Ceylon Insider Travels Reviews 9

Anna and Natalie booked a trip through Sri Lanka with Shermith. It was fantastic. We did basically nothing to organise a great trip because Shermith took care of all arrangements etc. He asked us what we wanted to do and fitted that into the itinerary. It really could not have been easier. We also had a fabulous driver - Charma - who was with us for the 2 weeks and basically did everything we asked. He took us to places we would never have found by ourselves and made the whole trip truly memorable. We could not have asked for a better experience and would highly recommend this company to anyone!

Anna and Natalie
Australia

We had a wonderful vacation in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Insider, did an excellent job creating an itinerary tailored to our wishes and budget. I can highly recommend them. We also had a fantastic guide and driver, who made the trip an even more enjoyable experience.

From our first enquiry to the end of our trip, Ceylon Insider was remarkable in every way. Communication, tour design, accommodation and food - we could not fault anything. We loved that we had individual attention with a comfortable, air-conditioned car and our own driver/guide Kapila, who was courteous, knowledgeable, caring and considerate in every way - he felt more like a friend after being our companion for the two week tour.
We felt special right from our first greeting by Kapila at the airport with orchid garlands. While Shermith had already inspired us with his attentive communication, his personal visit at Negombo before the start of the tour gave us even greater confidence that the tour would be seamless. The activities and temple visits that were part of our itinerary gave us a great overview of the Sri Lankan landscape and culture, the choice of accommodation was exceptional and the amount of free time sufficient to make the tour a relaxing experience. Wherever we stayed we were treated like VIPs, the courtesy and attention of the hospitality staff was second to none. We also loved that we had flexibility to change some arrangements along the way - we opted out of the whale-watching excursion at Mirissa, choosing instead to visit Galle. Shermith and Kapila were more than happy to accommodate our request.
We would highly recommend Ceylon Insider for anyone wanting an interesting, insightful and relaxing tour in Sri Lanka, with that touch of luxury that provides excellent value for money. Thankyou Shermith and Kapila for a wonderful two weeks in your very welcoming country.

We used Ceylon Insider Travels to book a recent trip to Sri Lanka for a 2.5 week holiday and it exceeded all our expectations. The trip was truly amazing. We were a family of 4 ranging from 15 to 75 years old. From the moment I made my inquiry to the final day of our journey, their team was friendly, responsive and incredibly helpful.
Shermith crafted a customized itinerary that matched all our varied interests perfectly, balancing must-see attractions with off-the-beaten-path gems. When I was comparing companies, before any deposit was paid it was their attention to detail and knowledge that gave me the confidence to book with Ceylon Travels. Every aspect of the final itinerary was considered and perfectly executed.
Our guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He shared fascinating stories and shared with us local stories and sights that really brought each place to life. I was exceptionally grateful in how smoothly everything ran – especially travelling with a 75 yo. The transfers were seamless, accommodations were beyond expectations, and every detail was thoughtfully planned – it was just perfect in every way.
Shermith gave great options of where to stay so that we could choose what suited us as a group. We had the pleasure of staying in luxury resorts - Heritance Kandalama, Jetwing Kandy Gallery, 98 Acres in Ella, Wild Coast Tented Lodge in Yala and Samudra Beach Vill in Galle - throughout our trip. Each resort offered outstanding facilities, beautiful surroundings, and five star service that made us feel pampered every step of the way.
Each resort gave us a memorable and luxurious experience. We loved enjoying sundowners in the infinity pools, chilling in our gorgeous rooms with wonderful views and enjoying the delicious meals.
In addition, we were able to change and tailor the trip even while we were travelling. What truly set Ceylon Insider Travels apart was their genuine care for their clients at all stages of the booking process and actual trip. They checked in throughout the trip to ensure we were having a great time and went above and beyond to accommodate any requests.
I wholeheartedly recommend Ceylon Insider Travels to anyone looking for a hassle-free, unforgettable travel experience. I can’t wait to book my next adventure with them!

I recently traveled to Sri Lanka with my 4-year-old daughter, and we chose Ceylon Insider as our agency. From the start, their responsiveness and personalized approach stood out. They quickly provided a detailed itinerary tailored to traveling with a young child, which was a major reason we decided to go with them.

Our guide, Shermith, was exceptional. He is not only incredibly kind and caring but also has an extraordinary sense of understanding and awareness, which made our trip incredibly comfortable. His attention to detail, ability to anticipate our needs, and thoughtful approach helped us relax and trust him right from the beginning.

Shermith welcomed us with thoughtful gifts and showed incredible flexibility, adapting the itinerary on the spot to suit our last-minute desires and needs. He checked in with us regularly to ensure everything was perfect—whether it was the comfort of our accommodations, the planned activities, the air conditioning in the car, or simply if we needed a break along the way. His care and professionalism made the whole experience effortless and enjoyable.

The accommodations he selected were fantastic, and the activities he organized were thoughtfully planned to suit both myself and my daughter. We had planned in advance to spend our final days in Colombo independently, without the agency. However, Shermith’s kindness and dedication extended beyond the guided portion of our trip. He checked in with us daily to see if we needed anything and even went out of his way to make our solo time in Colombo more special. He showed us Pettah Market, the tower, the train station, and ensured our departure was smooth by personally taking us to the airport.

If you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, I cannot recommend enough hiring a guide to help you discover the hidden gems and avoid common tourist pitfalls. And when it comes to choosing a guide, Ceylon Insider is, without a doubt, the best choice. I carefully researched several agencies before deciding on them, and I’m so glad I did.

Thank you, Shermith, and the entire Ceylon Insider team for making our trip unforgettable!

Long before the trip even began, we were well taken care of by Shermith. We have four young children, and it seemed no detail was too small for Ceylon Insider to cater to. No request was left unaddressed. Everything was smooth, and for the first time in a long while, my wife and I could just relax and entrust all the planning and itinerary details to the team.

We were warmly welcomed at midnight with flower garlands, and the van we traveled in had an abundant supply of water and snacks. For several days, we had requested for flexible itineraries, and despite this, we never felt like our guide was unprepared or flustered.

Our entire stay in Sri Lanka was filled with hospitality and our whole family enjoyed ourselves. We'll definitely be back, and will definitely plan our next trip through Ceylon Insider.

My friend and I chose to use Ceylon Insider Travels from the high recommendation of my sister (recommended to her from another friend's experience!). My sister and her husband toured with Shermith for their honeymoon in 2019 and still talk about their wonderful holiday. After hearing about how great Ceylon Insider Travels is for years, we were NOT disappointed. This is truly the best way to see all that this beautiful country has to offer. Shermith does absolutely everything for you: from picking you up at the airport and driving you to each destination, to planning and booking your magnificent hotels and jaw-dropping excursions. We were blown away at all the work he put into planning every detail of our vacation and how we were able to sit back and enjoy the ride (literally). Shermith not only has a vast knowledge of the history of this incredible island, but also has *insider* connections that made us feel like VIP clients. From riding in front with the engineers on the infamous train journey through the mountains, to having the best Jeep guide on the safari in spectacular Yala National Park, Shermith constantly hooked us up! He managed to secure the best room (with a bonus breathtaking view) at each of our hotels. He takes pride in being professional and ensures your stay is comfortable and cleanly. He is good at giving the clients their space and privacy for an intimate holiday, but it was also great when he joined in on activities with us. Hiking, surfing, and mealtime Monopoly Deal, to name a few. We bonded so well with Shermith in our short holiday that when it came time to drop us off at the airport departures, we were all in tears at our farewell. I cannot emphasize enough how much Shermith enhanced our experience in Sri Lanka and I can’t wait to go back!

We were in Sri Lanka for 9 days in 3 different locations: Kandy, Ella and Kalutara. We booked the whole package (the guide who was our driver with the company car) for our whole stay from Ceylon Insider Travels. At arrival we were welcomed with flower garlands and a thoughtful bag with mosquito repellent, face mask, hand sanitizer, different kind of biscuits, peanuts, gum and socks (for the temples) and a map with our itinerary and hotels. The car was very clean all the time and there were always cold water and sodas, even ice cream. :) the daily program was really well thought and we could manage to visit everything we had on wishlist and even more. He also made recommandation regarding other activities and places if we would like to include in our holiday. We got even very good rrestaurants, bars, skybars recommandation from him. When we took the train from Ella to Kandy, he booked our tickets, took us to the train and he waited for us in Ella with all our luggages which was a big plus since in this way we could enjoyed the trip to the fullest. Shermith was very polite all the time, very good English speaker, great and carefully driver since the traffic in Sri Lanka is beyond chaotic, very good photographer also (he took us really beautiful pictures with his camera and then emailed them to us). This holiday was one of our best and we traveled a lot :) Sri Lanka is a beautiful destination with a lot of fabulous places and really nice people, but our stay was clearly even better because of Shermith and his travel agency- Ceylon Insider Travels. Totally worth visiting and definitely would go back there and choose Ceylon Insider Travels again. So if you want to enjoy Sri Lanka stressfree, this is the way!

I recently visited Sri Lanka with a friend after a busy month in India doing our yoga teacher training. We hired Ceylon Insider Travels based on a recommendation from a friend. It was so amazing to be able to have someone else plan every detail of our trip so that we could focus on our yoga course and not worry. Shermith was incredibly professional, friendly and knowledgeable about the island. He greeted us at the airport with flower necklaces and welcome gifts. He drove us everywhere in his impeccably clean car and always got us to our destinations safely. Shermith went above and beyond to make sure we always had the best room in the hotel with the best views. He used his connections to make sure we had the best experiences at each attraction, often getting us access to places other tourists were not able to go. He recommended restaurants, shopping and excursions. The value of the service is way beyond the price. I would have happily paid twice what we did. I truly cannot recommend him and this company enough. Thank you Shermith for taking such good care of us and showing us the island from your perspective. It is clear how much you love your country and I can understand why; Sri Lanka is incredible. Everyone should visit, and when they do, they should use Ceylon Insider Travels :)