05 Sep 2024
This full-day itinerary with Lakpura Group was a major disappointment due to significant discrepancies between what was advertised and delivered. The tour promised a fully narrated experience with an English-speaking chauffeur guide, as stated on the Viator website and sales order, which included "guide and transport" and "service of an English-speaking chauffeur guide." However, we received a driver who barely spoke English and was unfamiliar with the itinerary. When I contacted the operator, they replied, "He is your chauffeur and not your guide. He is not allowed to explain the Anuradhapura sacred city. When you buy the tickets, you have to hire a local guide."
After some debate, during which the operator argued over the definition of "guide," they finally conceded the confusion and provided an English-speaking guide for Anuradhapura. While the guide was excellent, the same issue occurred at Mihintale, where we were again told to "buy the guide and ticket yourself," once again contradicting the tour description of having "a fully narrated tour".
For $60 per person, this tour did not meet expectations. I would not recommend booking through Lakpura.