A new tour operator specialising in Sri Lanka has opened its doors this week, eager to position the diverse Indian Ocean nation as an emerging tourism hotspot.
Unforgettable Sri Lanka is a new Melbourne-based brand offering a variety of FIT and small group tours of between two and 18 people utilising local guides throughout.
The company offers regularly scheduled departures ranging from seven to 18 days along with micro-wellness experiences at a selection of Ayurveda retreats.
Itineraries can also be extended with a side trip to the Maldives.
Tours cover the length and breadth of Sri Lanka, most starting or finishing in Colombo for ease of access to the airport, with accommodation in four- and five-star hotels and transport in air-conditioned minibuses, luxury coaches and trains.
Itineraries cover different elements of Sri Lankan culture including safari and wildlife, UNESCO sites, heritage, beaches and water sports, while others are themed to suit particular interests such as cruising, culinary or Sri Lanka’s rich history with tea.
Unforgettable Sri Lanka Co-Founder and Head of Product and Operations, Jayne Mathews, told travelBulletin the country is one of those emerging hotspots.
“Australians are currently ranked number seven for visitation into Sri Lanka,” Mathews said.
“It has been a real hotspot for almost two years, and it’s also been named the number one destination for solo women travellers, so we felt it was an excellent time to really try to put a spotlight on the destination and get people to think more widely about Southeast Asia.”
Travellers can visit both popular and well-known attractions such as Yala National Park through to the hidden gems such as Sigiriya, Negombo’s fishing markets and Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth.
In addition to FIT tours or booking guests on scheduled group departures, agents can also work with Unforgettable Sri Lanka to design a custom itinerary for specialised groups with niche interests, such as cricket tours.
“We haven’t set a sport tour up yet, but that will be coming,” Mathews enthused.
The company has also set up an online portal for travel agents – CLICK HERE – along with a phone line – 1300 252 652 – for queries, support or to make bookings.
