Olanka Travels Reviews 

Well I would rate Olanka the highest possible . From the beginning , Navodya made us feel so comfortable and trusted . She was there to answer any questions and she had a wealth of knowledge. From the booking process to leaving the airport , she was constantly in touch . She exactly did what we wanted . Organised an amazing tour , best accomodations and Kamaldeen the best driver guide . In one week , we feel like we had seen everything. The driver guide also had a lot of knowledge.
On the day of departure , we were met by Navodya , Nimisha and Kamaldeen for a farewell and thanked us personally for using and trusting Olanka .
Thank you for the amazing memory Navodya , Nimisha and Kamaldeen .

The Maldives Tour February 2025.
My wife and I used Olanka Travels for our 5-day stay in the Maldives in February 2025. Our travel consultant was Rashmi Wijesinghe and I must say, she exceeded all our expectations. From the very beginning, she worked with us to understand our preferences, priorities, and budget. Her approach was incredibly efficient. She planned our holiday to The Maldives with great care and with minimal fuss, and did not compromise on any details. Rush presented us with at least 4 options and what truly impressed us was the thoroughness of these options. The resort we eventually settled on with Rashmi’s feedback and recommendation was perfect and truly paradise. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Dhigali Maldives with its pristine white beaches, turquoise water and coral reefs . I would highly recommend Rashmi and Olanka Travels to anyone looking for a luxurious tropical holiday in The Maldives.

We have returned home after our 11-day journey around Sri Lanka.

First and foremost, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Olanka Travel, and especially to Tharuka, for arranging a truly perfect trip for us in Sri Lanka. The communication regarding our travel arrangements worked exceptionally well via WhatsApp, with Tharuka responding promptly and effectively to all our questions and requests.

Our journey and the many experiences in Sri Lanka were simply perfect and fantastic, largely due to having the world's best guide, Asanka W. We feel incredibly fortunate.

Asanka is an exceptional guide with extensive knowledge of Sri Lanka, and we enjoyed 11 wonderful days and experiences with him. He was always attentive to our needs, incredibly pleasant to be around, spoke perfect English, and was very welcoming and friendly.


We would recommend Asanka as a guide to everyone, and we already miss his delightful company.

Thank you for a memorable experience in beautiful Sri Lanka :-)

We have just had 20 days in Sri Lanka with a driver guide called Tiron Silva. I cannot rate him highly enough. He absolutely made our trip for us. He was always on time, he was an excellent driver and was very knowledgeable but most importantly he was flexible and took us to some outstanding places. However even more importantly,he was so kind and completely trustworthy.

Tiron, for us made our trip to Sri Lanka unforgettable. Beautiful country and beautiful people.

Sri Lanka
Before I went, I had serious concerns about hygiene, cleanliness and security, I contacted Ms. @dhanesha_d from @olanka.travels, she said my fears were unfounded and I should trust her, the driver she arranged for me was so kind and helpful, he did not leave us alone in any place he deemed risky and made sure we were safe, Ms. @dhanesha_d always continued communication, I had a dream holiday, I will definitely come back again. If you are thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka, definitely contact us, by the way, our driver is Mr.thilina and @dhanesha_d Thank you so much

An Unforgettable Experience in Sri Lanka – Thanks to Darsha Dallage at Olanka Travels and Our Amazing Driver, Amila!

I recently had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful island of Sri Lanka. It was an unforgettable holiday, made all the more special thanks to Darsha at Olanka Travels and our incredible driver, Amila.

From the planning and booking to the moment I arrived, Olanka Travels took care of every detail, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience. The itinerary was perfectly tailored to my interests, giving me a wonderful mix of cultural exploration, stunning landscapes, and beach relaxation. Each destination was more breathtaking than the last – from the ancient temples and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to the lush tea plantations and golden beaches.

A massive shoutout to my driver, Amila, who made the trip exceptional. Not only was he punctual, professional, and always ready with a warm smile, but his local knowledge and passion for Sri Lanka truly enriched my journey. Amila took the time to share fascinating insights about the country’s history, culture, and traditions, which made every stop along the way even more meaningful. His driving was smooth and safe, and I always felt comfortable and well cared for. I have learned so much during my trip, and it has been a truly fascinating experience.

Amila also went above and beyond in every aspect – suggesting the best local restaurants, helping me navigate hikes and attractions, or even taking extra time to ensure I got the best photo opportunities. His enthusiasm for sharing his country with me was infectious, and by the end of our trip, it felt like I had made a lifelong friend.

I highly recommend Olanka Travels for anyone planning to visit Sri Lanka. Their personalised service and attention to detail are second to none, and with an exceptional driver like Amila, you're guaranteed a memorable experience. I left Sri Lanka with my heart full, and I look forward to returning.

Thank you, Olanka Travels and Amila, for making this holiday so memorable!

Fantastic service from this company: we dealt with Shani Senadeera who helped put the perfect trip together. We took a standard trip and adjusted it and tweaked a couple of hotels and excursions. There is never a time I couldn’t deal with them I would send a WhatsApp message to Shani Senadeera and she would reply promptly. special shout out to our driver Nashante who was always waiting for us and adapted to our requirements through our 12 days.

Avoid Olanka Tours: A Complete Letdown

We booked our Christmas holiday with Olanka Tours, expecting a stress-free trip, but it turned into a disaster.

1. Incompetent Guide Service
The “chuffer guide” was unprofessional, uninformed, and unhelpful. He refused simple detours, ignored our requests, and focused only on parking his car. For example, he declined to drive 2km to a temple, saying, “It’s not in the itinerary.” After five frustrating days, Olanka provided a replacement guide, but the damage was done.

2. Lack of Transparency
Olanka didn’t disclose that tourist entrance fees were 10–20 times higher for foreigners. Our USD $3,100 package excluded all attraction fees, adding nearly $1,000 extra for two people. We had to cancel several activities due to these unexpected costs.

3. Poor Hotel Choices
The “4- and 5-star hotels” were disappointing, with issues like leaky air conditioning, lizards in rooms, and rusty kettles. These were far below the promised standards.

4. Misinformation About Logistics
Our train to Ella was delayed over two hours, but the driver refused to return us to the hotel. Once in Ella, he wouldn’t take us 2km to the Nine Arches Bridge, again saying, “It’s not in the itinerary.”

Final Note
Olanka Tours overpromises and underdelivers. Be cautious of their suspiciously positive reviews—many appear to be from one-time reviewers.

We had an extremely disappointing and frustrating experience with Olanka Travels during our trip planning to Sri Lanka. Here’s a breakdown of the issues we encountered:

1. Bait-and-Switch Tactics with Hotel Bookings
Within just an hour of paying the deposit after receiving their invoice, we were informed that 3 out of the 5 agreed hotels were “unavailable” due to the “peak season,” which they claimed was beyond their control. This clearly shows they did not verify hotel availability before asking for payment or issuing the invoice. Instead of offering proper resolutions, they switched us to poorer-quality hotels but still attempted to charge us for the originally agreed-upon 4-star hotel rates.

2. Unfair Deductions for Hotel Changes
When we opted to book our own accommodations for 3 nights in Mirissa—a location they claimed was a highly touristic and expensive area—they only deducted USD 150 from the total bill. This essentially valued their replacement hotel at just USD 50 per night, exposing how they likely intended to overcharge us while offering subpar alternatives. This practice reflects dishonesty and a complete lack of transparency.

3. Deceptive Refund Policy
After deciding not to proceed with them, the agency refused to provide a cash refund, wanting to offer only travel vouchers instead. They claimed this was part of their refund policy, but their written policy or invoice contained no mention of such restrictions. This attempt to mislead and manipulate customers is incredibly unethical.

4. Unresponsiveness After Payment
Our agent from Olanka Travels, Amandi, was very responsive during the initial discussions - going as far as arranging weekend call and frequently pushing for the deposit. However, after we paid and chose to cancel due to their failure to deliver as agreed, they became unresponsive. Over a week has passed since we requested a cash refund, and they are still "seeking management approval." This delay is completely unacceptable.

Conclusion
Olanka Travels’ conduct was unprofessional, unethical, and deeply disappointing. They prioritize securing payments over fulfilling customer expectations and fail to take responsibility when issues arise.

I strongly advise against booking with this agency. Instead, book a driver directly, we received a quote of just USD 700 for 9 days, and arrange your own accommodations through platforms like Booking.com. We were able to book better-quality hotels within our budget despite Olanka Travels’ claims that we would not find good rates elsewhere.

I am still waiting for their response regarding my refund and plan to report them to the Consumer Affairs Authority for misrepresentation and deceptive practices.

Do better, Olanka Travels!

I always wanted to organise a tour in Srilanka and didnt know how I could do it. Luckily Olanka Popped up and that was the best thing which happened to me.

This was my best trip ever not only Srilanka but wherever I have been . I have to say Kanishka in Operations was so helpful, accomodative and knew exactly how I wanted. In addition the Driver/tour guide Kamal was so professional and knew exactly what we required. Drove very professionally and was very friendly.
the whole tour was 7 days and we did not have a single bad experience. Everyday, every moment was so memorable with so many different beautiful places visited. Saw the beauty of Srilanka which I wouldn't have ever done if not for Olanka. The accommodation was great and exactly the way I would have wanted. It was a dream come true to me.
It rained one day and we were to go to to Meemure and it was muddy was told. Kamal the driver called Kanishka and organised to go to Polonnaruwa instead with no additional cost. It was amazing service and very professional
I cant wait to go back again on another memorable tour in Srilanka with Olanka and will never hesitate to recommend Olanka to anyone who would want to travel and experience the beauty of Srilanka which lot of friends are inquiring from me already.

the experience was exceptional and met my expectations above and beyond

Thank you Olanka. I will remember this tour for many many years

Trip was well planned by Chathumi and Rashmi. Had a 11 day trip. Driver Indrajith was professional in bringing us to places.

The hotel choices were great except for Marissa, Hotel Mandara. Hotel seems to be very old and not kept up to date. The location was too inside.

Great trip. Tour from 1st September to 4th September 2024. From Colombo to Kandy,Nuwara Eliya and back to Colombo. Had Very nice and enjoyable trip. Tour accommodations were excellent in both Kandy and Nuwara Eliya in 5 star hotels. Chauffeur shelom was very cordial and having excellent driving skills. Took us in whole trip professionally and very decent manner. Thanks to Chama for arranging the amazing tour.

Well from the initial booking with Pravindya she has been really helpful and listen to the changes we wanted in the package . She tried her best to meet our requirements along with the pricing . Also after landing we had such an amazing welcome by the team . Along with the most kind , enthusiastic driver Dinesh who is our personal tour guide and driver through out the journey. He is so patient wants us to take the beautiful memories of sri lanka . I made a right decision by booking with olanka travel for 6 of us a family trip .
Thankyou for giving us the most wonderful trip .

Olanka Travels
We were really happy to choose Olanka. Their service was very very exceptional from the day we started asking quotes. Ms.Navodya was so professional in handling our itinerary. She made all the elements covered and provided a detailed one.
On arriving to the day we left the country, we were guided by a calm and professional chauffeur Mr.Anushka Indiga and driver Mr.Ridhigar. They walked through all the spots and explained the history, importance of the places. He understood our requirements and made our stay so comfortable.
Thanks Olanka.

We had Great experience in Sri Langka. We enjoyed the 5 days travelling which was planned by Olangka Travels. It was super fun and much relaxing. The hotel was good except hotel in Nuwara Eliya, the room was smelly and the TV is not working. Last day was very rushing as not enough time to do our shopping. The travel was very helpful and advised us when we needed her.

We recently had the pleasure of exploring Sri Lanka with Olanka Travels, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, the team was professional, organized, and attentive to our needs. Our itinerary was well-planned, allowing us to visit stunning locations like Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, and Colombo without feeling rushed.

The accommodations were comfortable, and the local guides provided insightful information about Sri Lanka's rich history and culture. Transportation was seamless, and we always felt safe and well taken care of.

A special shoutout to our driver, who was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we were comfortable throughout the journey. Olanka Travels made the trip hassle-free, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of Sri Lanka.

If you're planning to visit Sri Lanka, I highly recommend Olanka Travels. They exceeded our expectations and made our vacation truly special!

We had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka thanks to Olanka. Our itinerary was carefully prepared and tailored to our requests. The hotels were beautiful and we had a unique experience every single day of our trip. We were lucky to have a kind and professional driver Anura who showed us the beauty of Sri Lanka whilst taking great care of us. He was extremely patient and helpful in accommodating our wishes. We would definitely recommend Olanka to anyone who wants to see the best of the beautiful country.

From the moment I made the inquiry on google for the holidays, the response have been really prompt & quick, our holiday experience was made invaluable

Samalya connected with me on whatsapp and understood our requirement, after made atleast 10 options/changes, before we finalized
After the process was smooth for payment, booking, etc.

Our trip was planned from airport pick up to 3 different places in Sri Lanka with 2 nights in each place, we visited Bentota, Nuwera Eliya & Colombo, however, we covered Galle & Kandy day trip, This way, we covered beach, hill station, shopping and the trip was memorable without any glitch.

Also Taranga who picked us from airport and until he dropped us back on the 7th day of our tour was very co operative, no rush with excellent driving skill.

Maybe given a chance, we would definitely come back to explore more....

Regards,
Nissar

My partner and me went on a 10 days holiday around the country. The experience was excellent. We are very happy both with Olanka services and their incredible country they showed us.
Our guide driver, Amila, is a 10/10 and he was taking care and providing with the best tips and sightseeings during the whole trip.
Also a big shoutout to Wasuda, who introduced us to Olanka and provided the best tour and hotels for us. We were able to met her and is a very nice person.

With my wife Henia we had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka from July 30 to August 8.
In the design of the trip Rangica Lakshi from Olanka Travel was very helpful and had excellent knowledge about the posibble routes and various hotels. I was extremely impressed in the design period by her attentive attitude, patience and quick response 24 hours a day.
She also checked during the tour that everything goes well. We enjoyed meeting her in Colombo in the last day.
The other excellent surprise was the driver. We asked for an English speaking driver, knowledgeable and kind and this perfectly describes our driver Mr. Janith Perrera.
From the meeting in the airport upon arrival on July 30 to the departure hall on August 8 he was always there, guiding us, supporting and helping beyond words can describe.
Thank you for excellent tour.
Henia and Levy Raskin
Israel