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  • Owner managed Boutique DMC in Sri Lanka.
    A specialist in experiential travel, focusing on Experiences, Encounters and Spaces with character and sustainability.
  • Owner managed Boutique DMC in Sri Lanka.
    A specialist in experiential travel, focusing on Experiences, Encounters and Spaces with character and sustainability.
  • Owner managed Boutique DMC in Sri Lanka.
    A specialist in experiential travel, focusing on Experiences, Encounters and Spaces with character and sustainability.
  • Owner managed Boutique DMC in Sri Lanka.
    A specialist in experiential travel, focusing on Experiences, Encounters and Spaces with character and sustainability.
  • Owner managed Boutique DMC in Sri Lanka.
    A specialist in experiential travel, focusing on Experiences, Encounters and Spaces with character and sustainability.

Lalith Mapatuna is a master chef who loves tourism!

Growing his skills and becoming a qualified and experienced master chef was just the beginning for a man with a thirst for knowledge. After a long stint in the Middle East with Movenpick Hotel Bar Dubai, Holiday Inn Dubai, Millenium Inn Abu Dhabi, and Le Meridien Colombo, Lalith returned to Sri Lanka in 2020. Armed with a qualification from Griffith University Australia in sustainable tourism, he has since been engrossed in sustainable tourism projects funded by Australia Awards. He is also a National Tourist Guide Lecturer under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, specialising in Wildlife, Hiking, and Culture. He is always ready with a smile to enthusiastically share his knowledge and experiences, so do stop for a chat if you encounter him.Growing his skills and becoming a qualified and experienced master chef was just the beginning for a man with a thirst for knowledge. After a long stint in the Middle East with Movenpick Hotel Bar Dubai, Holiday Inn Dubai, Millenium Inn Abu Dhabi, and Le Meridien Colombo, Lalith returned to Sri Lanka in 2020. Armed with a qualification from Griffith University Australia in sustainable tourism, he has since been engrossed in sustainable tourism projects funded by Australia Awards. He is also a National Tourist Guide Lecturer under the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, specialising in Wildlife, Hiking, and Culture. He is always ready with a smile to enthusiastically share his knowledge and experiences, so do stop for a chat if you encounter him.

It’s all about the village life

Located in the Ella-Wellawaya area is the quaint and picturesque Etili Village. A tour of the village leads to interaction with the local community and helps travellers understand the way of life that is unique to those who practise Chena cultivation. On this tour, travellers can experience a fun ride around the village in a tractor, a boat ride on the lake, and try their hand at Chena cultivation. The excursion also features an authentic Sri Lankan lunch made from locally sourced fresh ingredients and the opportunity to learn about Sri Lankan cuisine. Thanks to a nature reserve surrounding the village, it’s a great place to go on hikes and catch sightings of wildlife too. A short hike from the village leads to a viewpoint that has panoramic views of the area and the lakeshore is the perfect place to settle down in the evening with a cup of tea, to catch an amazing sunset. This is a great tour that also gives back to the local community, so if you would like to experience it, please do let us know!

Serenity and comfort at Mirage Kings Cottage

Sitting on the veranda sipping on a warm cup of fresh high grown tea, feeling the chilly morning breeze coming down from the hills, and watching the town come to life across the lake, is a typical way to start your mornings at Mirage Kings Cottage. This beautiful 100-year-old colonial building situated in Nuwara Eliya, is on a 2-acre plot of land that’s surrounded by the lush green forest of Galway's Land National Park and overlooks the serene Lake Gregory. This luxury boutique hotel featuring comfortable rooms and suites with modern amenities, exceptional service and exemplary cuisines is a wonderful place to experience luxury, comfort and care during your stay in Nuwara Eliya.Sitting on the veranda sipping on a warm cup of fresh high grown tea, feeling the chilly morning breeze coming down from the hills, and watching the town come to life across the lake, is a typical way to start your mornings at Mirage Kings Cottage. This beautiful 100-year-old colonial building situated in Nuwara Eliya, is on a 2-acre plot of land that’s surrounded by the lush green forest of Galway's Land National Park and overlooks the serene Lake Gregory. This luxury boutique hotel featuring comfortable rooms and suites with modern amenities, exceptional service and exemplary cuisines is a wonderful place to experience luxury, comfort and care during your stay in Nuwara Eliya.

The Hero of This Novel Is Dead. He'd Like to Find Out Why -

Novel by Sri Lanka’s Shehan Karunatilaka wins Booker PrizeNovel by Sri Lanka’s Shehan Karunatilaka wins Booker Prize
 The Booker Prize 2022, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, came to The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka, a Sri Lankan writer also known for his rock songs, screenplays and travel stories. The novel, Karunatilaka’s second, is a satire based in war-torn Sri Lanka, surrounding the life of a war photographer who goes on a journalistic mission in his afterlife. Karunatilaka will receive £50,000 as prize money.The ceremony was held at the Roundhouse, a popular concert venue in London, and attended by Camilla, the Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, and singer-songwriter Dua Lipa.

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Unique Experiences

Because your holiday is all about you and what you want to do, we take pride in offering exclusive and unique experiences going beyond the normal tourist highlights. We believe...

Accommodations with character

  It’s about where you are staying. Our handpicked accommodations are way different to large chain hotels with conventional star ratings. We offers small properties with quality, character, ambiance and run...

Locals to meet

It’s all about whom you are meeting. Our tours are designed to grant you an intimate peak into the country and meeting real local people. With our special relationships cultivated...

Our Journeys

Sri Lanka is a combination of many sights, scenes, and sounds that are charmingly packed into its compact 65,610 sq. km of the delightful island. The majestic past and present...

Sustainability

It’s about how we do things. We believe that the sustainability and conservation approach in tourism is not merely an option but a way of life. While offering you unique,...

"Journeys" 33rd Edition May 2021

MONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN - MAY 2021   Dear Trade Colleagues, Despite the rise in cases and the temporary closure of the airport for new arrivals, the mood in Sri Lanka is still one...

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Feedback

Great Experience ..!! It's very hard to choose a favorite part.

We enjoyed all of it. The itinerary was very well planned with a lot of activities plus a little bit of downtime as well. All the hotels have been lovely and had a lot of character. The chauffeur guide was excellent, knowledgeable and accommodating especially with our regular requests to find somewhere to stop for short eats.

We would definitely recommend Sri Lanka as a destination for friends and family to visit.

Robyn Semple - Dower | UK
19th April 2018

 

 

Team Behind Exj

 

2018 11 03 2

Anuruddha Bandara

Anuruddha Bandara, also known as AB, is an award-winning entrepreneur who has built a reputation as a niche tourism specialist, explorer, and management trainer.

He has travelled extensively to all parts of Sri Lanka and, impressively, 16% of the globe, including six continents. As Founder/ CEO and Master Crafter of Experiences & Encounters, he has navigated Experiential Journeys, to become the most sought after destination management company in Sri Lanka.

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natasha

Natasha

Natasha or “Natz” in short has been with Exj from 2013 to present handling B2C sales for our Tented Camp products. Prior to rejoining with us again Nathasha served a B2C focused DMC , as the Sales Manager and also as the Reservations Manager for a period of one and a half years. 

A very outgoing and a pleasant personality and she posses a total of six years of experience as a Travel Adviser providing consultation and guidance on destinations, ground arrangements, accommodations and tours for both business travellers and tourists. 

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nish profile

Nish

Nish is an accounting professional who decided to follow her true passion - turning her attention to the tourism industry; particularly interested in sustainable tourism. With more than a decade of experience in the field, Nish is an invaluable member of  Experiential Journeys.

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2018 11 03 1

Haj

Hajreen Juhara, popularly called Haj, is a multi-talented and experienced individual. With a career spanning 21 years in customer care, in Sri Lanka and overseas, Haj understands the capacity of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka as well as the requirements of his clientele, more specifically, when it comes to Meetings / Incentives / Conferences and Events [ MICE]  

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Migara updated

Migara

An IT professional, who eventually found that staring into a screen the whole day, is not what he truly made for. After trying out options in few industries, it didn't take too long for him to find his "perfect fit"; sustainable tourism coupled with customer care.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Our policy in discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

Animals Are Friends Too: Discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

We at ExJ stay away from tourism experiences that are staged and involve animal cruelty and shopping traps that are contrived to exploit and deceive clients.

Even though some of the popular ‘attractions’ are not included in our programmes due to the above reasons, we have no objections in our clients making their own arrangements with our Drivers to visit these places.

 

Why we do not promote following attractions

 

Turtle Hatcheries

As this concept has serious negative aspects in terms of conservation, we do not encourage our visitors to patronize the turtle hatcheries, as not all of them are really turtle-friendly. We instead encourage them to observe turtles in their natural habitats.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

When we became aware that the animal welfare standards there were questionable, we stopped encouraging our clients to visit the orphanage. We are pleased to observe that the Born Free Foundation has now adopted similar measures.

Elephant back rides – Habarana

There’s uncertainty surrounding the attitude of this place towards animal welfare. There may be a few ethical operators, but in general, we are not in agreement with how the place is run. We all would love a photo of us riding an elephant, but is a lifetime of pain caused to these magnificent mammals really worth a few fleeting likes on social media?

Traditional Village Tour with a Canoe Trip and Bullock-Carts – Habarana

This is a tourist trap where a lot of the trip is ‘staged’ for commercial purposes. Such fake touristic experiences will not give our visitors an idea of what life in the country is really like, so join us as we show you the real side of Sri Lanka. And at the end of every vacation, always ask yourself, “Did you feel that your holiday was ethical, eco-friendly, and reduced environmental impacts?”

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© 2024 Experiential Journeys (Pvt) Ltd. 20/63, Fairfield Garden, Colombo 08 (00800), Sri Lanka

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