Location: Katunayake
Top Things to do in Katunayake
What to do and see in Katunayake, Sri Lanka: The Best Places and Tips
Katunayake (කටුනායක in Sinhala, கட்டுநாயக்க in Tamil), is a suburb of Negombo city in Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is the site of Bandaranaike International Airport or Colombo Airport, the primary international air gateway to Sri Lanka. With the change of government in 1977 and the introduction of the open economy policy a large area was allocated to create a free trade zone (currently known as the Export Promotion Zone). This created a large amount of job opportunities for the local youth and has contributed substantially towards the country's economy.
Restaurants in Katunayake
1. SL Driver Tours - Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 360 reviews
Reviewed By Mojoey - Sydney, Australia
Just returned from 14 days with Amila and SLD. We had an ambitious tour program, which after researching thoroughly online beforehand, knew would only be possible with the help of a driver. As seasoned backpackers, it was a bit of an adjustment for us to have a driver and make plans for the entire trip (having previously travelled largely off the cuff), but in a limited two week period we didn't have the luxury of making it up as we went along. Amila was our driver and from beginning to end he was polite, funny, friendly and helpful. Whilst we'd researched quite a bit beforehand, Amila helped us significantly with local knowledge, organising our train tickets ahead of time (very important during peak season), guiding us up Mountains (we never expected him to do this, but it was greatly appreciated) and navigating questionable roads to find our off the beaten path accommodation (other guests told us about how angry their drivers were about the bad roads, yet Amila did it all with a smile and a laugh). At all times Amila took great care to ensure we were safe, comfortable and happy - even contacting us at the airport to make sure we were able to board our plane and then once more to make sure we'd safely arrived home. His car was always spotlessly clean at the beginning of the day, despite the mess we'd left it in the day before.
Thank you Amila for your hospitality and care.
2. Lal Lanka Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By bassfijac - Sydney, Australia
Lal was recommended to us by clients of his from 5 years ago. He showed us through the cultural triangle and the hills of Sri Lanka with some excellent recommendations to stop by along the way. He offered us a personalised and authentic experience while catering to our budget and some last minute changes to the itinerary. Lal was also able to negotiate the best prices for things such as hotels, food and things in between (safari, Ayurvedic treatment, spice gardens). He was also very easy to travel with, becoming more like a friend than just a driver! On top of everything, he offered us some great life advice. We can't recommend him more highly!
3. Traveler Ceylon Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 7 reviews
English speaking tour guide for one day or multi day tours from Katunayake or Colombo for local sightseeing or day tours to Kandy, Sigiriya, Galle, Yala Gaming park, etc. For those wishing to travel further private multi day trips can be arranged to suit the requirements of travelers. Sightseeing trips include Air fare, transport, organisation itineraries and guides for historic sites.
Reviewed By SarahOli1980 - United Kingdom
I was really really happy with TCT's service. All of the staff from the very begining. Kavinda, Akila our chauffeur, Kumar our Guide. They all were well over what we expect them to provide. We felt so secure and felt I know these guys from...MoreThank you madam for your 5 star. And thank you for your recommendation. It means everything to our team.
4. Banana Tours Sri Lanka
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
This is an ideal day trip to entertain your family with children. Drive to Pinnawala and take the sight of bathing Elephants in the river while you enjoy a hearty breakfast near the Elephant Orphanage proceeded by a visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to milk feed the Elephants. Then spend some time bathing an Elephant in the river, this is a fun filled activity for kids and adults alike. Starti
Reviewed By crdevlin - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
We recently had a one week tour of Sri Lanka with Shalinda. Shalinda was very helpful and always punctual. We told him what we wanted to do each day (we’d also provided an overall itinerary when booking) and he made everything work seamlessly. He also organised some activities, such as a village tour in Sigiriya, and a spice garden visit, which we hadn’t thought of. He made it easy to get tickets at various locations, and showed us the best order to visit the bigger sites. He was a very safe and careful driver and the car was always clean and tidy for us. We visited the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park and Dambulla), followed by Kandy and then tea country (Nuwara Eliya), before returning to Colombo for a final night and this itinerary worked well.
5. Travco Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Plan Your Holiday With A Smile, With Travco Adventures Network within Sri Lanka Our string of well connected network of contacts, partners and suppliers it enables us to provide you with excellent, quality and cost-effective packages to suit any of your requirement to assure you get your money’s worth. Best packages no one else but Travco Adventures can offer.
Reviewed By Jibinraj - Kochi (Cochin), India
It was for the first time, we chose a package trip. Was little skeptical about the price while choosing the package. We put a request for quotes via Traveltriangle. Received multiple quotes. After Reading the reviews, we chose Travco. Very much satisfied with their service. They provided a Toyota Prius for the trip and the chauffeur, Ruchira was very friendly and very helpful. Accommodations provided by them were top notch. We had a nice time at Sri Lanka. Thank you Shanil and Travco
6. Different Journey
Overall Ratings
5 based on 10 reviews
Different Journey has been established since 2010. We facilitate multi-day trips - specially hotels & transport for holidays, business, study, sports tours like golf all around Sri Lanka. We are able to facilitate transport in many ways, Cars / Vans / Mini Coach etc. We have long experience with Scandinavians and we are especially focused of driving according to nordic standards and safety.
Reviewed By Margun V
We had a fantastic trip to Sri Lanka, organized by DJ/Mr. Silva. The prices are good, and the experience excellent. We trusted him with all the planning, and we did not regret it. Sri Lanka is a wonderful country to visit, and if you choose DJ tours you will not regret. Highly recommended.
Margun & Svein Erik with family
7. Lanka holidays
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
We have well managed tour packages with budget prices. Lanka holidays always provide highly customer focused service for a reasonable rates.
Reviewed By Vidura V - Dehiowita, Sri Lanka
Lanka holidays team consists with well experienced tour guides & drivers. They are English speaking & friendly staff. I recommend them as the best tour guides I ever met. Thanks a lot Lanka holidays.
8. IPHA Lanka Travels & Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 47 reviews
IPHA Lanka is a fully licensed Travel Agency which began its operation in beginning of 2013. We are a team of professional chauffeurs who has minimum of 10 years of tourism experience in Sri Lanka. We aspire to be the most sought after travel agent in sustainable tourism platform.
Reviewed By MWHAHAHAHA
Found IPHA Lanka tours by a recommendation from a friend. Anthony (owner) was helpful and knowledgeable when planning our trip. He gave us tips and ideas for a 9 day tour.
Upon arrival Anthony was punctual and picked us up without issues. He had a large comfortable van with plenty of space. Provided water and wifi.
Due to personal reasons, Anthony left us after one day and efficiently organised a second driver Preethi, without any issues. I mention this, as we spent most of our trip with Preethi, and while the planning and organisation of the trip may have been done by Anthony, it was Preethi who made our trip fun and set it apart with his sweet, gentle, friendly manner.
The highlight of this entire trip was the elephant safari that had been organised by Anthony and Preethi. We were taken in a jeep by an experienced local who knew exactly how to avoid crowds and get as close to the elephants as possible.
Another noteworthy point is the wifi that was provided in the car. Being vegetarians, we needed to constantly look for restaurants in towns where we could eat, and ease of internet allowed us to do so. The water was also plentiful such that we never had to purchase a single bottle or worry about dehydrating!
Overall the entire trip was extremely memorable and enjoyable, all thanks to the team of Anthony and Preethi. We always felt safe and comfortable. Couldn't recommend them highly enough.
9. Apex Round Tours Sri lanka
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
Travelling to unfamiliar destination can be stressful and we fully understand the need to make all travelers feel reassures that they are in safe hands. Keeping those who travel with us safe and secure is our priority.
Reviewed By Gebhard_Proske - Munich, Germany
We have been travelling with our kids since several years now to various countries, most of the time self-organized. This year we decided to go for Sri Lanka and to rely on a local driver / agency.
We did a round trip in Sri Lanka covering mainly South, Middle and North up to Anuradhapura. We started in Colombo, went south to Galle and Mirissa. Continued to Yala National Park, Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy until we reached Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. We covered all major places plus some more specific ones.
All hotels were very clean, nicely located and with very friendly staff. Definitely highlights were the "Relax Cottage" in Ella with the beautiful view and a private fruit tasting tour with the owner as well as the "Inn on the tree" sleeping high above the ground and listening to all the sounds of the night.
The proposed excursions were always well organized and the local partners selected were perfect. This made us see whales, a bear, elephants in the wild, touch the baby turtles, go by train through the Mountains, enjoy delicious local food and so much more.
There is so much to tell about this wonderful trip, but we want to mention one highlight: our driver and guide, Dinesh.
We were picked up by Dinesh at the airport and we trusted him from the first minute. Dinesh is the perfect guide and a very safe driver.
As a driver, Dinesh, is always perfectly on time. Whenever we agreed on a time to be picked up, to go for a tour, for whatever: Dinesh was always there ten minutes before, ready to go with a clean car and good mood :-) .Not to forget, that our safety was always on top of his mind. We really felt that he is taking care.
As a guide, he made our tour not only a sightseeing trip, but a real visit to the country and its people. First of all, he perfectly managed our trip as planned. Secondly, he was always open to our ideas and helped us to realize changes we had in mind, but as well gave us recommendations or hidden tipps where to go.
On top of that, Dinesh is a Sri Lanka encyclopedia. Wether it's history, traditions, wildlife, economy. Just ask and you will get answers and explanations. Safe the money for the local guides, just ask Dinesh.
Finally, we had so much fun together. Our kids (14/17) were really close with Dinesh as well and he was always good in finding solutions for the kids' ideas. Our younger son sometimes even preferred to stay with Dinesh in the car instead of visiting yet another temple. At the end, Dinesh organized a Tuk-Tuk driving lesson for him.
We can without any hesitation recommend to anyone to go to Sri Lanka and fully rely on Dinesh as a guide and driver for such a trip. You will not be disappointed. You will love it.
@Dinesh: thank you so much. You made our holiday a remarkable one.
10. Smart Lanka Visitors Pvt Ltd
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
we, Smart Lanka Visitors Pvt Ltd company which providing inbound tours in Sri Lanka. SLV has got government registration and Tourist license by tourist Development Authority In Sri Lanka. Our drivers, Guide and staff will make your trip fantastic and you will aware about Sri Lanka during your trip.
Reviewed By Hesam J
We visited Sri Lanka beginning of this year, and we selected Smart Lanka Visitors to plan our trip when we were there. They gave us very fast reply and itinerary capable to do within short period. Then we got two excursion upon their suggestion. One was Kalutara to down south and another was Kalutara to Kandy. Both trips were excellent and vehicle was very good and clean. Driver guide was very helpful and knowlegable during the tour. I reccommond this company for everyone who want to visit Sri Lanka.
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