Explore with ExploreYarl
Journeys that connect culture, history, and adventure



Explore with local guide
Explore temples, coastal gems, and rich culture with local guide
Travel through the misty hills, golden beaches, and ancient cities of Sri Lanka, while uncovering the unique spirit of Jaffna and the North. With Explore Yarl, every journey blends culture, adventure, and authentic local life.


From Sigiriya’s ancient rock fortress to Kandy’s hill country and southern beaches, our All Ceylon tours showcase the best of Sri Lanka in a carefully curated way.
Step into the charm of Jaffna – colorful kovils, historic forts, sacred islands, and authentic Tamil cuisine, all guided by local expertise.

EXCELLENT Based on 79 reviews Posted on Google paco darochaTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Traveling with this company in Sri Lanka ended up teaching me way more than just history or geography, honestly, it taught me what dignity really looks like. I could see it in their eyes, that quiet patience. Young women with real dreams and actual plans, working hard to build their own future. You know that saying — educate a woman, educate a nation? Yeah, I felt that for real. And this island? It doesn't just welcome you. It stays with you. It changes you.Posted on Google Paola PouppevilleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Superbe journée sur l'île de Delpt en compagnie de Arun. Organisation au top du début à la fin. Beaucoup plus simple que de s'organiser nous mêmes pour prendre le ferry et découvrir l'ile... Nous avons vu de nombreux chevaux sauvages et découvert une partie de l'histoire de cette ile. Mention supplémentaire pour ce camp hippy chic où nous avons très bien déjeuné. Activité à faire s Les yeux fermés.Posted on Google NathanTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This is a review long overdue... I have been meaning to write this review since 2024 when i first met Arun when we travelled to Jaffna for a toddy tour, which included a visit to Delft Island. Although I'm Sri Lankan/ Indian Tamil, I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, so I never really knew much about Jaffna or its history. Travelling with Arun completely changed that. He didn't just show us places—he brought them to life. As someone who was born and raised in Jaffna, he shared the history of the peninsula, spoke openly and thoughtfully about the civil war, and helped me understand the people, culture, and stories behind every place we visited. By the end of the trip, I felt like I had seen a side of Jaffna I never knew existed. I'm also a huge foodie, so naturally I dragged Arun all over Jaffna searching for the best local food. Not once did he complain! Instead, he happily joined in, introducing me to hidden gems and local favourites that I would never have found on my own. That first trip was only the beginning. In 2025, I returned to Jaffna twice and asked Arun to join me again. We explored Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, and on another trip we ventured to Mannar, where we met some truly inspiring people who had returned from overseas to build fascinating businesses and contribute to their communities. In 2026, we were back in Kilinochchi once more, meeting entrepreneurs creating unique local products and discovering beautiful, untouched landscapes that rarely make it into travel guides. Over the years, Arun has become much more than a guide—he has become a close friend. Some of my favourite memories aren't just from sightseeing but from spending time with his family. His mum welcomed us into their home for a traditional cooking class, which was one of the highlights of all my trips. Their home has the most charming little mini farm with goats, chickens, dogs, a cat, and even a parrot. If you want someone to simply drive you around Jaffna, there are plenty of options. But if you want to truly understand the place, hear its stories, meet its people, discover hidden corners, and experience Jaffna through the eyes of someone who genuinely loves his hometown, then Arun is the person you should travel with. Jaffna is a place that stays with you long after you leave. Arun is a big reason why it became one of my favourite places in Sri Lanka, and I can't recommend him enough. Thank you, Arun see you next month when I am in Jaffna...Posted on Google Florence STrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nous avons passé une magnifique journée à la découverte des îles de Delft et de Nainathivu. Mention spéciale pour le trajet en ferry dont nous n'oublierons pas le souvenir de si tôt (ayez le cœur vaillant !) L'île de Delft révèle bien des surprises : chevaux sauvages, murs de coraux, baobab géant,... Arun est d'une grande gentillesse et a pris le temps de nous expliquer plein de choses sur l'histoire, la culture, les plantes ou encore les oiseaux de la région. L'organisation de la journée était un souci de moins pour nous, nous ne regrettons pas notre choix !Posted on Google Regula HeinigerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wow, what an experience! We (a family with two children) thoroughly enjoyed the cooking class and now know so much more about the cuisine in Jaffna. The organizer, Explore Yarl Pvt, immediately accommodated our request to cook only vegetarian dishes and promptly provided us with a menu suggestion! Arun is a very friendly and accommodating person with a big heart. We highly recommend the cooking class. Thank you so much for the wonderful day and the delicious food!Posted on Google Jordan BamfordTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had a wonderful time exploring Delft island and doing a cooking class - cant recommend enoughPosted on Google Karel de U.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We loved our tour with Jeenu. She was very lovely and took care of everything. We got a tuk-tuk tour of this unique island and had a really tasty lunch at Delft Village Stay. Highly recommend for an authentic experience (the boat among others!).Posted on Google Anagha P STrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with explore yarl team . The team was extremely professional and well organised.we appreciate their efforts and highly recommend this team for anyone looking for smooth and enriching travel experience.Posted on Google anu anuTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. “Our Sri Lanka trip was beautifully organized from start to finish by this Explore Yarl Pvt Lts. The team ensured everything was smooth, from airport pickup to sightseeing and accommodations. The itinerary was well-planned, giving us a perfect balance of relaxation and exploration. Especially this trip was very informative and we learned many things. Traveling with my daughter, I especially appreciated the safety, comfort, and friendly guidance throughout the trip. Highly recommended!”Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
EXCELLENT Based on 77 reviews Posted on Tripadvisor Joachim EVerified Wondeful day in Delft Island Wonderful day in Delft IslandPosted on Tripadvisor Dianne BVerified I would recommend this tour A very good experience, so much historyPosted on Tripadvisor Matt DVerified ⭐️Don’t waste your time or money⭐️ This is one of the most difficult reviews I've had to write. My one-star rating is not a reflection of the wonderful host family or the quality of the food. They were warm, welcoming, and generous, and the meal itself was excellent. Unfortunately, the cooking course did not deliver what was advertised. One of the inclusions was a PDF of the recipes. Over the past two weeks, I've contacted the organiser on several occasions requesting them. Despite repeated promises, nothing has been sent, and my messages now appear to be ignored. In fact, as I wrote this review, I sat on it for a few more hours after asking again! “Hands on experience” The cooking experience itself was also disappointing. We did very little hands-on cooking. Rather than actively participating, we were mostly observers, with only a few very minor tasks shared between the four participant. Things like briefly stirring a bowl or adding a pre-measured spoonful of salt. There was virtually no opportunity to prepare ingredients or use any cooking equipment, and not a single kitchen knife was involved. Communication during the class was another issue. A travel writer from Lonely Planet happened to be visiting to take photographs and ended up acting as our unofficial translator and guide. Without his help, communication would have been very difficult. Finding the location was also challenging, as map directions were inaccurate. Fortunately, a kind neighbour noticed we were lost and helped us find the house. It's disappointing because the hosts themselves were lovely, but the overall experience fell well short of what was advertised and what I paid for. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this cooking course and feel it was poor value for money.Posted on Tripadvisor Rani AVerified Cooking class experience We had a very enjoyable evening with the friendly and knowledgeable guide and his lovely family.Posted on Tripadvisor Simran SVerified Delft Island day trip Arun was our guide for a day tour to Delft Island. It was an incredible day and one the highlights of our trip to Jaffna. The island itself is beautiful and there's so much to see, and we really appreciated having Arun to help us navigate the trip over on the ferry, and around the island. He knew so much about the area (and the wildlife!), answered all of our questions and was so warm and friendly even at the end of a long day in the sun. He did everything he could to make sure we had a great time - we would highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Nora SVerified den Norden entdecken So ein einzigartiges Erlebnis. Unsere Reisebegleitern hat uns ein tollen Tag bescherrt. Die Fährfahrten zwischen den Inseln sind schon ein ganz besonders authentisches Erlebnis. Von der Organisation war auch alles perfekt. Um den speziellen Norden der Insel zu entdecken, können wir dieses Erlebnis auf jeden Fall weiter empfehlen 👍Posted on Tripadvisor Florence SVerified an amazing experience A wonderful experience going to Delft island with Arun. From the wild landscape, the ponies and knowledge that Arun provided , I had a wonderful time. Arun also took me around Jaffna and the wetlands. Definitely a place to visit if you are going up north. Also Arun knows the best places to get food!Posted on Tripadvisor Celina BVerified Beautiful! 😍 Arun has been so friendly an kind to us during our Tour, I would defenitly go on a Tour with him again. He showed us beautiful Places like the Jaffna Fort, where we watched one of the most beautiful Sunsets I have ever seen. The Food was great and we got to experience a rare Festival at a traditional Tempel, such beautiful colours, people and vibes. Thank you Arun. ☺️Posted on Tripadvisor Caitlin MVerified The only way to explore the true Jaffna!! My partner and I had the best day exploring Jaffna with Arun!! We learnt so much about the Jaffna history, culture and Hinduism throughout the day while visiting various sites. Arun is such a warm, friendly and welcoming guide, which makes you feel like you're exploring Jaffna with an old friend. His deep of knowledge, passion and enthusiasm to connect people with authentic Jaffna experiences really blew us away! We constantly kept asking Arun how do you know all this, it's insane the amount of knowledge he had. He also allowed us to ask as many questions as we wanted..of which I had many! The highlights for us were visiting the Jaffna fort, the jaffna library, wandering through the markets and trying the local sweets and of course Rio's for a delicious ice cream sundae! We truly felt like we got to experience the true Jaffna and got an incredible insight into what life is really like for the locals in Jaffna. A big heartfelt thank you to Arun as this was one of the most memorable experiences during our 5 week trip to Sri Lanka!! ❤️ We also did the traditional Jaffna cooking class with Arun and his mother and we highly recommend it if you're after a traditional, authentic and heartfelt experience!!Posted on Tripadvisor Alison DVerified A brilliant tour! Such an amazing trip, a must if you are visiting Jaffna. Arun, our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the islands, the wildlife, the history. There wasn't a question he couldn't answer. Lunch is included at a quirky hangout which had a very calm, serene vibe. The food was excellent. The ferries to both islands aren't for the faint hearted but gives you a real incite into local life. Delft Island is very different to most of Sri Lanka so you see another side of this beautiful country. We saw the wild ponies, a sea eagle, the baobab tree and the banyan tree, the old dutch hospital and the lighthouse where a refreshing drink of aloe and cactus was greatly received. The Hindu temple on Nainativu was absolutely stunning and on the drive back the sunset was amazing. This is an all day tour which is tiring but well worth it. It's fun, interesting and totally authentic. Do not miss out book today you won't be disappointed!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more