Sri Lanka Tour & Trip Reviews

What to Look for in Sri Lanka Tour Reviews

Most trip reviews tend to focus on some or all of these 5 key areas, not all of which may be relevant to you: the tour guide, travel company, service level, country or countries traveled in, and the trip itinerary.

Remember, just because you see a 1 star review doesn’t necessarily mean that person disliked the country.

Sri Lanka is a rising travel destination, new to many travelers, and until the last decade, many people were not visiting. There was a 30 year civil war that kept tourism away. Now that the war is over, there is a huge increase in tourism, and it’s growing every year. Sri Lanka hasn’t had much time to keep up with the growth, so in areas such as transportation certain issues can arise.

Public transportation is limited and often unreliable, which can be frustrating so it's important to keep an open mind and be flexible when traveling in Sri Lanka. The perk of going with a travel group is that private transportation is commonly used.

When you go with a tour group, consider the type of travel that you are doing. Many people love to visit Sri Lanka to see the religious sites, so there are Sri Lanka tours that are heavy on visiting multiple temples. If you’re more interested in seeing the nature side of the country, rather than visiting historical/religious sites, look through the tours to find an itinerary that match your interests.

Another mentioned frustration is consistently having to take off your shoes at historical sites, at some restaurants and other places. Some viewed this as uncomfortable. A simple fix is having shoes that are easy to slip on and off.

On the other end, many people who visit Sri Lanka fall in love with the country. There are few places in the world you can have the ocean, the jungle, the rainforest, and mountains all within a few hours drive from each other. The weather is warm year round, making it an ideal destination at any time of the year.

There is a plethora of things to do. Relax on the beach, visit tea plantations, explore the jungle, visit temples and historical sites. There are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife as well around the island. One of the most popular things to do in Sri Lanka is taking a scenic train ride through the country, which many trips offer in some form or another. One of the most popular train routes in the world, Ella to Kandy (or reverse), is in Sri Lanka! 

Another highlight is the opportunity to mingle with the locals. Reviews often mention how thoughtful and helpful and friendly the people of Sri Lanka are. When you have a tour guide who is a local, you get the opportunity to see the country through their eyes and learn about the life of the locals.

Sri Lanka is a country that is rich in culture and spending time with the locals really bring this to life. The people of Sri Lanka are extremely passionate about their country, and they want visitors to have a great experience and want to come back.

For a professional take on traveling in Sri Lanka, see the Travelstride Sri Lanka Guide »