Great Trip with an awesome guide
Sri Lanka | Jun 9 - Jun 16, 2023

Rebecca
Rebecca H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jun 18, 2023

I had not used Kim Kim prior to booking this trip to Sri Lanka. Shehara was was very flexible when it came to the planning, especially when I came back extending the dates twice.
Our local guide was incredible, he was very knowledgable and was always looking for things for us to see and experience (e.g. for example stopping at a roadside stall for us to try fresh Jackfruit, taking us through the markets in Kandy to try various local delicacies and walking with us to a waterfall in Ella in our downtime so we didn't get lost, none of this was part of the trip plan).
Sri Lanka was an incredible place and we had the best trip, made so by the planning of Kim Kim and he support of our local guide.

Hotel Reviews
Taru Villas Rampart Street
Galle

This was a beautiful boutique hotel in the old town of Galle. It only had 4 rooms but we were the only ones here due to it being low season. The room itself was spacious and had a balcony overlooking the courtyard. The bathroom was accessed via the door on the balcony and had a good shower with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. The bed had a mosquito net which the staff pulled around the bed during turndown service. Whilst there were not any visible mosquitos it was still appreciated. We did not use the pool as we were only there 1 night but it looked lovely. Breakfast was freshly made and we opted for coconut rotis with sri lankan curries. All were delicious however there is the option for a western style breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful setting and only 4 rooms makes this an intimate stay.
Location
In the old town of Galle. Walking distance from all the sights.
Staff
Very friendly and could not do enough for you, this was similar to every hotel in Sri Lanka. The people are amazing.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lovely room and spacious balcony.
Jetwing Blue
Negombo

We only stayed here one night on arrival. We arrived late in the evening but the staff were very helpful upon arrival. The location of the hotel was very convenient, not far from the airport and right on the beach, it was a lovely place to wake up on the first day of holiday. The cleanliness of the room was ok but the spare pillows in the wardrobe were dirty and there were a lot of ants around. Breakfast was quite an extensive buffet and it was great to be able to try different things. From the hotel we went to the local fish market with our guide and also had a walk on the beach before departing.

Authenticity & Character
This is more of a chain hotel so it did not have as much character as the other hotels we stayed in
Location
Lovely beachside location
Staff
Staff were friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Overall the cleanliness was fine, there were however spare pillows in the wardrobe which we were made aware of. When we looked at these later in the evening they were dirty and there were ants on them.
Kumbukgaha Villa
Sigiriya

Kumbukgaha Villa was a beautiful and serene place to stay. It was the perfect location for visiting Sigiriya Rock and also doing an afternoon safari. We were the only ones staying at the time. We had dinner at the villa the 2 nights we stayed and both nights were treated to a feast of Sri Lankan food. There was definitely no complaining of being hungry. The room was lovely, it had a little terrace out the front with a table and 2 chairs. The bathroom is a private courtyard off the room which has an outdoor shower, sink and toilet. This is completely private and a lovely idea. We went in the pool on both days we were there which was a lovely way too cool down after a busy morning of sightseeing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hide Ella
Ella

Fantastic hotel! The most incredible room down the Ella gap. This hotel is something special. They upgraded our room for our stay. This meant we had a balcony and hot tub to enjoy the room further. The rooms were modern and clean. The pool area was spectacular being surround by jungle. The hotel is well located for everything Ella has to offer and we could not recommend this hotel enough.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ru Boutique
Kandy

This hotel is in a great location on the lake in Kandy. We had a fantastic room which had a huge balcony overlooking the lake. The hotel has a small pool which was great to have a quick dip. It was fine for us as we think we were the only ones there but it may be harder too use if the hotel was full. We had lunch in the hotel and the portion were large and the food was lovely.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
There were a lot of flies in the dining area during lunch and breakfast.
Activity Reviews
Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sri Lanka

Fantastic view from the top, spectacular to be standing in a place of such history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Safari at Minneriya National Park
Afternoon Safari at Minneriya National Park
Sri Lanka

Got to see lots of elephants, including baby elephants. We also saw plenty of different types of bird, some buffalo swimming and some lizards.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to Temple of The Tooth Relic
Visit to Temple of The Tooth Relic
Kandy

We went in the evening for the ceremony. It was a beautiful thing to see

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Tour of Galle
Guided Tour of Galle
Sri Lanka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit the Elephant Transit Home
Visit the Elephant Transit Home
Sri Lanka

This was my favourite activity. It was lovely seeing all the baby elephants have their milk.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Nine arch bridge
Explore the Nine arch bridge
Sri Lanka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hike to Little Adam’s Peak
Hike to Little Adam’s Peak
Sri Lanka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tour a Tea Plantation & Factory
Tour a Tea Plantation & Factory
Sri Lanka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ramith Karunaratne
Ramith
Ramith Karunaratne
Local specialist in Colombo, Sri Lanka | Replied on Jan 02, 2024
Hello Rebecca, Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback regarding the trip. I'm thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience. It was my pleasure to assist you throughout the journey and ensure that everything went smoothly. Your positive feedback truly means a lot to me and the entire team. We strive to provide exceptional service and create unforgettable memories for our guests. It's incredibly rewarding to know that we succeeded in making your trip enjoyable. We... Read more

Hello Rebecca,

Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback regarding the trip. I'm thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience. It was my pleasure to assist you throughout the journey and ensure that everything went smoothly.

Your positive feedback truly means a lot to me and the entire team. We strive to provide exceptional service and create unforgettable memories for our guests. It's incredibly rewarding to know that we succeeded in making your trip enjoyable.

We genuinely appreciate your support and taking the time to share your thoughts. Your feedback helps us continue to improve and deliver outstanding experiences to all our travelers. If there's anything else we can assist you with or if you have any further suggestions, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Once again, thank you for choosing us for your trip and for your kind words. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.

All the best!
Shehara