Most Inspirational Moment
There were many!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sam was cheerful, knowledgeable, and looked after the whole group very well. He also has a great voice!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Useful to take walking boots and poles
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Discover Sri Lanka 20 Feb- 8 Mar
A fascinating introduction to this beautiful country
Wonderful and varied trip to Sri Lanka
We really enjoyed this trip which was well thought out and very varied. The hotels were generally of a good standard and some of them were positively luxurious. Most had pools which we enjoyed using. The guide and drivers were excellent and we had a big coach for 16 people so we were able to spread out when travelling. We saw an awful lot of different things but still had some free days and afternoons to relax or do our own thing.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were lots of these: seeing elephants in the wild, cycling between villages looking at the wildlife and visiting 2 families for snacks and meals, visiting Dambulla cave temple, trying all the delicious Sri Lankan food, meeting friendly Sri Lankan children and adults, dining in the formal restaurant at the Hill Club, walking on Horton Plains...
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ruwan was excellent. He was very attentive to individual needs whilst being extremely well organised and ensuring that the trip ran smoothly. He was also very knowledgeable and able to tell us things in an easy to understand way.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a guide book to enable you to make the most of the free time available.
Discover Sri Lanka
I had an amazing time on this trip. It was a very varied itinerary with a good combination of temples/ruins, wildlife, walking and city /town exploring.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were so many highlights it is difficult to say - whether watching the sunrise from Adams Peak, looking out over World's End or seeing the Temple of the Tooth, it was all inspirational!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sam was an excellent guide. As well as giving us interesting insights into the country and his own personal beliefs and experiences, he took the time out to help me explore my own family background (I have ancestors who grew up in Sri Lanka).
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do the Adams Peak climb if you can - the sunrise is spectacular. Although, be prepared for a busy climb - there must have been thousands of people all trying to get to the top at the same time. The Exodus Maldives extension was lovely so I'd recommend that too as a very relaxing way to finish the holiday.
Thoroughly Enjoyable Holiday!
A well thought through trip agenda that gave us a great chance to see a wide variety of aspects of Sri Lankan life and culture. This covered wildlife, temples, tea plantations, city and village life, with several opportunities to meet Sri Lankan families. The trip was well supported by our tour leader and his team.
Most Inspirational Moment
Our group gelled together without exception, climbing Lion Rock was probably the highlight, although there were many other fascinating aspects to the holiday.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group Leader Sam was a charismatic leader for whom nothing was too much trouble. He gave us fascinating insights into Sri Lankan history, religion, with a very strong grasp of the flora and fauna of his island, for which he clearly loved.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for a variety of conditions and activities and take appropriate clothing and footwear, some of the activities will require a comfortable set of walking shoes, yet others sandals. Also take both shorts, something for the evening and be prepared to cover-up when visiting temples.
Discover Sri Lanka Holiday
This holiday surpassed our expectations. The country has varied terrain and its wildlife, especially the bird life is spectacular.
Most Inspirational Moment
A bike ride though villages where we observed what everyday life means for of Sri Lankans e.g. Planting and harvesting rice and coconuts, washing and bathing in local rivers, cooking over wood fires, school children dressed in their pristine white uniforms walking home from school. All along the route darted a wide range of colourful butterflies and birds.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader Sujee was exceptionally well informed and we were particularly impressed by his commitment to responsible tourism and his desire to directly impact local economies. He showed the greatest care for our group and all his actions were underpinned by a great sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We didn't take anti malarials as the risk seems very low but instead used DEET type products. Our guide advised us about the safety of food. Some street food is cooked in oil that has been reused too often and salad may have been washed in unclean water. For ladies a light pashmina is very useful for covering up at holy places.
Discover Sri Lanka
A good insight into the culture, wild life, landscape and of course food of the country.
Most Inspirational Moment
Probably the ascent of Adam's Peak. The 2am start to do the 4,600 ft of ascent with 5.5- 6.0K steps in high humidity is not for the faint-hearted nor the unfit. I did wonder myself what I was doing there at times. The further up you get and the more tired you get the steeper it gets. It was worth doing though, to witness the sunrise the morning puja, aqnd all else that was going on there. You also give yourself some cred if you can reply positively that you had done it.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sujan was just great, a real people's person. He was excellent company, genuinely interested in everyone. He was a fine guide and tour leader. Not forgetting the bus driver and his assistant who were consistently helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Adam's Peak: Think carefully, are you fit enough and mad enough to want to do it? - not all of us did it, it was an optional extra. Sigirya Rock: The metal stair ways look more scary than they actually are; they are quite safe. One thing to wary of though, you will be 'assisted' up the stairways, one on each arm and a third one from behind especially if, like me, you are getting on a bit in years, though I am quite capable. They are not official helpers and will demand a tip at the half way point. Get rid of them if you don't require their services. Game Drives: They were a bit of a disappointment; there were far too many safari vehicles, (at least 20) all jockeying for position to view whatever there was to see. It's a wonder we saw anything given the noise and pollution they produced. The roads in the Yala NP were in a very bad state making for a very uncomfortable and slow ride
Wonderful Trip
A great holiday, very busy, lots of activities and varied landscapes. Wildlife and birds in abundance, plus we felt we experienced more of the people and their lives than the usual package tour.
Not for the faint hearted, some early starts and full days but well worth it.
Hotels were better than expected with some lovely swimming pools.
The hotel food became rather repetitive as hotels have the ubiquitous buffet.
Our guide and his team were outstanding and looked after us in every way.
Highly recommend but avoid Chinese New Year!
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing herds of Asian elephants up close on safari. Seeing the blue whale at Mirissa, but spoiled by the Chinese on the boat.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent. Nothing too much trouble, plus a sense of humour
Advice for Potential Travellers
It's full on. Be prepared for early get ups and take powerful DEET. The mossies and insects are venal, especially on the river trip.
Excellent Overview of Sri Lanka
A busy but not too strenuous 2 week discovery-tour of Sri Lanka, taking in a wide range of sights and experiences.
16 in group all very friendly. Mix of couples and singles. Excellent guide, Neelaka, with good knowledge of history, geography and wildlife. Also efficient, and calm, with good sense of humour.
Most Inspirational Moment
Yala National Park , Adams Peak, and the home-cooked lunches served so graciously by locals
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, see above
Advice for Potential Travellers
Perfect introduction to Sri Lanka Watch out for Chinese New Year - crowds of Chinese visit at this time. Can result in queues at popular places
Everyone should go to Sri Lanka!
We chose this trip with my parents as we wanted to see Elephants, explore a country we had never been, and have a range of activities. We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip and each day brought something new. Sri Lanka is a fascinating country-historically and culturally. The days were busy but not exhausting. Staff were fantastic and communication was spot on. You really do discover Sri Lanka.
Most Inspirational Moment
We did the optional trip of Elephant Safari in the first couple of days and it was like no other safari I've been on. The elephants were right next to the jeep. Unlike my experiences in Africa, we weren't surrounded by 20+ jeeps all fighting for a better view, and the elephants were so close!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader Roshan was an excellent guide, a great communicator and very approachable-we cannot fault him!
Advice for Potential Travellers
It is often, a different hotel each night so pack accordingly so you don't have to unpack everything each night! You are given the option to let the guide sort out the tips-definitely do it!
Sri Lanka Discovery
Plenty of variety – walks, wildlife parks, cycling, visiting temples.
Hotels of a good standard.
Tended to be rather too many buffets – it would have been good to eat at a few more local resturants
Most Inspirational Moment
Climbing the Lion Rock and Adam's Peak
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader, Roshan, was very knowledgeable and entertaining - liked by the whole group
Advice for Potential Travellers
Climate tends to be a lot warmer than it is suggeted in the dossier. Most days all you need is shorts, sandals and a tee shirt although it is cooler on Horton Plains and Adam's Peak