Premium: Hike, Safari and Explore in Sri Lanka

I’m well travelled and have lived on three continents - I was blown away by this tour.

MBA knocked it out the park with their selection of local partner. Our guide Ramesh, his colleagues onboard( Chataranga and Angela) along with Ruwi behind the scenes made this the joyful adventure of a lifetime.

Personal touches meant the world to me:

1. I lost things, possibly because we were so well supported I fully relaxed. After the trip had finished I realised I’d left a special piece of jewellery far away in the centre of SL. The team mobilised and got it back within a day and refusing to let me pay the costs. This team doesn’t just do ‘customer service’, they live by a standard of ‘hospitality’ I’ve never experienced before
2. Sri Lankan hospitality - eg on our longest, highest hike in The Knuckles , expertly supported by specialist guide Gemini and his colleagues, some of the group needed an extra bathroom break. A village family spontaneously invited all 15 of us in for tea and delicacies. I was immensely touched by their generosity and openness. What humanity. What a society.
3. Sri Lanka is a stunning biodiversity hotspot. We trekked in 4 types of forest ( Mangrove, Tropical Dry Evergreen, Tropical Moist Evergreen and Sub Mountain) . I recorded 84 different types of birds ! It’s a bird watchers dream. It took me 3yrs to hear as many birds in Europe, as sang to us in 10 days. The team fell over themselves to help us see the very best the country has to offer- it’s very high standard. Amongst the hotels were some of the nicest 5 star experiences I’ve had the fortune to sample.
4. The tour teamed with wildlife. The camaraderie of the group was very special and when one of our 2 jeeps had a leopard cross their path, they radioed to make sure we had a chance of tracking it. I spotted the young male and my buddy captured it with her great camera skill. We also spotted an elephant bathing and another rare risked male. Enormous crocodiles basking in the sun close to the swamp with the biggest density of crocs in Asia. So life affirming. The food overall was exceptionally good. For me, the safari glamp was magical - think aircon, his and her sinks, crisp linen, a private plunge pool with a soundtrack of water buffalo and nightjars from the deck. My roommate quickly became a friend for life :woman-with-bunny-ears-partying:

Throughout our stay we were blessed with the support of a gentle and mighty tour team. Having recently recovered from illness they made accepting help dignified and light hearted as I hiked, climbed, kayaked and ‘surfed’ 😉. They steadfastly met our every need. Seeing them in action securing us the best seats ( for photography) on the most scenic railway in the world was joyful. They clearly love their work.

I hadn’t done a solo adventure for eons ; this one was so good I’m still pinching myself I was sharp enough to book it. Don’t delay - Go !

We went as a couple on the this trip having no experience of Sri lanka opted for a guided tour and we were not disappointed! It offers a wonderful introduction to a lovely country. The activities take you into the highlands and tea plantations with walks through lush forest and breathtaking valleys. Meeting kind local Sri Lankan villagers along the way!

The trip has a good variety of activities including an iconic train ride to Kandy, a safari at Yala where we were lucky to see Leopard, elephants and crocodiles as well as an amazing array of tropical birds. Our itinerary also included visits to a Tamil village and the chance to experience a Hindu temple ceremony as well as a tour of an ancient Buddhist Temple. Yoga, kayaking and surfing at the beach were also available to share with your fellow travellers. The hotels we stayed in were comfortable and some offered spa facilities with plenty of time to relax. We were expertly guided by Ramesh and his team who went above and beyond to ensure we had a comfortable and enlightening stay in Sri Lanka. Thank you also to a lovely group of like minded fellow travellers!

If you have read the reviews from Debbie and Abbie then I'm tempted to write "what they said". Warm, welcoming people, stunning scenery, beautiful birds and wildlife and the best guide ever in Ramesh. Our trip was not without a couple of minor hiccups, especially the train ride for which MBA had not got us tickets. . . . and although we had to wait around a couple of hours, Ramesh worked his magic and got us on the train. Agree with Abbie that Yala was a great safari experience ( shout out to our driver Indy) but not the stand out stay ( for me that was also Anasa) and I'm still not sure what happened with our breakfast which was both late and cold. . . . but I was still on a high following our leopard sighting (had the good fortune to be in the lucky jeep!) so not the worst thing in the world. For me, personally, day three was not so special. Appreciating that Ramesh wanted to give us an authentic experience, I felt we spent too long at the Hindu temple and would have preferred to do more hiking. Glad we got to see how the tea estate workers live however. Very humbling experience. Don't get too excited by the waterfall swim. The waterfall is pretty but more of a cascade than a waterfall and the place to swim is an ugly concrete pool a little distance from the foot of the waterfall. Hiking in the foothills of Knuckles mountain range was awesome and so was the lunch in the village. The kayak trip on the lagoon and into the mangrove forest was also a highlight. Overall a brilliant trip, thanks to Ramesh, our drivers/helpers and the wonderful group I had the pleasure to make this tour with.

This was my first MBA trip and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a varied, fascinating and thought provoking trip with the most amazing informative guide and a lovely group of interesting people. The following is just for information - don’t let anything put you off booking!! The trip is rated level 1 and I’d say any reasonably active person could do all the activities with the possible exception of the last third of the long hike, which got very steep, very full of boulders and quite slippy - you need decent boots and I was regretting bringing my walking poles until that moment, when I was very thankful for them! The trip has a bit of everything - we all loved the variety, but if you only want to hike or only want culture, then it probably won’t suit you. The kit list is mostly spot on except don’t bother with waterproof trousers - if it’s wet, you’ll have leech socks on and you won’t need both. It will almost certainly rain. The rain is warm and didn’t stop us, but a decent waterproof is useful. The minibus journeys are long and plentiful and the roads are windy. So if there’s any chance you’ll get car sick, bring some tablets to help. The guides make the trip, and ours was outstanding, as were the two drivers. If you are landing in Columbo early on the first day, see if you can arrange an early check in, the rooms aren’t ready til lunchtime and it’s a long wait after a tiring flight. Several of our group went a day early and were in much better shape at the start of the trip! To finish - I’d say - Go! Sri Lanka is a beautiful, diverse and culturally rich country, the people are incredibly welcoming, and this trip gives you a really good feel for the place. The group I was with were all very interesting and diverse in their own right, most travelling alone and there was always someone to talk to or accompany on an activity. Truly a five star experience.

A lovely holiday. Spending two or three nights in each place meant the trip was both relaxing and we could see several different places. The coach was very comfortable and the drivers friendly. Our guide was amazing and went the extra mile whenever required. There were a couple of beautiful pools in the hotels we stayed at.

The country? Amazing; far exceeded my expectations. It reminded me of Thailand and Bali before they exploded with tourism everywhere. I truly loved the diversity of landscapes everywhere all within reasonable driving distance.

The people? Could not be topped. The people on this trip were seriously top-notch human beings, and I look forward to hopefully reconnecting with all of them at some point! But also, the people of Sri Lanka are some of the most hospitable, kind, hard working, and humble people I've ever come across in the 40+ countries I've traveled to. Every single person we met here left an impression on me -- from the Tamil Village visit to the guides and naturalists we met, and especially to our guides and bus crew. Ramesh, Anjana, and Chathuranga were truly an amazing trio that went above and beyond for every single person on this trip in some way. They were truly the most "premium" part of this MBA Premium adventure (and may have ruined all future guides for me as I see no way for their service to be topped!).

The accommodation? Most of these were wins. They're definitely more luxury than typical MBA hotels with some standouts more than others. I would ask MBA reconsider what it markets as it's standout stay though -- the hotel at Anasa blew everyone's expectations away and we all kept saying "and just imagine. . we still have the standout stay to come!" . . however, I think the bar was just set very high (on accommodation, service, etc. ) at Anasa, making it was a harder transition because of MBA's marketing amping it up. Please do not get me wrong, I did enjoy the safari option (and recognize that the price we pay with MBA is far less than what you would in Africa for similar experience of safari or accommodations). Be aware you will be sharing a bed with your roommate here with no other option to split the beds apart.

The itinerary? To me, there was a bit more drive time than I expected. I think there are some easy fixes in the itinerary that could be made to reduce those drive times even more and improve the overall trip. For example, we passed right by Kandy and the temple on our way to our accommodation on a rather slow day activity-wise. It didn't make sense to me that we would instead drive over 1. 5 hours round trip the next day if we wanted to visit the temple then (especially since day 2 was pretty light activity wise - I would have loved more walking THAT day). The same thing happened with dinner on the second to last night. My recommendation to MBA would be to tighten up some of the travel time even more in places that we already pass at some point earlier.

Overall: Book the trip! It was an amazing mix of culture, landscapes, adventures, and wildlife. There is something for everyone on this trip. I have no doubt I'll be back again to visit even more of this beautiful country!

With my teenager now far more interested in her own adventures than travelling with mum, and my husband still working full-time, I decided it was finally time to create an adventure of my own.

So I booked my first trip with MBA to Sri Lanka, excited at the thought of meeting new people and discovering a part of the world I hadn't visited before, it exceeded every expectation.

It's an incredible country, with breathtakingly diverse landscapes and an endless list of things to see and do. From lush greenery to cultural treasures and beautiful golden beaches, every day brought something different. But what truly made this trip unforgettable was the people.

Firstly, the Sri Lankans themselves are always smiling, welcoming, and eager to help. Their warmth and kindness added something very special to the experience.

Then there was our group. With ages ranging from mid-30s to mid-60s and varying fitness levels, we were a wonderfully mixed bunch, which worked perfectly. There’s something quite special about sharing new experiences with like-minded travellers who all bring their own stories and perspectives.

And finally, our guide, Ramesh. It’s hard to put into words just how exceptional he was. His attention to detail ensured everything ran seamlessly, yet it never felt rushed. He was endlessly patient, organised, and approachable; nothing was ever too much trouble. His local knowledge, connections, sense of humour, and genuine love for his country shone through every single day. I genuinely wonder if any future guide will ever live up to him.

Needless to say, I was online booking my next MBA adventure within two days of returning home!

If you’re considering travelling solo but feeling hesitant, don’t wait. This is the perfect way to explore the world, meet fantastic people, and create memories that will truly last a lifetime.

Initially I was dubious to book a brand new trip whereby there had been no reviews yet posted however, I am so pleased I did. Being the first to experience this journey through Sri Lanka was incredible and I hope this review offers advice and insight into what to expect…without giving away any surprises along the way!

Overview: This trip truly is a cultural immersion into Sri Lanka with a great mix of seeing the juxtaposition of those who have very little, to a glimpse into more commercialised/touristic areas. Thankfully and in line with my preference we spent far more time ‘off the beaten path’ rather than within heavily tourist spots. It was the perfect opportunity to relax, spend quality time with the group and a great balance of activity, action and still allowing for free time to yourself. This was my 5th trip with MBA and in comparison to others the itinerary is more relaxed allowing for some free afternoons which worked well so as to enjoy the facilities at some of the great hotels in which we stayed.

Highlights: What makes Sri Lanka so special is the people, I’ve never experienced hospitality quite like it. From our guide and his supporting crew (who I shall reference later) to the villagers you come into contact with, everyone has such a warmth and pride for their country - it was beautiful to see.

For me personally the Tamil Village visit was my highlight, a truly humbling and profound experience and something I shall never forget. The range of activities were fantastic, well organised and so much fun. For each you are accompanied by additional guides, experts and naturalists to support your learning, whether that be about the culture and nature of Sri Lanka or when learning a new skill.

The safari experience is most certainly a stand out experience however, for me, was not the stand out stay in regard to accommodation and I feel the itinerary description may require slight revision. The tents are great and as I say a wonderful experience to stay so close to the park however, they may not be considered as luxurious especially for those who are perhaps not used to camping. This being said, memory foam mattresses, running water, flushing toilets and air con in the jungle is still quite a triumph and something I personally really enjoyed, it’s just that it was sold as the stand out ‘stay’ which I don’t totally agree with.

Some activities are optional such as yoga and surfing however I’d really encourage giving everything a go. Surfing for me was incredible and my favourite activity of the trip, the instructors were brilliant and so encouraging.

Accommodation: Having been on non premium MBA trips previously, the hotels especially some such as Anasa are far more luxurious which is why is great to have free time on some days to enjoy them. They are all within great locations particularly the hotel in Tangalle. Whilst this is slightly more basic than the others the proximity to the beach and an ocean cannot be beaten. The group and I loved spending time together there. We essentially had the hotel and the beach to ourselves, it was tranquil, remote and pure relaxation.

The stand out stay for me was Anasa personally, it’s the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in, the facilities and food were fantastic. Do not google it beforehand, just allow yourself to be wowed upon arrival, you won’t be disappointed.

Guides/Support: There are not enough words to express what a wonderful and expert guide Ramesh is. I’ve never felt so well looked after and he is the best guide I’ve ever had on any trip I’ve ever been on. Nothing was ever too much trouble and he went out of his way every day to ensure everyone was comfortable, supported and gaining what they wanted from the experience. Ramesh, you are a credit to your employer and most importantly to your country. Sri Lanka is beautiful in its own right, but it’s the countrymen like you who shall cement my decision to return again. Ramesh was supported by two absolute gentlemen, Anjana and Chattaranga who helped support and drive us to each location, we were in fantastic and professional hands each step of the way.

Tips/Hints: This trip is listed as easy and for me it was (34 years of age and very active) however there were some short but steep climbs and descents on the 10k hike, surfing required confidence in water and the kayaking requires some upper body strength. All very doable and no one in our group struggled however the trip wouldn’t be suitable for anyone with mobility issues.

Sri Lanka has a closed currency therefore rupees can be difficult to obtain prior to departure. There are ATMs once you reach the airport in Sri Lanka to draw out cash or, if you already have cash you could exchange at one of the many FX counters before leaving the airport. They definitely accept USD at these counters however unsure about sterling…

On three nights of the trip it’s not possible to stay singularly due to availability however, at Anasa they are large family rooms and therefore you shall have your own bedroom anyway. At Yala specify if you wish to have twin beds as we had a double, which was fine for my buddy and I however may be uncomfortable for others.

There are varying climates in Sri Lanka, when in Ella you are very high and the temperature is vastly different to being in the lowlands and on the coast. I was never cold, however consider taking a jumper or something for your shoulders in the evenings in case you get chilly.

The spa facilities in Anasa are amazing, if you are intending to treat yourself to only one massage on your trip, save this for Anasa and not Simpson’s Forest.

In conclusion, an incredible experience in which I thoroughly enjoyed that offered in my opinion truly fantastic value for money. Yet again I am reminded of why I love group travel so much, the bond the group created was superb and it was truly a pleasure to enjoy a beautiful country with a beautiful bunch of people.