Guides & tours
People who make the place make sense
Licensed guides, safari trackers, cooks and walking companions. Sri Lanka rewards being shown around by someone who grew up in it.
Sigiriya without a guide is a very hot staircase. With one it is a fifth-century palace built by a king who murdered his father and feared the retribution for eighteen years. Same rock, completely different day.
Sri Lanka trains and licenses its guides properly, and the good ones are very good. We put you with them rather than with whoever is standing at the gate.
01What to expect
Nationally licensed, where it counts
For the cultural triangle and the national parks we use guides holding the national or site licence. It is the difference between history and folklore.
Safari, honestly
Yala has the highest leopard density in the world and, in peak season, the jeep queues to prove it. We will tell you when Wilpattu or Udawalawe is the better morning.
Food, properly taught
Cooking sessions in home kitchens rather than hotel demonstration rooms. You will come away actually able to make a coconut sambol.
We will talk you out of things
Some of the island's best-marketed experiences are not worth your morning, and some involve animals in ways we will not book. We would rather say so.
03Straight answers
Questions people actually ask
Do I need a guide for Sigiriya?
Not to climb it, but the site makes far more sense with one. A licensed guide at Sigiriya typically costs US$20–35 for the visit, separate from the entrance ticket.
Which national park is best for a safari in Sri Lanka?
Yala has the densest leopard population but the most jeeps. Wilpattu is quieter and wilder. Udawalawe is the most reliable for elephants. The right answer depends on the month and on what you actually want to see.
Are the elephant experiences ethical?
Some are not. We do not arrange elephant riding or venues that keep elephants chained for photographs. Wild elephants in a national park, seen from a jeep, are a better experience anyway.
Can guides speak languages other than English?
Yes. German, French, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin-speaking guides are all available on the island, though they book out further ahead. Ask early.
No obligation
Tell us roughly what you want.
A rough month and a rough idea is enough to start. We will come back with a shape for the trip, and you can pull it apart from there.