Most Inspirational Moment
Bicycle ride and Lions Rock
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent 10/10
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be advised that the Horton Plains Hike is quite challenging. Several in the group struggled.
Reviews
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Reviews
Spot on. A great introduction to the diverse island of Sri Lanka
Excellent tour leader, varied and interesting itinerary, excellent organisation and accommodation.
Fabulous Sri Lanka
This is an excellent trip around Sri Lanka, combining activities (rafting, hiking, cycling), culture (temple visits, tea and cinnamon farms) and nature (safaris, whale watching), with a generous amount of pool and chill time. The many optional activities allow for doing as much or as little as desired, and there is plenty to keep occupied with when down time is available.
The included activities gave a fascinating insight into daily life, including the Sri Lankan games (I don’t think any of our groups will be winning prizes in those games for a while!). The locals were all so friendly and hospitable, and the hotels exceeded my expectations throughout.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking up Adam's Peak with the many locals partaking in the pilgrimage to the Temple of the Foot and reaching the top in time for a fabulous sunrise.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roshan was an excellent group leader - so knowledgeable, organised and always willing to help organise little extras. His history and cultural lessons on the bus were delivered with enough information to allow us to really understand the country but without being too much of an information overload. He was always patient, in good humous and made sure we were all well looked after, helping also to deal with lost luggage and any special requests people had. Our driver (another Roshan) and helper (Sandun) were also excellent and kept us and our belongings safe throughout the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The leopards in Yala were elusive for us, but you will get out of the safari what you put in. We saw an incredible mixture of animals - land monitor lizards, chameleons, salamander, crocodiles, water buffalo, black-naped hare, deer - to name just a few, along with an incredible array of colourful and impressive birds. At the end of the day, nature is wild and nothing is guaranteed so go with your fingers crossed but take the time to appreciate all the other wildlife on offer as well. The Adam's Peak hike is strenuous but absolutely worth it. The entire hike is up 5,500 steps so your calf muscles and knees will feel it the following day, especially the final half an hour which is up unrelenting steep steps. It is thoroughly worth it though, and watching the sunrise with hundreds of other pilgrims was an unforgettable experience. Take out plenty of cash at the airport as optional excursions all need to be paid in cash - if you do all of the optional activities (elephant safari, rafting, Adam's Peak, whale watching, mangrove boat trip), you will need around £250 equivalent, plus money for tips, tuk-tuks, local shopping, lunches etc. Hotel bills can be paid on card. There are additional ATMs available in Kandy and Ahangama. People's Bank and Bank of Ceylon tended to be reliable and at the time of writing did not charge ATM fees for foreign cards.
Beautiful country
Loved this trip it had a fabulous mix of places to visit and activities. From visiting serene temples to racing down the rapids in a raft everything was well organised and reasonably priced. A wonderful tour guide who attended to everyone’s needs efficiently and with fun, a great group of people and stunning countryside. I would recommend this trip to everyone.
Most Inspirational Moment
A toss up between Asian elephants walking past our jeep close enough to touch and watching the sunrise over the Indian Ocean whilst the stilt fishermen worked hard to catch a the day’s bounty.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sujan our group leader was excellent. He was very perceptive to individual peoples needs whilst delivering an amazing time for the whole group. He had a great understanding of people and therefore everyone in the group of 18 felt looked after and listened to. He had a fantastic knowledge of Sri Lanka and if he didn’t know something he would research the answer and tell us later. He had a great sense of humour and really helped to make the tour special.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take plenty of mosquito repellent as they loved to have a nibble of us all. Take a jumper for the mountains and be prepared to eat a lot of curry.
An unexpected gem of a holiday
A very varied trip in a green and beautiful land with palm fringed beaches and he warmth of the Indian Ocean. We covered 1600km and seemed to do it all, temples, wildlife safaris, historical ruins, adventure white water rafting, markets, tea plantation, botanical gardens, shopping, culture, beach. Name it and we were there! A comprehensive and very enjoyable itinerary.
Most Inspirational Moment
Too many...The tranquility of the ruins atop Lion Rock, the amazing bird life, the leopard at Yala and the sunset over the lake, swimming in the warm Indian Ocean, the hanging parrots and sunbird in the date palm outside my window, the thrill of white water rafting (a first for me). All unforgettable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Superb. Amazingly well organised. He coped with the different demands of our varied group with good grace, always pleasant, always polite, always fair and kind to everyone. A great job Sujan! Thank you.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Lots, but everyone finds their own way. Try everything. Don't forget plenty of sun block and plenty of insect repellent. An umbrella is a useful item. Best place to buy tea is not at the plantation itself because of limited stock and relatively little choice, but in Galle on Rampart Street when you walk around the old fort. T-shirts at the botanical gardens shop are decent quality. Take binoculars, really worthwhile, and a bird book if interested. There are kids at the farm visit, so a colouring book or 2 as giveaways may be welcome.
Discover Sri Lanka
We are just home from a fantastic tour of Sri Lanka. Never has an Exodus holiday (this was our eighth tour) been so diverse of culture and wildlife. For example, day one, we were sitting in our hotel which was right beneath Lion Rock (the ancient capital of Sri Lanka) and that afternoon we went on a safari and saw loads of elephants in their natural habitat. Day-after-day, there was something to experience – temples, wildlife, locals, forests, cycling, trekking and even a couple days at one of the world’s top surfing oceans. Most of the hotels were of an excellent standard with lovely swimming pools. Generally speaking all Sri Lankan staff are very slow and laid-back but after a couple days we felt that this attitude actually helped with the relaxing, chilled atmosphere. Our guide Roshan was highly experienced – he was incredibly diligent, thorough and knowledgeable with exceptional attention to detail – one of the best Exodus guides we’ve met so far.
Great trip
A great holiday. Lots of variety. Small group. Great guide. Would recommend.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the baby elephants playing together.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roshan was a really great guide. Very knowledgeable. Great sense of humour. One of the best guides I’ve had on trips. Very organised. Always ready to help out.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take cash for optional trips. Can be paid in pounds or dollars.
Sri Lanka open for tourists
The discover Sri Lanka trip allowed us to see the highlights of the centre and South of the country with a well thought out itinerary. Some days are full on, with early starts and reasonably energetic walks or cycles, the activities are punctuated by two night stops at some hotels, allowing recuperation.
Most Inspirational Moment
The trip had everything from Bhudist temples and ancient forts to nature reserves. For us seeing elephants, a leopard and two blue whales would have to be the highlights of the trip. On a more human dimension though the traditional games organised by our group leader Roshan were brilliant, getting everyone involved, even the driver and assistant joined in!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roshan did an excellent job with a diverse bunch. His good sense of humour and organisational skills meant that things ran smoothly, even though there were a range of optional trips that were not taken up by eveyone.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Sri Lanka is ready for and needs tourists! We did not experience any disruption or see any protests during the trip. The hotels and local restaurants/cafes all provided varied menus (especially if you enjoy a curry).
Beautiful Land of Sarandib
Perhaps the greatest holiday I’ve ever been on. From safaris in beautiful national parks in search of elephants, to visiting fascinating ancient cities, to eating amazing food, all of it was top notch. I really cannot fault the guide (Roshan) at all. He was informative, and taught us all a thing or two about the country, it’s culture, wildlife, etc.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing elephants for the first time at the Hurulu Eco Park, and continuing to see them even after leaving the reserve. Also being lucky enough to see Golden Jackals by pure chance on the root back to the hotel from the reserve.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Brilliant. Very friendly and knowledgeable, taught us all a lot and had a sense of humour as well.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I highly recommend this tour. Eat out at restaurants recommended by the guide, you won’t regret it.
Sri Lanka
The trip involved truly discovering the wildlife, geography, culture, history, religion and entertainment of Sri Lanka and its people. We saw temples, religious ceremonies, games, wildlife, markets, spice farms, tea plantations and dancing; we tasted some wonderful local food; we heard their amazing morning bird choruses, as well as amazing tales by Roshan, our guide; we travelled by bus, boat, tuktuk, bicycle and train, and stayed in some amazing hotels. Travelling with Exodus and having a local guide made the whole experience easy – everything is organised for you. The balance of activity and rest is really well thought out so it keeps you busy, but with rest breaks to enjoy the sun, the pool or simply explore a little more. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone.
Most Inspirational Moment
Joining in the pilgrimage to the top of Adam's Peak, a 1000m climb of 5,500 steps over 7km done overnight to reach Sri Lanka's fourth highest peak for sunrise. It was superb to experience what the locals put themselves through, with everyone from infants to the elderly making their way up past all the tea houses. It is really strenuous, but a great personal achievement too. The wildlife park at Yala, the Sri Lankan games, bicycle ride and farmer's lunch, and cinnamon farm were other highlights among many.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roshan was great - attentive to all our needs, ensuring we were looked after well and keeping us organised; he has great skills in providing story-like tales of the history, politics, religion and cultural habits, using wit and personal stories to bring it to life and keep it interesting. His English was excellent and he made liaising with locals so much easier.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Have access to a good amount of cash, as the optional tours and activities all need payment in Rupees or Pounds. You can pay for meals and drinks in the hotels by cash, or simply use a card/mobile. All the hotels had English style sockets, so no adapters were needed. Be prepared for mosquitos - take repellent such as Aloe Vera or citronella. Be prepared for some early starts, but there's plenty of time to snooze on the bus. Water for drinking bottles is provided. Having a group tipping kitty saves a lot of hassle. Share photos on a WhatsApp group.
Discover Sri Lanka November 2022
A well oiled but flexible trip around central and southern Sri Lanka. Especially enjoyed the rail journey, cycling and meeting the local people. We got to see most of the animal highlights and enjoyed the beach hotel. The additional excursions means that it is a full on tour. Suggest adding on an additional two or three days to wind down.
Most Inspirational Moment
Not sure what inspirational moments were on the trip as it was exciting and informative . Meeting and moving amongst the locals was great. It reminds us what we have and what you really do need. The only real inspiration was to make sure that we repeat the holiday trips regularly.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Roshan was great, he got to know us and allowed the trip to develop, it never feeling too much of a rush or exercise to be completed. His talks on the general history were pitched just right and were informative and interesting. The issues and political landscape since independence were well explained and informative. He made an effort to understand and nurture the group
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring plenty of insect repellant. Clothes can be laundered at a reasonable cost at the hotels so not some may clothes need be brought resulting in a lower weight suitcase to lug around.