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An absolutely wonderful trip. Full of enjoyable activities and varied, excellent and interesting hotels. Would definitely recommend.
Walking up Sigiriya Rock Fortress with the very knowledgeable tour leader.
The best - well planned, knowledgeable and fun
We did all the optional activities except Adams Peak and really enjoyed them all.
A superb trip with so many varied experiences and one which although most of the major sites were visited also included chances to see day to day Sri Lanka and meet the people whose ever smiling personalties are one of the hallmarks of this beautiful country.
There were so many inspirational moments that prioritising some of them proves rather difficult. The temples, climbing to the top of Sigiriya Rock, the ancient site of Polonnaruwa, exploring Kandy, especially the ceremony in the Temple of the Tooth, but above all seeing a wild elephant emerging from the forest of the Kadulla National Park and then seeing such large numbers of elephants, many with young, on the open plains of the park. Also, seeing a leopard, all be it for only a few seconds, and the other wildlife in the Yala National Park. The whale watching was also another highlight.
Roshan has won many awards for running this trip and it is easy to see why. He was able to remain calm at all times, his instructions were always very clear and he drew the group together so that although we were all strangers at the beginning, by the end we felt we had known each other for years! His hidden talent of singing on the penultimate night will always be remembered! He was able to rearrange things at a moments notice, for example when it was obvious that doing the Horton Plains trek was not really feasible in the thick mist that we encountered at the start, he managed to still get us the train ride(well worth it), and a walk to Little Adam's Peak which was at lower altitude and so therefore meant we did get some excellent views.
Most of the general advice has been given in previous reviews but one useful extra we did was to extend our stay by 2 nights to include Colombo which wasn't on the itinerary. Roshan, however, was very helpful to us by changing our extra 2 nights in Colombo to an excellent hotel resort called the Suriya just north of Negombo and getting our transfer there to include a Colombo City Tour. A relaxing way to end a busy tour!
A superb trip with so many varied experiences and one which although most of the major sites were visited also included chances to see day to day Sri Lanka and meet the people whose ever smiling personalties are one of the hallmarks of this beautiful country.
There were so many inspirational moments that prioritising some of them proves rather difficult. The temples, climbing to the top of Sigiriya Rock, the ancient site of Polonnaruwa, exploring Kandy, especially the ceremony in the Temple of the Tooth, but above all seeing a wild elephant emerging from the forest of the Kadulla National Park and then seeing such large numbers of elephants, many with young, on the open plains of the park. Also, seeing a leopard, all be it for only a few seconds, and the other wildlife in the Yala National Park. The whale watching was also another highlight.
Roshan has won many awards for running this trip and it is easy to see why. He was able to remain calm at all times, his instructions were always very clear and he drew the group together so that although we were all strangers at the beginning, by the end we felt we had known each other for years! His hidden talent of singing on the penultimate night will always be remembered! He was able to rearrange things at a moments notice, for example when it was obvious that doing the Horton Plains trek was not really feasible in the thick mist that we encountered at the start, he managed to still get us the train ride(well worth it), and a walk to Little Adam's Peak which was at lower altitude and so therefore meant we did get some excellent views.
Most of the general advice has been given in previous reviews but one useful extra we did was to extend our stay by 2 nights to include Colombo which wasn't on the itinerary. Roshan, however, was very helpful to us by changing our extra 2 nights in Colombo to an excellent hotel resort called the Suriya just north of Negombo and getting our transfer there to include a Colombo City Tour. A relaxing way to end a busy tour!
We have just returned from our first trip with Exodus and must say we were very impressed with all aspects of the holiday. The administration and trip documentation were top class. The tour leader was brilliant….nothing seemed to faze him and he organised day-to-day activities superbly. The coach driver and his helper were also excellent and the tour coach was first class. The itinerary was comprehensive, with a nice blend of iconic and historical sites, cultural and physical activities, and nicely varied transport and accommodation.
We loved the white water rafting and cycle ride through the villages.
As I said before, he was brilliant! His smiley face and warm and friendly personality will live long in the memory.
Bring your own re-usable water bottle to reduce the plastic waste from single-use bottles.
If you want the see some of the main essential sites of Sri Lanka in a week this is the tour for you. It is not too full on compared with some other Exodus trips and you do have time to take in the beauty of some of the wonderful places you see and stay.
The mornings cycle ride was great fun as was the lunch we had with a local family, the Sri Lankan’s are such friendly people. The elephant safari was just amazing, highlighted by seeing a week old baby elephant. Also a personal achievement and highlight for me was getting to the top of the Sigiria Rock, I don’t do heights and the stairs around the side were quite an experience - but I made it! The views were breathtaking.
Dileepa our tour leader was just brilliant. He was funny, very informative and obviously loved his country. Dileepa always made sure everyone had everything they needed and went out of his way to achieve this. We could not of asked for a better tour leader.
Just go, having travelled to India last year and Cambodia/Vietnam the year before this would of been a good place to start as not so much of a cultural shock. The Sri Lankan’s are such friendly people and it is a beautiful county.
This was a wonderful trip, full of colour and variety. We travelled all over the country and saw so many interesting places and had fantastic experiences, but also had time to relax along the way. The tour leaders in Sri Lanka were the winning leader team in the Exodus leader awards in 2016 and I can see why.
I enjoyed all of it! However I particularly liked the Polonnaruwa ruins and loved our visit to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. The countryside was so colourful and lush, and we saw lots of animals and birds even outwith the parks. To my surprise I also enjoyed the white water rafting which I had never done before.
Sujan Weerakoon was an excellent tour leader. He knows the country inside out and was a mine of interesting information but delivered in small digestible chunks. He was very well organised and gave us lot of helpful advice re what to take/wear/expect each day. Everything was taken care of for us and we were able to relax. He was friendly with everyone and had a good sense of humour. He judged the mood of the group well and on one memorable occasion was able to conjure up tea and chocolate cake just when we were all running out of energy.
Do take up the offer of the leader to organise the tipping kitty. Everyone expects a tip in Sri Lanka and it would have been a complete nightmare to manage this ourselves. Sujan did this for us and kept meticulous records and it smoothed our path through the country. Many of the activities are optional and opting out does not cause a problem. I did not do the cycling and was able to follow the group in the support vehicle.
What a fantastic trip! Travelled with my new wife on our Honeymoon and although I had high hopes of Sri Lanka the tour went far beyond our expectations.
A guided tour of 16 with a real mixture of people we visited many sights and places and overall was a very well balanced trip that comprised of history, culture, tradition and a bit of R&R. The tour allows you to experience the different provinces of Sri Lanka that provides its unique vibe.
So many to choose from. Seeing wild elephants on the roadside and a leopard on the safari to watching the sunset over the plains at Giritale. The bike ride was great fun where we were greeted with wide smiles by the village children. Every day was memorable.
I cannot speak highly enough of Sujan, our group leader. Friendly, knowledgeable, funny and very professional. He made everyday run like clockwork. An example of this was that he told us exactly where to stand within the Temple of the Tooth. When the ceremony began we had perfect location. Further, he appeared to be on very good terms with all staff at every hotel and excursion personnel which helped to create a friendly atmosphere. Sujan also went the extra mile for us both knowing it was our Honeymoon and managed the tipping process perfectly. Absolute asset to Exodus and his country.
Definitely remember a jumper AND raincoat. Can get chilly when in altitude and weather in the tea plains is just like Britain. Comfy walking shoes also a necessity. A towel for the rafting also otherwise an uncomfortable trip in the bus back to the hotel.
A wonderfully varied trip. We did so much. I’ll try not to repeat what Karen said but will add a few thoughts.
The Sri Lanka we saw was surprisingly diverse. We went from low, hot and humid, by the Indian ocean near Colombo, up into the beautiful hill country, with its expanses of tea plantations, then down to the semi arid coast in the south. A great start was meeting the group. They were all positive, punctual and friendly. We laughed a lot.
I loved the food. So much choice! Buffets offered salads, curries, fruit and more for around £6. I didn’t feel the need that some felt for sandwiches and chips instead. I’m not vegetarian but found the veggie choices in the buffets to be the best options. We had great “village meals” on two occasions, plus the opportunity to try mannioc and drink tea from coconut shells.
It's tricky to choose from so many. If it has to be a moment, perhaps I'll choose diving into an empty pool at 7am at the lovely Mandala Rosen in Kataragama. Music played underwater, then I came up to the quiet of birdsong as blossom floated down from the trees. More widely, it was the gentle smiling people and the beautiful countryside, especially in the hills.
Neelaka is a Sri Lankan gem. He looked after us with his unfailing cheerful calm. He must have been paddling hard beneath the surface to keep everything running so smoothly. At every hotel we were greeted with a cool cloth and a drink, while our cases were whisked away to our rooms. An absolute godsend was his dealing with tips and small payments. Without this we'd have been burdened continuously, as everyone needs tipping! We loved his little extra treats which included introducing us to fruit and veg we'd never heard of, let alone tasted. He guided us to interesting restaurants, took us to special places when we expressed interest and told us about local culture and behaviour, as well as describing in detail the places we visited. We learned about puberty rituals, which prepared us for the ceremony we saw scheduled in our last hotel, plus the surprising dependence of Sri Lankans on astrologers.
Activities are optional. As the group slow coach, I didn't complete the Lion Rock climb. I went part way and then waited and watched as the stream of visitors climbed the uneven steps. I also didn't complete the Horton Plains walk in torrential rain. (NB - make sure you have a good waterproof. Some didn't. Sri Lankan rain is serious!) If you have to stay at the Hill Club, don't eat there. Go next door to the Grand. If you do have to eat there, definitely avoid the set meal. Don't buy spices at the spice place if you want a good price. A sarong or similar could be very useful in many ways. You can buy one out there. Cash can be changed in many places, with your guide's local knowledge. Check hotel bills are in rupees, not £s or you'll be paying a hotel's exchange rate instead of the bank's.
This was an amazing trip, well organised the right amount of activities and free days. Sri Lanka is a truly beautiful country and the people are very hospitable and very friendly. On this tour you get to see and do so much looking back on our 15 days don’t know how we managed to fit it all in. on the whole the hotels are of a very good standard, you do get a bit tired with them mostly serving buffet meals but they are of good quality this and plentiful. There is generally an Al a Carte menu but don’t worry not like the over priced ones in the U.K just standard food and price .
This was such a good trip to many to pick just one , one of my highlights was getting to the top of lions rock by 9 am in the morning and seeing that view, breath-taking. The elephant safari was very crowded too many jeeps but did see some magnificent elephants, even better when we got to our hotel (The Lake) we saw the elephants in the distance coming down to the water for and evening drink totally on their own while we were laying by the pool what a sight!! The bike ride and lunch that followed again such a lovely day, white water rafting is a must, great fun. The temples and history was fascinating. The traditional games we played on one of the days was great fun, we were a group of 16 mixed ages from 17 to 70from solo travellers to 1 family of 4 we just hit it off from day one and were like one big family.
Our leader Neelaka was fantastic, nothing was too much trouble, everything was explained to us about the history, temples, best way to see things, he new exactly were and when we had to be somewhere to get the best view, experience on each day, this did mean a few early starts but well worth it, his knowledge and passion for his country showed in everything he did. One of the group had a birthday which none of us new about, Neelaka organised a card for us all to sign. decorated the bus with balloons and streamers and arranged a cake for our meal that evening what a special day. He stopped off on the side of the road to show us things, brought fruits for us to try, corn on the cobs, drink queen coconut milk and stopped off to see a family who produce more things from a coconut than you would ever think possible, non of this was on the itinerary .
Just go and see this beautiful country for your selves before it gets ruined by tourism. Be prepared for many changes in temperature and weather we went from 33 degrees to 14 and back to 36 degrees sun and rain, and make the most of every day.
If you want a truly diverse trip with a range of cultural and wildlfe experiences which gets you under the skin of the country then this could be the trip for you! We went with an open mind and some expectations, but they were suppassed. You get to see some beautiful architecture and scenery, enjoy the diverse flora and wildlife (yes wild elephants are amazing!), meet friendly locals and enjoy fantastic food. I have travelled to a number of different countries and as a vegetarian have often struggled with the choice of food, but not in Sri Lanka. We were helped at every turn by our amazing guide, Sujan, so we could sit back and enjoy every bit of the experience!
Standing on the top of the rock at Sigiriya and appreciating the ambition and achievements of the people that had built it and the surrounding buildings so long ago. On the jeep safari looking at my watch and realising that we had been out for more than 3 hours and I hadn't realised that the time could pass so quickly.
Sujan was amazing, professional, friendly - all round super star!