Indian Ocean

My trip to Sri Lanka was truly magical. Not only did we see over 100 elephants while on safari, but we also spent three hours gazing out of a train window at the misty tea hills of Nuwara Eliya. This trip was the perfect mix of sightseeing and activities – we travelled by boat, tuk-tuk, train, 4×4, and even on foot during a hike up Sigiriya! I travelled in September, so we had quite a bit of rain in Kandy, but it only added to the lush, tropical scenery, which was absolutely beautiful. Sri Lanka should be experienced by everyone!

Mia Harper Sri Lankan Highlights

Sri Lanka is beautiful and worth traveling too. Would I recommend doing it with Exodus? Not for me – their tour was too overly structured, and the local tour operator doesn’t follow the ethos of traveling small and local. Our group was only 15 but our experience was no different than if we had been on a motorcoach with 50 tourists. We were always one of dozens of other coaches packing lunch and coffee stops, nothing unique about it. We thought we’d be able to have lunches and dinners on our own, as they are not included in the tour, but actually there was never another option besides the big-tour stops chosen by our guide, and the hotels were too remote to walk to anyplace else. The tour included a number of “cultural” stops that were really just high-pressure shopping opportunities, again filled with other tour buses, as if they were all in on it. We saw and did a lot in Sri Lanka but it could have been a more authentic experience.

Hannah Devine Sri Lankan Highlights

This tour is the perfect introduction to Sri Lanka – a great balance of historical landmarks, cultural insights, stunning scenery and amazing wildlife (with a few opportunities for retail therapy thrown in). Our days were pretty full and varied, with something for everyone – no drive was longer than two hours, other than on our last day (going back to Colombo). The bus was comfortable and big enough for everyone to have a window seat if they wanted.
Our hotels were pleasant and well situated but some were a little tired around the edges, but I felt that was fair, given the reasonable price of the tour. The food was delicious throughout – we ate mainly in our hotels, with a few meals in local restaurants recommended by our guide, Mahen.

Elizabeth Lash Sri Lankan Highlights