Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

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Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.

237 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Janet Roberts

Reviewed March 2015

Discover Sri Lanka

Excellent varied trip with a good mix of culture, animals, physical activities (like walking, biking) and beach time.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many - Sigiriya Rock - an amazing fortress, spotting elephants on two game drives and seeing whales, Tuk tuk rides, Polonnaruwa - a mini Bagan (Myanmar) and the colonial town of Galle is very special to walk around. This trip helps you appreciate how beautiful and varied Sri Lanka is.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Nala was very well organised and gave his own personal insight into Sri Lanka which really added to the trip. He listened to everyones needs and provided additional help, activities and knowledge throughout the trip. He set the tone of the trip - a happy and fun one!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Adam's Peak - there are a lot of steps of varying height and the climb up and down are very early in the morning with little sleep beforehand. It is also very busy and there is a lot of litter. However the views on the way down, (sun rise if a good one) and sense of achievement are immense.

Valerie Box

Reviewed March 2015

Discover Sri Lanka

A comprehensive introduction to this beautiful island. The mix of activities from safaris to walking on Horton Plains, people watching in the river at Kitulgala or going round ancient cities was well planned. Good to wind down a bit at the end after all the more strenuous activities.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the determination to move on from 30 years of war and the tsunami. Everyone was very welcoming and the projects Exodus has initiated and runs are admirable. The ancient sites were pretty amazing too!

Thoughts on Group Leader

I think Roshan was having an 'off fortnight', given his previous high ratings. The insight he provided into the life and culture of Sri Lanka was excellent on all fronts, but otherwise his involvement was perfunctory.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't expect everything to work - lights, plumbing, wi-fi etc - but if you aren't satisfied then tell either the hotel or your guide so faults can be rectified. There is a genuine willingness to provide good service but many places lack experience. Wi-fi often only in lobbys and slow/intermittent. Above all, look beyond the obvious short comings and enjoy. Sterling accepted for tip kitty and optional excursions.

Morag Reaper

Reviewed February 2015

Discover Sri Lanka

Some hotel rooms were poor …for those of us paying a single supplement being placed in inferior rooms. Food generally in the hotels …poor

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing Lions rock at Sigiriya

Thoughts on Group Leader

I feel he is stale and has done this trip far too many times. Very little energy or enthusiasm.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not pay extra for a single supplement room, take a chance on sharing and being given a better room.

Reply from Exodus

We are sorry that Morag was left disappointed by some of the single rooms she was allocated. The trip manager has recently visited our local operator and single rooms have been a subject of discussion; we are confident that the result of this will be a more positive experience for our clients going forward. We were surprised to learn that Morag was underwhelmed by her tour leader as her leader has previously won our Exodus Leader Award and has not received feedback of this nature in the past. We understand that her tour leader was rather unwell after Morag’s trip and we sincerely regret that this impacted upon her group’s experience.

Daphne Daphne

Reviewed February 2015

Discover Sri Lanka

An excellent cross section of the very beautiful country and how it lives and works.

Most Inspirational Moment

The view of the river from the Kitulgala hotel - the tranquility, lots of locals swimming/washing and enjoying the water.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take UK or European plugs - Worldwide plugs are not in any of the hotels, as usual in that part of the world

David Cashmore

Reviewed February 2015

Discover Sri Lanka

Very enjoyable.

Most Inspirational Moment

Horton Plains

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan was brilliant. His detailed knowledge of the art, history, politics, economics, society of Sri Lanka made my holiday much more enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It is a busy schedule, be prepared for this.

Lesley Rawson

Reviewed February 2015

Discover Sri Lanka (AIL)

I want to tell other people what a fantastic trip this is. I could not fault the holiday from start to finish – it provides a real insight into Sri Lanka, its amazing scenery, wildlife and people, and there are so many activities that there is never a dull moment! The itinerary has been extremely well thought out and the standard of hotels and food is excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many, but climbing Adams Peak has to be the highlight for me. It's a tough climb, but SO worth it. I would strongly recommend anyone on this holiday to do it if they possibly can - your efforts will be rewarded with an amazing experience! Other highlights included the ascent of Lion Rock at dawn, seeing a fantastic array of wildlife in Yala National Park, the walk to World's End at Horton Plains and the river rafting.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan was amazing - he has helped to shape the itinerary of this trip over the years and cares passionately about his home country. He told us so much about Sri Lanka and its people, always in an interesting way and with plenty of humour!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would recommend taking a gel saddle cover for the biking day, and a hiking pole would be useful for Lion Rock and Adams Peak (especially for coming down, when your legs are tired).

Kevin Walsh

Reviewed January 2015

Sri Lanka Experience

We have just returned from an excellent trip to Sri Lanka, which provided a very enjoyable insight into the culture, scenery and wildlife of this fabulous country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Two particular highlights - seeing a pod of around 20 Blue Whales and a couple of leopards (not at the same time!). The whale watching was awesome, seeing these enormous creatures at no more then a couple of cricket pitch lengths away. The leopards were also fantastic, appearing just as we were finishing four hours of being bounced around on a jeep in Yala national park. The aches and pains were forgotten as we initially sped along to find the animals and then slowly drove along behind one which was just calmly walking up the road!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujee was one of the most engaging and organised tour leaders we have come across. He gave very detailed explanations of all that we were going to see and all the necessary timings (and then summed everything up in our journey to the final hotel just in case we had forgotten anything!). He was always smiling and approachable and really added to the tour experience for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go. If you haven't been then it is a lovely country - slightly Indian, slightly Thai and Vietnamese, but always and uniquely Sri Lankan! The only cautionary word (which is entirely personal) is that the trip to the turtle hatchery is not recommended. Far better to miss this out and spend more time in Galle.

Peter Silsby

Reviewed January 2015

Discover Sri Lanka

This holiday did exactly what the title suggested. We discovered ancient Sri Lanka, its flora and fauna, its magnificent scenery and its friendly people. We cycled, walked, and did white-water rafting and tried our skill playing the local games. The coach was comfortable and driven well. The guide, driver and co-driver were excellent. The hotels were good and the food excellent. We travelled over Christmas and New Year and the weather was unseasonably wet but this adversity seemed to bring the best out of the group. I would recommend this trip but you may need to catch up on your sleep afterwards.

Most Inspirational Moment

The summit of Lions Rock, Sigiriya

Thoughts on Group Leader

Despite the heavy rain for 2/3rds of our holiday our leader used his local knowledge to ensure that we saw every thing as advertised (except the railway trip, because the line was destroyed by floods). He also made sure we had ample opportunities to meet local villagers and get a little insight into their way of life, away from the usual tourist haunts. His humour and knowledge educated and entertained us on our coach journeys.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take clothes that dry quickly and do not crease easily. There was only one hotel where we could dry our clothes and shoes.

Joyce Skelton

Reviewed January 2015

Great holiday

This is a trip that packs a lot in so be prepared for moving around and staying (in most cases) only 1 night in each hotel. You get to see most of the main sights of the island, I would now like to go back and spend more time over there.Weather was mixed as we had over a week of incessant torrential rain which did impact on some of the activities.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me the cave temples at Dambulla, also really enjoyed the Yala safari (we saw a leopard!). On one of the walks in the centre of the island, a local showed off his house and gave us bananas when he really didn't have a lot - awe inspiring