Reviews

An incredible itinerary, multiple highlights!

I joined this itinerary on it’s first ever departure which was very exciting. The leader was exceptional, many little surprises and getting to see local customs and experiences we would never had seen if it was not for the leader. The itinerary was well organised, with a great mixture of downtime and walking various locations. No drives over 3 hours and were always split up nicely with little experiences along the way.

All around fabulous adventure!

From beginning to end this was a fabulous holiday! The ship and its crew were amazing. Spotlessly clean and always attentive 5 days aboard this ship was a great pleasure. The food was 5* all the way, delicious and plentiful, with frequent snacks and creative juices at every break. The tour was well paced with loads of activities, hiking and snorkeling and informative talks. The naturalist guide, Carlos, was one of the best. Enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable, he is passionate about the Galapagos and maintaining it pristine qualities. Wild life was abundant and snorkelling with fish, turtles and even penguins.. it was a trip of a life time. The chef was very attentive to my restrictive diet, being celiac. Did I mention the food??? First class all the way!

Such a wonderful trip

This trip offered an exceptional variety of experiences, from climbing Lion Rock and cycling through rural villages to visiting a local smallholding and enjoying white-water rafting—alongside memorable visits to beautiful temples. We met our group and guide on the first evening, and from that moment onward, the experience exceeded expectations.

There were so many highlights that it is difficult to single out just a few. However, sharing an outdoor lunch prepared by a local family and visiting the Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage were particularly special moments. That said, exploring a tea plantation, touring a spice garden, hiking Little Adam’s Peak, and every other activity on the itinerary were equally enjoyable.

Our guide, Prathap, was outstanding—humble, highly organised, genuine, and engaging. He was expertly supported by his assistant, Lucky, and our driver, Charles, whose combined efforts ensured the trip ran seamlessly and was thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

Exodus Travels has curated this itinerary exceptionally well, striking the perfect balance between vibrant city life (albeit wonderfully chaotic), peaceful rural experiences with opportunities for cycling and hiking, and relaxing time along the coast.

We are already looking forward to planning our next adventure.

Disappointing trip with poorly maintained bikes

We added this trip as an extension to the Discover Sri Lanka trip which was fabulous and we highly recommend. Unfortunately
this trip for us fell far short of the standard we have come to expect from Exodus. I write this as a qualified ride leader with over 40 years of experience in bike maintenance.

Our bikes had multiple problems including excessive play in the rear wheel, unreliable gears, poorly adjusted headsets and badly set up brakes all which affected bike handling and created unnecessary risk. Having discussed this with Exodus they have assured us that changes will be made to the servicing of the bikes and that the ride leader will test ride every bike before handing it to a client.

Generally it is easy cycling on flat roads with a few minor hills on the last day. A lot of the roads are fairly busy, the Indian drivers like to toot so you know they are there, so it is also very noisy. The backwater roads are lovely but views of the sea can be limited because of the coastal defences. There is also a lot of litter and some unwelcome smells due to the lack of sanitation. The locals are generally very welcoming and friendly, plenty of smiles particularly from the children.

Fabulous trip with an excellent guide, highly recommended

The trip is a great introduction to Sri Lanka well organised with a packed varied and interesting itinerary. There was a good mix of activities (walking, rafting, cycling) varied transport (buses, boats, bikes, tuk tuk and a train as well as culture (temples, ancient cities, tea & cinnamon farms, markets, botanical gardens and beaches. There was still enough free time to explore on your own or use the pools/swim in the sea.
The hotels were better than we expected, in good locations, most with lovely pools. The exception was Araliya Red in Nuwara Eliya which was a huge cold soulless barn of a place with the worst food and service of the holiday.

An Unforgettable Kruger Adventure – The Perfect Introduction to Safari Vacations

From incredible wildlife sightings to the majestic scenery of the Panorama route, Essential Kruger delivered magic at every turn. The tour leader was outstanding, the pacing was spot on, and I felt completely immersed in all the experiences from start to finish. An unforgettable safari tour with a few dashes of sightseeing. I’d recommend in a heartbeat.

Ancient Egypt Highlights

A very memorable experience travelling from the amazing museums in Cairo, and then down to the tombs and temples of first Aswan then Luxor. We followed the stories of various characters, learning how to recognise Pharaohs and gods from their pictures and symbols. It was dusty and polluted in Cairo (and the traffic was indescribable!). Aswan was fresher and more laid back, and Luxor between the two (I was glad of my hat and drank lots of water – the sun in Valley Of The Kings was unforgiving!). The hotels were great, with beautiful pools. I was really pleased that I had chosen rooms with a Nile view where available. The food was good but for a non meat eater sometimes a little unimaginative. The Nubian restaurant in Aswan (included) and Abydos Nile View (not included) were highlights. I was also pleased that I chose to stay an extra two nights in Luxor- the pool really does float on the Nile!

From Lions to Landscapes: A Truly Magical Kruger Trip

Our trip to the Kruger National Park was nothing short of unforgettable. The itinerary was incredibly well planned, giving us the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. We had more than enough time to explore the park’s beauty, and still enjoy peaceful downtime by the pool, soaking in the atmosphere and the breathtaking surroundings.
The scenery was truly awe‑inspiring—from holding our breath as we watched lions in their natural habitat, to being completely mesmerized during the panoramic route. Every moment felt magical.
A huge part of what made this experience exceptional was our guide. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable, but also a true people’s person—engaging, warm, and passionate about the wildlife and the park. His insights and enthusiasm added so much to the journey.
This trip was an incredible blend of excitement, beauty, and serenity. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable and meaningful experience in nature.

Incredible African Safari

The Kruger National Park, known for being one of the best places on the planet to have the chance to view the Big Five. It is a must visit for first timers to South Africa. The itinerary is beautifully balanced with safari and a chance to view natural wonders along the Panoramic Route. I would highly recommend this trip if you are a wildlife enthusiast!

Excellent!

From steamy Tortoguero, with the howler monkeys waking us up at 5.00am (no need for an alarm!) to cool, mountainous Savegre thronging with hummingbirds, this was a tour of contrasting habitats each with their own variety of wildlife, plants and flowers. In addition to the wildlife elements of the tour, visits to the Aquiares coffee factory and CAITE research centre were incredibly interesting. The optional visit to the Bri Bri community was well worth it; we learned all about how chocolate is made from scratch and had great fun trying each part of the process.

While there were some longer travel days, they were well paced, never felt too onerous and we often saw interesting things en route. The boat trips were fantastic- just getting to Tortoguero and to Drake Bay were experiences in themselves, with opportunity to see lot of wildlife on the way. The snorkelling trip was amazing- we were able to swim above sea turtles, rays and amongst lots of colourful fish. Even if you don’t snorkel, the boat trip was worth doing- we saw a pod of humpback whales quite close to the boat, and a variety of birds.

The accommodation was comfortable and in all the hotel grounds we were able to spot a variety of wildlife- great for photographers who enjoy having a camera/phone in one hand and a ‘sundowner’ in the other!