Mango Vacations Reviews 134

An Unforgettable Journey Through Sri Lanka!

My recent trip to Sri Lanka was nothing short of spectacular, offering the perfect balance of history, culture, nature, and relaxation. From ancient ruins and majestic temples to stunning beaches and thrilling safaris, this trip had it all.

A highlight of the experience was our incredible tour guide, Wish. Not only was he knowledgeable and helpful, but he also had an amazing talent for capturing the most beautiful moments with his photography skills! His dedication to making the trip enjoyable and memorable truly stood out.

Exploring the historic sites transported me to another era, while the breathtaking beaches provided the perfect backdrop for relaxation. The safaris were exhilarating, offering close encounters with Sri Lanka's diverse wildlife—a dream come true for any nature enthusiast.

Every day brought a new adventure and a deeper appreciation for this beautiful country. Sri Lanka's rich culture, warm hospitality, and stunning landscapes make it a destination I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a fulfilling and diverse travel experience.

A huge thank you to Wish for his guidance, positivity, and those picture-perfect memories. This trip will remain one of the best travel experiences I've ever had! 🌴🌅🐘

I had a great holiday withe Mango Vacations in Sri Lanka with lots of variety and even more fantastic experience. I won't forget it in a hurry.
And Hasanka played a big part in this. He not only got me through the "wild" traffic perfectly.
He had the magical plan and the sensitivity to show me the right spots in his country at exactly the right time.
He is also an improvisation genius.
If you have something on your mind, he realises it immediately or if the weather doesn't well, he always has an alternative plan ready. The whole trip felt like travelling with a long-time friend.
Sorry, I forgot, I was travelling with a friend.
Thanks again for the unforgettable moments.

Vishwa Lakshan - Awesome guide

Summary: Vishwa is an outstanding guide and I highly recommend him – further comments below.

It was the first time my wife and I have been on holiday in Sri Lanka (19 days), our first time on a private tour, we were not sure what to expect.

Vishwa met us in Negombo at an Air B&B we had booked – the air B&B was tricky to find but he showed up on time, with a smiling face and an air conditioned car, we were off to a good start.

From there, there was so much sight seeing for the first few days. But before that, on the first day of travel, he asked us where we would like to have lunch, both of us immediately said, something local and with good spice. Vishwa took us to a small, but well established buffet for lunch ( and by that I mean an off the road restaurant with exceptionally good food and exceptionally good spice and if you like hot curries and chillies then you would be fine). After enjoying a really good meal (given we enjoyed the food and the spice - Vishwa said there would be no problem taking us to all the special food places he knew). Vishwa introduced us throughout the tour to some amazing foods and some awesome off the normal track places to eat.

Getting back to seeing the historical sites, we saw many. Vishwa’s overall knowledge of Sri Lanka, it’s history, politics, Temples, local religions, Flora and Fauna is outstanding. What is most impressive is that he finds a way to weave it into your overall experience and not overwhelm you with too much information all at once. I actually learned things about the Sri Lankan people that I will remember.

Vishwa was also very patient and caring. Climbing Lion Rock (~1200 Steps) is a major task for middle aged people like us, he never rushed us and making it to the top was awesome and he shared in our success and we all had selfies together. After climbing Lion Rock, I added another 300 steps for Dambulla Cave in the same day. That whole day almost killed me, but I made it, it was 100% worth it, and I learned more at Dambulla Cave about Buddha than anywhere else.

We also chose to go off the normal track and experience Ambuluwawa – if you have the time it was well worth the trip, we climbed up to the 10-11th floor – after that it gets a bit doddgy as the stairs become very narrow, but the views are great. You can get great photos from the 10th floor.

Moving on to the Safaris, we did two they both were awesome. The safari in Kawudulla National Park (lots of Elephants – about 90++ -- the most wild elephants I’ve ever seen in my entire life) and Yala National Park where we actually saw three Leopards and an elephant that wanted to get very, very close and say hello). These excursions are a must, while I can’t confirm that you will see either elephants or Leopards (as they are wilde animals) you would be doing yourself a disfavour if you didn’t try. Vishwa organise both of these for us. He also came along on the Safari but I also loved that fact that he was just as excited to see the elephants and the Leopards as we were. Trust me, seeing them in the wild is an awesome experience.

Driving & Safety – Driving in Sri Lanka is nothing like driving in Australia. Having said that, Vishwa is an extremely good driver (in Sri Lanka) & I always felt comfortable.

I get the feeling that Vishwa loves his role as guide and driver and he was always available and willing to go the extra mile and help in any way he could.

If you are willing to lean into a rich and fulfilling Sri Lankan experience and open to trust someone like Vishwa to show you the best Sri Lanka has to offer, then you will enjoy a tour with him.

I highly recommend Vishwa.

I had a fantastic experience on my tour. I ended up as a solo traveler and my tour guide (and now firm friend) Keshara gave me an incredible experience. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip, with 2x safaris both amazing and getting up close to elephants and a leopard. Experienced the best sunset ever from Little Adam's Peak looking out at Ella Rock...and the sunrise from Ella Rock the next morning was great also!

Keshara really went the extra mile to make my experience memorable and unique. Meeting all of his family and being welcomed in to their homes was incredible and I shall be forever grateful for that invitation. Keshara also organised an impromptu birthday party for me in Mirissa which was awesome. I extended my stay by a couple of days and Keshara took me to his family home in Colombo and then to the airport, which he didn't have to do.

So many awesome memories and Keshara's photography skills and graphic design background helped to capture them.

Very special trip, would 100% recommend.

I recently completed the 8-day solo backpackers tour around Sri Lanka with my guide, Hasanka, and it was an unforgettable experience! The tour was meticulously planned, taking me to all the must-see spots across this beautiful country. Hasanka went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. His warm, friendly, and considerate nature made the trip even more enjoyable. He was always attentive to my needs, and his deep knowledge of Sri Lanka’s culture and hidden gems made the experience truly special. I can’t recommend this tour or Hasanka enough! This trip exceeded all my expectations, and I can’t wait to return to explore more of Sri Lanka!

We found our guides at the airport, right after we collected our luggage.
Our guide’s name was Thili and our driver’s was Pavi.
Both of them were very accommodating and helpful, they brought us wherever we wanted, no matter how the road was nor the distance.
Thili explained us a lot of things about Sri-Lanka, about its history and geography and culture, about Buddhism and he guided us around the Polonnaruwa archeological site.
Pavi drove us everywhere around the country with a very soft and safe guide.
In Kendy we had some troubles with the car, but they solved the problem promptly and we didn’t lose any time, nor had any discomfort.

We strongly suggest them as guide and driver and we are looking forward to meet them again!

Company very well organized and always helpful in case of change or adjastment
Wonderfull experince overall

The driver was very helpful good skills and very polite

Great experience in Sri Lanka thanks to Mango!!! We spent 12 days togheter and everithing was Perfect

Amazing travel company for Sri Lanka.

Just finished a 16 day tour as a family of 5 travelling all around the island. It was incredible, the best holiday we have ever had.

Nadeeka who runs the business is so helpful, knowledgeable and professional.

Our guide Vishwa Lakshan was amazing; he made the holiday so special. Can’t recommend him more highly. He’s so clever and knowledgeable, and kid and great with kids. Always available 24/7, nothing was any bother. Such an awesome guide.

Our journey through Sri Lanka with Mango Vacations was an unforgettable experience. The agency manged the organization very well and responded to our inquiries quickly. Our driver, Hasanka Thambugala, was not only a safe driver but also an outstanding travel companion who enriched us with insider tips and gave us deep insights into the country, people and its culture. He always catered to our wishes and ensured that our trip was perfect. A tip for travelers: If you encounter any problems with accommodations, inform the agency immediately to ensure a quick resolution. We are grateful to Hasanka for the wonderful time and highly recommend him and Mango Vacations. This trip will always be remembered.

We as a family of 5. 3 "children" from 17 to 23 had a excellent trip too Sri Lanka in early July. Mango Vacation with our guide Wishwa and our driver picked us up at the Airport late at Night, get us too the first hotel. The rest of our travel was great. Nice country, with nice people. We got to se a lot of history and culture. A lot of nice views. Our highpoint was probably the elephant safari and the Safari in Yala.
Our trip was well organized, and a big shout out too our driver that got us safe wherever we went in a quite chaotic traffic. Glad i didn't drive. Great Hotels they had booked for us. They where excellent when some itinerary was cancelled too find new itinerary's. All inn all we had a very nice family holiday, and will probably visit more times. Loved the people, loved the green nature.
Locking forward too next time
Best Regards Fam Hauff from Norway.

My friend and I spent 12 days traveling around Sri Lanka, and Hasanka accompanied us throughout this amazing journey! Hasanka was a valuable support during our trip: not only did he patiently drive us from one city to another (we changed locations every day), but he also provided us with great suggestions on which attractions to visit, the best times to travel, as well as excellent accommodations and restaurants to try. He definitely made our time in Sri Lanka more enjoyable and unforgettable. We strongly encourage anyone who wants to visit Sri Lanka to rely on Hasanka—he is an excellent travel companion and a professional driver!

The guide and the driver were friendly, helpful, reliable and they took good care of me during the trip.
Sometimes I felt like being dropped of at some tourism-hotspots maybe because of a comission?!
The trip in general was safe, the hotels were as described in the itinerary and I have seen a lot during one week.

We visited Sri Lanka in July/August 2024 for 19 days. Without doubt the best way to get around is to hire a vehicle and driver. The reviews online for mango vacations were all excellent so we booked with them and we were not disappointed. They assisted us with our itinerary and hotel recommendations before we travelled and this was enormously helpful. The vehicle was perfect for our family of 5. We were collected from the airport and our adventure began there. Our guide Thilina and our driver Roshan were first class. They looked after us so well, always making sure we had the very best experience and could not do enough to help us. They were excellent at recommending places to visit and good places to eat. They even accompanied us on our hikes up Pidurungala rock for sunrise, up Ella rock, little Adam’s peak and up numerous waterfalls to make sure we followed the correct route and were safe/ not getting lost. They were such good company and a wealth of knowledge and information about the country and the places we were visiting. When we decided to take a train ride from Ella to Haputale they even helped us buy the tickets. And on another day booked us a Sri Lankan cooking class. All in all they ensured we had the best possible holiday experience and we couldn’t be more grateful. We would whole heartedly recommend mango vacations and particularly Thili and Roshan to anyone visiting Sri Lanka and wishing to get the most out of the holiday. Thank you.

We visited Marawila, Wilpattu national park, Sigriya, minnereya national park, polonaruwa ancient ruins, Arugam bay, Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Kandi.

We booked a car and drive with Mango. Hasanka was an excellent driver, speaking perfect English. He drove very safely and efficently, always on time. He gave us excellent advise on activities and visits. He has a very good knowledge of Sri Lanka landmarks. He is a driver and a guide all in one ! The vehicle was very confortable, with reclining seats and A/C. Very good value for money. I recommend !

We had an amazing time in Sri Lanka, thanks to Thili and Sajith from Mango vacation for driving and guiding us around. They have been super friendly and helpful in making sure we got the most out of our trip, arranging the tickets to e.g. the train ride to Ella and the temples, driving us to restaurants in town late in the evening, climbing another round of steps when one of us lost his ticket for Dambulla cave temple - just to name a few. We strongly recommend them for your trip to Sri Lanka - you won’t regret it!

We had a fantastic 10 day trip through the southern beaches, Yala, and into Ella, facilitated by Mango Vacations.

Our driver, Hasanka absolutely made the trip what it was. If you want someone to help facilitate an incredible trip through Sri Lanka, you need Hasanka. He was always super polite, punctual, responsive and communicative. He gave spot on recommendations for accommodation and activities. He anticipated our needs (before we even did), took us to get snacks & provisions, and first aid supplies when one of us had a hiking injury. He literally saved our trip when a bank ATM sucked in our debit card and we almost left it behind. He quickly spoke with the bank manager (thank goodness as we likely couldn't have translated all that info) and got our card back on the spot! (That help alone was worth every penny we spent on the tour!) Most importantly, he deeply cared about our safety and overall experience. We simply cannot recommend Hasanka highly enough!

The only thing that could be improved was the communication from Mango Vacations (Mr. Nadeeka, the owner/manager?). We were taken aback when the original price, which was quoted and accepted, was increased just days before our trip (and while we were in transit) after we inquired about booking another (separate) ride to the airport for one of our group. We also waited for 3 days for a response when we inquired about extending our tour.

All in all, a fantastic trip.

Mango Vacation is reliable, helpful, and flexible as well. Their quick response helped me a lot.

Ravi's driving was nothing short of exceptional during our trip to Sri Lanka! His careful and patient approach ensured our safety and comfort throughout the journey. Who needs a GPS when you've got Ravi? His navigation skills turned our planned routes into a captivating adventure filled with unexpected turns and delightful discoveries. Over the course of 10 days, our island exploration evolved into an epic saga, thanks to Ravi's guidance behind the wheel. I'm immensely grateful for his willingness to accommodate our impromptu plans and his knack for uncovering hidden gems and breathtaking views along the way. Our memories of this road trip will forever be cherished, all thanks to Ravi's expertise and dedication. #roadtripmemories