Experience the Real Sri Lanka
2006-2010
Reviews - other years
Neil and Theresa UK April 2010
We had a fantastic 5 day tour,stayed in some amazing hotels. Upul was very very good, extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Saw some real Sri Lanka. Safari was excellent and the elephant ride was awesome. This was our first trip here in Sri Lanka and we would definitely come back to Sri Lanka and book more tours with Upul. He is a lovely man (or as us geordie's would say canny Lad).
Sue and Martin Jessop
What a great time we had!
We’d already booked our flights and hotel in Sri Lanka before we discovered Tailored Tours but decided to take a weeks tour with Upul in the middle of our holiday. He was so helpful via email while we were planning it and very efficient in his replies. Unfortunately Upul was already booked on a tour during the days we wanted to travel but offered the services of his colleague Kalum who is a trainee guide and about to sit his final exam. We accepted his offer and how pleased we were. Kalum is a lovely man - kind, courteous and trustworthy. He anticipated our needs and nothing was too much trouble for him. He introduced us to aspects of Sri Lankan life that we wouldn’t have encountered without taking the tour. We met up with Upul and his guests at the bungalow overlooking the stunning Ella Gap and all had a great night together dining and drinking Arrack. The sunrise next morning was out of this world!
Many thanks to both of you for such a wonderful time and the memories we brought home with us.
Sheila and Roger Fisher Glos UK February 2010
Thank you Upul for making our first trip to beautiful Sri Lanka so memorable - a wonderful guide, safe driver and great travelling companion. You made sure everything was just right for us and showed us so much along the way-nothing was too much trouble. We loved the insight you gave us into your culture, religion, history, wildlife and Sri Lanka life.We leave happy and relaxed, thankful for all you have done for us and shared with us.
Charlotte and Matt Keen UK February 2010
Fantastic tour - Thank you for your long hours and fitting so much into such a short space of time! Thanks for putting in the extra effort to provide Sri Lankan food for lunch + getting up early for the leopard hunt! Really enjoyed out day in Yala, with great breaks at the beach and river for food. We've really appreciated getting to know you and seeing a bit of the 'real' Sri Lanka - not just the tourist traps and giving us confidence to go out and explore! Well done!
Hunsa Punnapayak- Bangkok Thailand - December 2009
Thanks for showing us around your beautiful country and Buddhist cultures and wonderful temples.
Cherdchai Thiratinrat -Thailand December 2009
It's very nice to know you. Thank you very much for your excellent guide in Sri Lanka
Michael Betcher USA December 2009
An excellent tour throughout with good choices of hotels and sites to see,and an extraordinary guide in Upul. I will recommend him highly to anyone considering a trip to Sri Lanka.
Sarah Betcher - USA December 2009
Thanks so much for a great experience in Sri Lanka. We learned so much about the culture of the country because of your knowledge. All of your time and careful preparation was greatly appreciated and you've good driving skills!
Rungsang Betcher - USA December 2009
Thank you very much for everything. We loved every places we went and very wonderful
Nan and Dave Walker + Karen and Michael Clarke - UK - November 2009
We have all had a wonderful and informative tour with Upul who showed and took us to all the interesting sights. All the hotels that we were located into were to a very good standard. Upul is a very good and careful driver and a most interesting tour guide. Thank you very much.
I
Leo and Sharon Flatters - Suffolk UK - October 2009
Having just spent 4 very different nights and 5 most enjoyable days, travelling from Negombo, through the Elephant orphanage, on to Kandy, then through the mountains and down to the coast at Dikwella - we can honestly recommend the experience and the services of someone we didn't know but will now call one of our special friends - Upul. Thank you so much! + yes I will send you a copy of my daily blog
Arne Dam and Lenneke - Netherlands - October 2009
We started our vacation with Upul at the third day of our stay in Sri Lanka. At 20th of Oct Upul picked us up from our hotel in Kandy at 8.30 sharp Upul was waiting for us in the lobby. First drove to Dambulla to visit the cave temples, afterwards we nearly survived a storm at the Lions Rock :-). Whatever you ask or want to know about history of his country Upul knows the answer! He is really a walking encyclopedia!! From Sigiriya we travelled to Nuwara Eliya and see the tea plantations .... in the hotel we discovered ARRACK!! We'll never forget that night and took some bottles with us back home. We took the train, always late like us, to Ella and settled ourselves at the Ella Panorama Hotel WHAT A VIEW!! Climbed the little Adams Peak and had a rest underneath a tree enjoying the sound of the wind through the leaves and enjoying the silence. Visit Yala national park/ 1/2 day,and we see elephants, crocs, wild boar, monkeys, deer, birds and
.......the leopards (2 times!!) also thanks to our driver!! Stayed at the pool in Tissa and got sunburned, then stay 2 days at Mirissa at the beach. On our last day in Sri Lanka, before departure to the Maldives, we had a wonderful dinner at his family.
Upul made always sure that we have great accommodation, he never gets "dull" telling the history of his country, it seems every time he tells it is the first time. Upul is a SAFE driver in crazy Sri Lanka traffic. I won't miss those public buses!!
Thank you Upul for giving us a great vacation and a whole new view of Sri Lanka.
Viv and Erik - Lancashire UK - September 2009
Sorry it has taken so long to submit this review. It's really hard to put in words just how superb our time spent with Upul was. He is the kindest, most knowledgeable (try him out on plants 'botanical' names - he's unbelievable), trustworthy, professional and indeed nicest human being you are likely to meet! Our magnificent Sri Lanka tour, with accommodation was designed from start to finish by Upul and even though the season may have not been the best time to try to do all the things we wanted to do on our visit, Upul managed it superbly. He arranged white water rafting, a climb of Adams Peak and a Yala Safari! That's not to mention relaxing on the beach, yet more cultural experiences, history lessons, eating, drinking, fun & laughter etc. Nothing is too much trouble for Upul. He will stop wherever and whenever you want, whether it is to find you that shop you want, capture a photo or even arrange cigarette beaks! Every moment spent with Upul is a delight and we are privileged to know him. Another memorable holiday! Love & Best wishes.
Ellie and Dan - England - 4 September 2009
Dan and I spent an enjoyable week with Upul travelling from Negombo to the Elephant Orphanage, through the ancient cities and finally to Kandy. Upul's knowledge on history and facts and figures is second to none, so although I have been keeping a journal, I’m sure I haven’t captured all that he’s told us. Before coming to Sri Lanka we found Upul to be very efficient and helpful with e-mails detailing exactly what we were to do and working around our requirements. The accommodation was good and he arranged half board each time which kept the cost down. He also arranged an alternative driver for a few days as he already had another trip planned and we had organised our trip as very short notice. What’s more Upul is a great guy to chat to. We spent a couple of evenings relaxing with him and drinking Arrack. He shared his passion of Buddhism, history, nature and even cooking, giving me a recipe for dahl – frankly we could not have found a better guide and driver to introduce us to Sri Lanka, so we are very happy. We look forward to returning and touring with you again Upul. Thank you very much!
Jill Tarlton, England - 11 August 2009
We have been travelling round Sri Lanka with Upul for the last 11 days and have had a fantastic holiday with him. We have visited ancient cities, Kandy, Dambulla Caves, elephant orphanage, Nuwaraellya, Ella and are now on the coast. Everywhere we have seen is amazing, but made much more interesting by Upul's extensive explanations and teaching. Everything has gone very smoothly and we have all got on well with each other. Upul is a lovely person and we have enjoyed his company so much. He has taught us some new card tricks as well! An unforgettable holiday, thank you so much Upul.
John Tarlton, England - 11 August 2009
Upul has shown us some amazing things, taught us all about Sri Lanka and Buddhism. He has looked after us, sorted us out and given us a great time. He has friends everywhere and as his friends became our friends we are made to feel welcome everywhere we go. He has a wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humour and has kept us thoroughly entertained.
Ella Tarlton aged 16 years - August 2009
This has been the best holiday ever! Thank you for looking after us and making Sri Lanka so unforgettable
Jamie Tarlton aged 18 years - August 2009
Our holiday in Sri Lanka has been incredible. Upul has been extremely informative, helpful and entertaining. Without him we wouldn’t have known where to go or what to do. He has also introduced us to arrack! Thank you Upul
Annette and Sean O’Hara, England - 18 August 2009
We spent 2 very enjoyable days with Upul travelling to the Elephant Orphanage, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and couldn’t have asked for a better guide and driver. Upul is a walking encyclopedia and I just wish I could remember the many facts he told us. He is a confident and competent driver who even made the Sri Lankan roads feel safer. Thank you Upul you have been like a good friend and we have enjoyed our time with you very much.
Tracy and Pat Costello. England– June 2009
We went on a 4 night, 5 day tour with Upul and had an excellent time. Before arriving in Sri Lanka we had exchanged numerous e-mails and found Upul to be very quick to respond and answer all our questions. Upul speaks very good English and understands the British sense of humour. He was very courteous throughout the tour. Upul is an excellent guide explaining about the various sites history, right down to showing and naming all types of flora and fauna. His driving is very good especially compared to Sri Lanka standards. He made our holiday extra special and he is a lovely man to know. We would thoroughly recommend Upul and will stay in touch.
Norma and Alastair Staffordshire England – June 2009
Thank you for a wonderful time. Upul is now our friend. From the beginning he was courteous, helpful full of information about the places and their history. That most of all he organised our hotels, requested all of them with spectacular views. You have been most informative, we have learned a lot about your beautiful country. Hope to come back again and we will have you as our guide again. All in all a great guy. Many Thanks
Fumi and Anna- Japan - March 2009
I’m glad to meet you. You are not only our Guide but also our friend. See again. Poka!
Thank you UPUL! Thank you Sri Lanka! It was wonderful trip. We could do many experiences. Of course Sri Lanka is great country, but, most important is, that we travelled with YOU! You planned best, you managed flexibly with our hopes and sometimes friendly like family
Marty Charters USA/UAE March 2009
This was one of my best vacations in a while. There were so many unexpected pleasures on this trip and the landscape went from heartbreaking to breathtaking. I have never met anyone like Upul who has so many fun facts to know and tell about his country which he visibly loves so much. Upul tailored my vacation to exactly what I wanted to do from 3.30am pick up to 1am drop off. Well done, many thanks and see you again my friend.
Julie and Eric Yearsley – January 2009
Dear Upul – what can I say except that we are truly satisfied with the tour which you took us on. It was excellent. You were attentive to our needs ensuring that we were happy with the accommodation and the food we ate was delicious Sri Lankan curries. We are more than happy with the service which you provided. Fondest regards to you and your family.
David and Suzie Jay – January 2009
Upul is a perfectionist and the focus of his desire to make everything tick is his clients……or friends as undoubtedly you will become as you journey through this enchanting country with this knowledgeable man. We mentioned to Upul that an evening in Kandy was our anniversary and to our surprise Upul appeared with candles aglow on a ‘Happy Anniversary cake’. Apart from the attention to detail which makes Upul stand out from his fellow guides, his depth of knowledge of all things cultural truly enlightened us under his guidance. We had a wonderful trip with Upul.
Ellis and Mia Campbell - December 2008
Have had the most fantastic time in Sri Lanka and all thanks to Upul! Packed in so much for us to see and do we would never have known about otherwise. He was very patient and flexible trying to keep us happy on days when weather was poor. Very knowledgeable and informative and great company over a drink. Hotels too were superb especially Kassapa Rock - well worth a visit. Will definitely be back. Book now!!
E. T. Lancs - before this web site was created! , 2006, 2007, December 2008
Having been on several tours with Sri Lanka Tailored Tours and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them as a safe, knowledgeable and friendly company. Their tours are comprehensive and have been tailored to meet my budget and areas I wanted to visit.
Hayley and Aly - July 2008
Thank you for the great tour you have provided for us. We have had a great time and you have been helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. We have had a great 16 day tour and have seen all the sights worth seeing. You have done more than expected, so thank you for your kindness. A great start for our new married life for Aly and I. I will be recommending your tour to everyone. Thank you very much. All the very best.
Stephanie & Paul Howdle-Lang - March 2008
There have been so many amazing parts of this weekend it is impossible to list them all. Your attention to detail and enthusiasm have made this an incredibly good visit to Sri lanka. Thank you so much for your hard work and thoughtfulness. We'll be back !
Bronwyn Dunphy & Troy Richardson - March 2008
This has been an unbelievable and unforgettable experience which would not have been possible without you. Thank you very much for your kindness and hard work. It was very much appreciated.
Ewen and Kelly (London, UK) - February 2008
We'd like to thank Upul for all the effort he put in to making our trip in Sri Lanka a memorable and exciting holiday. We contacted a few tour operators before heading to Sri Lanka as we were looking to visit many places doing a variety of activities. We were impressed with the speed with which Upul replied to us and also the detailed information he gave on the options available to us.
Our holiday was fantastic, combining trekking, elephant riding, site seeing, and an evening of traditional Sri Lankan dancing in Kandy, with stays in the most amazing
hotels. Cinnamon Lodge was a haven to spoil yourself, and still enjoy lovely Sri Lankan food. Another favourite was the guesthouse in Ella, just a little way from Little Adam's Peak. An absolute must if you visit Sri Lanka. The view really is spectacular.
Upul really did everything he could to make sure our holiday was great, including speaking with each hotel ahead of our arrival to request that we have traditional Sri Lankan curries and foods at each stop. The other guests were green with envy seeing us tuck in to lovely curries and rice. Huge thank you to Upul.
Joe & Katy (Cornwall, UK) - September 2007
My girlfriend and I Just got back from a two week surf holiday to Sri Lanka, for a change I thought it would be nice to take in some culture rather than just sitting at the beach and surfing the whole time! Upul and Wicky put together a brilliant tailored tour which broke up the journey to the East coast (10 hours straight from the airport) and meant we got to see some of the country on route to Arugam Bay. The vehicles are really comfortable and these guys really take care of you, they were so hospitable to us and I would recommend them to anyone. I am planning to go back to surf around the south and west coast and will be using these guys, take my word for it and don’t try and use the buses! See you soon guys!
Viv & Erik . Lancs - August 2006
The best holiday we have ever had! The tour was magnificent and there was nothing that Upul wouldn't do to for us. His knowledge of his country is exceptional and we are proud consider him our friend. This was no ordinary holiday and until you have experienced what is on offer here, you will not know what you are missing. If you want to understand Sri Lankan life you must go with Upul...He's amazing!
Rob & Ali T - Yorkshire August 2006
We have made 2 visits to Sri Lanka, a 14 day tour in 2005 and a 17 day tour in 2006. On both visits Wicky was our guide and driver and subsequently he and Upul have become our very good friends. They were both on hand to ensure that all our requirements were met and our expectations were exceeded! Nothing was too much trouble for Wicky and Upul, who were always keen to ensure we had the best holidays ever. We look forward to returning to Sri Lanka again soon, and will definitely use the services of Wicky and Upul. Thanks Guys!
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