Tour Reviews, testimonials from United States

. A satisfying 215 bird species were cited. 13-day tour.

7 Mar 2023
Robert and Caroline Howson (10) Picknik lunch at Lunugamwehera Nationla Park

Robert and Caroline Howson (10) Picknik lunch at Lunugamwehera Nationla Park

Choosing walk with Jith tour turned out to be a most rewarding birding adventure for us in Sri Lanka. From start to finish, our guide, Uddika, pulled out all the stops to introduce us to Sri Lankan culture while setting up a pace that our age and physical limitation could handle.

Because birds were our primary interest as well as photographing as many as possible, it was obvious that Uddika’s experience and expertise in spotting birds was exceptional. He went above and beyond meeting our interests and needs. He connects well with everyone we met along the way.

When drivers with jeeps were needed, the company provided good spotters as drivers as well. They brought additional birding eyes for optimal sightings. Special effort was made to get endemic and shy species like the whistling and scaly thrushes.

34 endemics, 114 life birds, a total of 236 bird species in just 10 days!

26 Feb 2023
Joseph Fimentel and Frederick Todt with guide Thilina and Indunil at Sinharaja (8)

Joseph Fimentel and Frederick Todt with guide Thilina and Indunil at Sinharaja (8)

This is awesome! We would happily bird with hm any time and he was worth traveling to Sri Lanka from around the world to bird with. He quickly reviewed our target list, remembered it, and focused like a laser on these birds. We was 236 species in 10 days, including 114 life birds and all 34 endemics. Indunil is also a good birder and helped us find many birds and then get satisfying views. 
Both Thili & Indunil are also very friendly and we enjoyed speding time with them.

Thanks, too to Jith for the friendly and efficient correspondence as we set up the trip.

 

 

He focused like a laser on these birds. We saw 236 species in 10 days, including 114 life birds and all 34 endemics.

15 Feb 2023
Joseph Pimentel and Frederick Ramsay with Guide Thilina and Driver Indunil

Joseph Pimentel and Frederick Ramsay with Guide Thilina and Driver Indunil

This is awesome! We would happily bird with hey anytime, and he was worth traveling to Sri Lanka from around the world to bird with. He quickly reviewed our target list, remembered it and focused like a laser on these birds. We saw 236 species in 10 days, including 114 life birds and all 34 endemics.

Indunil is also great. He drove carefully and safely and we always felt secure. He's also good birder and helped us find many birds and then get satisfying views.

Both Thilly and Indunil are also very friendly and we enjoyed spending time with them.

Thanks, two, to Jith for the friendly and efficient correspondence as we set up the trip.
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15th February / 26th February

I knew I was in good hands

30 Nov 2022
Evelyn Luecke at the Labookele tea shop with the sales staff

Evelyn Luecke at the Labookele tea shop with the sales staff

The entire trip was perfect – I knew I was in good hands from the time Susa and I started our journey. What a treasure he is!

I plan on writing a proper review when I am at home and am not too tired to think clearly in detail.

An outstanding birding, wildlife, and cultural photography tour

6 Nov 2022
Bruce and Sandi Rosentiel

Bruce and Sandi in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

An outstanding birding, wildlife, and cultural photography tour, customized for our interests. Very professional and thoroughly enjoyable. We invite everyone to come to Sri Lanka and explore this amazing country. 
This trip has exceeded all our hopes! Excellent guide Athula, very good lodgings, outstanding itinerary. Local guides were very good, particularly at Polonnaruwa, where our local guide was exceptional. The local guide for our visit to the Tooth Relic Temple, not good at all. We recommend not using him again. Everyone else, guides, hotel staff, and of course Athula have been wonderful. 

Thilina and Indi our guide and driver were excellent.

15 Aug 2022
Ira Kupferberg and Ramona and Ramona at Rock View Hotel Sinharaja with Indunil and Thilina

Ira Kupferberg and Ramona and Ramona at Rock View Hotel Sinharaja with Indunil and Thilina

The trip was fabulous.  

Thilina and Indi our guide and driver were excellent. Hotels we stayed in all were excellent – very comfortable and accommodating.  

The people we met at all the stops and sites were friendly and make us feel comfortable and safer & felt at home. There was never any concern for personnel safety. 

The birding was super. Saw all the endemics + others, Total 188 seen + heard and not migration season and we never went to the north of the island due to time of our trip. 

Archeology sites were fascinating. Walking on there with Jith was easy.  Highly recommended.

Ira Kupferberg
Alabama, USA
15th August to 28th August 2022

 

“Just for us” trip made all the difference

19 Oct 2019
Olivia Pokras and Bob with Hetti

Olivia Pokras and Bob with Hetti

Dear (Walk With) Jith,

It’s hard to imagine a better trip to Sri Lanka for our interests; birds in particular, but nature in general, your efforts in working with my wife, Olivia, to design a “just for us” trip made all the difference. This trip focused on the south. It may take a few years before return (it’s a long trip to the U.S), But we are already talking about seeing the north of your wonderful country.

Many thanks,
Bob and Olivia

P.S. what can I say about Hetti?
If we are lucky enough to return, it would have to be with Hetti. He is a wonderful guide; He is an even better person.

19th  October 1st November 2018

 

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Birding and exploring the ecosystems - fabulous trip

3 Mar 2019

Peggy McLeod and Lisa Soli
Peggy McLeod and Lisa Soli

For those who are interested in birding and exploring the ecosystems of Sri Lanka,

this is a fabulous trip. Our guide Susantha was extremely knowledgeable and

accommodating to our interests.

Our hotels were a mix of quality most of the staffs were exceedingly helpful and

friendly. We loved the quietness of the Ferncliff Inn.

This was a great experience for us.

Seattle, USA

Guide: tons of experience and enthusiasm. Outstanding birding and cultural trip

1 Feb 2018

Shailesh Pinto
Shailesh Pinto

Thank you for organizing an outstanding birding and cultural trip to Sri Lanka. The trip exceeded all my expectations!

Upali our guide was fantastic. He is and excellent birder with tons of experience and enthusiasm. Thanks to his efforts I was able to see over 180 species and all endemics. I had given up hope of seeing the last one, the scaly thrush, in Sinharaja forest. But Upali remained optimistic throughout our stay there and made sure we had good looks of this challenging endemic.

I am really glad that a friend recommended Walk With Jith. All the arrangements, accommodations and timely correspondence were wonderful. The service and food everywhere we visited was superb. I would highly recommend your company to my friends and wish you continued success.

Warmest regards,

Shailesh Pinto

Feb 1 – 14, 2018

I can not tell you how glad I am that I booked w/ Jith. Upali is a rare and beautiful soul.

24 Jul 2017

I booked a very last minute trip to Sri Lanka and contacted Jith because a friend recommended his company. Jith replied right away w/ a proposed itinerary that suited me perfectly. My trip was in only two days so I was very relieved and booked. I can not tell you how glad I am that I booked w/ Jith. His team is PHENOMINAL! Upali was my guide and driver. This man is a rare and beautiful soul. I have been traveling for almost 5 months and am an expert in tour guides at the this point and Upali is the best of the best. He has an eagle eye for birds and animals & knows them all by name. He took me to some of his favorite spots and I was able to see flying foxes and the greater Sri Lankan Flameback as well as many other endemic birds and non endemic birds.

Best of 20 tours in my life. 253 birds totaled. Outstanding guide.

7 Mar 2017

Doughlas and Brian at Walk With Jith tour 2017
Doughlas and Brian at Walk With Jith tour 2017

This tour was one of the best tours I’ve been fortunate enough to go on. I’ve been on over twenty, so I do have some experience. We came to get the birds and we got all 34 endemics and I personally got a total of 243 and my UK friend got a total of 253!

The tour manger (owner Jith) picked us at the airport and took us to the hotel. In the morning Thilina (Thilley) Kaurnanayaka was our guide and we were so happy to have him as our guide. He is an outstanding guide and a wonderful person (pleasant, timely, great ears and eyes) can’t say enough!

The accommodations were good as well as the food. The birds? You’ve got to go the SRI LANKA to get their special endemics (34 species).

Dong Nail

March 7, 2017

We had a great time on our tour with Walk With Jith

26 Jan 2017


Lynda Arthur, with Upali

We had a great time on our tour with Walk With Jith. Our guide, Hettie, was so funny and easy going. His English was excellent. He always made sure we were comfortable. Hettie really knows the birds and their calls. He made sure we saw them. We would recommend Walk With Jith to any birdwatchers anywhere.

Linda Arthur

Jan 26, 2017

Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable.

15 Mar 2016

Sharon Whitaker and Valerie Mock with Indunil - March 2016
Sharon Whitaker and Valerie Mock with Indunil - March 2016

Walk with jith more than met our expectations. Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. He not only knew his bird species, he also knew which ones were endemic and which ones were migrant. He was able to compare them with ones that were in the us where we live and other Counties where we have visited, like South Africa. And most important for us. We also learned at our request about other flora and fauna, especially the unique lizards and flowing Shrubs and trees.

The driver was not only careful on the very crowded roads, but also good at spotting birds and lizards. He was much attuned to our needs. Slowing and stopping where possible for photos and bird watching opportunities.

The trip has been a magical journey for me and my family.

9 Mar 2016

Joshua, John and Pamella

9/3/2016 – 23/3/2016

The trip has been a magical journey for me and my family. To be with my mother and uncle as they visited place in Sri Lanka from their childhoods was marvelous, and all to   other locations, cities, hotels, shrines, temples and wildlife reserves was suspended not to mention all the birds. What really was special, was the comfort and ease of the whole holiday. We were in marvelous hands with Jith and attitude – always cared first and it made the journey effortless and marvelous.

I can’t walk to come back again further adventures with Sri Lanka and will. Happily WALK WITH JITH Again.

Thanks for everything.

And creating wonderful meaningful memories for me…

29 Nov 2015

Scott Kampmeier with Senerath - A Walk With Jith tour 2016
Scott Kampmeier with Senerath - A Walk With Jith tour 2016

Thank you for responding so quickly and thoroughly to my pre tour questions via email.

Welcoming me to the country upon my arrival and checking in with me several times during the trip to make sure I was pleased.

Providing a guide who knew not only where to see the birds, but also possessed and shared his knowledge of local plants, animals, butterflies, and Buddhism.

Delivering exactly what we agreed upon via email regarding site, accommodations and fees.

And creating wonderful meaningful memories for me of a beautiful country with spectacular birds, friendly people, delicious and interesting foods, and an ancient and fascinating culture.

A job well done!

Fabulous adventure we had with you as our guide!!

20 Jan 2014

Patricia and Lois

Patricia and Lois

20 Jan – 02 Feb 2014

Dear Jith,

Now, nearly two weeks after getting home, I am no longer jet lagged!!  But, it took until this week-end.

Now Patty and I are reminiscing about the fabulous adventure we had with you as our guide!! We had so much fun enjoying the birds, the culture, countryside, food, people and adventure. We learned a lot regarding how the different cultures/religions live and work together….We’ve had good laughs about leeches that we were so squeamish about!  I can’t believe how much trouble I caused in finding the Spur Fowl—but I’m glad we did it! However, none of this would have been so much fun without you as our guide and Manju as our driver. You two are a good pair to be with and Sri Lanka is beautiful!

Absolutely wonderful tour of southern Sri Lanka

16 Nov 2013

Patty North, Robert Ahola and Kathy King
Patty North, Robert Ahola and Kathy King
Nov 16-25, 2013

Jith and Mr. Silva – Thank you so much for an absolutely wonderful tour of southern Sri Lanka. From beginning (initial planning emails) to end (our farewells in Kandy), you have been patient, professional, knowledgeable, helpful etc etc, making your trip enjoyable. Jith, your knowledge of birds and ability to fin them is astounding! Add to that the plants, trees, lizards etc… how fun to learn all of this! Our drives, through sometimes long and bumpy, were always safe thanks to the excellent work of Silva.

Thank you both! – Kathy King
USA

Our second trip with “Walk With Jith” enjoyed it more than the first, 4 years ago.

5 Feb 2013

alistare_carol_and_gis-001.jpg
Alistare, Carol and Gis

5th February 2013 
We do not need to say how much we ador this beautiful country 
But best of all we loved the birds and your very special company!

Love Carol & Alistair McLee 

Teeside, United Kingdom

***

Our second trip with “Walk With Jith” enjoyed it more than the first, 4 years ago. Thanks especially for your patience and sharp eyes with out which we would never have seen the leopard, watercock and lesser adjutant- to name but a few. A super time again

- Alistair McLee 
Teeside, United Kingdom

***

Thanks! For arranging brilliant walks to various habitats and for your knowledgeable and courteous company

6 Jan 2012

Prasanjith Caldera with Lisa Arenson in the Sinharaja Rainforest
Prasanjith Caldera with Lisa Arenson in the Sinharaja Rainforest

6th - 12th January 2012

Jith,

Many thanks for a brilliant six day tour. This was my first bird tour and will not be my last! 
Thank you for showing me 49 new species, 29 endemics. For arranging brilliant walks to various habitats and for your knowledgeable and courteous company. Kitulgala, Sinharaja and Horton Plains were spectacular, and I confess to being rather dazzled by Tandula, the brilliant forest guide.

Opportunities to have fantastic close ups of superb birds.

13 Nov 2011

Judith, Alan and Jane, Jeff at Horton Plain
Judith, Alan and Jane, Jeff at Horton Plain

13th to 29th November 2011

A wonderful trip to this beautiful island expertly organized and guided by Jith and ably assisted by Mr. Silva, who charming and courteous driver. Wonderful scenery, great food and opportunities to have fantastic close ups of superb birds.
A truly memorable and magical trip. 
With our grateful Thanks    

Jeff and Janet Hollyhead - USA
Judith and Alan Savarge – UK

11 out of 10 rating!

29 Sep 2011

Susan & Dale Harney

Susan & Dale Harney
9/29/2011

Comments on hotels

Ranweli Holiday Village:  Rating 8/10
Room very clean/nice. Bathroom very new/clean. Food was good. Service was great. Exchange rate was high (close to bank rate).

Sigiriya village hotel: Rating 6/10
Room was older, average. Food was good. Bathroom not as nice as other hotels. Service was great.

Amaya Hills (Kandy): Rating 9/10
Beautiful grounds & rooms. Very clean. Amazing pool + view. Food was great.

Club Hotel Dolphin (Waikkal): Rating 10/10
Received a room upgrade. Very accommodating in terms of late checkout. Food was excellent. Service was excellent. Huge pool.
 

Other notes:

11 out of 10 rating!

From cyber space to face to face, we have been so pleased with your guidance and knowledge

15 Nov 2009

Jith, Bunny and Mimi
Jith,Bunny and Mimi

15 November 2009
Massachusetts 
USA

Dear Jith,

I don’t know where to start here but Bunny and I had such a good time with you. From practically converting us both to Buddhism to learning at last to decipher the crested hawk eagle it was wonderful. Thank you for sharing your expertise and beautiful country and of course “country road” with us.

Mimi Marshal

**

Hi Jith.

From cyber space to face to face, we have been so pleased with your guidance and knowledge. Thank you for sharing so many things about Sri Lanka. The birds are spectacular and of course the leopard sightings were thrilling. I only hope my photos can tell the story! You will see.

Bunny Flemming

Jith you are a great naturalist and we will remember this wonderful two weeks forever

26 Apr 2009

Dave, Lorraine and Jith
Dave, Lorraine and Jith

26th April 2009

When we met you at the British Bird Fair in August 2008, we both knew right away that we wanted to Walk With Jith!

What a great opportunity to see your beautiful country and thenature – the jeep safari in Bundala – Painted Stroks and the challenge of IDing the Terns ( and of getting the cactus needles out of Daves uh… shorts)…

And the culture – thanks for arranging our visit to the ruins and the temples at Polonnaruwa (a good museum there!)- and the surprising Buduruwagala. Surprising to see a women there and surprise #2 – a great birding spot as well…

Sri Lanka is an amazing place! The people are warm and friendly.

25 May 2007

Debbie McGuinn and two trekkers at Yala

Debbie McGuinn, Adventure Ecologist
Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

25 May 2007

Jith,

Thank you so much for putting my tour together with such short notice. It was a fabulous 5-day tour to Thalangama Wetlands, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Udawalawe N P and Yala N.P. You were very patient and kind. The bird and wildlife watching were fantastic, and I very much enjoyed learning about the plants, and cultural aspects of Sri Lanka. Thanks for the many highlights and treasures! Sri Lanka is an amazing place! The people are warm and friendly. And you are an excellent and well rounded guide.

Take care.

we certainly saw a lot of birds, most of them new to us

16 Feb 2006

Mel & McKey
Mel & Miles McKey
California, USA.

February 16, 2006

We havent made a final count yet, but we certainly saw a lot of birds, most of them new to us. We thank you, Jith, for having such sharp eyes, even from the van. We'll never forget the Dwarf Kingfisher landing on the road so we could get a really good look at it. We also appriciated your wide knowledge of botany, butterflies and the many reptiles and mammals we saw.

Thank you so much for every thing including the Lion Largers!