Reviews

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

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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207 Reviews

4.8 out of 5

David Dodwell

Reviewed February 2015

Multi Sensory Experience

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on Group Leader

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.

Advice for Potential Travellers

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.

Diane Diane

Reviewed January 2015

The Three 'C's

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.

Most Inspirational Moment

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.

Thoughts on Group Leader

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.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't fall off your bike and break your arm. (No the cycling is not extreme it was just one of those things!)

Ian Edgar

Reviewed January 2015

Backroads of Sri Lanka Review

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

Most Inspirational Moment

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 !

Thoughts on Group Leader

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

Advice for Potential Travellers

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

Corinne Knoesen

Reviewed January 2015

Sri Lanka - Christmas 2014 - wonderful!!

I have done several cycling holidays with Exodus and can thoroughly recommend this one. The landscape is amazing & very varied. Food is wonderful. The locals are incredibly welcoming – smiles and exhortations to “hurry up” from young & old alike. But what really made the holiday was our wonderful patient, knowledgeable guide Dileep. Absolutely nothing was too much trouble – he worked so hard to make this the holiday of a lifetime.

Most Inspirational Moment

10km downhill through the tea plantations around Kandy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I honestly cannot think of any way that he could be better. I have travelled with Exodus many times and also with several other similar companies. Dileep was one of the best - if not the best - tour leader I have ever had.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take an umbrella in case of rain - but also to shade you from the sun. Take your saddle or a gel cover.

M Ward

Reviewed January 2015

Great fun

A superb cycling holiday through a beautiful country, and well away from the usual tourist paths.
We had a lot of rain the first week, but once you gave into the rain it was great fun and bonding. The second week brought fantastic sunshine and beaches! Suresh our leader was the star of our trip and ensured everyone was well looked after. Fantastic food too…you won’t go hungry!

Most Inspirational Moment

Discovering Sri Lanka - the people are very friendly, the countryside is beautiful and the food is great.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh is a fantastic leader, and went the extra mile to ensure we were well looked after. He is hard-working, very proactive and caring. Suresh would pick up on little things we said, and take action. We had some very wet weather, but Suresh's positive attitude and playful personality ensured we all had fun and made the most of each day regardless of the conditions. Suresh also went out his way to ensure we had a very memorable Christmas in Kandy and New Year's Eve on the beach.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't hesitate - just book it! Be prepared to get wet and muddy, so take enough cycling gear to last you until you have a two night stay at a hotel and can use the laundry facilities. Don't rely on washing/drying clothing overnight in your room as things didn't always dry in time due to the humidity. Pack an umbrella (for sightseeing when off the bike)! It's a good idea to take electrolyte drink supplements, especially for the big hill climbing day and the 102km day as it can get very hot once you're on the flats. It's a lovely idea to take older cycling clothing and gear that you're happy to leave behind as the locals are keen for cycling items. I gave cycling tops and water bottles to the guide and he distributed to the local community. I also did the Maldives extension to Paradise Island and loved it, was a great place to unwind and rest your muscles.

michal reed

Reviewed January 2015

Wet and wonderful

You can’t have all that green without rain. But once you let yourself go and make peace with being entirely wet and muddy for days, there is a wonderful sense of freedom. You won’t be cold (except for the summit day) and you will always have a clean warm room to regroup at the end of the day. I can’t imagine a better way to see the variety of eco/cultural/historical systems than cycling through Sri Lanka. Suresh and his support team create an indulgent expereince where all details are taken care of and all you have to do is eat, ride, and enjoy the culture and views.

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved the complexity of the water systems, seen from ancient times to present, throughout the country. The itinerary was fantastic. I was out of shape, exhausted from work and 24 hours of flying, and the warm-up day, the mixing up of riding and walking was perfect. The evening walk at Ella provided a stunning view.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh is a true professional; both as guide and as a Buddhist giving his all to whomever he can. He watches carefully, and anticipates his clients' needs. You only need to ask Suresh once, and he will remember and take care of your request. He is warm and playful; knowledgeable and adaptable. He pulls out the nuances of his culture providing greater depth than other providers. He provided us with local food tasting opportunities and off the beaten path temple visits. And when I knew I wouldn't be able to complete the big hill day and was thinking of taking the train, he encouraged me to give the ride a try. And after 4 1/2 hours of climbing in the cold rain I decided I'd had enough; he smoothly took care of my transition to the support bus for the rest of the way ( and 5 others joined me at the next stop.).

Advice for Potential Travellers

As others have mentioned, prepare for rain. I had brought a cheap poncho for afternoon thunderstorms, but wore it all day throughout the first week. Bad for drag, but good for ventilation. The good thing about the rain is that other than the higher elevation days, it kept the temps cooler without being cold. That being said, pack a fleece and hat for the bus in case you bail on the climb day. Cycling sandals are also a good choice so that your feet can breathe.

Nick Clark

Reviewed January 2015

Floods but no famine

A great cycling trip through the beautiful scenery of some less touristed areas of Sri Lanka. We started the trip with a whole week of very wet weather which did impact on the enjoyment of visiting some of the main cultural sites on the itinerary in that first week – and cycling very wet roads on bikes with no mudguards also challenged my love of being on two wheels! However in adversity the group bonded fast and our leader Suresh worked overtime to make sure we could make the best of the hand the weather gods had dealt us. When the rain finally stopped we were treated to some fantastic riding, scenic views and of course the warm smiles of the local population. A shame we didn’t have the good weather from the outset but all told I was still happier to be visiting Sri Lanka on a bike than on a bus. And by riding it meant I’d worked up a good appetite for the amazing buffets…!

Most Inspirational Moment

The advice given to me when early in the trip I highlighted that, during the monsoon rain, a leak in the roof of my accommodation was gently dripping onto my bed - "Move the bed sir". Simple, effective and a good reminder to put the little things in life into perspective!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh did a fantastic job. Organising everything ahead of time so that the trip ran like clockwork. Obstacles (like landslides and fallen trees) were avoided and the kettle was already at a rolling boil by the time we got to the local tea-stops along the way. The Ace up his sleeve however was to organise booze for us on Christmas Day which is an alcohol free day in Sri Lanka - Suresh knows how to keep his guests happy!

Advice for Potential Travellers

I enjoy my travel photography but my camera only made it out of the watertight safety of the support bus on a few occasions due not just to the rain but also to the hassle of carrying it whilst on the bike. If you are in to photography I would suggest you bring a watertight bar bag with you to fit onto the rental bike so you can keep your gear to hand without the need for a rucksack (too hot in the sun and too wet if you cycle through monsoon conditions). I may also be tempted to invest in a cheap waterproof camera so that I can continue clicking even when dripping!

Jill Davidson

Reviewed December 2014

Cycling in a monsoon in Sri Lanka

I did the trip in November and overall it was very good. The leader, Suresh, and his local crew are outstanding in every way. Suresh has all the skills to be a fantastic guide and the team did everything possible to make sure we had a good holiday.
I enjoyed the mix of cycling and seeing cultural sights. I gained a good understanding of the country and appreciated seeing the many World Heritage sights and breathtakingly beautiful Buddha images, especially the reclining Buddha at Polunnaruwa. The cycling was challenging but satisfying and the food was delicious.
Unfortunately we experienced 14 days of rain and some days it was pretty constant and heavy. Some local people I talked with said this was normal for November and others said it was unusual. I brought clothing expecting hot and humid weather with some rain and this turned out to be a mistake. I suggest wearing all lycra or quick dry clothing. My cotton shorts and tops were constantly wet, heavy, and filthy and were not able to dry out overnight.
This was my first trip with Exodus and I would definitely book with them again.

Most Inspirational Moment

See summary

Thoughts on Group Leader

See summar

Advice for Potential Travellers

See summary

Jackie Underwood

Reviewed November 2014

Cycling Sri Lanka

Well organised cycle tour around the none tourist areas of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately we had poor weather for 14 days and this could easily have been a wash out. However, the trip was rescued by our guide Suresh and his team, who still made the holiday enjoyable despite the conditions.

Most Inspirational Moment

Most of the evening activities organised by Suresh were inspirational.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Suresh and his team were excellent from start to finish. Everything was well planned and organised.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't take your best cycling clothes as I ended up binning several tops due to them being ruined by mud.

Reviewed November 2014

Fantastic activity holiday!

I really enjoyed the trip and though I was apprehensive about the level of cycling prior to leaving, the guides were fantastic and had planned everything out. They were always on hand and I enjoyed the variety of the cycling/terrain as well as the varied landscapes we were cycling through. Sri Lanka is a beautiful place and I thoroughly recommend it.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are a few moments that were fantastic, but mostly it was the opportunity to be able to be cycling through communities and being able to call Aybowan (the traditional greeting) to people as we rode past. Cycling also enabled us to go to local refreshment stops along our journey and I loved being a part of the culture while we were there. One of my favourite parts was going up to Sigiria Rock and seeing the breath taking views over the lush green trees beneath us.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Suresh was fantastic! Such a friendly person and never tired of asking our questions about Sri Lanka's history and culture. He was endlessly patient and very supportive. He also has a cheeky sense of humour so we had lots of laughs along the way. He was also very thoughtful and seemed to consider everything along the way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Because I went on this trip with my partner you should be under no illusions that you'll spend lots of time together as you spend most of the time as a group (apart from when you are cycling along all at your own pace) so something to be aware of depending on what holiday you're after. Other advice is to have a bag that you can easily pack and unpack as many of the places you stay in you are only in for one night. Also, the holiday has a very packed schedule so expect early starts (sometimes 6am!). Other advice is to not use a padded bike seat and padded shorts, one or the other suffices!

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