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Reviews

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

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240 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Reviews

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

This was a great experience, both as a holiday and as an adventure. Lasting just over two weeks and covering around 1000 miles, this tour offered a comprehensive insight into Sri Lankan life and countryside. Congenial company, a superbly organised leader and a remarkably composed driver (the traffic is wild!) combined to make this a wonderful trip.  Strongly recommended.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many that it is impossible to select just one.The cycle ride through through beautiful countryside to a small village for lunch was great fun, despite everyone being totally soaked in a tropical downpour.  We certainly entertained the local children who came out in numbers to cheer the mad drenched Brits.The splendour and colour of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya near Kandy will last long in the memory, as will a posh colonial style dinner at the Hill Club at Nuwara Eliya.Finally the walk on Horton Plains provided some much needed exercise after too many irresistible buffet dinners, with a spectacular waterfall, glorious views and a rare sighting of a giant Sri Lankan squirrel.   

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujan was excellent. His success in organising  stress-free transport, baggage transfer and hotel check-ins throughout the holiday was remarkable.  He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Sri Lankan wildlife, history and geography, including the widespread location of accessible clean public toilet facilities (an essential attribute given that most of the travellers were on the wrong side of 60). Perhaps his greatest skill was in gently herding 18 free spirits through a relatively busy schedule without appearing to be in any way bossy or harassed.   

Advice for Potential Travellers

The birdlife in Sri Lanka is fantastic and with hindsight we wish that we had brought better binoculars and a camera with a good close-up lens.  Most of the activities are great fun, but several members of the group were disappoined by the Yala safari drive, possibly because of the 4-5 hour bone-shaking drive over endless pot-holes in a jeep with dubious suspension. If you are prone to sea sickness it would be wise to hesitate before signing up for the whale watching - one unfortunate group member was prostate for most of the boat-trip. And don't forget the suncream and the mossie spray.  The mosquitoes were not too abundant but they do venture forth at dusk in the hope of finding some tasty unprotected tourist blood. 

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

This was a really good holiday, an amazing country, lots of different places to see and different activities to do.  Weather was fab and food was good enough that I am trying to recreate it at home.

Most Inspirational Moment

visiting so many different placesThe elephant sanctuaryThe bike ridethe safariThe food, namely anything that was eaten on a banana leafWhale and dolphin watchingthe Sri Lnakan people were really friendly and make you feel so welcomeStayed in some amazing hotels, namely Deer park and Hotel Suisse

Thoughts on Group Leader

Really friendly and approachable, had lots of knowledge about Sri Lanka

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is not the most active trip, lots of getting on and off the busmosquito repellent

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

This trip is a great experience for those who want to cover a considerable amount of territory in two weeks.  I feel like we saw an amazing number of sights and had a superb number of experiences in such a short time.  Our leader, Roshan, is superb and he did a great job ensuring that the hiccups were minimal.  Plus under his management, the hotel check in and checkout process went off very well.   The only down side to this trip was that since we stayed in ten different hotels over the course of this trip that was a lot of packing and unpacking.  Also too much time was spent on the coach since whilst the difference that we covered weren’t great, the generally poor road infrastructure meant that many hours were spent moving around. Finally, we could have skipped the one night stop in the town of Kitulgala (where the rafting was nothing that special nor the hotel that good either).  Instead we would have been able to spend two nights at the delightful hotel station hotel in Nuwara Eliya. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiking in Horton Plain NP in the hill station area.   Also Yala NP.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He is very competent and good at what he does.  Since he has done this trip close to 200 times, he knows his stuff.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a fascinating and interesting country.   Also, if the itinerary doesn't change, be prepared for quality time in the coach.

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

At the great age of 65 this was the first organised tour i have ever experienced. I was a wild child of the 60s, an independent woman traveller and I begin to see now , a bit of a travel snob. Exodus gave me a new and wondereful experiernce . A chance to squeeze so many sights, sounds and so much knowledge into a trim 2 weeks only possible because of immaculate organisation anf the personal services of a very warm and welcoming local guide.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being part of a local ceremony at the Temple of the Tooth was a privilige mde possible by our local guide.The flash of vermilion and emerald  birds and the wonder of a leopard in the distance at Yala .

Thoughts on Group Leader

warm welcoming and always available

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be open to fellow travellers who may be very different

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

The trip included a great blend of culture, leisure and activity with plenty of sightseeing opportunities and time to relax by the sea and pool. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Christmas day walk to Worlds End, cycle ride and Lunch in Giritale and swimming with the locals in the river at Kitulgala.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan was an excellent guide, very knowledgable and professional with a great understanding of the differemt needs of individual members of the group. Enthusiastic about Sri Lanka's culture and history. Easy going with a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for an active trip and take lots of mossie spray. 

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

A very varied trip with Culture, Adventure activities, Wild Animals and Beaches.

Most Inspirational Moment

I never expected to see a Leopard even though Yalla Park has a large population.Seeing a leopard asleep in the tree above us, completely unaware of all the excitement beneath was very special.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sujan was a fantastic leader and always did his best to ensure the group got the most from the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't worry if it rains. We climbed Lions Rock in the rain without waterproofs as it was still lovely and warm and we soon dried off. 

DISCOVER SRI LANKA - not for active travelers or nature enthusiasts

Sri Lanka is a wonderful place to visit, but choose your trip carefully.  The Discover Sri Lanka trip is two weeks long.  During those two weeks, you only get 3 hours of safari.  We almost left Sri Lanka without seeing a wild elephant or leopard (we actually saw them during the last 15 minutes of safari).  If you would like more opportunities to see wildlife, choose a different trip.  Also, there was only 90 minutes of walking per week (Lion Rock week 1, Horton Flats week 2).  The trip is extremely sedentary with long hours on the bus or in hotels.  If you are an active traveler as I am, you will struggle with the lack of opportunities for walks.   However, the sights are fantastic and the guide is very well organized.  I just suggest you scrutinize the Sri Lanka itineraries carefully and pick the right one for your interests.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing on top of Lion Rock and discovering the ancient palace

Thoughts on Group Leader

SuJan was excellent and went out of his way to accomodate my requests.  He was the most organized guide I've ever experienced.  His handling of the incidentals and tipping money was extraordinary!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Extend your trip at least 3 extra days if you want to go scuba diving.  Skip the elephant ride.

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

A fantastic trip which includes everything from ruins to safari to spending time sunbathing.  Sri Lanka has so much history and it was fanscinating to learn all about it and see such a diverse country.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing a leopard in Yala National Park, the elephants in Pinnewalla playing in the river, watching the sunset at the beach and reaching the top of Lion Rock.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh was fantastic, he couldn't do enough for us.  He was always willing to help with whatever we wanted from finding aloe vera at 9.30 at night for sunburn or arranging a massage for a stiff neck, he helped make the trip special.  His topics each day were very insightful and a great way to help us learn about Sri Lanka from polictics to religion.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Females - make sure you bring tops which over your shoulders for when visiting temples.  Otherwise enjoy the trip and do all the optionals especially visiting the elephant orphanage.

DISCOVER SRI LANKA

This was our first trip with Exodus and our first visit to Sri Lanka. Overall we were impressed with Exodus and our guide, Suresh Bandara. We absolutely fell in love with Sri Lanka! This trip features a great mix of history, archaeology, religion, nature, culture, and sport. We found it all fantastic. If you’re interested in Sri Lanka for more than a week’s time, this trip gives you everything you want (except a visit to Anuradhapura) and also provides enough free time that you don’t feel rushed and overwhelmed. Ages of group were 30s-50s and we all had a great time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick an inspirational moment as I wouldn't say anything was "inspiring" in those words except we had a great group moment on top of Sigirya with one member afraid of heights-we all helped her get to the top. It was nice to stop at Exodus Tsunami House #7 for lunch, but would have liked more interaction with the home owner and her family. The lunch, however, was one of the absolute best meals we had in the country. Very fresh and delicous and her papadams were heavenly!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh Bandara is a great tour leader. He went beyond the call of duty several times to ensure comfort and well-being to the tour members from arranging a quick neck massage before departure to tracking down some aloe vera cream (and actual plant leaves!) at 8pm for a sunburn. He works very hard to make sure the tour members are having a great time and he provides excellent information. He is very open to answering questions about Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans and he's inquisitive about our home countries and customs as well. He's always trying to learn new English phrases he can use with future groups. Every day he made sure my husband and I had either a "king's bed" or two twins pushed together. That really meant a lot to us.The only point I would like to see more of is a better idea of the day's itinerary when we meet for breakfast. With the Trip Notes I knew where we were going, but I wasn't sure of the timing. Would we get to the hotel in the early afternoon? Have the activity before or after lunch? How long (approximately time and distance) would we travel that day? I know I am more interested in time than many people on holiday, but I like to have a good understanding of the process. A simple "Today we drive approximately 30 minutes to this temple then drive 1 hour to the hotel. We'll check in and have time for lunch and a swim before we meet again at 3pm for the afternoon activity" would be helpful for me.I loved the day's "topics" and personal details Suresh shared with us. He is a wonderful guide with great enthusiasm for welcoming and sharing his country with visitors. He has a big heart and his laugh makes everyone laugh with him because he's so happy. He is very generous and gving of more than his time."Dinner?" (Wobble-wobble) Ha ha!

Advice for Potential Travellers

For women bring a combination of shorts and capri pants. Trousers were only needed at Nuwara Eliya and when hiking out to World's End (we didn't have Adam's Peak on this itinerary). No shorts or tank tops at temples, but the rest of the time shorts and capris or longish skirt are fine.For swimming in the river at Kithugala: local women don't wear swimming costumes. They swim in shorts and t-shirts. If you don't want stares from local men, dress modestly. The local guys think it's OK and flattering to say, "Hey, Hottie!" and whistle. On the rafting trip you'll have the chance to jump out and swim in the river. Dress accordingly.At the Hill Club Dining Room: No clothes to lend for women-we just need to be dressed "suitably enough" to accompany the men. For men: they have jackets, ties and shoes to lend, but no collared shirts or trousers. Make sure you have the appropriate collared shirt and trousers wtih you and you can borrow the rest. National dress ok for both men and women. No sandals or trainers on men. If you're not dressed suitably, you'll have to eat in the casual dining room. On the safari in Yala NP: bring a bandana or something to cover your face while driving down the dusty roads or you'll be coughing out orange dust after! Also bring a plenty of sunscreen-you'll need it. A 1L refillable water bottle is also helpful.

DISCOVER SRI LANKA Sept/Oct 2012

Our first travels with Exodus and our first visit to Sri Lanka. Overall we were impressed with Exodus and our guide Suresh, and we absolutely fell in love with Sri Lanka! A great mix of history, archaeology, religion, nature, culture and sport all in one tour. We found it all fantastic! If you’re interested in Sri Lanka for more than a week’s time, this trip gives you everything you want (except a visit to Anuradhapura) and also provides enough free time that you don’t feel rushed. Ages of tour participants were 30s-50s and we all had a great time.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to pick an inspirational moment of the trip as I wouldn't say anything was particularly "inspiring" in those words except we had a great group moment on top of Sigiriya with one member afraid of heights. So glad she made it! It was nice to stop at Exodus Tsunami House #7 for lunch, but would have liked more interaction with the home owner and her family. The lunch, however, was one of the absolute best meals we had in the country! Very fresh and delicious and her papadams were heavenly!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh is a great tour leader. He went beyond the call of duty several times to ensure comfort and well-being to the tour members from arranging a quick neck massage before departure to tracking down some aloe vera cream (and plant leaves!) at 8pm for a sunburn. He works very hard to make sure the tour members are having a great time with no troubles and provides excellent information. He is very open to answering questions about Sri Lanka (and Sri Lankans) and is inquisitive about our home countries and customs as well. He's always trying to learn new English words and phrases he can use with future groups. He always made sure my husband and I had either a "King's bed" or two twins pushed together. This really meant a lot to us.  The only point I would like to see more of is a better idea of the day's itinerary when we meet for breakfast. With the trip notes I knew where we were going, but wasn't sure of the timing. Would we get to the hotel in the early afternoon? Have the activity before or after lunch? How long (approximate time and distance) would we travel that day? I know I am more interested in time than many other people, but I like to have a good idea of the process. A simple "Today we drive for approximately 30 minutes to this temple, then we drive 1 hour to the hotel. Check in and have time for lunch and a swim before we meet again at 3pm for the afternoon activity" would be nice. I loved the day's "topics" and personal details Suresh provided regarding many points. He is a wonderful guide with great enthusiasm for welcoming and sharing his country with visitors. His laugh makes everyone laugh with him because he's so happy! He is also very generous and giving of not just his time. "Dinner?" (Wobble-Wobble) Ha ha! 

Advice for Potential Travellers

For women bring a combination of shorts and capri pants. Trousers were only needed really at Nuwara Eliya and when hiking out to World's End at Horton Plains (we didn't have Adam's Peak on this tour). No shorts or tank tops at temples, but the rest of the time shorts and capris (or loose skirt) are fine. For swimming in the river at Kithugala: local women don't wear swimming costumes. They swim in shorts and t-shirts. If you won't want the stares from local men, dress modestly.  The local guys think it's OK and flattering to say, "Hey Hottie!" and whistle.  On the rafting trip you'll have the chance to jump out of the raft and swim in the river. Dress accordingly.  At the Hill Club Dining Room: No clothes to lend for women-we just need to be dressed "suitably enough" to accompany the men. For the men-they have jackets, ties and oxford shoes to lend, but no shirts or trousers. Make sure you have the appropriate collared shirt and trousers. No sandals or trainers. National dress OK. If you're not dressed suitably, you will have to dine in the casual dining room.