Traveller Reviews

Fabulous day learning all about Sri Lanka, its culture, people and soul. Sri Lankan breakfast tastings started the day followed by a big day of bike riding seeing the diverse Galle coastal sights and learning about its history, with stimulating conversation and lunch provided by a knowledgeable and thoughtful host.

I spent an afternoon with Yusuf as he opened up his home and community in Galle to me. He is very kind, thoughtful, and intelligent. I wouldn’t hesitate to book a longer trip with him during a future visit to Sri Lanka. Thank you Yusuf!

We had an amazing day with Yusuf on the cycle tour. We started with a wonderful breakfast at his home and met his lovely wife and daughter. The tour was extremely authentic and personal and Yusuf is extremely knowledgeable and kind. He made the tour very special and interesting, combing culture with food. I can highly recommend this tour to get a great insight into the Galle area and its history and also information on Sri Lanka as a place and the people. Outside of the tour Yusuf organised all of our travel arrangements for our stay in Sri Lanka, the communication with regards to this was excellent with reliable, prompt and friendly drivers. Thank you so much again Yusuf😊

Exceptional experience! The best way to get to know true Galle! Ysuf is the best! Open minded and very knowledgable, he has a lovely way of explaining all the cultures and history of Sri Lanka and also bringing you back to older times. Showing not only monuments but also local markets. Very friendly and helpful. It was a great pleasure he invited us to his home! Really hoping to return to Sri Lanka, meet him again and organising another tour with him

Highly recommend Yusef and his team. They were friendly, reliable and went out of their way to make our trip in Sri Lanka easy and enjoyable. Our drivers were very friendly and patient as we were stopping frequently to feed and change our 5mo daughter. Yusef was very responsive and easy to deal with. Thank you!

If you’re looking to maximize your time in Sri Lanka… to see as much as you can of both the “main” sights and some off-the-beaten-path treasures, all while getting a chance to interact meaningfully with the wonderful Sri Lankan people and ensure that as much of your tourist currency as possible goes to the locals, EuroLanka is the answer. Through tireless efforts and extensive communication both before and during our 3-week trip, Jusuf and Sulalita (codename: Suri, our wonderful driver/guide) created a Sri Lanka experience perfectly tailored to the needs/desires of our family (2 children, 12 and 14). Temples, city tours, archaeological sites, beaches, safaris, nature reserves, caves, spice farms, tea plantations, hiking trails… We covered it all. But even better than all that were the little things that weren’t on the “official itinerary” – a lesson on how to eat like a Sri Lankan from one of Suri’s relatives, a much-needed haircut for our son at a roadside barber, a plethora of local fruits plucked from trees along the road by Suri, a birthday cake for our daughter, and countless meals at small, family-owned roadside “restaurants”, where we ate copious amounts of delicious (albeit rather spicy for our foreign tongues) local specialities (all at a remarkably affordable price, thanks to Suri’s charm and deft negotiating touch)… I could go on, but in short, thanks to Jusuf’s planning and Suri’s steady, attentive day-to-day guidance (and mind-bogglingly good, safe driving skills), the whole journey was unforgettable. If you really want to get beyond the typical “tourist” experience of Sri Lanka, EuroLanka is the company for you!

We had an incredible experience with Yusuf on the bicycle tour in Galle. The tour itself was well-designed, taking us through some of the most picturesque and fascinating parts of the area, but what truly made it unforgettable was Yusuf himself. Navigating the busy streets of Sri Lanka, where cars and tuk-tuks dominate, might seem daunting at first, but Yusuf’s calm demeanor, professionalism, and respect for everyone’s safety made the journey smooth and enjoyable. His politeness and attention to detail were truly remarkable. What stood out even more was Yusuf’s storytelling. Along the way, he shared fascinating stories and insights about Galle’s history, culture, and local life. His passion for the place and his ability to connect with people made the experience feel personal and enriching. Yusuf’s charisma and kind personality added a unique charm to the tour. Highly recommended!

Это была хорошая и добрая прогулка. Посещение храма, мечети, пляжа и форта

I contacted Eurolanka searching in the internet for a list of best travel agencies in Sri Lanka. That’s how I met Yusuf and I could never imagine how lucky I had been! He helped me building an itinerary according to our needs and preferences, giving us recommendations and information about National Parks, Heritage sites, train journeys, best places to stop for accommodation… when we arrived in this amazing country we even met his lovely family! And then, Sulalita, the driver assigned to us made the tour one of the best experiences of our life (and we have traveled a lot around Asia…). No way to imagine someone more helpful, caring, warm and nice. Always trying to anticipate any need we might have. I consider to have now two new friends!!! Thank you for a marvellous trip in an extraordinary country.

I was so not prepared for my solo trip to Sri Lanka but Yusuf and Pupudu (my driver for the week) took great care of me. The EuroLanka team gave me great recommendations for places to see and managed my time traveling across the country very well. They also let me know about accurate pricing for all the tourist activities (prices are high for tourists!) so I could make my own decisions and showed me local shops to support as well. Yusuf even invited me to his home for an impromptu cooking class hosted by his wife. The food was delicious! If you are unsure which tour operator to book, choose EuroLanka for solo, couples or families. They helped me feel safe traveling solo and were an eco-friendly option. Next time I will stay in Sri Lanka for at least 3 weeks to leisurely see the entire country.

There is NO BETTER EXPERIENCE IN SRI LANKA! If you want to see the best of what Sri Lanka has to offer, this is your key! With Yusuf as our guide, we were able to see hidden beaches, and better understand Sri Lankan culture as a whole. The cooking class we took was magnificent, and we will forever use the recipes we learned!

Great experience! We cycled around to see exclusive scenes, learn religion knowledge, and how local people live in Sri Lanka.

We had a wonderful and authentic Sri Lankan experience with Yuusef at EuroLanka. We really enjoyed getting to know more about the culture, from an "off the beaten track" perspective. He is trustworthy and kind, really caring about his guests and their families. We definitely will stay in touch with him, sure to hire his company again for our next Sri Lanka adventure. BONUS: he was excellent and helpful with our young children!!

Yusuf and his family made the most out of my very short time in Galle. We had homemade dinner together and went on a half day bicycle tour. He knows a lot about the community and it’s surroundings. I enjoyed every minute in Galle and promise to come back and spend more time with them.

Yusuf was a fantastic guide, full of interesting stories and insights into the history and culture of Galle. We really enjoyed our journey to local sites, and working up an appetite on the bikes. Yusuf was generous with his time and looked after us, making sure we were ok and well-hydrated. We felt that he tailored the trip to our needs perfectly.

Amazing experience!! We had a great experience cycling around Galle and tasting local food and drinks.Yusuf has an amazing knowledge on the local culture and history. Must do activity if you have a day and want some time well spent in Galle.

The bike tour we took with Yusuf was simply amazing. We ended up finishing a 28km bike ride through the Galle area in Sri Lanka where we had an extremely diverse experience which consisted of: - stop at a local spice trader - stop at the beach where we grabbed a fresh coconut to rehydrate - visiting temples that encompass all religious cultures - grabbed some nice local food for lunch - the Galle Fort - a last stop at a local wood apple stand to grab a fresh juice Not only was the trip overall amazing and enlightening in many aspects, we also had some very great conversations with Yusuf which only added to the overall experience. I would recommend against it if you are not comfortable biking! Please be mindful and understand you are biking in Sri Lanka and set the correct expectations for yourself if looking into booking this trip, after which I can guarantee this is a blast!

We embarked on an unforgettable journey with Yusuf, our expert guide, who infused our adventure with his love for Sri Lanka. Highlights included an elephant safari, a pottery experience, and navigating through Galle's bustling streets. Yusuf's flexibility catered to our family, including our two 6-year-olds. A standout moment was joining Yusuf's family to cook an evening meal, a delicious dive into local traditions. We also visited an underprivileged school, a humbling interaction that our children cherished. Yusuf was not just a guide, but an ambassador of his country, sharing candid insights and wisdom. For a memorable Sri Lankan experience, we highly recommend this tour. Thanks, Yusuf! ????

We had a wonderful day cycling Galle with Yusuf. Yusuf is kind and generous. He loves his country and ensured we had a great experience, sharing insights and local spots. The tour we did is for those a bit more adventurous and comfortable city cycling - we had a lot of fun navigating the busy streets. Yusuf is flexible and will adapt to your comfort level so just reach out to him. We recommend touring with him, thank you Yusuf ????

Excelent tour! The idea of a homestay tour is genius! Totally affordable, we got a chance to experience “real Sri Lanka”, interacting with people in the places we stayed in, sometimes cooking along, playing with the children, talking to everyone. It is relaxing to know that food, travel, activities, overnight stay, are all paid for and taken care of. Plus the friendship we received from Yusuf, our guide, and Namal, our driver! They did everything that was necesary to provide the services agreed upon, and also to arrange extras activities we were interested in, like Balloon flying, snorkeling, whale watching! It was just perfect, and we will always be thankful to them and to every simple person we met in Sri Lanka… A disclaimer, though: This tour is for people who do not except high level services, because meals are usually served at homes or in family restaurants. Even though some of the houses we stayed in had rooms nicer than 4 star hotels!

In August 2019 we decided to visit Sri Lanka for 22 days over Christmas and New Year. In Yusuf from EuroLanka Holidays, we found a local tour operator, who always was ready to adapt to our wishes for proximity to culture, people and nature and even changes requested spontaneously were taken care of immediately. Of course, it helped a lot that he worked for a German company in Dubai, and therefore is very much familiar with the German mentality. Our trip began on December 19, 2019 in the lively city of Galle, which, surrounded by palm beaches, with the old town and the Dutch Fort has an attraction to offer. After that, Yusuf accompanied us on a 14-day tour through the southern, central and eastern part of the island. Of course, we visited the Sinharaja Rain Forest World Natural Heritage, took the train from Ella to Nuwara Eliya, explored the bustling streets of Kandy in a tuk tuk, walked through the old town, saw the famous Kandy dancers and of course visited the Temple of Tooth. Thereafter, on our way to Trincomalle, on the east coast, we visited ruins and temples in Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa. Then, from Trincomalle we made a short visit at the Kaniiya Hotwells, before we continued further to the picturesque Anuradapura. Finally, we returned via Negombo to Hikkaduwa north of Galle. There, in the beautiful, quiet and comfortable Villa 46, located on the beach. we recovered from our tour. Yusuf, born in Galle himself, made the trip an unforgettable experience, especially outside of tourist attractions. This included personal invitations to dinner at his home, with delicacies of the national cuisine, freshly prepared by his lovely wife Deeriya. We made a stop at the Spice Art Shop Galle, which combined all the wonderful hot spices of the island, we strolled along Jungle Beach, took a tuk tuk for a shopping tour through the main shopping street Main Street, drank fresh tea in the Court Square of the Galle Fort and visited the Sivan temple in Galle. Our roundtour around the country began with a long hike through the Sinharaja Rain Forest World Natural Heritage site, including a dip in the Ging Ganga waterfalls, and a sighting of a poisonous green pit viper. Of course, we did not miss the breakfast soup Kola Kanda, experienced freshly roasted peanuts on the train to Nuwara Eliya, had lunch near Haputale in a restaurant build from palm fronds and logs, took the more than adventurous walk to the Nine Arches Bridge in Ella, ate ripe pomelos at the fruit stand on our way to Kandy, made a tour in an ox cart in Hiriwadunna Village, had a long chat with a farmer in a rice field near Sigiriya, had the daily enjoyment of curd, made from the milk of water buffaloes sweetened with treakle on the edge of the road, visited with the fishermen on the east coast, had an unforgettable New Year with freshly made curry and Lion beer in the evening, and a traditional New Year’s ceremony with boiled milk the following morning at the Pearl Oceanic Resort in Trincomalle. In Puranagama Ancient Village near Anuradhapura we familiarized ourselves with country life in the old days and enjoyed the wonderful food that came straight out of the oven. Finally, there were these palm trees, the magnificent sun and the big foam topped waves on the beach of Hikkaduwa. Ultimately, let us not forget Namal, the always friendly and helpful driver, who navigated us with calm and great care through the very special traffic conditions in Sri Lanka. It was a great trip. Whoever is looking for a fantastic holiday in beautiful Sri Lanka should consider Yusuf from EuroLanka Holydays, with his special proximity to country and people he is the best tour organizer you can get.

It is s great experience if you want to know the deep rooted story of Galle. Yusuf have adequate knowledge about his community, place and country. He is an amazing host. It was my bad luck that I got ill suddenly during the trip and couldn't enjoy much.

EuroLanka Travel organized for us already 2 trips in and around Sri Lanka. Our travels were well organized, with a very good guide (Yusuf) and a good driver, lovely hotels and accommodations and lots to see. I highly recommend EuroLanka Travel and would always book with them again.

Our 10 day trip with EuroLanka was one to remember. Yusuf and his team were able to tailor our holiday to meet our needs and our budget. EuroLanka holidays offers something deeper than the bigger tour operators. We were able to go off to beaten track and experience the real Sri Lanka. Accomodation was predominantly homestays which made the experience even richer. Amongst many other highlights, one that stands out in particular was when we were in transit between towns, he introduced us to a small fishing village where we came across a small group of school children who had not encountered foreigners before. First there were 3, then 10, then 20 and before we knew it there were 30 adorning school children following us around the village in awe of the 2 foreigners they’d never seen before. This, as well as the time we spent with his family, are memories we will cherish forever. There are no set rules on the tour. Whatever you want to see or do, Yusuf can make it happen. The epitome of a great man living in a beautiful country – this is reflected 100% through the EuroLanka tour.

The team at Euro Lanka led by Yusuf is nothing short of exceptional. They go above and beyond to tailor the trip how you would like it but at no point does that detract away from the essence of traditional Sri Lanka. Yusuf started by customising our trip to suit our needs which many other tour companies don’t do. Then once there the service was impeccable, with local insights, stops and learnings from not only Yusuf himself, but his family, driver Namal and the locals enlisted to help show us the best possible time in Sri Lanka. We could not fault the trip at any point and if we needed something more or else, Yusuf would make it happen so we could enjoy the entire trip with a care free experience. Highly recommend Euro Lanka as you get a wholesome traditional and unbelievable experience with Yusuf and the team. Thank you!

Yusuf & our driver Namal gave us a lovely tour of Sri Lanka. With Eurolanka you get to see the country through the eyes of a local. We met so many lovely people running small guesthouses. We really felt made welcome. Yusuf has great ideas for making your stay special. One of our highlights was cooking with his lovely wife.

A great cycle tour with a good mix of history, culture and some surprises along the way. Yusuf was able to adapt the tour to our ability and requirements which was great. He’s a vey knowledgable and well travelled guide and gives an honest insight to Sri Lanka and the culture. Would definitely use Yusuf at Eurolanka again.

The first 12 days of our tour were really exceptionally good. It was unfortunately only the last 5 days when we were let down. We saw and visited many wonderful places which will remain happily in our memories. The flora and fauna are wonderful. The people are friendly and kind, and mostly always smiling. The accommodation was mostly very good, with only two exceptions but bearing in mind how quickly the tour was put together for a special occasion for us, these can certainly be overlooked.

I had gone to Sri Lanka on my own and i admit that i was not aware i was going to be solo for the duration of the trip, i had thought that i was booking within a tour. But i had a wonderful time with my guide and owner of EuroLanka, Yusuf and our driver Thissa. they got to know me and what i wanted to see within the country and made sure i had the best experience within the short 12 days i was there. They had even changed the itinerary and added different experiences on just to suit my preferences. The country itself was absolutely beautiful, i had the true local experience from visiting small fishing towns to eating dinner with local families. I had a beautiful trip and i would recommend this tour for anyone who wants to experience the authentic Sri Lanka.

Thansk to Eurolanka to organising a very individual tour for me. Nice little bungalows or appartments were chosen as i wished. The driver dorv every safe in the crazy Sri Lankan traffic and all was set up to meet my requirements. Staying in Galle with Yusuf and seeing all the beautiful places (tee plantation, river safari, turtle retreat, shopping areas and all the interesting temples, mosuqes and churches) made me feel very welcomed in this nice city. I can highly recommend Yusuf and his team for the indidvidual Sri Lankan travel experience and especially the foody experience. The home made food was like heaven…. Thanks for a winderful time – i will definitely come back!