Sri Lanka

[oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends]

Any recommendations for a tour operator, please?
I've checked Distant Journeys & Riviera, but we are restricted by dates, & neither fit.

I can’t help with an operator but it’s a really easy friendly country to get around yourself if you can. We researched areas to visit, booked some amazing homestays and hotels through booking.com, and used a combination of trains, tuk tuks and taxis to get around.

We went with Families Worldwide. Had a fab time.

Thanks, but not quite what I'm after.

Jules Vern often run group trips, but operators like Audley will build bespoke. Depends what you want

@LoveHearts69who did you book your hotels with? Can you book with booking.com like Thailand etc

It's been a while, we went in 2011, but I think we went with Hayes and Jarvis. It's such a fantastic place!

Thanks for new info.

I want a tour operator - everything organised for us.

I had a dreadful experience with booking.com ; horrible hotel in England - bunch of liars - & they did not want to know.

@BG2015 yes. Or directly with the hotel.
Another one to echo how easy it is to travel around independently.
Many people book a driver.
We used public transport.
My favourite holiday so far.

Walkers Tours ☺️ Everything booked that we wanted and arranged for us.

How do you go about booking a driver? Do you do it in advance or when you are on holiday?

Red Dot Tours were fantastic when we used them last year - they were recommended by a friend who’d also had a great experience. They are Sri Lanka based, and quite a bit cheaper than UK operators. I had a fair bit of back and forth with them to refine our itinerary and get the price down, which they did and were very quick about it. Our driver was just wonderful and the support we had before and during our trip was excellent.

We are going with KE Adventure later this year, will only suit if you like walking! It is a mix of walking and sight seeing and some relaxation, but not much.

Thanks everyone, but I want a complete tour that starts at Heathrow.

We lost a lot of money in 2020 because we'd booked several holidays with independent elements, so now I want all travel, transfers & hotels included.

Try Audley or Steppes, that’s exactly what they do.

Our pandemic experience has also made me use these companies. They build what you want with their knowledge and your guidance about what you’re looking for.

Tui do group or private Sir Lanka tours.

Thanks again, everyone.

I booked most of my srinlankan hotels with Agoda Some only a day or so in advance. If u go to bentota I can recommend Shangri lanka

We did a travelbag 8 day discover sri lanka tour in July. It was perfectly organised woth all hotels, our own driver and guide and excursions included. We then added on a few nights by the beach at the end before flying home

I really recommend it if you want everything organised for you.