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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232 Reviews

4.7 out of 5

Vivienne Hodgins

Reviewed February 2017

Another good Exodus holiday

We really enjoyed our recent trip to Sri Lanka. This was our fifth Exodus holiday and did not disappoint. However, the weather was really bad for the first 8 days. This is not usual but it was a shame. We still enjoyed the activities and when the sun did finally appear, we really appreciated it. The trip is varied …some enjoyable walks, interesting scenery, fantastic wildlife and lovely people both on the trip and in Sri Lanka generally. The local people are very friendly and we always felt safe wandering about in the towns. The standard of accommodation was very good..some were excellent.

Most Inspirational Moment

We enjoyed the walk in Horton plains followed by great street food at a local cafe and then a train ride on a very packed local train with great views of the countryside. Galle was a very interesting town based on an old Dutch fort. Whale watching was fantastic. Staying at the Hill club hotel in Nuwara Eliya was fun. They bring hot water bottles to your room! The climb up Lion's rock was a highlight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan is very experienced. He has led this trip over 200 times so knows the route well. He organised everything very efficiently and gave us plenty of useful information as we went along. The driver Garmini and his mate Nisha were very good too. The driver made us feel safe at all times. He was amazing in some situations! They were a good team . Nisha was on hand with the umbrellas when it rained.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a waterproof! You need good trainers but not walking boots. You don't need to take formal clothes for the Hill club....men can borrow jackets and ties. Change money at the airport...about £200 per person and then you can get more if you need it in Kandy. The food is very good....lots of rice and curry but there is great variety. Plugs vary...take an adapter but some hotels have UK sockets. Take swimming costumes..several hotels have pools. No need for towels. Take a hairdryer....most hotels provide one but not all. Binoculars would be useful..lots of colourful birds.

Sally Hughes

Reviewed October 2016

Discover Sri Lanka

This was my first exodus holiday and I am already searching for my next. We safely explored Sri Lanka well looked after in our mini bus by our tour leader, driver and his helper. It was a busy and varied tour and really gave us a taste of the island. We travelled by bus, boat, train, tuk tuk, bike and foot, saw temples, wildlife, tea, cities, gems, you name it, I want to go back again already!

Most Inspirational Moment

The optional Safari in Minneryia to see the elephants was incredible, I never expected to see so many in one place and so close, yes there were a lot of other jeeps, but what a sight. It is hard to pick just one moment though, the combination of the activities was what made the whole experience great..... The bike ride to the village lunch, white water rafting, temples, Lions rock, the walk on Horton's plains, safari at Yala national park, the Jungle walk, the scenery....I could go on and on...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Sujan was very organised and ensured everything ran smoothly and like clockwork with his very accurate timings, toilet and drink/snack stops were all factored in to the journeys. He dealt with us all with a good sense of humour and was very knowledgeable on wildlife, flora, fauna and the country as a whole. He managed the kitty on our behalf, dealing with all the tipping so we didn't have to think about any of that and we benefitted from local treats such as fruit, ice cream and chocolate cake! He always made sure a table was booked for dinner, that we placed our meal orders in advance so there was no delay in us eating together and regular checked with the staff to make sure we all got our food. He also taught us a new word every day which we enjoyed learning.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't forget to pack some emergency toilet paper, two of us in the group had Andrex puppies on a roll and it was shared by all. Change most of the cash you think you will need at the airport, I was able to use the ATM's no problem in other places, but some of the group couldn't get any money from them and banking could take quite a long time, you can always pay the hotel bills on credit card with no problems. Take a Universal plug adapter (it was invaluable), every hotel room had different sockets and it was always fun playing hunt the suitable plug hole. Take a good a camera, you don't want to miss those fab shots and it was useful just to see the wildlife close up if you don't want to take a pair of binoculars as well. Take an umbrella, good in sun and rain, you don't always feel like wearing a sticky pac a mac in the heat. Remember that you are moving hotel almost every night, so you don't really want to unpack everything every night and pack to suit. You can get laundry done really quickly at the hotels you are in for more than one night but be prepared you may want to hand wash a few things. Oh and definitely take a torch and carry it with you after dark, there are quite a few power cuts in all the hotels, they never last long and are nothing to worry about, but they usually happen when you are on the stairs, in the bathroom or some other awkward place. We all enjoyed dressing up for dinner at the Hill Club, so don't forget to take one nicer item of clothing for that.

Patricia Savage

Reviewed September 2016

Discover Sri Lanka

What an amazing experience from beginning to end and would recommend this to anyone wanting a well structured, well organised and extraordinarily interesting holiday. Hundreds of miles and lots of activities ranging from the cultural to the natural and all handled in the most professional way. Although it would take a long time to understand another country in depth, I got a sense of the way Sril Lanka ticks by the environment, the variety and the information provided by the tour leader.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many things to say - a bicycle ride through the countryside to small farming villages, visits to Buddhist and Hindu temples, Lions Rock

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent leader who put so much effort into ensuring everything went smoothly and who was fun and engaging at the same time as sharing his extensive knowledge of the history, geography, wildlife and culture of the country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a camera and open eyes!

Maria Rainone

Reviewed August 2016

Discover Sri Lanka

Overall the tour was excellent. We had a beautiful group and the best tour leader I have had in over 20+ years of small group adventure touring. Roshan was exceptional and a credit to Exodus. He is a keeper and never let him go. All his explanations gave you enough information without bombarding you with facts and figures than can easily be forgotten. He was patient and kind and you could tell that he LOVED to share his knowledge of a country that he loves and is passionate about. So professional and a great communicator. Thank you sooo much Roshan, you made our trip so memorable.

Most Inspirational Moment

The elephant safari in Minnierya was just fantastic. To many on our trip, this was the first time they had seen elephants in the wild and we saw huge herds and family groups with so many babies...a special wildlife experience. The sighting of 2 leopard at Yala was equally as amazing BUT overall the people of Sri Lanka and the feeling of being safe and welcome in this delightful country are what stands out the most. An example was on a jam packed train, I was standing in the aisle with my husband and a lady sitting with her family, made some room by squeezing closer to the window with her daughter and offered me a space beside her. Just lovely.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Roshan was exceptional. I cannot speak more highly of him. From the initial meeting on day 1 - we knew we had someone special. Every day he would brief us on the day ahead so that we could plan and be on time. His commentary gave you enough information to understand what you were seeing and his insights into local customs, politics, history and culture bought the destination to life. He took care of all the tipping which would have made us all anxious and he always had us at the right place at the right time. We had to leave the tour a day early due to my father passing away and Roshan was so helpful and kind. Thank you so much Roshan.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Change the majority of your money - whether it be USD, GBP or AUD at the airport. ATM's do work but can be hit and miss. If you do want an ATM - use one recommended by your tour leader. Sri Lanka is more expensive than other Asian countries so do take more money with you. Credit cards are widely accepted so can be used for hotel bills and all major purchases.

Janet Whyte

Reviewed May 2016

Discover Sri Lanka : 16 April to 1st May

One of the best holidays I’ve taken. Everything went smoothly and this was in no small part due to our amazing leader Suresh, more of whom later. With it’s great variety of destinations and activities you really feel that you get to see and appreciate the country without the travelling being too onerous. The coach was very comfortable with plenty of space for everyone, the driver brilliant, and we generally arrived at each hotel with enough time to relax and enjoy the facilities.

Most Inspirational Moment

One of the things that appealed to me about this trip was the variety of things to see and do, from temples to tea plantations, cycle rides to river rafting, elephants to bee-eaters. It did not disappoint and I simply cannot pick a highlight as I loved it all. Every day was a completely new experience and the holiday seemed to last a lot longer than 2 weeks!

Thoughts on Group Leader

I cannot praise Suresh highly enough. One of the first things he said to us was that, for the next 2 weeks, he was here for us 24/7 and he was true to his word. Nothing was too much trouble for him but it wasn't just that, he went that extra mile to find out what you liked and were hoping to see/do and then, using his charm and many contacts, trying to make it happen. He even managed to get some stilt fishermen on their stilts even though it was out of season for them!! He never sat down to eat until he was sure that we were all happy. The local food is delicious but spicy and not everyone could eat it but he made sure there was always an alternative. He often organised discounts in the hotels and did wonders with the kitty. The best meals we had were when Suresh took us out from the hotels - one time to have the local specialties of egg hoppers and roti, a banquet for 400 rupees (£2!!). Another example of Suresh's enthusiasm for his job and his clients was for one of our friends on the trip who had a birthday whilst we were there and who, above anything else, wanted to see a leopard. The safari was the day before her birthday, we set out at 2.15 and by 5.30 with dusk falling and the park due to close, we still hadn't seen a leopard - to be truthful the chances are very slim but Suresh had clearly told the guide in our jeep to do his best so we kept going and low and behold, just as our guide pointed to his watch and set off back, we turned a corner and there was a leopard in the middle of the road. Great celebrations that evening but the next day our friend woke to find balloons outside her bedroom door, the bus full of balloons and her hotel room that evening decorated with petals and towels turned into elephants - plus a birthday cake. A very special day thanks to Suresh.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A few practical comments: Most but not every hotel provide a hairdryer. (Yes, I'm female!!). Most but not every hotel had at least one UK style plug socket. Sri Lankan plugs have 3 round pins, one large and 2 the same size as European plugs so it is possible to use those but we bought an adaptor at the airport (Dixon's was the cheapest!) and I was pleased to have it. You do not need to take all your money in cash. Most of the hotels allowed you to pay by credit card. There are banks and ATM's but not before Kandy and they didn't always have any money!! We all changed money at the airport which was quick and easy. The first hotel turned out to have a slightly better rate but that would only make a difference if you were changing a large quantity of money which you shouldn't really need. Prices for food and drink varied significantly between hotels. A 625ml bottle of Lion Lager cost under 500 rupees (£2.50) at the first hotel and 900 at the second so check or you may get a shock when you receive your bill!

Cherrill Bates

Reviewed March 2016

Discover Sri Lanka 20 Feb- 8 Mar

A fascinating introduction to this beautiful country

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was cheerful, knowledgeable, and looked after the whole group very well. He also has a great voice!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Useful to take walking boots and poles

Julie Wootton

Reviewed March 2016

Wonderful and varied trip to Sri Lanka

We really enjoyed this trip which was well thought out and very varied. The hotels were generally of a good standard and some of them were positively luxurious. Most had pools which we enjoyed using. The guide and drivers were excellent and we had a big coach for 16 people so we were able to spread out when travelling. We saw an awful lot of different things but still had some free days and afternoons to relax or do our own thing.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were lots of these: seeing elephants in the wild, cycling between villages looking at the wildlife and visiting 2 families for snacks and meals, visiting Dambulla cave temple, trying all the delicious Sri Lankan food, meeting friendly Sri Lankan children and adults, dining in the formal restaurant at the Hill Club, walking on Horton Plains...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ruwan was excellent. He was very attentive to individual needs whilst being extremely well organised and ensuring that the trip ran smoothly. He was also very knowledgeable and able to tell us things in an easy to understand way.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a guide book to enable you to make the most of the free time available.

James Ellis

Reviewed March 2016

Discover Sri Lanka

I had an amazing time on this trip. It was a very varied itinerary with a good combination of temples/ruins, wildlife, walking and city /town exploring.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many highlights it is difficult to say - whether watching the sunrise from Adams Peak, looking out over World's End or seeing the Temple of the Tooth, it was all inspirational!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was an excellent guide. As well as giving us interesting insights into the country and his own personal beliefs and experiences, he took the time out to help me explore my own family background (I have ancestors who grew up in Sri Lanka).

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do the Adams Peak climb if you can - the sunrise is spectacular. Although, be prepared for a busy climb - there must have been thousands of people all trying to get to the top at the same time. The Exodus Maldives extension was lovely so I'd recommend that too as a very relaxing way to finish the holiday.

Roger Smith

Reviewed March 2016

Thoroughly Enjoyable Holiday!

A well thought through trip agenda that gave us a great chance to see a wide variety of aspects of Sri Lankan life and culture. This covered wildlife, temples, tea plantations, city and village life, with several opportunities to meet Sri Lankan families. The trip was well supported by our tour leader and his team.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our group gelled together without exception, climbing Lion Rock was probably the highlight, although there were many other fascinating aspects to the holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group Leader Sam was a charismatic leader for whom nothing was too much trouble. He gave us fascinating insights into Sri Lankan history, religion, with a very strong grasp of the flora and fauna of his island, for which he clearly loved.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a variety of conditions and activities and take appropriate clothing and footwear, some of the activities will require a comfortable set of walking shoes, yet others sandals. Also take both shorts, something for the evening and be prepared to cover-up when visiting temples.

Janet Rook

Reviewed February 2016

Discover Sri Lanka Holiday

This holiday surpassed our expectations. The country has varied terrain and its wildlife, especially the bird life is spectacular.

Most Inspirational Moment

A bike ride though villages where we observed what everyday life means for of Sri Lankans e.g. Planting and harvesting rice and coconuts, washing and bathing in local rivers, cooking over wood fires, school children dressed in their pristine white uniforms walking home from school. All along the route darted a wide range of colourful butterflies and birds.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Sujee was exceptionally well informed and we were particularly impressed by his commitment to responsible tourism and his desire to directly impact local economies. He showed the greatest care for our group and all his actions were underpinned by a great sense of humour.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We didn't take anti malarials as the risk seems very low but instead used DEET type products. Our guide advised us about the safety of food. Some street food is cooked in oil that has been reused too often and salad may have been washed in unclean water. For ladies a light pashmina is very useful for covering up at holy places.

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