Most Inspirational Moment
On a visit to the National Park, we had three leopard sightings!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The best group leader encountered.....friendly, knowledgeable,organized,supportive.
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
BACK ROADS OF SRI LANKA
Certainly one of the best cycle trips I’ve taken…..tropical spice island, friendly people, interesting history and whale watching, bird watching and National Park with elephants,leopards and more.
Cycle the backroads of Sri Lanka
This was an excellent trip, very well organised and run. Although the main focus was cycling, there was a variety of other events that made it really special – safari, whale watching, plantation visit with massage, cookery lessons, beach games, nature walk, multi-faith temple visit and more. Always something to do and to learn. We got a terrific insight into the country and way of life.
Most Inspirational Moment
I know it was a cycling trip but I LOVED the safari. To see 4 elephants and 3 leopards up close in the wild was just a wonderful experience. For the cycling, the hill climb on day 7 was challenging and gave a real sense of achievement.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh is an exceptional leader - always keeping us informed of what is going on, always checking back with us to make sure things are ok, chasing restaurant staff if we were kept waiting. When one of the group was injured, he reacted with urgency and was subsequently always on hand to arrange doctor/clinic visits. He was always giving us a little bit extra. And he was always approachable and had a brilliant sense of humour. His passion for his homeland shone through.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It got a bit cold on the hill climb on day 7 so dress for it. Some opportunities to have washing done.
Superb Trip
A fabulous 2 weeks cycling the backroads of beautiful Sri Lanka in excellent company and with a superb tour guide.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many...... Getting to the top of the "hill" on the day of the big climb; bombing downhill on other days; waving back at the very excited children we passed every day; seeing local life as we passed through villages; the incredible bird and animal life we saw along the way....
Thoughts on Group Leader
Outstanding. Suresh created a great group dynamic, ensured everyone was included and felt part of the team and added so many extra touches to ensure all of us had an exceptional holiday.
Advice for Potential Travellers
An amazing holiday. Get cycle fit and go for it. I brought a (cheap) padded cycle cover which worked well. Sunscreen (and lots of it) is essential.
Maximum fun
A trip I will remember for ever! Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and Suresh is an absolutely outstanding leader, who made sure we experienced the very best of it.
The cycling can be challenging – plenty of hills and heat – but the distances and hills build up over the days so that your fitness increases to be able to manage each stage.
The scenery, birds and animals are beautiful. I’d struggle to identify more than a robin in England, but by the end of the trip was able to tell the difference between a bee catcher and a kingfisher flying past.
What really made it special for me was Suresh’s attention to detail and the special experiences he arranged – street food in Kandy, stopping to buy fish from the market for dinner, the evening visit to a multi faith temple, and multiple tea stops in local places for tea, lentil cakes, fudge and other yummy snacks. Just don’t expect to lose any weight on this trip – my Fitbit said I burned 4,351 calories on the climb to Nurwar Eliya but I’d say every single one of those was replaced with the maximum damage we did every night with the delicious food and Lion beers!
Most Inspirational Moment
1. Reaching the top of the climb to Nuwar Eliya with a lot less difficulty than I thought and realizing just how fast my fitness had improved over the space of a week 2. Reaching the bottom of the downhill from Ella (I'm terrified of heights but with Suresh's patience and encouragement I was able to complete it) 3. Watching the sunset from the top of mini Adam's Peak (with thanks once again to Suresh for holding my hand to get me up and down!) 4. Watching a serpent eagle soar down the tree lined road in front of us as we cycled along And a very memorable one was eating a delicious dinner by candlelight in a private house in Ella during the biggest power cut Sri Lanka had experienced in 20 years!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Ten out of ten fantastic! I cannot fault Suresh. He got to know everyone as individuals incredibly quickly and made sure each of us was well looked after. I have a melon allergy (bizarre one I know!) and the staff everywhere would produce alternatives without me needing to ask. I also wondered why dogs were being magically ushered off the road in front of me by Suresh's team. Suresh had spotted I am nervous around the dogs without me saying a thing, and had briefed the team to help me out! And he held my hand whenever I felt scared of heights! He also let those of us who wanted to cycle fast have the opportunity to do so, whilst also accommodating those who wanted to take it slower, whilst still making us feel like one tight knit group. He is efficient (bags always in our rooms before we got there because he memorized whose was whose on day one), resourceful (magically transporting forgotton glasses and phones across the country to catch up with us) and patient (see previous example!). He constantly added little extras (which I won't identify so as to not spoil the surprise for others!) and I'm really touched by his thoughtfulness. He is patient, kind, fun, knows Sri Lanka inside out, has a talent for getting the measure of people quickly and managing a group, and is obviously respected and liked throughout the country. I can't thank him enough for making this such a special and unforgettable trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
1. Take a lot more sunscreen than you think you need - it is very hard to find sun lotion in Sri Lanka and highly unlikely you'll be able to buy more during the trip 2. Same goes for hand sanitiser 3. Plan to hand wash a lot – my washing line came in very handy and there is enough time each evening to rinse a few things out 4. Don't be afraid of the dogs. Most are fine and by the end I didn't even mind the barky ones - they won't actually bite you. If I'd realized that earlier and relaxed about them, the first couple of days would have been more fun 5. Take a baseball cap/other hat as the sun is very strong and you'll need one for times you're not riding
Cycling the backroads of Sri lanka
Before we went on this trip we wondered if it would be too challenging. We are reasonably fit leisure cyclists and thoroughly enjoyed cycling through a beautiful country. Yes some days were long & it was hot but we coped & enjoyed & had such a feeling of achievement. The support vehicle was always there if the heat or hill became too much & on the longest hill climb several made use of this for a short distance. You could stow the bike for a few km & get back on again when you wanted.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many. But the beauty of the country we cycled through & the views from being on a bike & cycling through rural countryside interacting with really friendly local people was a great experience
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh was the best leader so far on any trip we have done & made it all go so smoothly. And he always had cold Lion beers ready for us as we arrived at the hotel. What more could you ask for!!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take electrolytes & keep drinking loads. It's amazing what you can achieve . The good cyclists all know they can do it. It's the leisure cyclist that may be not sure. Loads of snack & rest stops built in & the team look after you all the time.
One of our best holidays ever!
A fantastic mix of scenery, culture, history and wildlife all observed from the saddle against a backdrop of highland tea plantations and forest or lowland Paddy fields. All fuelled by delicious local food including curry and fresh pineapple, papaya and bananas – aided by bucket loads of tea and tasty snacks on the roadside! So much packed into a small country and a short holiday.
Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the top of the highest hill (1900m) and getting a big cheer!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh was passionate about his country and sharing it's highlights. He did this with great knowledge and humour but most importantly he took time out to make everyone feel they were personally welcome and that they were happy with their daily experience
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go as soon as possible!
Sri Lanka cycling january 16
Just back from exhilarating trip. It’s fun, it’s tiring, it’s varied. The cycling is challenging enough to give a real sense of achievement. Plenty of time for sight seeing and relaxing especially later on. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with very friendly people.
Most Inspirational Moment
Arriving at old colonial era hill country mansion after 2500 metres of climbing to Nurawa Eliya. Walking up on Sigiriya rock, especially if you don't like heights.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh was excellent, just the right balance of humour and directing us.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Cycling is quite challenging on the climbs and in the heat but only 3 of our group made use of the support vehicle and then only for short periods, no-one took the train. c half our group used cleats but they're not essential and on the un-made up or very busy roads could be tricky.
Cycling backroads in Sri Lanka
It was very well organized. I don’t think we missed seeing anything. I defiantly would not recommend the safari excursion.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the blue whales and the people the people of Sri Lanka. It's always amazing to see how other parts of the world live.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I was very impressed with our group leader. I have never experienced someone that was so tentative to the group as a whole and also as individuals. His attention to detail was immaculate.
Back-roads of Sri Lanka September 2015
Holiday of a life-time
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing flocks of large fruit bats flying across the moon-lit sky over Kandy Seeing huge black rat snake in bamboo-grove at Kandy botanical gardens Seeing bear-faced monkeys leaping through Palm trees Seeing buddhas in Dambulla stone temple and at Polunnaruwa Delicious Sri Lankan food three times a day Very friendly smiling Sri-lankan people
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh* was a cycle-tour guide Who took British guests for a ride. He was everyone's friend; We got there in the end And best of all, nobody died! He gave us all good advice Bought elephants at the right price; Each restaurant and bar Was the best one so far For Lion-lager, curry and rice! He asked for two minutes of time He gave soda-water and lime; And "max damage" at meals; Now everyone feels He's the Exodus leader sublime! *Suresh Bandara won the Exodus Leader of the Year award recently and having just had him as our leader it is easy to see why.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You dont need to take your own snacks as masses of food and snacks are provided Walking round Kandy city centre is a bit of a waste of time. Better way to spend the Kandy day is in the botanical gardens. train ride from Kandy to Nuriwa Eliya is good alternative to very hard uphill, but train is very crowded on Saturdays - so if you know you are going to go on train try to book first class observation carriage in advance otherwise you will probably be standing for 4 hours in second class Try to fit in a surfing lesson/session near Kobbala beach - looks fun
10th Exodus Trip & now waiting for 2016 Cycling Brochure
Another great cycling holiday experience with Exodus. Our guide Suresh and the rest of the support crew were fantastic and nothing was too much trouble for them and they were passionate and proud about their country. The cycling was varied but as our group showed doable by all giving everyone a real sense of achievement and a great way to experience the delights & scenery of Sri Lanka. The one watch out is don’t expect to lose weight on this trip as the variety of food available at the buffets means you are likely to end up doing maximum damage for very little money.
Most Inspirational Moment
The variety of the cycling in terms of both the terrain and scenery that you pass through and the warm smiles on the faces of the Sri Lankans even if we must have looked a strange sight in lycra, wearing helmets and being on bikes.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh is clearly very passionate about his country and his passion is totally infectious.
Advice for Potential Travellers
For me the hotels were better than I expected and with a reasonable level of fitness doing all the cycling is definitely achievable. I realise it is fairly obvious but be prepared for it to be hot and humid however, our trip was not really affected by the forecasted rain.