Personalized trips to Sri Lanka
for independent travelers

Definitely a higher-end hotel with some fantastic views and a comfortable room. Large, varied breakfast. Also ate a buffet dinner at this hotel. While eating on the later side (about 8:30) there were several items not refilled and service was a bit spotty however the manager recognizing a couple of missteps from her staff quickly made everything right.

Great hotel and fantastic location being in close proximity to the entrance to the Udawalawe National Park. Enjoyed a tasty dinner at this hotel with an incredible server.

A nice hotel with fantastic views. Large breakfast area and a great staff.

Beautiful, modern property with a friendly staff and great breakfast. Lovely swimming pool/bar area. Traveling solo, the room was fine but for a couple traveling together, the room was very small and would be impossible for two people to move around each other.

Large room, friendly staff and tasty breakfast overlooking the beautiful property. A walk each morning down a short path to the lake was a peaceful way to start the day.

Great breakfast and good size room. Friendly service and next to a neighborhood to walk the streets for some exercise. Older hotel in need of some maintenance and renovations

Be sure to explore this ancient fort and viewing three different bastions. It’s quite a large fort and after walking along the ramp parts, be sure to walk up and down some of the streets in the ancient city. It has a good vibe and some great architecture.

The best way to experience the locals and their generosity and kindness is by visiting with them. A tasting of some coconut sap paired with cassava and sambol makes this activity worth doing. Also, observe a local mining for some gems. Quite interesting the way this is done.

Don’t miss this walk to the waterfalls. It’s mostly flat, shaded and quite enjoyable. Not much wildlife to see but it’s a peaceful and serene walk. Be sure to check out the pottery making afterwards. It’s a fun experience with the locals to witness.

A great way to experience the Udawalawe National Park. Prathapa was my guide and his knowledge of the animals and birds was outstanding. He drove to some locations other vehicles did not go to which was perfect for spotting some lesser seen wildlife.

Ella town has a good vibe. My guide and I ate a tasty lunch at the Chill Restaurant. Great, friendly staff who were helpful with the menu.

A hike to Ella Rock provides some magnificent views. Totally worth the entrance fee. Be sure to take a bottled water with you but if you forget, there are a couple of stands along the trail that sell crackers, candy, soft drinks/juices and water. Additionally, be sure not to miss a spectacular sunrise at Lipton Seat. You won’t be disappointed that you woke up early with such a beautiful sight. Just be sure to take warmer clothing and wear pants as it is quite windy and chilly at this location.

An amazing experience with so many different locations. Highly recommend hiring a guide to be sure not to miss any of the sites. I had an 80+ year old man guide me through this place. His knowledge was absolutely incredible as he was a former archaeological professor at the university and had been providing tours for over 30 years. I could tell by the interactions of other guides that my guide was well respected.

This place is absolutely incredible and highly recommend using a guide for this activity…totally worth it for an enriched experience.

Interesting historical place

The Yala National Park jeep safari was very interesting, and seeing such a wide variety of animals was beyond our expectations. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to spot leopards. Their sighting did not seem realistic to us, as these cats are extremely cautious and naturally tend to move away when many jeeps gather together.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was an amazing place and well worth the long journey. Seeing the young elephants playing and watching dozens of elephants bathing and interacting with one another was a truly special and unforgettable experience

The experience was beyond expectations. We were fortunate to visit at a time when it was not crowded, yet a donation ceremony was taking place. Seeing a place of faith filled with people dressed in white and surrounded by flowers was truly moving and felt like a rare and special experience.

We could not go up due to a leg still recovering from injury, but our guide thoughtfully arranged a ride around by tuk-tuk.

We explored the village by tractor, continued by boat on the lake, and returned by tuk-tuk, as cycling was not possible due to a leg still recovering from an injury. Communication with the local guide was somewhat difficult, and we would have appreciated more explanations. It was also not entirely clear to us how the lake ride related to the rural village experience.

Amazing historical evidence. Unusual for a European culture tourist.

Very special place, great explanation about Buddhism.