Testimonials
Get Ready for a Holiday of a Lifetime!
I have worked in tourism throughout the world for over 35 years. During that time, I have owned and operated an award-winning tour company and written a guidebook reviewing over 2000 tourism products. It is with this background that I highly recommend using Aarunya Vacations for your visit to Sri Lanka. Rahula and his team are the most knowledgeable wildlife guides I have ever worked with. Their knowledge doesn’t end with wildlife tourism though. Every cultural site comes alive with their historical stories. This interpretation adds a depth to the experience which can not be underestimated. In addition, their organizational skills, grace under pressure, and utter professionalism makes all the difference between a good holiday and a superlative one. I have no hesitation in recommending Aarunya. Even with our last minute tweaks and itinerary changes, nothing seemed too difficult. If you put your holiday plans in Rahula’s hands, get ready for a holiday of a lifetime!
Sarah Pye
Queensland, Australia
January 24, 2020
Individualised tour with my daughter . . . .
In June 2018, I visited Sri Lanka and spent a week with my daughter on a tour of the Southern provinces. We visited Singharaja, Udawalawe and Maduru Oya National Parks then had two nights in Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort. Overall we travelled around 1000 km over six days. The individualised tour (a car for only the two of us) was organised by Rahula Perera from Aarunya Vacations and Rahula was both driver and guide. The tour well organised and the interpretation we received was the best I have experienced. It is clear that Rahula has an encyclopaedic knowledge of Sri Lankan fauna and flora, where to see it and at the same time to protect the environment. The roads in Sri Lanka can be narrow, crowded with lots of curves. I was very happy that Rahula drove to the conditions and I felt very safe. For the first part of the tour we stayed in a range of accommodation – chosen to maximise our access to the attractions we wanted to see – then splurged at Anantara Resort. At one stage we had to change our plans meaning we had to use a different hotel and this was easily done. Some of the memories from the trip are turtles laying eggs at Anantara Resort, a male elephant with tusks some metres away showing who was the boss in Udawalawe NP, the monkeys in Singharaja NP, and meeting the chief of a village on the edge of Maduru Oya NP. All up, a great trip that my daughter will always remember. Thanks Aarunya Vacations!
Dr Noel Scott
Brisbane, Australia
August 29, 2018
A BIG THANK YOU . . . . . .
Our journey through Sinharaja, Uda Walawe and Nuwara Eliya was a ‘living’ experience, as Rahula awakened our senses to the real meaning of ‘communing with nature’. The forests came alive as we spotted, observed, listened and learned. His skillful spotting helped us to zoom in and capture some great shots. Late evening discussions centered on Sri Lanka’s history as he shared with us his wide knowledge on the nuances of cultures, traditions and beliefs. The hospitality of Martin and family in Sinharaja set the right ambience. A BIG THANK YOU to Rahula and his team for giving us a truly rewarding and unforgettable Aarunya experience. Wishing you all continued success.
Varuni and Miriam
December 22, 2017
Gold star and a big hug to Aarunya
I’d like to give a gold star and a big hug from here to there to Aarunya Vacations and Rahula Perera in Sri Lanka for showing us their beautiful country in three weeks. Way too short.
Eugenia P Carey and I saw close to 200 birds, many of them life birds for me, 4 species of naughty monkeys, 4 species of cats including a leopard and three very secretive nights kitties, herds of elephants -close enough to photograph their eyes full frame with a phone camera, jackals, water buffalo, samba deer, butterflies, orchids, traditional weddings in procession, native mined jewels in profusion, forests, jungles, mountains, waterfalls, rainbows, the southern Indian ocean, rivers and streams, monks and buddhist stupas, hindu temples, and mosques, beautiful folk dancing, the full moon worship celebrations in a sacred city and all this in an atmosphere of kindness, safety and care. No detail was left undone. The best planning, the best guides, the best care we’ve ever had……anywhere…..and that’s a lot of wheres!
If you haven’t been, put Sri Lanka at the top of your list and contact Aarunya Vacations to make your dreams come true.
If you want to laugh the whole time and have friends for life, contact Rahula Perera and ask him to bring along Prasantha de Alwis to drive and spot, and help you shop. Please message me for details and they will be gladly given.
Elaine Christian Stonecypher
Columbia, South Carolina
July 13, 2017
We had an amazing time in Sri Lanka . . . . . . . . .
We had an amazing time in Sri Lanka thanks to Rahula Perera. As we were only there for four days, our challenge was to experience ‘Sri Lanka in a nutshell’.
Rahula took us around Colombo, Udawalawe and Sinharaja, keeping us entertained with his wealth of knowledge on local history and endemic wildlife. We also got to try various local delicacies, and fully immerse ourselves in the local culture. Rahula is a very enthusiastic and approachable tour guide, and we do not hesitate to recommend him to anyone planning a trip to Sri Lanka!
Drs. Johnny and Kandi Ko
Taipei, Taiwan.
February 23, 2017
Teardrop Island full of culture
Rahula of the gentle sweet eyes,
Our soft spoken guide of guides.
We’ve learned so much of Sri Lanka
As we rode along eating waka waka.
This teardrop Island full of culture,
Its plant and birds and not one vulture !
But most of all your infectious laugh
Bring joy to all within its path.
There is only one thing left . . . . .
Please speak up ’cause we’re all half deaf !!
Paul and Harriet Tomasko
January 31, 2017
Discrete and nice and friendly personality ……
Our trip and vacation in Sri Lanka was a great experience. Thanks for helping us to arrange this. Our driver and guide was calm, had a lot of knowledge and he was listening to our wishes and needs. We are very interested in wild life and the guide showed us all types of animals and nature. He had an expertise in wild life biology and was also very discrete and has a nice and friendly personality. We can warmly recommend him to anyone that wants to go to Sri Lanka. We had never been able to see and experience what we did in Sri Lanka in the short time we had (one week) on our own. We stayed in nice places, saw leopards, elephants, temples and much more, experienced a great variety of nature, went from jungle to sea for underwater snorkeling. Overall, our trip was truly joyful!
Marie and Anders from Uppsala
Sweden
December 14, 2015
See things in a totally new way …….
If you want something truly out of the ordinary – a trip of a lifetime to see things in a totally new way, and chances to get far off the beaten track, then there is no doubt in my mind that Rahula Perera is going to make it happen.
Julian Murray
Ottawa, Canada
December 13, 2015