local villagers and experiencing a traditional meal cooked over an open fire and eating it with our hand was another highlight - we drank bottled water the whole time but had no problem with bad tummies - the high quality of the hygiene practices of all the food places was a relief. The booking experience with Shalindra for me was excellent - he was quick to respond to all of my changes and requests for information - he called during the trip to ensure all was going well - which was appreciated. I requested an early change to add the whale watching to the itinerary, which I expected the accommodation would also change to suit, however it did not, we ended up travelling 2 hours one way to our hotel to only then have to get up really early the following morning to backtrack 1 1/2 hours to get back to where we had travelled from he night before. I guess I should have checked this at the time I made the change (however I expected this sort of detail to be considered and sorted before the final bookings were locked in). Overall it was still an exceptional service and company to have done this trip with. A really special shout out to Anoj our driver who was amazing throughout the whole trip, from the very start when my luggage did not appear at the airport (stressful) he spoke to the locals and sorted everything out, to the very flexible and friendly manner with which he conducted our tour and supported us through everything right down to accompanying us into small local shops to ensure we had no trouble communicating what we needed. Thank you team! I would highly recommend KimKim, Shalindra and Anoj to everyone and anyone!

We've just returned from a 9 day trip of Sri Lanka.

We had an amazing time. It was very straightforward to organise our trip online. We were connected with Sadun from Experiential Journeys and he provided great service. Updating and amending our itinerary so we could fine tune it was also easy.

When we arrived we were met by Dammika at the airport. He handled our trip seamlessly. He was a great driver, in the crazy Sri Lankan traffic. He was also very knowledgeable about all things Sri Lankan. He also arranged a surprise birthday cake and present!

Our highlights would be the train trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, the amazing scenery and a visit to a tea plantation. Udawalawe would have to be a standout. We saw so much wildlife - peacocks, water buffalo, crocodiles, lizardss, birds and 6 elephants! The coast was stunning and relaxing. Then there was the people, day to day wildlife spotting and a turtle sanctuary too.

The hotels were all great, only one was a little out of the way. As it was towards the end of the tourist season we often had the run of hotels. Our favourites were Seasons Villa, glamping in Udawalawe, Joes Resort and the Galle Face Hotel.