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My trip was second to none. Despite being the only Aussie, I felt right at home with the group.
The natural beauty of Sri Lanka and it’s people was amazing. Cheers and children along town roads and in villages, spurred me on.
The weather, mountains, beaches, lakes, rice paddies, tea plantations, animals, water falls and country spirit surrounded us always. Not to mention best daal (and other) curries!
The guide was superb, ensuring that all group tastes and trip features were met, and the group, my room mate and driver, bike mechanics and assistants were the best.
I’ll treasure the holiday, the memories and the people. We were also quite lucky to be in Sri Lanka during the Lunar or Buddhist New Year and got to experience those celebrations.
It wasn’t just bike riding. The beach, visiting a gem museum, tea factory, spice gardens (with a complimentary massage!) and a jeep safari at Yala National Park, were among the few extras we did, along with shopping at Kandy or Galle, and Elephant riding, and going to an elephant orphanage. Temples, ruins and hikes and much more, jam packed into 14 days.
The Elephants and Mountains.
The cream of the crop.
Consider Tips. Mosquito repellents. You may wait a few days for Laundry facilities Train before you go if and when you can! Travel light so you can buy a lot more.
I have just completed a cycling trip in Sri Lanka – it was fantastic!! Lots of variety and very informative. If you enjoy cycling, friendly hospitality, great food and a brilliant leader then I would highly recommend this trip.
All of it!!
Excellent! Suresh was really attentive and very informative. We couldn't have had a better guide!
We hired the bikes on arrival and they were great - definitely saved a lot of hassel at the airport. Also don't need to take much luggage.
The cycling in the first two thirds of this trip was fairly challenging, at least I found it so. Whether it was fear of unseen wild elephants or just a keen, fit group, I don’t know but the pace was brisk and the effort needed to rejoin the peleton discouraged me from taking as many photos as I would have liked. On many days there were supplementary activities which provided plenty of photo opportunities, however.
The food and accommodation was generally excellent. The sophistication of the hotels and lodges was variable but everywhere was welcoming and clean.
Towards the end of the trip, there was no longer any pressure to reach destinations and the cycling became much more relaxed, giving a chance to chat and take photos. The roads were quieter too, with one morning in a bird sanctuary.
Galle fort was very picturesque but full of a different sort of tourist to ourselves! Colombo was a mixture of elegant colonial buildings in the centre, now restored to create elegant shopping malls, and many miles of poor, rather depressing, ‘suburbs’. Strange, to my eyes at least, that the extra income in the city seems to bring about a reduction in the quality of life compared with the country.
The ascent of Lion Rock in Sigirya was a high point in more ways than one, as the rock itself dominates the area. To reach the extensive remains of the summit fortress involves climbing many hundreds of stone steps (and a few more modern iron ones). The effort is worthwhile just to admire the 5th C engineering but the view from the top is stunning, with an almost shear drop to the palace ruins and gardens 200m below, and a panorama of the surrounding countryside. On a quite different level I was constantly amazed that we seemed to be such a source of fascination (and amusement) to local children. A cheerful "Good Morning" resulted in gales of laughter. Equally unfathomable was why all the children shouted "Bye", even though we had just arrived! It was very noticeable how, even in the poorest areas, the children were sent to school so neatly dressed. There was little evidence of Sri Lanka's colonial past on the trip, at least until we reached Nuwara Eliya. The Hill House Hotel had all the ambience (and stuffiness) of a rather run-down Surrey golf club and made me wonder whether colonial grandeur had ever been all it was cracked up to be. The trip to the tea plantation and factory was fascinating however, though I wouldn't care to be a worker there. I will never look at the picture on boxes of Brooke Bond tea in quite the same way again.
Dileepa is a terrific leader, who combines hard work and professionalism with a very likeable personality. I think that he also set an excellent example for his support crew, who could not have been more helpful. He genuinely seemed to enjoy being with our group, even 'out of hours'; this included organising some party games at the end of the trip and even a cricket match. The very few problems that cropped up were dealt with, with efficiency and good humour. Having a native Sri Lankan for a group leader is of huge benefit, whether it is a matter of enquiring whether a roadside snack is suitable for vegetarians or understanding the history or way of life of the country.
Although the trip notes say that 95% of the roads are tarmac, this is not how it feels. 95% of the distance could just about be tarmac but certainly not 95% of the riding time, particularly as Sri Lanka seems to be in the middle of an ambitious road improvement programme. Sri Lanka is very hot and humid, just like it says in the trip notes. Despite starting each day soon after first light, the temperature rises quickly and, particularly when it was necessary to ride through the hottest part of the day, this could be exhausting, in spite of the regular drink and snack stops. The ride distances may seem modest but the effort (and time) to complete the rides is much greater than a comparable distance in the UK.
An excellent trip in every respect. As Exodus “first-timers” we were a little unsure what to expect but in every way the experience exceeded our expectations. The staff were outstanding and under Tour Leader of the Year, Suresh Bandara, nothing was too much trouble for them. Organisation and planning was faultless, minor issues were fixed instantly. We truly cycled the backroads with regular, welcome “3 minute chats” on the history, culture and natural history of this wonderful country. So much more than just a cycling trip. We’ll never forget the smiling faces and we were even lucky enough to see a Leopard in Yala
Being immersed in a developing country, with poverty evident, and yet seeing excited, smiling faces, initiative, resourcefulness and a "make-do-and-mend" attitude. Wonderful to be in such a positive environment with proud locals determined to make sure you had a good time. Joining a group of like-minded people who you've never met before, rapidly making friends and developing a team, committed to working together and watching out for each other (or perhaps we were just lucky!)
We were privileged to be with Suresh when he received news that he was Exodus Tour Leader of the Year. No surprise to us whatsoever! Gentle, kind and humble and yet authoritative and assertive when ensuring the group was treated as he felt we should be. Knowledgeable and proud, we lapped up his many intelligent, witty explanations of all aspects of Sri Lankan life and culture. He took us to a fantastic selection of local family run tea houses and restaurants, always ensuring we had the option to try a wide range of local delicacies. Planning and organisation faultless and absolutely reliable. Hard to imagine there is a better tour leader working for any company!
A couple of days saw quite tough cycling - you really need to be a cyclist to do this tour and have some recent miles in your legs. It will be hot and humid, ensure you drink a lot and use the regular rests wisely. Bugs were not a problem provided you used DEET - around dawn and dusk this was vital. Cycle light with bits and pieces for the day in the minibus in your hand luggage daysac. Take £ and change some at the airport, topping up in the bigger towns (Suresh will always make sure you get the best rate!). Wear a cotton peaked cap, which you can soak in water, under your helmet to help keep cool and keep the sun off you face.
We have been on several Exodus cycle trips and I can honestly say this was the best one. Sri Lanka is a wonderful country to visit and has a rich cultural heritage which we loved exploring. The accommation ranged from basic to luxury hotels all of which were acceptable. There was never a dull moment and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour which was brilliantly led my Suresh.
There were many highlights each day brought something new, my husband enjoyed achieving the hill climbs and as for me soaking up all the sights the trip had to offer.
Suresh was our leader, he was fantastic. He was always approachable, took time in getting to know each member of the tour, was there to help with every aspect of the trip. It was my birthday while we were there and Suresh arranged for my bike to be decorated with balloons, my room had towels made into swans and flowers arranged to say happy birthday, in the evening a lovely birthday cake appeared, to me these little details mean a lot.
ENJOY !!!!
We have just returned from our first exodus holiday and what a fantastic experience it was. Sri Lanka is a beautiful and interesting country and to see the back roads by cycle was the best possible way. The cycling was varied with some challenging days but always well organised due to the fantastic support from the exodus team. Suresh our team leader was fantastic, well organised, knowledgeable and nothing was ever a problem. He kept the whole trip running smoothly and even his cooking skills were amazing. We will definitely be travelling with exodus again and are just hoping that all trips will be run with the same care and enthusiasm. Thanks for a wonderful holiday
getting to the top of our 16k mountain climb and to a beautiful hotel at the end
Suresh was in a nut shell fantastic! Nothing was ever a problem. He was well organised, knowledgeable and made every day interesting and fun. His attention to detail was excellent and his care for every member of the group was amazing (even when we left our toothbrushes in a hotel he manage to get us new ones within 30 minutes). A definite asset to exodus.
get it booked
This is a cycle trip to savour. As well as being a wonderful way of getting a real feel of the country, you also visit 3 of the 4 ancient capitals, eat some very good meals, especially street food and gain glimpses of the family, cultural and political life of this fascinating country. The cycling is mainly on quiet country roads. It’s challenging at times but well worth the effort. The bikes are in excellent condition with semi-slick tyres which, along with a very good mechanic, make for easier road cycling.
The climb to Kandy and the following day's climb to Nuwara Eliya could be called 'inspirational' I suppose. It's tough at times; more of an enjoyable slog than a steep climb. The 2 big runs downhill from Nuwara Eliya are both exhilarating and inspirational! What makes the trip most inspirational is the day to day scenes on the quiet country backroads, interspersed with small villages, stunning countryside, giggling and waving children and smiling inquisitive adults who may be entertaining the thought "why do these westerners want to cycle when they can jump into a car or tourist bus"?
Apart from the beautiful country and its people, it was Juresh, our leader who made this trip such a success. With the experience of 8 cycle tours, he is certainly the most imaginative and considerate tour leader I've met. He is a man of considerable integrity who will go that extra mile to ensure the customer is happy; everyone in our group of 15 held the same opinion. He not only led the daily cycling with enthusiasm but organised a fascinating range of activities from a curry cooking evening to an absorbing visit to a multi-faith temple; from an hour of hilarious games on the beach to a couple of easily understood sessions on Sri Lankan history and many more including an enjoyable evening hill walk in Ella, one of the most scenic parts of the island.
For those who don't like hills, try not to be too daunted by the 2 climbs. It's not a competition and there's no shame in jumping in the mini bus if it gets too difficult. The 2 climbs are not steep, just rather long but once you get into a rhythm, the miles glide by. Don't worry about about cycling in town traffic. Things are a bit chaotic but drivers are experts at predicting and avoiding the maneuvers of other road users; no problem. As well as your posh cycle tops, bring a couple of old T shirts which can be used if it's raining and you're cycling through road work areas. The red mud splatters everything. For some reason, Exodus do not fit mudguards; some cheap short ones would make a big difference when the roads are wet.
This trip was a delight to the senses – being on a bike totally immersed in the sights, sounds, smells … and of course tastes … of this beautiful and fascinating country. On the trip we experienced the rich culture and history, the varied vegetation and cultivation, the strikingly colourful birdlife, local food and tea stops, quiet back roads (and a few exciting ones!) and of course the friendly people.
Climbing to the top of Sigiriya rock on Day 2 . Spotting the vivid blue of my first bee-eater. Watching rope being made from coconut husks in a cottage industry.
I can't speak highly enough of Suresh. He had a great relationship with the staff at all the places we visited and stayed at. He kept us informed all the way along the trip and provided us with a great variety of experiences. He coped with 'emergencies' and extra requests calmly and effectively - nothing was too much trouble for him. I felt really looked after by him and his team throughout the trip.
If you are a bird watcher, get hold of a Bird Book of the area and take binoculars. At some of the remoter stops, there's also the chance for some great star gazing, provided you can drag yourself out of the bar in the evening, or out of bed early in the morning! - get Google Skymap app or equivalent on your Smart phone. I also wish I had read up about the particular form of Buddhism they practise here - a mixture of Buddhism and Hinduism.
If you like cycling, culture and curry you will not find a better holiday on offer than this one. It has everything. Good cycling routes through spectacular scenery, many opportunities to learn about Sri Lankan culture, wall to wall wildlife and mouth watering food. There is so much more to it than initially meets the eye when viewing the trip notes.
The road to Nuwara Eliya was awesome (albeit a challenge on two wheels) and the stay in the Hill Club once it is reached a real treat. It was like stepping back to be one of the privileged few in colonial days. The streets and markets of Kandy and Galle are so full of life and energy, and the beach at Ahangama at just reward at journey's end.
Travelling with Suresh is like being led by 'Superman'. What fantastic guy; with so much energy, joy for life and a burning desire to give his clients the best possible holiday. In addition to the expected activities he arranges so much more. A cookery demonstration, numerous special meals served in stunning locations, a hill walk, a constant supply of welcome refreshments and the benefit of his wealth of knowledge about his beloved country and its history and customs.. When I unfortunately suffered an accident he obtained the best possible medical treatment and his determination enabled me to continue with the tour as opposed to being on the next flight home which I initially envisaged. I cannot praise him highly enough.
Don't fall off your bike and break your arm. (No the cycling is not extreme it was just one of those things!)
Superbly varied trip, based around fairly tough cycling but also includes temples, beaches, wildlife and great chances to meet the locals. One or 2 of the hotels are quite basic, but the clue is in the title – you’re out in the sticks so occasionally have to make do without some facilities. Saying that most hotels were excellent.
The people were extremely welcoming, the food excellent and so overall it was a great value holiday. I will definitely go back
I enjoyed all the World Heritage Sites, especially Lion Rock at Sirigaya, but also got a great sense of achievement in completing the hill day up to Nurawa Eliya and the long day down from Ella in 35C heat !
Suresh Baranda was excellent, very attentive and knowledgeable. He fixed any issue really quickly and clearly had the respect of all the hotels and the three man back-up team. He was very clear on each day's cycle and set a balanced pace to ensure we all could complete every day I rated him 10/10 on the local evaluation form which says it all
Do some training if you get chance - the middle 3 days are tough and you'll probably enjoy it more if you get a bit fitter