COLOMBO, 9 May 2018: Khiri Travel is introducing new in-country tours that focus on local experts and insights to add a variety of destination experiences.
Created by Khiri Travel Sri Lanka, general manager, Gonzalo Gil Lavedra, six new experiences introduce guests to local personalities, who explain key facets of Sri Lanka society.
The facets are archaeology, food, history and the distinctive differences between Tamil and Sinhalese cultures.
Khiri Travel is packaging encounters with local people who can highlight distinct aspects of life in Sri Lanka.
They include an archaeologist, a Colombo street food expert, a Tamil native of Jaffna who has lived through civil war, a keeper of a garrison cemetery (with many tales to tell), an art scene expert in Colombo, and a leading Sri Lankan-Japanese chef who prepares a private dinner for Khiri clients.
For example, archaeologist Nerina takes guests to two sites in the Cultural Triangle that few tourists visit; Kaludiya Pokuna and Ritigala.
The latter is an ancient meditation site surrounded by forest and has been used as a mediation retreat by monks for over 2,000 years.
Even today, the calm is uninterrupted with virtually no tourists. Gil Lavedra says visiting the area is evocative of an “Indiana Jones experience”.
In the capital Colombo, Khiri guests meet Rashan, a life-long Colombo resident from a modest background. Rashan will lead a guided walk through the back streets of the city to reveal vibrant areas such as Pettah market, Slave Island and possibly a pooja ceremony at a Hindu temple. For many, a highlight is sampling kottu roti, a local favourite street dish.
“To fully appreciate the subtleties of a destination Khiri Travel Sri Lanka believes in getting to close to people,” says Gil Lavedra. “Each of our special hosts has the spirit of Sri Lanka within them. Khiri guests tell us it’s their privilege to walk and talk with such insightful guides.”
Gil Lavedra says the meetings and trips with the special insight hosts last for a few hours to half day or a day. The engagements can be added in to any Khiri Travel itinerary depending on the interests of the client.
