Srilanka Ramayana trail - Just returned from a wonderful journey through Sri Lanka covering the Ramayana Trail. We engaged ‘Lanka Safe Tours’ to tailor the itinerary and all the bookings. From the iconic Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, each place is unique in its own way in history and mythology. Exploring the ancient city of Anuradhapura with its magnificent stupas and sacred Bodhi tree was awe-inspiring. Nuwara Eliya’s lush landscapes, including the mystical Seetha Amman Temple and Ashok Vatika, brought the Ramayana to life amidst serene surroundings. This tour offered a perfect blend of mythology, history, and breath-taking beauty of Srilanka. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the pleasant tour experience we had during the tour. From the moment we met, Prasanna (tour guide + Driver) was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was punctual and ensured our comfort throughout the entire journey. The vehicle was clean and comfortable, making the long drives along the trail enjoyable. Prasanna possessed a good understanding of Sri Lankan history and culture, sharing fascinating insights into the ancient history of various places, including the significance of Koneswaram Temple at Trincomalee. In Nuwara Elia, we enjoyed the stories about the colonial past, the tea plantations, and the unique ecosystem of the region. Prasanna was very accommodating to our requests, including taking us for shopping, suggesting a local specialities and making unscheduled stops at scenic viewpoints along the way. Thanks to Prasanna and Lanka Safe Tours for the pleasant trip.

Best Sri Lankan guide and driver!! - We only had 4 full days to spend in Sri Lanka, but Pansilu, our driver and guide made it really amazing for us. We were able to do everything we planned to do. Highlight of my trip would be Nuwara Eliya. Breathtaking views and weather up on the mountain and inviting us over for tea at his own Sri Lankan home where we met his family and 7 cats!

Excellent time in Sri Lanka - We just finished the tour chosing 4 star hotels to stay in at each location visited. Our driver and guide Prasan was excellent, he really couldnt do enough to make sure we had an amazing time including acting immediately when we had a problem at one of the hotels. The tours we did during the tour were all excellent and we saw elephants, a leopard, monkeys, whales and many other animals in their natural surroundings. We had no problems whatsoever with Prasan or the tour itinerary but if we have one constructive comment to the tour company management it is that they should do regular quality checks at the hotels they use

Amazing Sri Lanka adventure!! ❤️ - Wow, we have just completed our tour with Lanka Safe tours and what an incredible experience it has been. This was our first trip to Sri Lanka so we chose a tour to give us an introduction to this beautiful country. We were met at the airport by our guide Aruna, who was so welcoming and immediately made us feel welcome and in safe hands. We travelled from Columbo to Sigiriya to Kandy, Ella, Yala, Mirissa and finally onto Bentota. We have visited temples,waterfalls, spice gardens, picked and sampled tea, rode trains, been on safari, whale watching and so much more. We have made memories which will last a lifetime. This trip has been made so special by our amazing guide Aruna, who is knowledgeable, kind, compassionate, attentive, fun and adaptable and who anticipated our every need and always went the extra mile to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed. The transport was comfortable and modern and Aruna was an incredibly safe driver. I would not hesitate to use this company again and we are planning on visiting Sri Lanka again and hope to catch up with Aruna!! Thank you , Russell & Anna French

Remarkable Experience - Our Driver/ guide Mr Malith was a very honest and straight forward and friendly person. His driving skill is exceptional He is very careful while driving. His only motive was to keep his guest happy and safe. Out hotels were very very good As promised by Mr Lakshan his planning was excellent Safe Lanka tours is very safe for the tourists. I was very much satisfied with their service and promise. I highly recommend Safe Lanka travel agency for splendid and hassle free visit to beautiful Sri Lanka

Great vacation! - We had a wonderful holiday in Sri Lanka last week, thanks to Lanka Safe Tours. They took care of everything right from start to finish.Our young and friendly tour guide, Pansilu, ensured that we enjoyed all the good things the island nation had to offer to tourists.

Memorable trip! - Lanka safe tours was a perfect choice for us for a hassle-free tour of Sri Lanka. We just put our feet up and enjoyed the vacation while these guys took care of everything for us. Their tours are well planned and well executed. Our guide, Pansilu, was great. Polite, friendly, and always available, he really made our tour so enjoyable. Will definitely recommend Lanka safe tours to anyone planning to trip to SL.

An Exceptional 8-Day Tour with Kavishan - I had the pleasure of spending 8 days touring Sri Lanka with Kavishan as my driver, and I cannot recommend him enough. From start to finish, his professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication to ensuring a comfortable and safe journey were remarkable. Kavishan went above and beyond to secure last-minute tickets for the scenic train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella and even arranged front-row seats for the Kandy Cultural Dance show, making these experiences truly unforgettable. Throughout the trip, I felt completely safe and could trust him—he is honest, reliable, and always kept my best interests in mind. The car was always spotlessly clean, well-stocked with water, and the air conditioning kept us comfortable throughout the journey. His deep knowledge of Sri Lankan culture and history, along with his passion for tourism, added great value to the experience. I also appreciated his positive attitude and willingness to accommodate my requests, whether adjusting the schedule or joining in on some of the hikes. Thanks to Kavishan, this trip was not only smooth but also filled with memorable moments. If you're planning a tour of Sri Lanka, I wholeheartedly recommend booking with him—you won’t be disappointed!

Exceptional Experience with Lanka Safe Tours - Our recent tour to Sri Lanka with Lanka Safe Tours was absolutely fantastic. From the very beginning, their planning was seamless, ensuring that every detail of our trip was carefully considered. The hotel selections were top-notch, providing us with comfort and relaxation throughout our stay. What really stood out was their flexibility in accommodating all of our requests, making the experience feel personalized. A special mention goes to our driver, Kavishan. He went above and beyond his role, not only providing prompt and reliable service but also acting as an insightful guide. Kavishan offered valuable information about the places we visited, enhancing our understanding of the local culture and history. His patience was remarkable—he waited for us without rush and even joined us on treks, making the experience all the more enjoyable. We felt incredibly safe and comfortable in his company, which made the journey all the more memorable. I highly recommend Lanka Safe Tours for anyone looking for a well-organized and personalized travel experience in Sri Lanka.

Private tour of Sri Lanka which takes in hillside tea plantations, temple-packed cities and a safari to see elephants. - This is a review of the TUI Classic Sri Lanka Private Tour with an additional 4 days on the beach undertaken from 1 to 13 November 2024, beginning and ending from Heathrow Airport. While this review makes mention of Hotels and other locations visited within the Tour, these have more detailed reviews filed separately on Tripadvisor. (There is no Tripadvisor option to submit separately on Trip Advisor but this WAS NOT arranged through or supported by Lanka Safe Tours. Local facilitation was Aitken Spence Travels.) This is a good overview of Sri Lanka for those who have never visited, encompassing all the key photo opportunities. The tour element is managed wholly by your local tour guide who accompanies you for the tour, transporting you between locations and providing good local insight for all the sights. This is a key point which I had not fully understood; this is not a group tour, not even a small group, this is you, your partner and your guide for 8 days from arrival at Colombo airport. This tour includes half board accommodation at hotels which is more than sufficient with each hotel providing both local and more international cuisine. Sri Lanka has two national languages with English spoken everywhere and all signs in 3 languages. Day 1 – London to Colombo We travelled from Heathrow Terminal 4 via Abu Dhabi to Colombo on Etihad Airways. (Included in the TUI package but all dealings post booking with Etihad.) Terminal 4 is very much now the poor relation under refurbishment currently but fine enough. We ate in the Prince of Wales pub which was comparable with other establishments. The flight to Abu Dhabi (13:55pm take off and 8 hours) was fine in a large aircraft with in-flight entertainment and service. The stop over was only 90 minutes which was tight given our inbound was 20 minutes late but still simple enough to transfer. The second leg to Colombo was overnight arriving at 8:30am (5½ hours ahead of UK) on a very full plane with limited facilities and space. Little sleep was had on the outbound journey. We were met by our Guide – Mahinda – at the airport and he rightly ensured we obtained local currency at the airport before departing. (There are ATMs in arrivals, and these are perfectly fine for withdrawing currency. At time of travel 1GBP was 350LKR; get used to big numbers.) At every stage of the tour Mahinda provided excellent hints and tips and having bumped into similar guides during the tour, I get the feeling there is a high-quality standard from all. (This is a credit to the Sri Lankan Tourist Board who – reportedly – enhanced the focus on tourism over 10 years ago, recruiting multilingual Sri Lankans solely to support and encourage tourism.) Mahinda took us to our hotel - Cinnamon Lakeside – and having provided a further copy of the itinerary, advised he would meet us at 8am the next morning to properly commence the tour. We had the afternoon catching up on sleep before spending the evening in the hotel. The opportunity did exist to visit Colombo however caution was given by Mahinda in this regard unaccompanied (and more relevantly it was a Saturday with Premier League football available to watch in the hotel!) Dining in the Cinnamon Lakeside (Dinner and Breakfast) was an average experience but this was heavily influenced by the volume of large tours being accommodated that day. I have no hesitation in recommending the Cinnamon Lakeside for tourists and would visit again if in Colombo. Day 2 – Colombo to Dambulla It is a 4-hour trip from Colombo to Dambulla (c.160km) and you learn very quickly that (a) you really don’t want to be driving in Sri Lanka and (b) it takes a LONG time to get anywhere due to winding, narrow roads and the driving environment. Tuk-Tuks and scooters are everywhere but without doubt the maddest drivers on the road are the Local Bus Drivers who race along the roads, taking few prisoners in their robust machines. To be fair, this service seems to be a lifeblood to the Sri Lankan residents while the legacy of Great Britain also persists with brands such as Singer and Leyland still prevalent. Our first tour visit was to the Dambulla Rock Temple; an impressive complex of 5 caves dedicated to Buddha. While this is very impressive, there is quite a climb up the steps to get there (only later did we discover there is an alternative route but this is very lengthy and should only be pursued by those with very poor mobility). Mahinda provided excellent background on the Temple; it is a good photo op and a Sri Lanka ‘must do’. The other key learn is that entry to all sacred temples requires the removal of hats and footwear; ensure you are wearing easy on/off shoes and if you want to keep socks on, be prepared for these to become very dirty. This situation is worsened if it is raining. For the Dambulla step climb, you may want trainers or good footwear (rather than flip flops). It is 100LKR to the team who look after your group footwear while in the temple. After the visit we went directly to the Amaya Lake Hotel where we would spend the next 3 nights. While the main pool was closed (reason unclear), there was a secondary pool which was fine, albeit at one end of the complex. All residents have their own lodge in the grounds and this was a very spacious room. Lots of monkeys around and you can hear them on the roof regularly! Meals were of good quality with the hotel not feeling overly busy, despite a regular volume of guests during our stay. The team were very keen to help. Day 3 – Polonnaruwa and Minneriya National Park Safari An 8am start to drive (90 minutes) to Polonnaruwa, a world heritage site. Mahinda again provided excellent oversight of both the Museum and all the ruins and statues. Again, there are several temples where shoes need to be removed and you will first encounter a former Temple of the Tooth Relic. There are a number of these in Sri Lanka reflecting the history of the country and the seemingly frequent moving of the seat of power. This is a 3-hour visit and big photo opportunity where you will learn a lot about Sri Lankan history and more about Buddhism. (Visit toilet in the Museum as no further facilities on site.) After this we had an obligatory TUI visit to a Traditional Wood Carving establishment. While the craft is impressive, this is a typical chance to sell produce to you. We declined, and the prices were significantly higher than could be had at similar establishments. (We did buy a wood carving but at another establishment and at price we were more than happy with.) The Tour Guides do have to evidence that they have taken you to these establishments. For lunch, Mahinda took us to a local restaurant where a wide range of Sri Lankan dishes were available in a buffet style. There were several other tourists being brought in and the service and food was very good. (Buffet was 2500LKR/person with a Beer 1000LKR. The local Lion Beer is 4.8% and perfectly good; better than many other local beers around the world.) After this we went to Minneriya National Park Safari which was my wife’s expected tour highlight. The park is extensive and, surprise surprise, the elephants were at the furthest part of the park. When located, there was a sizeable herd and they are clearly used to the visitors so another excellent photo opportunity. A safari is a must do in Sri Lanka however you may get lucky an encounter a wild elephant on the trip; we did not. ☹ Day 4 – Sigiriya and Habarana Village Another early start to visit, and climb, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. This is a rewarding ascent to the Fortress which commands 360-degree views and provides great photo opportunities. A must do if you can in Sri Lanka. However, this climb is not for the elderly or anyone with any form of mobility issues; a significant number of people are escorted back down from various points every day. If in doubt, do not go up. My wife spent a very social hour at the foot in the company of another and this was a welcome change with a predominantly ‘just us’ holiday. After this we went on a ‘Sri Lankan Village Trip’ which involved a ride to the village on a rotavator (which seems to be a common form of transport), then via boat – including the making and presentation of ‘lily pad hats’. As a group with others, you participate in making your own lunch, using locally sourced ingredients and spices. Everyone is encouraged to participate including learning how to properly extract coconut meat and harvest rice for cooking. This was a particular highlight of my wife’s trip. We returned to Amaya Lake afterwards to spend the afternoon and evening before departure the next day. Day 5 – Dambulla to Kandy Mahinda took us to experience the Dambulla Wholesale Fruit & Vegetable market where local farmers bring their goods to be sold, and retailers buy stock you will see available at the roadside stalls throughout Sri Lanka. While most are familiar, the drumstick plant was new. We tasted this in a curry and while we could recognise the good qualities, it will not be finding its way on to the shopping list! Approximately 2½ hours to Kandy, this included a stop at a Spice Garden in Matele where you receive an excellent oversight of the history and application of spices now produced to Sri Lanka. This is a mandatory stop and again we declined to purchase and goods. Mahinda took us directly to the Amaya Hills hotel where we spent the rest of the day. This was somewhat unexpected as we had expected to visit the Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic. As with the Amaya Lake, monkeys abound and you need to keep your room windows locked shut when not there! Day 6 – Kandy We were picked up at 8:30 and went straight to the Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic; Mahinda had a plan! The daily ceremony is held at 9:30 every day and we would not have seen this the day before so we did get some great cultural immersion from attendance. The Temple has an extensive museum, including details of the 1998 bombing during the Civil War. Once again, a must do and great photo opportunity. We then had the opportunity to visit a local market and tour of Kandy before visiting the Prasanna Gem Centre where you learn about the mining of gems and their refinement for use in jewellery. Another mandated stop however if you are interested the quality and price of the jewellery on offer should be considered. We passed time at the Royal Botanical Gardens before taking lunch at the Oak Ray Regency Kandy. This was a buffet style lunch of good quality with wide selection of drinks available. The Oak Ray Regency was also the venue for our Cultural Show which included an hour of Sri Lankan music and dance, rounded off with Fire Walking. The was a small element of audience participation and was a good show that kept everyone engaged. Day 7 – Kandy to Nuwara Eliya From Kandy, the route winds upwards into the Tea Plantations of Sri Lanka; road progress slows in a number of areas. On the way, as well as photo opportunities for Tea Pluckers, there is a tour of the Damro Tea Plantation Factory which is highly informative. They are still in the original building with the original machinery from 1928! After a tour and cup of tea, there is the opportunity to purchase tea and a Tea Plantation Safari (20000LKR). This is the final mandatory stop on the TUI tour. The trip continued to the Heritance Tea Factory hotel; the highest located hotel in Sri Lanka, housed in a former Tea Factory. All Tea Factories are similar in design and this has been converted to a 4-star hotel with good facilities. (No pool.) This was another highlight for my wife as at about 2:30pm the clouds came in, the sky darkened and we had rain, thunder and lightning for the rest of the day; including the hotel being struck by lightning. (Perfectly safe, this is a regular occurrence and the hotel is fully protected.) The hospitality in the hotel was excellent with a well-stocked bar and good restaurant. (No shorts/ beachwear at dinner, smart casual required.) Day 8 – Nuwara Eliya to Negombo The final part of the Tour Guide support is conveying you to either the Airport (if returning home or going onwards) or your final hotel. I had been presented with options by TUI when booking and had (inadvertently) moved the default choice in the Maldives to a Sri Lanka hotel. (In retrospect more flights may not have been wanted anyway.) Our hotel – Club Hotel Dolphin – resulted in a 6-hour final transfer! We left at 8am and arrived at 2pm; poor Mahinda then had a 4½ drive home having not seen his family since before picking us up at the start of the holiday. The drive was uneventful and we have nothing but massive respect and thanks to Mahinda for his driving and support during our time with him. FIVE STARS+ for Mahinda. Days 9-13 – Club Hotel Dolphin Very similar to All Inclusive hotels the world over, this 154-room hotel is on a par with others and delivered ‘as expected’. 2 pools which includes the Main Pool (next to Flippers Pool Bar and the Snacks & Nibbles area) where all the main Animation Events are and the Cove Pool which is quieter and more geared for adults without kids. (Cove Bar also has snacks available.) For the first time this holiday we had chips (fries) which were available from the Snack Bars which actually provided a break from the rice-based meals that dominate the local cuisine. Our room was of good size and the TV includes Premier League games; no TV in any of the bars. The hotel team were all keen to help where they could however the Restaurant could get very busy just on opening time. Our flight back was 4:20 in the morning which meant a 1am pick up from the hotel; the TUI booking did run to 12 noon on day of departure so we had the room until pick up. We only saw the TUI rep briefly and this was to confirm pick up time but we had contact details in case of need. (The TUI app is quite useful in this regard.) Day 13 – Arriving Back in London Arrived on time at 2:30pm however a 4-hour taxi ride back round the M25 meant it took 24 hours from leaving Club Hotel Dolphin to getting in the door. Cannot be helped but early night and back to work the next day! Summary A well organised trip that I would recommend to all. All entry to the attractions is covered in your holiday price (and paid by the Tour Guide on the day). While Sri Lanka was beautiful, this trip means you may feel you have ‘seen it all’ and beach holidays can be had a lot closer to home. Mahinda our tour guide was a major asset and greatly appreciated.