Koon Holidays (Pvt) Ltd

As travel professionals ourselves, we approach every journey with high expectations regarding organization, authenticity, logistics, and overall guest experience. Our trip to Sri Lanka exceeded those expectations in every aspect.

The itinerary was thoughtfully designed, combining cultural heritage, nature, and local life in a balanced and well-paced program. From the impressive archaeological sites of Dambulla and Polonnaruwa to the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress, each experience was carefully scheduled to maximize enjoyment while avoiding unnecessary fatigue. The transition into the hill country, with its tea plantations and the spectacular scenic train ride, offered a beautiful contrast to the cultural triangle, while the Yala National Park safari and the historic atmosphere of Galle provided a perfect conclusion to the journey.

Operationally, the trip ran flawlessly. Transfers were punctual, coordination between activities was seamless, and the overall flow of the program demonstrated strong destination knowledge and professional planning. This level of execution allowed us to fully enjoy the destination without logistical concerns, something we particularly value as industry professionals.

A special recognition goes to our local specialist, Dhanushka, whose responsiveness, attention to detail, and deep understanding of traveler expectations ensured a smooth and personalized experience throughout. Communication was clear, adjustments were handled efficiently, and every service reflected genuine care and professionalism.

Sri Lanka stands out as a destination offering remarkable diversity within short travel distances, culture, wildlife, landscapes, and warm hospitality and this journey showcased it in an authentic and meaningful way.

We confidently recommend both the destination and the organizing team to travelers seeking a well-structured, high-quality travel experience delivered with professionalism and local expertise.

The Kimkim travel team, especially Shalindra, planned an absolutely magical 5 day trip to Sri Lanka for us!
Kanishka was our guide and we cant rate his guide and chauffeur skills highly enough! He is a genuinely kind and knowledgeable person!
He anticipated our every need with every excursion, and once he got to know us, even planned a few unexpected ones that turned out to be some of our very favourite memories.
Please recommend him HIGHLY to ALL of your clients and we will do the same once we get back to Abu Dhabi!
The Deer Park and Amaya Hills hotels were among some of the best we’ve ever stayed in and the staff are super friendly and accommodating.
The elephant safari in Minneriya, Dambulla Rock Temple, Kandy, Temple of the Sacred Tooth, Lion Rock and bathing the elephants at the elephant orphanage are absolute must sees!
Sri Lanka is a magical country and we will definitely be visiting again!!

My first interaction with kimkim was with Shalindra. From the very first communication and throughout the trip planning process, Shalindra was fantastic. He was quick to respond to every message I sent and answering all of my questions. The 10 day trip to Sri Lanka exceeded my expectations. However, my biggest thank you goes to my tour guide, Pramith. He was so on top of things with the schedule and when we had time while driving from one place to the next, he made suggestions of other places to go that were not part of the itinerary. I think we learned a lot from each other, had many laughs along the way and had such a varied itinerary from history, culture and education to hikes, nature walks and views of some magnificent scenery. The food did not disappoint either. Having a food allergy, Pramith made sure I was able to eat safely and took good care of me. Lastly, I must mention about the people of Sri Lanka. They are among some of the most friendly people I have met in my travel experiences. My observation and interaction with many people during the trip, I could tell that their smiles and friendliness was not an act just for tourists, but is their way of life. Overall, an amazing and unforgettable experience thanks to Pramith and Shalindra.

Hotel Reviews

The Covanro

Veyangoda

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

Athena Lake

Dambulla

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.

Kevans Casa

Mahiyangana

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.

Sofia Colombo City Hotel

Colombo

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.

Heaven Seven Hotel Kandy

Kandy

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

Athgira River Camp

Udawalawe

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.

Activity Reviews

Discover Ella

Sri Lanka

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.

Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

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

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Ancient Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

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.

On the way city tour around Ella attractions

Sri Lanka

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.

Safari in Udawalawa National Park

Sri Lanka

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.

Rathna Ella Combined Village Experience

Mahiyanganaya

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.

Udawalawa Village Walk - 04

Udawalawe

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.

Galle Dutch Fort Visit

Sri Lanka

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.

Our trip to Sri Lanka was absolutely wonderful, and a big part of that was thanks to our guide, Ajith. From the very beginning, everything was thoughtfully planned, yet always flexible to accommodate our needs and preferences.
Ajith has an excellent knowledge of Sri Lanka — its history, culture, nature, and everyday life — and he shared it in a way that was both informative and engaging. The itinerary was perfectly balanced, taking us to beautiful and interesting places without ever feeling rushed.
What truly stood out was Ajith’s flexibility and attentiveness. He was always ready to adjust plans, suggest alternatives, and make sure we were comfortable and happy at every step of the journey. We felt well cared for and completely at ease, which allowed us to fully enjoy the experience.
This was a memorable trip in every way, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. I highly recommend Ajith to anyone planning to explore Sri Lanka — he truly made our journey special.

We traveled as a group of three adults aged 60–71 and the experience was truly outstanding. The trip was carefully organized and executed flawlessly at every stage, without delays or unexpected issues, and included a wonderful balance of both cultural and natural sightseeing. The only challenge for us was that much of the food, even when described as “not spicy,” was still too picante for our taste. Traveling in Sri Lanka also involves long hours on the road, but Ajith, our guide-driver, is an excellent and very safe driver and always took care to plan regular and comfortable stops.
From the very first day, Ajith made us feel completely taken care of. Every step of the journey was thoughtfully planned and continuously adjusted to our needs and wishes — from food preferences and meal timing to sightseeing pace, personal interests, and engaging conversations along the way. In several places, he paid for tickets in advance using his own money, ensuring smooth entry, saving us time, and eliminating any waiting. At restaurants, he consistently arranged tables with the best views. What truly set Ajith apart was his care and responsibility in an unexpected medical situation. When one of us experienced an acute health issue, Ajith handled everything calmly and professionally, accompanied us to the hospital, and ensured we received proper care. Overall, the journey was not only enjoyable but deeply memorable. We wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a guided tour in Sri Lanka.

Activity Reviews

Explore the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex

Sri Lanka

Very special place, great explanation about Buddhism.

Quality of Experience

Discover Ancient Polonnaruwa

Sri Lanka

Amazing historical evidence. Unusual for a European culture tourist.

Quality of Experience

The place is maintained in a good condition, the complex is huge, but mostly ruins, you need the story behind to get impressed.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide of the place was very clear and knowledgeable

Rural Village Trail in Habarana (Cycling, Boat Trip & Lunch)

Sri Lanka

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.

Quality of Experience

More explanation from our English-speaking guide prior to the experience would have been helpful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The possibility of communication with the local person on the tractor through mediation by the English-speaking guide

Transport

Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sri Lanka

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

Quality of Experience

Wonderful views!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tuk-tuk guide

Discover Kandy: Temple of the Sacred Tooth visit

Kandy

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.

Quality of Experience

The atmosphere of the temple was unique

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Kandy

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

Yala National Park Jeep Safari

Sri Lanka

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.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our jeep driver was so special

Galle Dutch Fort Visit

Sri Lanka

Interesting historical place

Quality of Experience

Relax in Negombo

Negombo

Pramith, our main driver and guide, was abs terrific! Friendly and always smiling

Activity Reviews

Safari in Udawalawa National Park

Sri Lanka

Fantastic. Being so close to the animals was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very good at spotting animals

Transport

Visit to Elephant transit home in Udawalawa

Sri Lanka

Really interesting place

Quality of Experience

Discover Ella

Sri Lanka

Beautiful town in the mountains. Really enjoyed the Ella Rock hike. One of my few criticisms of Dhanushka was he didn't fully brief us on the hike. Called it a walk.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Local guide was terrific

Transport

Hike to Diyaluma Waterfall

Sri Lanka

Really fun experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Lipton's Seat & Tea Estate

Sri Lanka

Beautiful spot. Also enjoyed the Tea factory

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Galle Dutch Fort Visit

Sri Lanka

Pretty Fort, albeit a little touristy

Free Day at the Beach

Sri Lanka

Liked the beach. Didn't liove the hotel

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with very friendly people. The trip had a nice blend of Tours and trekking. My guide, AJ, did a great job of giving me options for each day. I was even able to hike up Adams Peak!

We had such an amazing experience in Sri Lanka. It is a beautiful country with thriving cities, unspoiled nature and a rich history. Dhanushka planned such an excellent, activity filled trip for us with excellent hotels and awe inspiring sites. Our guide Ajith was world class. He shared so much knowledge and history about his country, was flexible and accommodating with our schedule and made visit Sri Lanka the trip our a life time! We spent 9 days exploring various cities and areas. Highlights were the train to Ella, the Diyaluma falls, stilt fishermen and amazing food! We highly recommend visiting Sri Lanka with Kimkim Travel

Activity Reviews

Explore the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex

Sri Lanka

The cave complex is unbelievable. The preserved art and paintings take your breath away.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rural Village Trail in Habarana (Cycling, Boat Trip & Lunch)

Sri Lanka

The family we visited so open and accommodating. They taught us to make roti and sambal. And taking all the modes of transportation made it an even better experience.

Arrive in Negombo

Negombo

The experience at the 'Explore Negombo “Lellama” Fish Market' was actually really cool. I found that doing this activity combined with seeing the stilt fishermen made for an interesting experience.

Hike to Diyaluma Waterfall

Sri Lanka

The hike to Diyaluma Waterfall was absolutely amazing and a must-do. The scenery was breathtaking, and it was worth every moment spent getting there.