Tour reviews from 2020

Splendid service.

5 Sep 2020
Sigiriya

Sigiriya Rock

I am Lalith from Pannipitiya. We planned to visit Sigiriya in a one weekend in last month. We are four in the family me, my wife and two kids aged 12 and 14. Hence, we had few big bags with other stuff and decided to hire a van for more space. 

When I looked for a van and saw this Facebook advertisement and hired a van and the driver from Walk With Jith. 

Our driver Sisira smartly dressed and came at the right time in the morning, started our journey to Sigiriya. The vehicle was air-conditioned Toyota KDH high roof van, specious and well cleaned. On the way Sisira asked " sir if you are interest to see some birds I can stop in couple of places for a short break". I said actually we do not have any idea of bird watching but if he can show some, we are happy to see. 

Fantastic trip in a fantastic, clean and picturesque country

1 Mar 2020
Darren and Paula with Hetti

Darren and Paula with Hetti

I arranged a 7-day birdwatching tour for me and my non birding wife, focusing on the endemic birds of Sri Lanka. This was to be followed by a week at our chosen beach resort. All arrangements and events were dealt with impeccably by Jith and our guide “Hetti”, a very good meet and greet,  and we were of on our tour.

Our guide Hetti was superb throughout. His knowledge of all things from butterflies, dragonflies and lizards was fantastic, his binding skills were excellent. Hetti was a joy to be with, he has 25 years as a guide and this shows, all our needs taken care of, nothing too much for him. Hetti should be very proud of the service he provides.

All in all a fantastic trip in a fantastic, clean and picturesque country.

This trip will not be forgotten. No hesitation recommending Walk With Jith.

Darran Stanyard

01/03/20

Fantastic tour! Communication excellent and prompt

24 Feb 2020
Jennifer Thomasson and Ian Billenness at Yala

Jennifer Thomasson and Ian Billenness at Yala

We have had a fantastic tour, with a great mix of birds, wildlife & cultural sites. We have seen over 220 bird species several leopard and numerous elephants. Our guide Thilli was fantastic and his ability to hear and find birds was amazing. He worked tirelessly to make our trip enjoyable.

The communication with Jith before and during the trip was excellent and prompt. The Sri Lankan people are so friendly and welcoming.

It’s unfortunate that our grip was cut short by Coronavirus before we reached Sinharaja, so we have a good reason to return and find the 7 endemics that we missed!

We would certainly recommend Walk With Jith and Thilli our brilliant guide.

Many thanks

Jennifer Thomasson and Ian Billenness
Kent
United Kingdom
15 03 2020

24th February – 19th March 2020

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Dear Thilli,

Delightful two-week tour of Sri Lanka with “WALK WITH JITH” - Approx 240 difficult birds

23 Feb 2020
Anders and Ulla

Anders and Ulla

My husband and I have been on a delightful two-week tour of Sri Lanka with “WALK WITH JITH”. The main purpose of the tour was bird watching! - and here I must add, that I am not a birder myself!

We have had the pleasure of being guided by Susantha – the number one birder of Sri Lanka – although he didn’t mention this to us till we had known each other for a week!

The journey had been eventful in many ways! Approx 240 difficult birds, lots of mammals, reptiles and butterflies etc. And we have been introduced to Sri Lankan way of life – culture, nature, history, religion, educational system, nature preservation, agriculture – and how the society works – and how a good curry is served!

All questions answered and explained with profound knowledge, patience and a good sense of humor!

We would delightful go “Walk With Jith” again and love to travel with Susantha as the companion anytime (soon)!

Sri Lanka is truly a paradise!

Ulla

For Chinese birder and tourists... visit such wonderful, beautiful Sri Lanka.

21 Feb 2020
Kathy Liu and family with Dammika

Kathy Liu and family with Dammika

 

Dear Jith,

I am Kathy from China, and we took a birding tour in Feb 21-23.   This is a letter for sending the feedback for this tour with so kind guide Dammica.

First I need to apologize for not sending the feedback in time, and I promised Dammica I would send this. I am so sorry to Dammica. After the tour in Sinharaja we left Sri Lanka and had a long journey in Tanzania and most time we couldn’t get online. And now we’ve already backed to China, and I really want to show my appreciation to your team and Dammica. Hope it’s not too late.

And because the coronavirus is now raging around the world and in Sri Lanka there are also people  infected, so before I write down the feedback I would like to sincerely wish you and your team and all your families safe and healthy. 

We have been well looked after throughout...

19 Feb 2020
Dave Cox and group with Hetti

Dave Cox and group with Hetti

We were a group of 2 couples and 4 single males. On behalf of the group I cannot fault the organization, the team, transport, or accommodation. We have been well looked after throughout seeing all the garget bird species and more, total birds seen by Group were 217 which included all 34 endemics. Jith and his team and contacts worked tirelessly to ensure our trip met all our objectives even finishing with 2 leopards at Yala and Excellent view of some buffalos.

Our flight was delayed by over 16 hours due to weather in London but this was taken in stride and did not inhibit us from getting everything from the …. The late change hote,, Hill Pride, could have done with heating as we experienced & …. Of c…. wet …… . The Rooms were good and staff and food excellent so al in all work out well.

Saw all 34 endemics with ease!

15 Feb 2020
Corey and Diane Callaghan with Athula

Corey and Diane Callaghan with Athula

Diane and I are sitting at the airport now waiting for our flight. I wanted to email you and thank you (and Athula) for the amazing experience and trip we had. Feel free to copy and paste any or all of this commentary onto your website, and especially onto Athula's reviews.

From the very beginning, the experience was great as the response to our initial inquiries was very quick and professional. The trip was organized well with a great itinerary.

With effective help, we could change the program according to our wishes at the very last moment

12 Feb 2020

Our guide was very kind, was an excellent and careful driver, was full of energy, put a lot of effort in finding birds for us.

  • For us as birders the whole day visit of Udawalawe could have been skipped because it hardly had added value.
  • We spent 3 days in total in a jeep. It is a pity that in the national parks, it is not allowed to leave the jeep and explore the surroundings.
  • Hotel in Nuwara Eliya was a bit “darked” but staff was very friendly.
  • Communication could sometimes have been a little bit better.
  • With the advice and effective help of our guide, we could change the program according to our wishes at the very last moment         

Hans Custers group
Venlo
Netherlands

12th – 26th February 2020

All of the endemic species were seen in a very short time. Tx Saman!

3 Feb 2020
Wingspan Group with Saman

Wingspan Group with Saman

03rd – 16th February 2020

This was the third tour of Sri Lanka by Wingspan bird tours organized by Walk With Jith and as usual it was a resounding success. All of the endemic species were seen in a very short time. Thanks to the effort of our guide Saman.

The trip was well organized and well-coordinated, drivers and mini bus were superb and all accommodation excellent.   

Thank you Jith for another wonderful trip. Windspan Bird group will be back next year.

Bob Buckler

Birds, Wildlife And Cultural Tour

1 Feb 2020
Anny Kilbourne and Ian Dodds with Thilina

Anny Kilbourne and Ian Dodds with Thilina

We could not have enjoyed our first visit to Sri Lanka more. We came as near-beginner birders, with only four or five years' experience. We were a bit worried that since most of Jith's clients seemed to be hard-core bird-watchers, dealing with us would be like looking after the village idiots. But that fear dissipated once we met out guide, Thilina, who assumed we would have the same ambitions to see birds as any expert.  Here, I have to say this man is something of a phenomenon. His ability to find a bird simply from the reactions of other wildlife, or from the slightest, barely audible whistle (which we often couldn't detect) is little short of uncanny. Thanks to his skill, we saw all but one of Sri Lanka's endemic bird species. And the one that got away was the victim of abnormally dry conditions in his habitats, something we were forced to admit after Thilina led us in two and a half days' hunts. We knew that if he couldn't find it, it wasn't there.

Wonderful experience. We will come back!

30 Jan 2020
Christine tea plucking

Christine tea plucking

Walk With Jith tours was a wonderful experience for us. Our driver Dammika was a wealth of information in every aspect. His calming, friendly manner made every part of our journey wonderful. We have nothing but praise for him and are very thankful that he was our guide for our tour of Sri Lanka.  

We will come back!

Christine and Terrence

Christine Rutar
Melbourne
Australia

30th January – 10th February 2020

He is a very good bird guide and he drives safely.

28 Jan 2020
Ketty Cheng -- Upali

Ketty Cheng -- Upali

It was a six days birding tour for us in late January. Birds were much fewer than we expected. Our trip was very smooth and out guide did a good job. He is a very good bird guide and he drives safely.

Kitty Cheng
Hong Kong

28th January – 02nd February 2020

Dammika gave 100% - With Jith provided us with a great birding experience in Sri Lanka

7 Jan 2020
Par Gronhagen -- with Dammika

Par Gronhagen -- with Dammika

Professional, friendly and always with a smile Dammika and Walk With Jith provided us with a great birding experience in Sri Lanka. Dammika gave 100% for us, so we could see all birds and also gave us a great introduction to Sri Lankan way of life and culture. 

We can highly recommend to use Walk With Jith and Dammika for your birding adventure in Sri Lanka.

Par Gronhagen
Stockholm
Sweden

07th – 12th January 2020

Thilina was kind enough to adapt to our special requests without any bad feeling & additional cost.

4 Jan 2020
Johannes Ferdinand with Thilina

Johannes Ferdinand with Thilina

our tour has now nearly ended. I send you the recommendation for your website attached:

Our tour was focused on high quality bird photography in combination with a relaxing holiday. One week in the dry zone around Yala NP has been a great success. Bird photography is not really challenging in Sri Lanka, but I would never been able to get as many high-quality pictures without Thilina.

FROGMOUTH MADE MY DAY! Lucky with good weather, nice bird flocks &devoted guides.

1 Jan 2020
Inger Kjellander in Sinharaja

Inger Kjellander in Sinharaja

I had an excellent week together with my expert bird guide Susantha. He took so good care of me and found so many birds and with lot of time to study them. 

We started in Yala national park where we spotted 100 different species of birds including rarities as Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue faced Malkoha, Grey bellied Cuckoo, Marshall’s Iora, and Brahmini Starling. A good spot at Indian Little Nightjar. We also had close observations of a Leopard, elephants, deers, wild boar, wild buffalo, crocodile and more.

In Bundala national park and its surroundings, we spotted a lot of water birds, bird of prey, kingfishers, bee-eaters and more.
Highlights: A pair of Brown Fish Owl, Coppersmith Barbet, White naped Flameback, Bay-back Shrike, Rosy Starling, Grey headed Fish Eagle, Western Reef Heron, Indian Stone Curlew, Malabar Pied Hornbill…