Indigo Explorer Travel
Indigo Explorer Travel
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genuine, boutique travel agency, devoted to provide you an unforgettable custom-made travel experiences on the lustrous island of Sri Lanka. Self-design your ideal unparalleled trip run by ingenious & passionate individuals all in integrated our purpose on supporting communities, preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainability, perfectly suited to your getaway expectation.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
8 reviews
Excellent
8
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christyb2008
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
My friend and I traveled to Sri Lanka recently (Feb 03 - 20, 2020). Prior to the trip, we were looking for a tour operator that could arrange a trip that would allow us to go off the beaten tracks without costing us a bomb. A good friend of ours recommended Indigo Explorer. We contacted Lionel (the sales consultant) and he came up with a tour idea that fitted our travel budget, preferences and interests (away from highly touristy places as much as we could, adventurous activities especially trekking, opportunity to mingle with local people and experience their everyday culture). We went ahead with Lionel's tour arrangement and, I must say, it was a brilliant decision.
We had a remarkably fantastic trip --- a hike up to Adam's Peak via the least touristy yet challenging Kuruwita Erathna trail and down via the Hatton trail; experiencing a ride of the historical train from Hatton to Ohiya which I enjoyed immensely; trekking through tea farms and Tamil settlememts in the Udaveriya Estate; safaris in Yala National Park (beautiful forest landscapes and we saw a leopard, elephants, wild buffaloes, crocodiles, spotted deer, peacocks, wild boar and a wide variety of birds, many of which we had not previously seen in our lives) and Maduru Oya National Park (the landscapes were mind-blowing, confirming the description made by a Lonely Planet's author that Sri Lanka's national parks shared similarities with the national parks in East Africa); climbing Pidurangala for sunset views of Sigiriya and the surrounding areas and climbing Sigiriya the following morning; Jaffna (great food; stunning landscapes; birding paradise; local cultures such as the architecturally awe-inspiring and colorful Hindu temples); Delft Island (coral walls; history; laid-back island culture); Mannar (we were hunting for flamigoes but didnt see any, most likely due to the fact that we came too early for the flamigoes' migration season); mud house in Paramakanda (one of the most beautiful properties we have stayed at, to chill a bit after all the quite energy-consuming activities in the previous days); Anuradhapura (amazing and massive dagobas and historical ruins); and Colombo.
Our trip could not have been better. For this, we owe it to Lionel and Tharindu (our local guide). Lionel was highly professional, efficient and prompt in organizing our trip. He responded to our endless questions patiently and within the shortest time frame possible. Even during our trip, he ocassionally sent us an email to ask how everything was and let us know to not hesitate to contact him should we need anything. For us, this kind of gesture was extremely priceless. We loved Tharindu. He was incredibly knowledgeable. We learned a great deal from him. For instance, I was not a birding person. But now I can identify quite a number of birds (green bee eater, blue-tailed green bee eater, painted stork, pelican, glossy & black-necked ibis, woolly-necked stork, the list goes on). He was passionate about what he was doing and that passion produced such a positive and exuberate energy throughout the tour. So, BIG thanks to Lionel and Tharindu.
There's so much of Sri Lanka that we have yet to discover. We definitely would like to set foot on this wonderful country again, and we will undoubtedly be doing it again with amazing Indigo Explorer.
We had a remarkably fantastic trip --- a hike up to Adam's Peak via the least touristy yet challenging Kuruwita Erathna trail and down via the Hatton trail; experiencing a ride of the historical train from Hatton to Ohiya which I enjoyed immensely; trekking through tea farms and Tamil settlememts in the Udaveriya Estate; safaris in Yala National Park (beautiful forest landscapes and we saw a leopard, elephants, wild buffaloes, crocodiles, spotted deer, peacocks, wild boar and a wide variety of birds, many of which we had not previously seen in our lives) and Maduru Oya National Park (the landscapes were mind-blowing, confirming the description made by a Lonely Planet's author that Sri Lanka's national parks shared similarities with the national parks in East Africa); climbing Pidurangala for sunset views of Sigiriya and the surrounding areas and climbing Sigiriya the following morning; Jaffna (great food; stunning landscapes; birding paradise; local cultures such as the architecturally awe-inspiring and colorful Hindu temples); Delft Island (coral walls; history; laid-back island culture); Mannar (we were hunting for flamigoes but didnt see any, most likely due to the fact that we came too early for the flamigoes' migration season); mud house in Paramakanda (one of the most beautiful properties we have stayed at, to chill a bit after all the quite energy-consuming activities in the previous days); Anuradhapura (amazing and massive dagobas and historical ruins); and Colombo.
Our trip could not have been better. For this, we owe it to Lionel and Tharindu (our local guide). Lionel was highly professional, efficient and prompt in organizing our trip. He responded to our endless questions patiently and within the shortest time frame possible. Even during our trip, he ocassionally sent us an email to ask how everything was and let us know to not hesitate to contact him should we need anything. For us, this kind of gesture was extremely priceless. We loved Tharindu. He was incredibly knowledgeable. We learned a great deal from him. For instance, I was not a birding person. But now I can identify quite a number of birds (green bee eater, blue-tailed green bee eater, painted stork, pelican, glossy & black-necked ibis, woolly-necked stork, the list goes on). He was passionate about what he was doing and that passion produced such a positive and exuberate energy throughout the tour. So, BIG thanks to Lionel and Tharindu.
There's so much of Sri Lanka that we have yet to discover. We definitely would like to set foot on this wonderful country again, and we will undoubtedly be doing it again with amazing Indigo Explorer.
Written 22 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vamsi
13 contributions
May 2019
We are a family of four, wanting to visit Sri Lanka when we came into contact with Lionel. We dutifully provided him with the list of things that we wanted to see and do in Sri Langka, and then he asked us if we would like to see a different Sri Langka, one that most tourists do not get to see...wild elephants instead of domesticated ones....temples and ruins that only the locals know about.....quiet and untouched beaches .......we were on board!!! From the moment we landed in Colombo untill the time we left, Lionel and Tharundi were around to make out holiday memorable. Lionel has, in his armada of knowledge, the most lovely hotels. Each and every property that he chose for was unique and had excellent service and lovely food.
We had 3 safari's planned, but Tharundi's sharp eye could spot many a beautiful bird just along the main roads as we travelled to our destinations. On our safari, we managed to see many wild animals including a leopard that was happy to pose for us for almost 40 mins and many elephants, including some that chased us ! In Angamedilla National Park, we had a foot safari, accompanied by trained rangers and was able to sneak up really close to a very large crocodile that was sunbathing !
We ended out trip with a relaxing stay in a quaint hotel in Nilavelli.
I strongly recomend Lionel to anyone who's in the market for a memorable holiday
We had 3 safari's planned, but Tharundi's sharp eye could spot many a beautiful bird just along the main roads as we travelled to our destinations. On our safari, we managed to see many wild animals including a leopard that was happy to pose for us for almost 40 mins and many elephants, including some that chased us ! In Angamedilla National Park, we had a foot safari, accompanied by trained rangers and was able to sneak up really close to a very large crocodile that was sunbathing !
We ended out trip with a relaxing stay in a quaint hotel in Nilavelli.
I strongly recomend Lionel to anyone who's in the market for a memorable holiday
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jewel Jap
4 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
Not familiar with Asia and having chosen to visit Sri Lanka, we wanted to deal with some serious tour operator. We gave Indigo Explorer general information about my centers of interest, my desire to go off the beaten track, and asked for insights in relation with the guided tours they were offering. We received a prompt acknowledgment about my inquiry, followed shortly a thorough tailor made proposal, which we decided to accept after a few exchanges with Lionel, who took care of the organisation of my trip. And, surely not deceived by my choice was I!! All the adventures set organised were awesome, Tharindu in charge of transportation from one point to the other was very careful and always made sure that everything was in good order before leaving me to the attention of the next resort's staff on the schedule. Tharindu is also a very experience guide was simply fantastic. So knowledgeable on nature, from birds, to mammals and culture in general, he also gave me so many insights on Sri Lankan culture and made a perfect partner for my scheduled adventures. His professionalism was far exceeding what would be normally expected from a guide. He made sure that we would get the most out of my expeditions, looked for that small extra experience possible so I kept unforgettable memories of my stay in Sri Lanka. An other thing we especially appreciated from Indigo Explorer is the importance it gives to involving the communities where some trip take place, and is strongly environment oriented. All in all, everyone at Indigo Explorer Travel made our stay in Sri lanka unforgettable and exceeded all our expectations. There are still loads of Sri Lankan areas off the beaten track they offer I would need to visit, and I will look no further than with Indigo Explorer to take care of the logistics and guiding. Easily two thumbs up to everyone!
Written 1 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dazzle Lie
5 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
We are wildlife guides ourselves and just spent 8 days throughout Sinharaja, Galoya, Kumana & Yala NPs organized by Indigo Explorer. From the initial contact to the start of our Wildlife trip, Tharindu was our guide/driver (he has been pumping all the way out reach for our expectation of birds and wildlife), he was very professional and put the effort into making our trip great, very personalize as well very knowledgeable and clued in about the wildlife, cultural of his native land. He was extremely good to spot birds in any park we have been exploring. Definitely recommend using them.
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Dazzle,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this stunning review, we are glad to hear you enjoyed your time through out Sinharaja, Galoya, Kumana & Yala NP. They are all incredible destinations offering a great taste of Sri Lanka's wild side. We endeavour to create alternative adventures for our clients and operate in a manner which is highly personalised to ensure that you as the clients are crafted the perfect experience.
I am glad we were able to provide a great experience during your time in Sri Lanka. It is always a pleasure to hear such positive feedback which i will definitively let my team know, and we hope to see you again in this beautiful part of the world.
Cheers
Lionel
Written 1 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
K9SHO4
New Plymouth, New Zealand17 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Lionel created a customised tour of Sri Lanka that he developed based on a number of conversations so that it captured exactly what we wanted to see and do. He has spent weeks scouting for boutique accomodation and getting to know the must do experiences of the island and the real quality experiences, consequently we felt as if we had a perfect personalised tour. Lionel and Tharandu ensured that the pace of the trip suited us and that we got to experience the culture, the scenery and the wildlife that Sri Lanka has to offer. Thanks to them we fell in love with Sri Lanka and created lifelong memories as a couple and as a group of 4 friends. We cannot speak highly enough of the quality of our trip.
Written 3 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Jayne, Mikael
Thank you for taking the time to drop us such a fantastic review commending our team member Tharindu!
Your kind words are absolutely humbling and motivate us to continue doing what we do with pride and dedication for our guests in order for them to have not only a smooth alternative journey in Sri Lanka but an absolutely memorable one.
It would our pleasure to have you again in the future.
Cheers,
Lionel (Indigo Explorer)
Written 1 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
allison_n
Victoria, Canada8 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
We travelled to Sri Lanka as an add-on to a planned India trip, and are we ever glad we did! Our group of 4 loved our trip “off the beaten path” with Indigo Explorer and felt we got to see and experience things the average tourist might not get to do. In advance of the trip we were able to customize our plans so that we could get a good feel for the highlights, and during the trip there was enough flexibility to revise the schedule and adapt to our needs. Lionel and Tharindu were knowledgeable and experienced with a passion to make our trip memorable and we always felt like we were in safe hands. The accommodation and food choices were fantastic and we loved the variety. Beautiful scenery, wonderful nature and memorable cultural experiences - all in all an unforgettable trip and we’d return in a heartbeat!
Written 1 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Allison, Bard
Thank you for sparing us a moment in your day and taking the time to drop us an in-depth review of your experience with Indigo Explorer. Will be passing on your glowing praises to Tharindu & Lionel - their passion and dedication in making sure your trip was nothing less than comfortable and smooth is definitely a representation of the services we aim to provide all our guests!
Once again, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation and thanks for joining us at Indigo Explorer and for your review as it keeps us ever-motivated to deliver meaningful adventures to the next group who joins us!
Cheers,
Lionel (Indigo Explorer)
Written 1 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
xia
Jakarta, Indonesia1 contribution
Mar 2019 • Couples
We absolutely loved our trip in Sri Lanka with Indigo Explorer. What set it apart from other companies for us is how great the staff are, especially our guide driver - He was full of knowledge and you really appreciate how passionate he was about what he is doing. Tharindu was a very good wildlife and birds spotter assisting us to get the best shot. Communication with their sales team was excellent throughout, the trip was customised to our needs and budget and we were impressed with the company ethos for responsible, low impact travel. It was incredible to experience divers splendid remote properties all different on design and live in, experiencing superbe treks with natives in some part of Knuckles we didn't see any others tourists and been able to sleep into the last remain village inside this part of the Forest reserve, get on 4x4 jeep riding on dusty roads path in Wilpattu, Yala, Galoya and Kumana National Parks where we get to stay overnight in both National Parks Camping (not Glamping) at thoses 2 last place, the facilities were basic but such an experience as we spot countless wildlife and birds, trek in Sinharaja to spotted endemic birds where we have been so lucky as we spotted 20 of it in few walks. We will definitively come back to Sri Lanka in another season to get to spot all migrant birds in the North side of Sri Lanka.
Written 30 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Xia,
Thank you very much for taking the time to drop us such a raving review as well as sharing your adventures with us on Instagram!
We're absolutely over the moon to hear that our team in the office and on the field were able to make your off the beaten track trip focus on the desire to meet native in remote village as well as Wildlife & birding.
We look forward to having you again with us in this corner of the world.
Have a great day and safe travels!
Cheers,
Lionel (Indigo Explorer)
Written 1 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience