A private guide from Sri Lanka, fluent in Russian, spends the day with you and puts what you are seeing into words you do not have to work at. He or she travels with you to the places on your itinerary, explains the history behind them, fills in the cultural background that is not written on the signboards, and translates for you when you speak with the people you meet.
Gems, tea and Ayurveda, explained as you go
Some parts of Sri Lanka are hard to judge without someone to explain them. Ratnapura, whose name means city of gems, has been the centre of the island's gem trade for centuries, and sapphires, rubies and cat's eyes are still brought up there by traditional pit methods. A guide who speaks Russian can tell you what you are actually being shown, and translate at the dealers' so that your questions reach them and their answers reach you. The same holds in a tea factory and in an Ayurveda treatment room, where the terms and the reasoning behind them matter as much as the experience itself.
What the guide does for you
- Explains a site as you walk it, whether that is Sigiriya, the ruins at Polonnaruwa or the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
- Translates for you at a gem dealer's in Ratnapura, in a village market, or at a roadside fruit stall.
- Tells you the etiquette before you enter a temple, from removing shoes and covering shoulders to where to stand and what not to photograph.
- Carries the conversation with people who speak Sinhala or Tamil, so an exchange with a tea plucker, a cook or a shopkeeper can go beyond gestures.
- Answers the practical questions that come up along the way, from what is in a dish to what a price should sound like.
Book the guide for as many days as your trip needs, from a single day to four weeks, choosing the number of days when you book. Send us your itinerary with the booking, so the guide can be matched to the route and the places you have chosen.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Russian-speaking tour guide do?
Your guide is a Sri Lankan who is fluent in Russian and travels with you to the places on your itinerary. At each stop they explain what you are looking at, from the history of a site to the meaning of a carving or a custom, tell you the temple etiquette before you go in, and answer the practical questions that come up along the way, such as what a sign says or how spicy a dish is likely to be.
Is a vehicle included?
No. This is a guide-only service: the price covers the guide, and no vehicle or driver is included. Your guide travels with you in the transport you arrange. If you need a car with a driver as well, Lakpura can arrange one as a separate booking.
How much does the guide cost?
The guide costs USD 100 per day, and the rate is the same whichever language you choose. You pay for the number of days you book, so a seven-day booking is USD 700.
How many hours a day does the guide work?
Each guiding day covers up to 8 hours with you.
Are the guide's meals and accommodation included?
No. The daily rate covers the guide's services only, and does not include meals or accommodation for the guide.
Are entrance fees included?
No. Entrance fees to sites, temples, parks and other attractions are not included in the price.
Can I cancel my booking?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours before the start of your booking.
For how many days can I book a guide?
From a single day up to 28 days (four weeks). You choose the number of days when you book.
Can the guide follow my own itinerary?
Yes. Tell Lakpura your itinerary when you book, and we match you with a Russian-speaking guide who knows the places you plan to visit.
Will the guide translate when I talk with local people?
Yes. When the people you meet are speaking Sinhala or Tamil, your guide translates between them and you in Russian, in both directions, so a real conversation can take place rather than a few gestures.
Also available in other languages
Your service advisor
Mewan Manager
Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Mewan directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.
