Customer Reviews - Trips to Nepal, India and Sri Lanka

Customer reviews

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Total Reviews: 45

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

July 7, 2020

PRE-DEPARTURE REVIEW - very impressed From the very start of our experience with NEP-IN-SRI we were ... Read more

- Mr and Mrs Wigley

Shooting Wildlife - Photographic Safari

May 6, 2020

"A bespoke version of this itinerary" I would like to give you a review about Thomas and my trip to ... Read more

- Thomas and Sven from Germany

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

March 17, 2020

We congratulate Nep-In-Sri Travel on providing such a successful and memorable trip. Very many thanks ... Read more

- Bruce Jackman

Costa Rica’s Natural Jewels

March 3, 2020

"Superb - truly memorable" We had a superb holiday with a guide who was very knowledgeable and very ... Read more

- Liz & Graham Ralph

Costa Rica’s Natural Jewels

March 1, 2020

Excellent as usual - our 3rd trip with Nep In Sri Travel Ltd" This is a birdwatchers paradise we had ... Read more

- Mr M & Mrs C Taylor

A Classic Journey Through Rajasthan

February 17, 2020

WONDERFUL, MEMORABLE & ALREADY PLANNING ANOTHER TRIP NEXT YEAR WITH NEP-IN-SRI TRAVEL LTD "A bespoke ... Read more

- Dr & Mrs Berry

WE HAD THE MOST TREMENDOUS FAMILY HOLIDAY in Nepal, and cannot recommend NepInSri Travel enough. The ... whole experience, from start to finish was flawless. Nepal is such a beautiful country on every possible level - its rich architectural history, stunning natural scenery - but most of all, its people, are all wonders to behold. The Nepalese people are incredibly welcoming, honest, genuine, resourceful, and nothing is too much trouble. Our trip enabled us to gain a real insights into this country. We undertook many cultural tours with well informed local guides who gave engaging accounts of the history. Our trek into the Annapurna region was a combination of stunning views & surroundings, and priceless opportunities to mingle among local people. For the five day trek we were in the safe hands of our excellent guide and two porters, all of whom we became very fond of - even if they did beat us at UNO! We stayed in a range of tea houses, all with a slightly different rustic charms. It was a real adventure! Our holiday included a short rafting trip which was well worth doing. The 6 man crew for were incredibly proficient at their roles. The expedition was a finely tuned operation with safety clearly at the forefront. With exciting rapids, floating through tranquil jungles and camp fires on beaches, it was an opportunity to experience another aspect of the country, with excellent food thrown in. Talking of food, we never had a bad meal and thoroughly enjoyed exploring new dishes. Our guides were very good at introducing us to local delicacies, which meant we tried things that I’m sure we wouldn’t have been brave enough to do so on our own. The accommodation throughout our trip was huge in variety, ranging from traditional hand crafted buildings now beautiful hotels to basic tea houses to tents beside the river. As a family we thrive on the intrigue of what our next abode might be, and this holiday didn’t let us down. Once our adventure was coming to an end we had our final night back in the lovely Kathmandu Guest House, the hotel where our holiday had begun two weeks earlier. It is very central and perfectly located for all that last minute souvenir buying. Its beautiful court yard garden is also the perfect sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and provided somewhere to reflect on the memories made during our trip. Having been fortunate enough to have traveled to many foreign parts, Nepal is certainly up there in our top picks. The country itself is wonderful but this trip gave us a totally relaxed, stress free, exciting and meaningful experience. Thank you Claire and team - you delivered an awesome experience for us all! Read more

- The Tebbutt Family

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

January 28, 2020

THE TRIP WAS EXCELLENT!! Nep-in-Sri Travel created the perfect bespoke itinerary for our two week holiday ... Read more

- Harry O'Hare

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

March 13, 2019

This was our second holiday booked through Nep-in-Sri Travel as the first had worked so well. We were ... Read more

- Christine and Malcolm Taylor

Famous Golden Triangle

March 13, 2019

My friends and I have just come back from a wonderful trip to India for 10 days. We experienced the wonders, ... Read more

- Beverley Carpenter

Famous Golden Triangle

March 11, 2019

I have recently returned from my Famous Golden Triangle tour of India with my family and friends, who ... have all posted excellent reviews of our trip. I thought I would write my review from a slightly different angle; travelling with my 9 month old daughter. People thought I was crazy taking a baby so young away to a place like India but in reality it was so easy thanks to the service received from Nep-In-Sri Travel Ltd. So let’s start at the beginning. Our transport, a 10-seater mini bus, was plenty spacious for us all and the company would have supplied a car seat had I not taken our own from the UK. The bus was always kept clean and tidy with water supplied. It was Bev’s birthday whilst we were away and Subesh decorated the bus so beautifully! He was a fantastic driver, so calm in all situations on the busy roads of India. I think the fact that most of us were asleep on the long journeys says it all! The hotel in Jaipur was very authentic, a traditional haveli, but it needs some updating. I have passed this feedback on to Nep-in-Sri who have taken it onboard. Our full day sightseeing was so wonderful and our local guide was very funny, knowledgeable and had perfect English. In one day we managed to see the Amber Fort, the Observatory and the City Palace. Harish paced the day very well and we were able to stop for breaks when we wanted. We also were lucky enough to see the famous block printing first hand and give it a go ourselves! We wanted to take full advantage of the various shopping opportunities, with fabric and jewellery at the top of our list. Harish took us to the best places and helped us haggle to get the best prices. One evening after dinner we went to look at a wedding taking place at the restaurant next door and we were invited on to the dance floor and made to feel very welcome - Indian hospitality at its best! We even had our picture with the bride and groom! We went on an early morning leopard safari from Jaipur, something I didn’t even know existed until it was pointed out to us - we had to go! Unfortunately there were no sightings for us - a good excuse to return another time. We then moved on to Udaipur, which is one of my favourite places in India. The streets are much quieter than Jaipur and the lakes are beautiful. I would definitely recommend the boat trip run by the City Palace, where you have the opportunity to get off at an island for food and drinks. Again our local guide was fantastic, even looking after the baby so I could have a meal and a cocktail in peace! He went above and beyond what is expected. We took full advantage of the tailoring service on offer and a number of us got dresses and shirts made, all of which were delivered to our hotel a few hours later - true craftsmanship and such good quality. We then travelled to Ranthambhore National Park and had some amazing sightings of the tigers. Harish is an excellent tiger spotter and on one occasion his beady eyes spotted the tiger first! We were the only ones around for a long time before the other jeeps spotted her, and for a short while she was ours to enjoy. The drivers we had were excellent and would do anything for us to see the tigers, driving along a rock face and through an empty river bed were just two of the things! The hotel in Ranthambhore was absolutely beautiful with a lovely swimming pool. They didn’t have a high chair but every meal time a special chair with plenty of cushions was put at the head of our table. The chef came out at every meal and asked what we would like to be cooked for the next meal. He made food especially for my daughter with no salt in it - it was incredibly kind and thoughtful of him. From there we travelled to Agra for our amazing trip to the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Our hotel in Agra was absolutely amazing, it was 5* and we all had Taj Mahal facing rooms. The buffets at both breakfast and dinner had an extensive range. It is truly breathtaking and seeing it change colour as the sun rises is so wonderful. You just can’t stop taking pictures! Harish thoughtfully organised a photographer whilst we were there so we could create some amazing group pictures which we shall all treasure. It truly is breathtaking. Our hotel in Delhi was very relaxing before our flight home. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Suite room which was very spacious. The hotel is situated in a lovely location and the gardens are well maintained and colourful. It is very conveniently located close to the airport too. I would not hesitate returning to India another time. South India sounds amazing and the wildlife opportunities in Gujarat sound like they shouldn’t be missed. I can’t wait to show my daughter some more amazing sights of India! I would definitely book with Nep-in-Sri Travel Ltd again. Every detail had been thoughtfully managed and from our point of view it was effortless, but we know how much hard work has to be put in to make it seem that way. Thank you so much. Read more

- Caroline Dyson

Famous Golden Triangle

March 11, 2019

I’ve recently returned from my first trip to India, visiting Jaipur, Udaipur, Rajasthan, Agra & ... Read more

- Ian Dyson

Famous Golden Triangle

March 11, 2019

I have been asked to do a review of my recent trip to India, and of course I didn’t hesitate as the ... Read more

- Sheila Jones

Famous Golden Triangle

March 7, 2019

Myself and friends were actually on a bespoke trip arranged by Harish for which I cannot thank him enough. ... Read more

- Lesley Turner

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

January 30, 2019

AMAZING, FABULOUS, INCREDIBLE TRIP - visited Sri Lanka in Nov / Dec 2018 for 18 days Yet again, another ... amazing trip organised by Claire. We arrived in Sri Lanka after a disappointing flight with Sri Lankan Airlines, but as soon as we met Sarath we knew that we would love this country - and we did. The trip was so varied and interesting. The hotels were excellent, each one exceeding the expectation from the one before. We tried to rate them from location, staff, view, swimming pool, comfort and restaurant but they were all wonderful, although the ones in between were better than the first and last - first because we were tired and it rained and last because we were on our way home. Our first night was in Negombo and Sarath collected us from our hotel and took us to the fish market on the shore - it was stunning to see the beach full of fish drying in the sun, with more boats arriving and fishermen emptying their nets. Sarath showed us the extremes of the Victorian Rest house, in need of renovation, and the perimeter of the local prison as a bus full of very jolly convicts came out of the gates heading for the courthouse. We then had a four-hour drive to Dambulla. Driving in India can be scary but I have never seen as many nutty dogs running into the road as in Sri Lanka. Fortunately, Sarath is a brilliant driver and managed to miss them all! Before arriving at our hotel we took an optional/additional trip for a full body/Indian head massage at an Ayurvedic Centre in the middle of the jungle. The experience was very therapeutic but although I enjoyed it at the time, it was a shame it took nearly a week to get the oil out of my hair! Still nothing ventured, nothing gained, and nobody got hurt! We arrived at the Paradise Resort and Spa late afternoon. It is a wonderful resort which is reached by a very worn track. This hotel gets 5* for the fantastic swimming pool surrounded by mountains and jungle, delightful staff, restaurant and accommodation. The following day was action packed as we explored the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which is 1202 steps to the summit, accompanied by monkeys and tourists. We had a wonderful clear day and the view was stunning. The spiral stairway to the Sigiriya frescoes of the heavenly maidens is not for anyone suffering from vertigo or the effects of humidity but worth the climb for the fitter members of the group. We visited a school with some gifts of classroom supplies and with a somewhat bemused and mixed reception as they seemed to be pretty well equipped. We loved the village safari, although we had not fully understood what was involved. The bullock cart ride was entertaining, the catamaran ride on the lake was enchanting but the coconut and millet roti with coconut sambal cooked on an open fire was a real insight into how hard the Sri Lankan women work. I was impressed with the coconut grater and huge mortar and pestle used to crush the fresh chillies. The home was made from mud, wood and we watched a demonstration of how the palm leaves were woven for the roof. On Day 4 we visited the ruins of Polonnarawu with a young and very enthusiastic guide. Unfortunately we are unlikely to remember the names of all the battles and kings so were grateful that we didn’t have to pass any test. The area is vast with ruins of temples, court houses, bathing pools and palaces. The carvings are exquisite especially the moonstone on the steps leading to one of the main shrines. We also visited the Gal Vihara temple where there are four huge statues of Buddha in various poses carved into granite. Sarath took us to lunch on the edge of the paddy where we were able to watch the food being prepared, and again we had the best table in the house overlooking the workers in the field accompanied by the egrets. In the afternoon we went on a jeep safari along with a hundred other jeeps. We were treated to impressive sitings of elephants, which were to be well and truly surpassed on the future safaris, but we didn’t know that at the time. The scenery was stunning and we had a very amiable driver. We had a long drive to Kandy which was through stunning countryside and villages. We visited the Spice Garden which was interesting and informative. The jury is still out as to whether the red oil and balm will soothe Phil’s aching back, but I am very happy with the Spiced tea and citronella oil and balm. Probably got a bit carried away with my purchases and hadn’t quite got the exchange rate correct in my mind. When we arrived in Kandy we visited a Gem store and had a video tour of how the gem mines are created, with a lot resting on whether the project will be auspicious or not from star signs. We also visited a wood carving factory where the science of the various colour pigments were practically explained. Sarath took us to a restaurant, where again we had the best table in the house overlooking the fast running river. Our hotel, Randholee Resort, was spectacular. The views were breathtaking and the staff could not have been more accommodating. The infinity pool looked to beyond. The waiter moved our table out on the patio so that we could enjoy our meals overlooking paradise. We were unsure why some aspects of the itinerary had been included, for example, the Garrison cemetery near the Temple and lake area. However, it was fascinating and the guide was absolutely passionate about the subject – there were so many graves of young British women and children for whom the climate was totally unsuitable. He also spoke with fondness of Prince Charles who had visited the cemetery a while before and who had sent some of his personal money to fund the remedial work that was required. That evening we visited a culture show in Kandy that was incredibly entertaining from music, dance, acrobatics and firewalking. We visited the Temple of the Tooth later that evening and Sarath was very enthusiastic that we should have the privilege of seeing the Tooth Relic Chamber with the golden bejewelled shrine that houses the relic. The door to this shrine is only open for a very short period of time and so we were very lucky to be able to view it with several hundred devotees. The Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya were home to a huge family of monkeys that were very entertaining and the orchid house was spectacular. The planting was extensive with an army of gardeners to maintain the gardens. We were very lucky to be able to take the train to our next destination, Nuwara Eliya in the hill country. It was a four hour journey and although the scenery was beautiful the experience life affirming as was we were introduced to the hospitality of the Sri Lankans by seven families that were going to Ella for the school holidays. There was singing, there was dancing, there was drum playing and there was freshly cooked food, wrapped in banana leaves that was shared with all the passengers in the carriage. They were the most beautiful and happy children. Sarath met us at the station and took us to the Grand Hotel, which is a colonial step-back in time and even more surreal with all the decorations, carol singing and beautiful Christmas tree. The restaurant is fantastic, with freshly cooked dishes at stations around the dining hall. This definitely got five stars plus. Sarath took us to the local ‘pub’ and the market and we enjoyed exploring Nuwara Eliya although we had a very early start the next morning for the trek on Horton Plains to take us to the ‘World’s End’. We were very lucky again with the weather and were able to take photographs from the highest point with clear skies. We were now day nine, and thoroughly enjoying our stay in this beautiful country. We had a four hour drive from Nuwara Eliya to Yala, through the Ella gap, in pretty torrential rain. We visited a cave temple that was dedicated to both the Hindi and Buddhist religions with beautiful paintings. We arrived in the Yala National Park mid-afternoon and loved the jungle chalet in the Cinnamon Wild. It took a while to adapt to watching the crocodiles basking in the lake with the water buffalo, metres from where we swam happily in the pool. The rooftop view from the restaurant of the ocean waves crashing 500 metres from the hotel, surrounded by lakes and the jungle with the wild animals roaming freely was extraordinary. The next day was spent enjoying a safari in the national park where we were lucky enough to spot four leopards on different occasions, two enjoying siestas in the high branches of the trees and two others crossing the paths or just ambling through the jungle and long grass. We also saw several elephants, one lone male making the most of the lake to himself, and having a refreshing water bath. There is no movement on the park for two hours from noon and so all the jeeps park up for lunch by the beach, which is also a Tsunami Memorial as the large granite base would have been the floor of the lodge where several people lost their lives that Boxing morning. Quite sobering as we watched the iguanas climb the trees that survived and paddled on the shoreline. We had a driver and tracker for the day and it was very apparent that our cameras were significantly inferior. Our tracker used my phone and national trust binoculars to capture passable images of the leopard in the tree, but was nothing compared to the equipment our driver had with a huge telescopic lens, like a drum, where you could clearly see the number of whiskers sported by the big cat. It was a truly memorable day. The following day we travelled to Udawalawe and had another amazing safari trip were we saw male peacocks dancing, almost tame monkeys, several groups of elephants at very close range, as in you could touch them if you wanted to, and we were ‘hunted’ by a group of three young jackals that were very entertaining. The following morning we left the hotel early to go to the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home, which I can say that, despite all the other amazing experiences we had on this trip, was the absolute highlight for me. To watch baby orphaned elephants ‘scampering’ in from the jungle for their four-times daily milk feed is humbling and magical. There are currently forty three young elephants in this national park that are benefiting from this charity. They range in age from two weeks to five years at which time they would naturally be weaned from their mothers and so discouraged from coming to feed. I am not sure why there is such a high number of orphans as the elephants are protected and there is no poaching. The programme has been running for twenty years and have rescued and rehabilitated 100+ elephants back into the wild in that time, including thirteen females who have now become mothers themselves. Work that can only be applauded. Our next stop was the Dickwella Resort hotel which definitely gets five stars for our room, with two balconies overlooking separate beaches and a restaurant on stilts over the sea. We strolled along the sands and watched the fishermen go out and catch just enough for their supper. It was very relaxing, ready for our early start for whale watching from Mirissa harbour. Where the Elephant Transit Home was the highlight, whale watching was the most disappointing, although you can’t dictate to nature. Mirissa harbour was bright and bustly and the dawn drive along the coast road was beautiful. However, after eight hours on a boat, with mainly Chinese and Russian fellow watchers, when we were 50 km out to sea alongside the shipping tankers, we finally saw one tail! What I will take from the experience was a tattoo I spotted whilst people watching – ‘The world is a book, and if you never travel you will have only read the first page’. The next day we travelled to Galle and did a tour of the fort, got caught up in a film set for an advertisement, so they had to retake, and visited the market and churches. It was a spectacularly hot day so visits inside large cool buildings were welcomed. We watched the young boys fishing off the harbour and jumping into the water to cool down. Sarath had arranged for us to eat at the best fish restaurant outside of Colombo, with a table just above the waves on the beach. It was an amazing platter that we enjoyed. We next visited the turtle sanctuary which struck me as being controversial. The eggs are bought from fishermen who dig them up to eat, but now have an income source so sell them to the sanctuary. They are then reburied until they are due to hatch. The hatchlings are put in tanks and released into the sea on the night they hatch – they are escorted down the beach so that they will not be eaten by predators, and also so that they will know where to return to. However, there were tanks with deformed hatchlings and adult turtles that would not have survived if nature had taken its course – blind turtles and those with indents in the shells which means they would not be able to dive for food. There were also turtles who had lost their front flippers in fishermen’s nets and would have also starved. There was one large, albino turtle, who would definitely not have survived in the wild, but would be better off being loaned for a fee to a larger aquarium rather than the tank he was being kept in. The Eden Resort and Spa at Beruwala was huge and bordered onto the beach were the river met the sea and so the currents were quite intense. I took a lovely early morning walk along the beach before Sarath collected us to take us back to Colombo. En route we visited the Kachimalani mosque which overlooks the colourful harbour and stopped to watch the locals buying freshly landed, as in still flapping, fish on the beach. We visited the Mount Lavinia hotel and as Sarath had worked there at the start of his career we enjoyed a very personal tour of the hotel, including the hidden tunnel where the Governor used to meet with his ‘dancing girl’, Lavinia. We were incredibly honoured to be invited to Sarath’s home, as a surprise, and meet his delightful wife and son. It was very, very kind and much appreciated by us and we thank you for the wonderful refreshments which were delicious. After this we went on a tour of Sarath’s home city of Colombo – he seems to know all the right people, in all the right places and we had an incredible time, including the hotel that also seems to be a museum which fascinated Phil, especially Prince Philip’s first car. This was such a fabulous tour, looking back through my photographs there are so many experiences I have failed to mention, which Sarath took the trouble to include, the train/engine museum, the golden Buddha, the temples, the paintings, the sculptures, the mongoose, the cannon ball tree, our fascination with monkeys that could be regarded as destructive pests by Sri Lankans, the tea plantation, the Heritance factory, the waterfalls, the freshly cooked hoppers and roti, the elephants, the peacocks, the leopards, the birds, the lotus flowers, the frangipani, the forest fowl, the paddy fields, the beaches, the jungles, the colours, the sounds, the scents, the tastes – thank you for an incredible trip that memories are made from, and which make us want to return but on Sarath’s recommendation can we go to the North next time?? Read more

- Penny & Philip Bond

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

January 23, 2019

FANTASTIC HOLIDAY! Email comments received from guest – Mother and son aged 84 & 54 travelling ... together. Negombo: I was duly met at the airport where Sri Lankan airways handed me over to Sarath who is very good, pleasant and helpful........and a very safe driver. I would hate to drive over here - tuk-tuks, motorbikes, pushbike, cars and lorries seem to come from all directions! I think I will have a shower before dinner.........what a life! Thank you for setting it up! Dambulla - We have just come back from a swim in a large empty pool - to be more precise, Steve swam goodness knows how many lengths while I managed a few…… but I did cool off and we lazed around reading for an hour or more. All well, thank you, though I have opted out of multiple steps......normal ones in temples and uneven grounds are bad enough! Sarath is a gem......and we had about an hour this morning waiting for Steve to come down from the Rock Fortress at Sigiriya. Sarath is a fount of knowledge and easy to talk to, as well as being a good driver and very careful of his elderly passenger! We saw three groups of elephants this afternoon: all shapes and sizes ranging from the very young - not quite new-born, but nearly, to a month old and all sizes up to a very large male keeping an eye on his hareem! A ride in a bullock cart ranks as about the most uncomfortable journey I have ever had!.... but very interesting seeing the village and surrounding area. Greetings from Kandy. I am sitting on the balcony looking at the view; no wonder it is called the Hill Country. I am overlooking the swimming pool. We even had a very few drops of rain earlier; in the south they haven’t had any for six months so are hoping for some. Both places - wood and gems factories were fascinating - Sarath had been telling me about the making and use of natural pigments and I saw it demonstrated there. The gem stone visit was interesting .......a good thing I am too old to buy more jewellery, because there were lots of beautiful items. The Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya - yesterday we came here by train: I am glad you managed to arrange that because it was well worth it, as we could actually see the edge of the jungle and the vast areas of tea plantations. We did the factory visit later that day and the had a brief-excursion to the town before dinner. Horton Plains day - Afternoon sitting relaxing in my room after an early start! We left the hotel at 5.30am - 30 minutes extra lie-in! It was dark at first of course, so we saw a beautiful sunrise on the way to Horton Plains; not much else to see through the cloud and rain! We were soon in a queue of dozens of 4X4s....... and eventually made it to the top and did see about half a dozen Sambar deer near the entrance. Eventually Steve set off and the rain had practically stopped. Sarath and I walked to the museum and coffee shop where he bought us each a hot coffee and a pancake filled with coconut and honey - very good! Steve was back quickly....about 2 hours - it took Sarath and the driver of our vehicle ( who was playing cards with some of the other drivers) by surprise! Gorgeous sunny morning: ideal for a trip to Horton Plains! Let’s hope it will be fine as we make our way south to Udawalawe National Park: not far, but a long drive on these roads I gather! A last one - looking at the sea from my very comfortable room in Colombo, waiting to go to the airport! I will ring you some time on Tuesday as we shan’t be home until about midnight after a FANTASTIC holiday. We have had a super time and Sarah is a gem! He has been all a driver/guide should be and more – the extra mile isn’t in it, more like a marathon! He and Steve got on well, partly I think because Steve is so knowledgeable about Asian countries. They have both been very patient, because I have been very wary of the uneven tracks and dozens of steps at the various sites and so much to take in! We did go to Galle after all........Steve and Sarath arranged it! The weather here is odd too, so we had a fine afternoon. It is fascinating and would be super to explore on foot - if I were fitter and we had more time! More when I see you but thank you for all you have done. Read more

- Mrs B

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

June 18, 2018

We were expecting Sri Lanka to be similar to India where we have travelled extensively. It is NOT. It ... Read more

- Mark and Amanda Dowdney

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

April 23, 2018

Service at airport - excellent - very good indeed. Your car - excellent - clean, comfortable, spacious. Your ... tour leader / driver - excellent - Sarath "MADE" our holiday - charming, knowledable, patient, amusing, punctual, professional. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Local guides at sites - excellent - Local guides were impressive. We always seemed to have "the best one"! Quality of national park guide - excellent - a good driver who managed to weave in and out, taking short cuts etc so we were able to see an 8 week old baby elephant. Horton Plains walk and N.Pk - excellent - Again helpful and professional. National Park wildlife sightings - excellent - Elephants, sambar stags, peacocks, sea eagles, cattle egrets, monkeys, giant squirrels, kingfisher, langur monkeys. Historic sites - excellent - stunning especially the reclining Buddhas. Accommodation in general - excellent including one with a 30m+ swimming pool. Hotel J - good - food cooked to order rather than buffet. Paradise resort & spa - excellent - wonderful pool, beautiful surroundings, helpful staf. Randholee - excellent - wonderful view and best pudding of lemon tart. Grand hotel - Good - colonial, great service, fantastic supper including Barramundi fish - amazing!! Paradise beach - good - lift not working when we arrived and we were challenged over paying for dinner. This was VERY quickly settled by Claire and then all was good with the staff. School visit & village - both went very well. An elephant had visited the village the night before..... Sightseeing - very good indeed. Food in general - Fantastic!! Spicy food (not too hot for European taste), fresh fruit, buffalo curd, honey and melon Weather - wonderful. Separate driver to / from beach resort - very good. Separate transfers - all went very smoothly. Were there any changes to the itinerary? - yes there were changes but these were "add ons" which were welcome and enjoyable. Sarath seemed to be able to gauge the expectations of his clients. Any other comments / suggestions - we would not hesitate to recommend NEP IN SRI TRAVEL Ltd to family and friends if Sarath de Silva was the tour guide!! Read more

- John

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

April 19, 2018

Thank you Claire and Sararth from Nep In Sri Travel Ltd for the most fascinating travels in this amazing ... Read more

- Tracey and Matt

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

April 11, 2018

We have just returned from two weeks in Sri Lanka organised by Claire. It is a beautiful country with ... Read more

- Diana

Tea and Sea

March 5, 2018

Wonderful time in India: This was our first trip to India and it was amazing. This was in part due to ... Read more

- Chris and Malcolm Taylor

Spiritual India

January 29, 2018

My daughter is travelling independently to Southern India in a couple of days' time, her first visit ... Read more

- Rebecca

In Search of Big Cats

May 16, 2017

Thank you so much for arranging our Jeep Safaris at the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. We had ... Read more

- Harbans and Omar Bhakri

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

March 20, 2017

A beautiful island that is filled with helpful, friendly people. The wildlife is wonderful to watch - ... Read more

- Lydia

Tea and Sea

December 28, 2016

We went straight onto this tour from 'The Colourful South'. The pace of the tour was a little more relaxed ... Read more

- Carol and Colville Greaves

Colourful South

December 28, 2016

We had a most fantastic time on this tour, which was our first trip to India. Every day was extremely ... Read more

- Carol and Colville Greaves

Capital to Capital - Delhi to Kathmandu

August 4, 2016

Had a fantastic adventure with my daughter travelling from Delhi to Shimla, back to Delhi and then onwards ... Read more

- Madi Hearne

Old Summer Retreat

August 3, 2016

Had a fantastic adventure with my daughter travelling from Delhi to Shimla, back to Delhi and then onwards ... Read more

- Madi Hearne

Shooting Wildlife - Photographic Safari

April 13, 2016

Wonderful leader and already planning another return trip! A tailor-made trip with friends, this time ... Read more

- Sarah

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

March 9, 2016

So memorable. We thoroughly recommend this travel company All the preparation and planning for this ... Read more

- Audrey and Peter Hall

A Classic Journey Through Rajasthan

March 3, 2016

Great Advice, Can't wait for our next big trip in India...!! The team gave us great advice on our ... Read more

- Josey and Chris

Spiritual India

March 1, 2016

Thanks for a wonderful trip! I'm definitely coming back again with NepInSri Travel Thanks for a wonderful ... Read more

- Tina

Famous Golden Triangle

February 2, 2016

UNFORGETTABLE TRIP, Spectacular, moving and unmissable! We have just returned from a fortnight's holiday ... with two other couples, ie, six of us plus driver and wonderful guide, Narendra, who proved to be a well organised, adaptable, flexible and humorous guide who solved our problems with a smile, found us some great food (and no-one was ill!) and with whom we shared many laughs. We started in Delhi and braved the dirtier even than usual streets (street cleaner strike!) in minibus, on foot and in rickshaws! Talk about crowded! We expected a full assault on the senses and we certainly got it! Our days were full and the contrasts and extremes, eg between rich and poor, past and present, gave us much to think and talk about The animals - cows and bulls, dogs, monkeys etc everywhere and, alongside the obvious poverty of life on the streets, had us confronting some of our own preconceived and long held views. Architecture, design and colour are everywhere, often breathtaking. Perhaps most unexpected were the havelis in Madawa - beautiful old homes which reveal fusions of Islamic and Hindu art and culture, often using methods pinched from Italy, eg pietra dura and fresco. The stunning Pink City of Jaipur continued to impress, again with an unexpected delight at the "Observatory" - not as we know it but a sculpture garden of huge "instruments" dedicated to telling the time and navigating the stars. One of our group had a birthday here where we stayed at the lovely Heritage hotel Narin-Nawas Palace and enjoyed a magical evening of local entertainment and dancing as we celebrated. (Should also mention that our guide and driver decorated the minibus for this special event and the balloons and decorations traveled with us from then on!) A second evening there allowed us to check out The Palladio, a venue visited by the celebratory cast of the TV series "The Real Marigold Hotel". Recommend it! Before getting to Agra we visited Bharatpur (birthplace of our guide!) where we toured the wonderful Keoladeo Bird Park in rickshaws. We also visited an orphanage where 45 charming children are cared for in pretty basic surroundings and a small village school where we were treated to demonstrations of their talents and proficiencies in dance and recitation - sometimes in English. We saw the Taj Mahal in Agra from across the river at sunset and then returned to join the queues to see it at sunrise Not a disappointment (although very chilly!). Hundreds of photos taken. A further trip to the Agra Fort gave us more context to the amazing story of the constructions and histories of these fabulous buildings and their creators. The Erotic Temples at Khajuraho wowed us all! Totally unexpected and in a surprisingly uncrowded location, the Hindu celebration of erotic love was wonderfully explained to us by another great local guide. Again, many photos taken! Our final destination was Varanasi, often known as Benares, where the Ganges is sacred and where the Hindu daily ceremonies of prayer and cremation could be seen from our own small boat on the river. Spectacular, moving and unmissable! For us this was definitely an unforgettable trip and there are few minor negatives which I will point out so that they can be "worked round". For the most part it was well planned but a couple of the journeys took much longer that we had been led to believe. (Toilet breaks were sometimes limited and, well, you take your chance! Wished I had brought a Shepee!) Perhaps this is inevitable as roads are often poor and other traffic and speed limits need to be taken account of, but the result was that we skipped a couple of visits because we were too tired and achy. (NB, we are all over 60 - so this may not be relevant to younger, fitter travelers without back problems and sciatica!). Hotels (Heritage and 4*) were mostly very good but one was dirty and unfriendly (this is being looked into by Harish). Most had kettles and only one didn't have a fridge but a hairdryer couldn't be relied on - or even borrowed from reception. Wine is available but expensive, the same bottle of Sula (Indian wine) ranging in price from 1500 - 2700 rupees. Personally my biggest problem was the absolutely awful coffee which seems to be the norm! Tea and chai are everywhere but not coffee as we know it. I wish I had known this and had taken more with me. Making up for lost caffeine now that I am home! Response by Nep In Sri Travel Ltd - many thanks for your good feedback and we have taken notice of all your comments and we will not be using that specific hotel again. Read more

- Lynda

Famous Golden Triangle

February 1, 2016

Our wonderful tour guide - A credit to your company Just to follow on from Lynda's comprehensive review ... Read more

- Dali Sidebottom

Colourful South

December 17, 2015

There is not a lot more to add to Penny's review, to call this trip, a holiday is an understatement, ... Read more

- Diana Hendzel

Colourful South

December 9, 2015

WOW, WHAT A TRIP! It is difficult to know where to start or what to say - however, WOW - what a trip. ... This was my fourth visit to India and my first with Nep-In-Sri Travel. I have no hesitation in recommending Nep-In-Sri Travel to friends, family and anyone else who will listen, and will certainly be booking my next trip with them. The only problem is the choice with so many tours available. This particular tour started off with garlands of jasmine and just got better. It is difficult to single out any particular highlight, as the whole tour was one after another, but being blessed by elephants, buying saris, watching bronzes being cast, being caught in the tail end of the monsoon, boat trip down the Keralean backwaters, Hindu Temple closing ceremonies and deciding that we definitely want to be reincarnated as holy cows, provides a taster. The hotels ranged from excellent to excellent and we would have liked to have extended our tour to spend a bit more time in some of them - the early morning dips in the pools were paradise. This tour was on a bed and breakfast basis, but we ate 'A la carte' in all the hotel restaurants and the food was superb - real Indian, served on banana leaves in many cases. We elected to have guides at all of the sites, rather than travel with us, which worked perfectly. The guides ranged from very good to superb, only because there needs to be some kind of comparison, and we learnt a lot about the Hindu way of life, even if we will never truly understand it. The star of our holiday, was without question, our driver - Mr Venke. He spoke fair English at the start of the trip but after an eight-day intensive course, there was no joke he didn't understand, and I think he could now claim to be fluent. The roads we traveled were mad in comparison with the UK, but not that bad in comparison with those in Northern India, although my sister still can't get over the cows just lying and dozing in the middle of the highways. However, we always felt safe with Mr Venke at the wheel, and were impressed with the way he found alternative routes when the roads impassable due to the heavy rains, and even drove safely through floods where the roads were full of submerged potholes. This was an amazing trip - thank you so much to all of the staff involved who ensured that it went so smoothly and has left us with fantastic memories - I don't want to call it 'a trip of a life-time' because I can't wait to go back. Read more

- Penny Bond

Shooting Wildlife - Photographic Safari

June 2, 2015

We all came home with some fabulous images, so if photography is your thing, you won't go wrong with ... Read more

- Sarah Vallance

High Passes and Lakes of Ladakh

June 1, 2015

Everything was organized and I can honestly recommend NepInSri travel to arrange your trip to India, ... Read more

- Tina Beermann

Famous Golden Triangle

March 31, 2015

We had a fantastic time. As first time visitors to India, it is all just mind-blowingly fascinating! We ... Read more

- Mr & Mrs Pearson

All Over Sri Lanka - Culture & Wildlife

March 12, 2015

We found their work ethic flexible in what really amounts to a one off bespoke itinerary planned for ... Read more

- Peter and Audrey

A Classic Journey Through Rajasthan

March 2, 2015

All in all we enjoyed the whole trip but our thanks go to the trip organiser Harishji We went to Pushkar ... Read more

- Lalita Hament Parmar

Tea and Sea

February 1, 2015

If you haven’t been to the South yet – Go! Indulge your senses! The trip is well-planned This ... Read more

- Tina

In Search of Big Cats

January 30, 2015

A very successful trip to satisfy a life-long ambition to see big cats in the wild. Excellent tiger spotting ... Read more

- Dr Tree

Shooting Wildlife - Photographic Safari

July 14, 2014

I had to squeeze the itinerary in around business trips to Delhi and Mumbai, and they stuck to the brief ... Read more

- Peter Bryant

Shooting Wildlife - Photographic Safari

July 1, 2014

Have just done a short (6 day) trip to Ranthambore NP and had great sightings of, among other things, ... Read more

- Sarah Vallance