About Sinhagiri Tours & Travel

Sinhagiri Tours team guide at Kandy Temple

Founded

2012

Kandy, Sri Lanka

"The most authentic Sri Lanka experience we've ever had."

— TripAdvisor, 2025

Our Story

Twelve Years of
Extraordinary Journeys

"Sri Lanka is not a destination you visit once. It is a place that calls you back — and our purpose is to make that first call unforgettable."

— Lakshitha Karunarathna, Founder

Sinhagiri Tours was founded by Lakshitha Karunarathna, who believed that Sri Lanka's greatest asset was not its landscapes alone — but the stories woven through them. Starting with a single vehicle and an unshakeable commitment to personalised service, Lakshitha began connecting small groups of travellers with the authentic Sri Lanka — its ancient history, extraordinary wildlife and the genuine warmth of its people.

The company grew organically — almost entirely through word of mouth and the glowing reviews of guests who returned home and immediately recommended us to their friends. Today, Sinhagiri Tours is run by a focused core team supported by a trusted network of expert guides, experienced drivers and certified safari specialists — all handpicked based on the real-world feedback of past guests.

We have never chased scale at the expense of quality. Every tour we operate is capped at eight guests, every guide is personally trained by our founding team, and every itinerary is reviewed before departure. That philosophy has earned us a 4.9-star average across 500+ reviews and the loyalty of guests who return to Sri Lanka specifically to travel with us again.

2012

Est. Kandy

Languages

30+

Tour Routes

What Drives Us

Our Mission, Vision & Promise

Our Mission

To Reveal Sri Lanka's True Soul

We exist to connect travellers with the authentic Sri Lanka — its ancient history, extraordinary wildlife, remarkable landscapes and the warmth of its people — through expertly guided, deeply personalised experiences that leave a lasting impression.

Our Vision

Sri Lanka's Most Trusted Name in Premium Guiding

We aspire to be the first choice for discerning travellers seeking premium, responsible and genuinely immersive Sri Lanka experiences — recognised globally for our guide excellence, our guest relationships and our contribution to Sri Lanka's communities.

Our Promise

Every Guest, Every Tour, Every Time

We promise that every single guest — regardless of tour type or group size — receives the same meticulous planning, the same knowledgeable guiding and the same genuine care that earned our first five-star review in 2012. Our standard never varies.

The People Behind Every Tour

Meet the Sinhagiri Team

A lean, dedicated core team supported by Sri Lanka's finest field professionals — every one of them chosen for their passion, expertise and the trust our guests place in them.

Core Office Team

Founder

Lakshitha Karunarathna

Founder & Managing Director

Lakshitha founded Sinhagiri Tours with one conviction — that Sri Lanka's greatest strength is the depth of its stories, and that every traveller deserves to hear them properly told. He personally oversees every aspect of the guest experience, from itinerary design to quality assurance, and remains the creative force behind everything the company does.

English Sinhala

Favourite: Sigiriya at sunrise

Operations

Sachini

Operations & Customer Relations

Sachini is the operational heart of Sinhagiri Tours. She coordinates every booking, manages all guest communications and ensures that from the first inquiry to the final drop-off, every detail runs seamlessly. Her warmth, responsiveness and dedication have earned personal mentions in hundreds of guest reviews.

English Sinhala

Favourite: Mirissa at dawn

Our Field Professionals

Experienced Drivers

Our in-house drivers are carefully selected for their road knowledge, professionalism and personal warmth. Every driver is fully licensed, safety-trained and deeply familiar with Sri Lanka's routes — ensuring every journey is comfortable, punctual and enjoyable.

Fully Licensed Safety Certified English Speaking

Expert Tour Guides

Our guides hold Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) certification and are selected for their storytelling ability, cultural depth and genuine passion for sharing their island. They bring history, nature and local life alive in a way no guidebook ever could.

SLTDA Certified Multilingual Specialist Knowledge

Safari Jeep Drivers

Our wildlife safari drivers have years of experience inside Yala, Minneriya and Udawalawe national parks. Their ability to read animal behaviour, position the vehicle for perfect sightings and keep guests safe and comfortable sets them apart from the rest.

Park Certified Wildlife Trained Expert Trackers

Our Commitment to Quality — Including Third-Party Partners

For certain tours and peak periods, we work with a carefully curated network of third-party guides and vehicle operators — each selected based on consistent five-star ratings in past guest reviews. We do not work with any partner who has not earned the trust of our guests first.

Selected by guest feedback only Vetted before every booking Continuously reviewed

What Sets Us Apart

Why Discerning Travellers Choose Sinhagiri

Four principles that define every tour we operate and every interaction we have with our guests.

Max 8 guests

Genuinely Small Groups

We cap every tour at a maximum of eight guests — not because regulations require it, but because we believe a great guide's knowledge should be shared personally, not broadcast to a crowd. You will never feel like a number on a Sinhagiri tour.

100% local team

Locally Owned, Locally Led

Every member of our team was born and raised in Sri Lanka. Our guides are not reading from a script — they are sharing the stories of their own culture, the places they grew up near, and the wildlife they have watched since childhood. That authenticity is impossible to replicate.

Responsible certified

Responsible Tourism Practice

We are committed to tourism that benefits local communities and protects Sri Lanka's extraordinary natural heritage. We use certified local restaurants, support elephant welfare only at ethical sanctuaries, and maintain a strict no-wildlife-harassment policy on every safari.

Zero logistics stress

White-Glove Logistics

From the moment you confirm your booking, our operations team handles every detail — hotel coordination, entry tickets, restaurant reservations, timing adjustments for your comfort. Our guests arrive at each site relaxed, informed and ready to absorb every moment.

Guide Excellence

Our Guides Are Our
Greatest Asset

Every Sinhagiri guide completes a rigorous internal training programme before leading their first group. We select for depth of knowledge, warmth of character and the rare ability to make complex history feel alive and personal.

"A great guide doesn't just show you a place — they make you feel you understand it. That is the standard we hold ourselves to on every single tour."

Lakshitha Karunarathna

Founder & Managing Director

Tourism Board Certified

Every guide holds a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority certification — the industry's gold standard.

Multilingual Team

Our guides collectively speak English, Sinhala, Tamil, French, German, Japanese and more.

Continuous Learning

Monthly training sessions cover new archaeological discoveries, conservation updates and guest experience refinement.

Safety Trained

All guides hold first-aid certification and complete annual vehicle and emergency safety refreshers.

Reviewed Individually

Each guide's personal performance rating is tracked across every tour to ensure consistently exceptional standards.

Ethical Commitment

Our guides are trained in responsible wildlife interaction, cultural sensitivity and sustainable tourism practice.

Verified & Recognised

Certifications & Affiliations

Our credentials are independently verified — not self-declared. Here is what the industry's most respected bodies say about us.

TripAdvisor

Certificate of Excellence

Awarded to the top 10% of travel companies on TripAdvisor globally.

Google Reviews

Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 300+ verified guest reviews.

Sri Lanka Tourism

SLTDA Registered

Fully registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

Responsible Tourism

Eco-Conscious Operator

Committed to sustainable travel practices that protect Sri Lanka's heritage.

Begin Your Journey

Sri Lanka is Waiting.
We Are Ready to Guide You.

Whether you have two days or two weeks, a clear itinerary or a blank page — our team will build the Sri Lanka experience you have always imagined.

500+

Guests Served

4.9★

Average Rating

12yr

Of Excellence

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The People Behind
Your Perfect Journey

Twelve Years of
Extraordinary Journeys