7 Day Private Sri Lanka Tour Sigiriya, Ella Yala and Galle Fort

9 days itinerary

We toured Sri Lanka over 9 days with [name] as our driver-guide, and we couldn't have asked for anything better. From the beaches of Trincomalee to the climb up Pidurangala, with its stunning view of Sigiriya Lion Rock, to the safari at Kaudulla National Park, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, up into the hills of Ella with a visit to a Ceylon tea plantation, the Nine Arches Bridge and the scenic train ride, and finally some relaxation in Arugam Bay: he took us everywhere with punctuality, safe driving, and truly invaluable knowledge of the area. But what struck us most was his patience and kindness. He adapted to our pace without ever rushing us, and was always available and smiling. We felt looked after and completely at ease throughout the whole trip. We wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone who wants to discover Sri Lanka in a relaxed way and in good hands. Thank you so much! 🌴

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Amazing

I had an absolutely amazing experience in Sri Lanka, and a huge part of that was thanks to my tour guide, Chaminda. From the very beginning of the trip, he was professional, punctual, respectful, and incredibly knowledgeable about the country. What stood out the most was how much he genuinely cared about making sure I had the best possible experience. He constantly checked that I was comfortable, enjoying my time , and feeling safe throughout the journey, which made me feel completely at ease as a traveler. One moment I will never forget was when I wanted to experience Sri Lanka’s famous train ride. We were running out of time and weren’t sure we would make it. Instead of giving up, Chaminda took every shortcut possible to get us there faster, and when time became even tighter, he got out of the car and literally ran all the way to the ticket office to secure my ticket before the train departed. Thanks to his dedication and determination, I was able to enjoy one of the highlights of my trip—something I’ll always remember and truly appreciate. Thank you for making my trip to Sri Lanka so memorable!

Response from the operator: Dear Madam, Thank you so much for your incredibly kind and heartfelt review! It truly means a lot to me to know that you had such an amazing experience in Sri Lanka. It was an absolute pleasure to be your guide, and I’m very happy that I could help make your journey comfortable, safe, and memorable. Your happiness and enjoyment throughout the trip were very important to me. And of course, I’ll never forget our race to catch the train! 😊 I’m so glad we made it in time and that you got to experience one of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and unforgettable train journeys. Moments like that are exactly why I love what I do. Thank you again for trusting me with such an important part of your Sri Lankan adventure. I’m truly grateful for your kind words, and I hope you’ll return to Sri Lanka one day. It would be a pleasure to welcome you back and show you even more of this beautiful country. Wishing you safe travels and many more wonderful adventures ahead! ❤️ Best Regards, Chaminda TravelHikka Tours

via Tripadvisor

A Wonderful Holiday with Chaminda

Chaminda is a terrific careful driver and host. He collected me from my accommodation at No53, drove me to Heretika for 2 nights where I met up with my daughter. He sought out a local barber for me to have a cutthroat shave. We explored the area, swam and ate lovely Sri Lankan food. We spent 2 nights in Ella, visited temples, the tea plantation and ate buffalo curd. We drove to Ahangama and stayed by the beach and found cool restaurants and coffee shops. We also visited the Dutch Fort town of Galle and finally made it to Negombo where I flew out to Perth Australia and my daughter flew out to London. This trip was incredibly important to me as it allowed my daughter to reconnect with me and to rebuild our relationship albeit for a brief seven days. What made it perfect was Chaminda. Chaminda is an incredible human being. He is kind thoughtful, generous passionate speaks good English is a knowledgeable and patient guide honest beyond words and a very lovely man. He is now my friend and I cried when I hugged him on his way. I have travelled extensively in Asia and I am always weary of being ripped off by exuberant locals, being driven the long way to one’s hotel to ensure they get the most tourist dollars, being hit with hidden fees and costs and sometimes being lied to to enable backhanders and bribes. Chaminda is a true gentleman. He paid for tolls, temple visits, parking, water and fended off those I’ve described above. I offered to pay him his set rate (which incidentally was the lowest I could find online) upfront as well as an advance on the total cost, knowing that he had a wife or two children at home and he refused each time. On the last day I gave him the agreed funds and he accepted that with a smile and his genuine ‘thank you Sir’ even though i had worked hard for seven days to get him to call me Nic the best he did was call me Sir with true respect. I could go on about what an awesome person Chaminda is but I won’t. What I will say is if you see this review please, please employ him as your Driver. You will not be disappointed. His Buddhist philosophy shines through but he’s a true humanist and has great love for all.

Response from the operator: Dear Sir, Reading your words truly touched my heart. Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a beautiful review. It was an absolute pleasure and honour to travel with you and your daughter during such an important and emotional journey. Seeing the connection between you both grow stronger over those seven days made me very happy. Moments like these are the reason I love what I do. Thank you also for your kindness, trust, generosity, and friendship. From the very beginning you treated me not only as a driver, but as a person, and I will never forget that. I’m very grateful we could share so many wonderful experiences together — from the beaches and temples to tea plantations, local food, coffee shops, and all the conversations along the way. I already miss our laughs and memories together. Your kind words about my honesty and service mean more to me than I can express. My goal is always to help guests experience Sri Lanka with comfort, safety, and genuine care. You are always welcome back to Sri Lanka, and next time I hope it will not be goodbye, but “see you again my friend.” Wishing you and your daughter happiness, health, and many beautiful moments together. With gratitude, Chaminda

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Incredible experience in Sri Lanka

I just returned from a fantastic 4-day trip to Sri Lanka and I want to express my sincere thanks to Chaminda and Pathum for their exceptional transportation and tour guide service! We loved their tips on Colombo and Unawatuna. Trustworthy professionals! We highly recommend them!! Thank you for making our family adventure so special!

Response from the operator: Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It truly means a lot to me and Pathum to hear that you had such a fantastic 4-day trip in Sri Lanka. We’re very happy that you enjoyed your time in Colombo and Unawatuna, and that our tips and guidance helped make your experience even more special. It was a real pleasure being part of your family adventure. Your kind recommendation and trust mean everything to us. We hope to welcome you and your family again for another memorable journey in Sri Lanka! Best regards, Chaminda TravelHikka Tours

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Chamida was great and he made our trip very relaxing and on time. Really enjoyed.

Chamida was great, very professional, always in time, car super clean, with some goods tips what to visit. Chamida is very relaible and I fully recomens him jn all perspectivea.

Response from the operator: Dear Sir, Thank you very much for your kind words! 🙏 It was a real pleasure to travel with you and show you around Sri Lanka. I truly appreciate your recommendation and am happy you enjoyed the journey, the service, and the experience. Wishing you all the best and hope to see you again in Sri Lanka one day! Best regards, Chaminda TravelHikka Tours

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