Our Services

ACCOMMODATION

Our choice in accommodation varies from budget hotels to super luxury and boutique properties. We have options of big hotels with large number of rooms, medium semi luxury or budget hotels, smaller villas for couples and families, ecofriendly and also Ayurveda/wellness and yoga retreats.

EXCURSION DEPARTMENT

We offer half day, one day excursions as well as overnight excursions. Options vary from trips to the Culture Triangle, Midst the hills and tea plantations, inside national Parks and along the coast which are a few of the possibilities for different excursions.

AIRPORT SERVICES

Our ground services also include supervision of all types of charter aircraft and acting as a liaison between the various service providers, for example Sri Lankan Airlines for ground handling services, Airport and Aviation Services for landing and parking fees, C.P.C. for refueling and whatever services required on a case by case basis, both in Colombo International Airports.

CONFERENCE & EXHIBITIONS

We have an experienced team of event organizers who are fully capable of handling every little detail for Meetings, Incentives and Conferences. We have provided full service and facilities and are skilled in handling groups of different numbers.

TRANSPORTATION

Our transport services begin at the arrival lounge when we meet you and end when we say goodbye at the departure lounge. We have our own vehicles and Sri Lanka Tourist Board qualified chauffeur guides and national guides and provide full service from start to finish.

MODES OF TRANSPORT & PAX COUNT COULD BE ACCOMMODATED

CAR (01 – 02 PAX)
MICRO VAN (03 - 06 PAX)
MINI COACH (07 – 12 PAX)
MEDIUM COACH (13 – 25 PAX)
LARGE COACH (26 – 40 PAX)

Baggage space is limited to the type of transportation booked.

TRAVEL TIPS

Basic Info

Location: Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of India.

Size: 65,525sq.km. 

Capital: Sri Jayewardenepura

Commercial Capital: Colombo 

Population: 21.44 million approx.

Local Time: GMT + 5.5 (winter) + 4.5 (summer)

Country code: +94

Electricity: 220/240 voltage

When to Visit

Sri Lanka boasts a year-round tropical climate for holidaymakers. Sunny warm days are the norm, even during the monsoon period. The southwest monsoon can bring rain to the western, southern and central regions from May to July. It can be cool in the central hill country, especially in the evenings. Weather patterns throughout the world have been completely unpredictable in recent times and before going should only be used as a very general guideline.

What to Wear

Pure cotton clothes are the most recommended for all areas of the island other than the hill country… Whilst in Nuwara Eliya, Hatton and surrounding tea country regions, a warm t-shirt for the day and maybe a light sweater or pullover for the evening is a must, since the temperature drops. Whenever visiting a place of worship, avoid wearing skimpy clothing – as this is a sign of disrespect. A hot tip for ladies – keep a cotton shawl handy which you could use whenever going into air-conditioning from the heat outside (in some hotels/restaurants the air-conditioning is freezing cold). Open toed hardy sandals for walking are comfortable, because of the humidity. Most hotels and other establishments expect you to be smartly dressed for dinner.

How to Tip

Unlike in the rest of the world, in the far east, even though 10% SERVICE CHARGE is included on invoices, service personnel expect a tip or “santhosam” which is the colloquial terms for tip, for services rendered. Our recommendation would be to decide on the proportion of the tip according to how happy you were with the service and standards.

Bellboys, Waiters, chauffeur guide drivers expect a tip at the end of their service. Recommended tip for Bellboys is around Rs.100 per suitcase – for Waiters (if the 10% service charge is included) it would depend on the opulence of the restaurant.

If you dine at Paradise Road Gallery Cafe, and you are two persons, and the food and service have been spectacular, it would be customary to leave a tip of between Rs.750 – Rs.1000 for your server. If you are lunching at a roadside cafe en route, you could leave Rs.200 for well served, tasty meal.

When it comes to your chauffeur guide, our recommendation is around US$ 10 per day (for 2 persons) but of course it’s up to you to increase or decrease your tip according to how well you were taken care of.

Please note that these are suggested amounts – you are in no way compelled to follow our guidelines.

Travelling in SL

Sri Lanka is a relatively small island – all sights should be easily accessible with the correct infrastructure of roads and railways, unfortunately the upgrading of road and rail transport has been neglected severely – and although there are several highway projects in the pipeline, completion dates of these projects, are still up in the air.

When planning your round tour around Sri Lanka please remember: 

  1. Distances are deceptive and are mainly dependent on the roads leading there.
  2. Never judge time against kilometers (for e.g. 100 km should take us 1 hour 15 mins) – totally incorrect.
  3. Always ask us beforehand for an idea of how long it would take to go from destination to destination.
  4. Finally, always abide by the route taken by your chauffeur guide as he/she will know the easiest and best route locally from point to point.

Local Delicacies

Sri Lankan cuisine will undoubtedly awaken your dormant taste buds with its array of spicy curries, freshly prepared seafood, cooling fruits and delectable deserts! Experience the array of spices each with its own special texture and aroma that mix together in the correct proportions to form the marinade for the famous Sri Lankan curries. Ground cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, cumin, chili, saffron and a host of other spices are used in the preparation of CURRY POWDER, which is used raw or lightly roasted in the cooking of meat, fish and vegetables, succulent!

Currency

The Sri Lankan rupee, LKR, is the official unit of currency of Sri Lanka. The currency is subdivided into 100 cents. The currency is unique in that it is the only currency that is printed vertically on the back. Like most currencies, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issues the Sri Lankan rupee.

Travel Notes:

Since most shopkeepers in Sri Lanka do not have change with them, it is worthwhile to break larger notes into the smaller coins.

The maximum local currency import and export is 1000 rupees. The import of Indian and Pakistani currency is restricted. All other foreign currency imports are allowed, however amounts over 5000 US Dollars must be declared.

Languages

Sinhala, Tamil & English. Sinhala, (also called Sinhalese or Singhalese) is the mother tongue of the Sinhalese ethnic group which is the largest in Sri Lanka. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages.

Sinhala is spoken by about 16 million people in Sri Lanka, about 13 million of whom are native speakers. It is one of the constitutionally-recognised official languages of Sri Lanka, along with Tamil. Tamil is a classical language and the oldest of the Dravidian language family and spoken by the Tamil population of Sri Lanka.

Passport & Visas

You will need a passport with at least one blank page and validity for no less than six months from the date of arrival. Visa can be obtained online prior to your arrival from form following website https://www.srilankaevisa.lk

Currency Exchange/Credit Cards

The local currency is Sri Lankan rupees (Rs.) and currency can be exchanged at bank counters in the arrival lounge. There are many certified money changers and banks throughout the country for currency exchange as well. All major credit cards are usually accepted at larger hotels, shops and restaurants.

General Behavior

Sri Lanka in general is a very conservative country so be respectful towards the culture and different religions. You are required to dress appropriately (covering all parts of your body) when visiting sacred places like temples/shrines or any place of worship.

Climate/Clothing

Most parts of the island get pretty hot and humid so you will mostly need light cotton clothing and comfortable shoes for walking/trekking. The hill country can get a little chilly at night so you will also need a light sweater for your stay there.

Electricity

Electricity runs at 230–240V. Round, three-pin sockets are the norm, though you’ll also sometimes find square three-pin sockets, especially in more upmarket hotels. Adaptors are cheap and widely available.

Health

Bring your mosquito repellent bugspray, sun block or tan lotion and any medication you may need for your trip. You can get them at supermarkets and pharmacies locally but it’s best to bring your own if you are comfortable with certain brands.

Festivals/Public Holidays

Sri Lanka is a land of many festivals and celebrations. You can find out the festivals taking place before your arrival into the country. Sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited on all Poya (full moon) days and religious festivals.

Hotel Rules & Regulations

  • The official check-in time at all hotels will be 1200Hrs – 1400Hrs (depend on the hotel).
  • The official check-out time at all hotels will be 1200Hrs.
  • Hotel Check in/Check out times are fixed and there is no guarantee for early/late check in /out unless paid for.

Emergency Services

The visitors to the country as well as the locals can reach for help in case of a health emergency or in any danger though following numbers. The emergency access numbers could be contacted through all the telephone and mobile operations in the country while many mobile services offering emergency calls despite low signals and low credits. However most of the emergency services are restricted to town centres and suburbs while police stations and hospitals offer emergency care in rural areas.

Emergency Service Telephone Number
Columbus Tours – Local DMC (24X7)
+94777575855, +94112669080
Police Emergency Hotline
118 / 119
Ambulance / Fire & rescue
110
Accident Service-General Hospital-Colombo
+9411-2691111
Tourist Police
+9411-2421052
Police Emergency
+9411-2433333
Government Information Center
1919
Report Crimes
+9411-2691500
Emergency Police Mobile Squad
+9411-5717171
Fire & Ambulance Service
+9411-2422222