Sri Lankan Highlights

Our Clients’ Reviews

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. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

1 | 2

• 

  Elizabeth Webster

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written January 2012

  A very enjoyable week which enabled you to experience a variety of cultural and social aspects of Sri Lankan life. 

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Climbing to the summit of the Lion Rock was exciting. The views from the top were amazing.

  The day of cycling was really good fun and helped you to get up close and personal to the landscape.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Sampath was an excellent group leader and was always in tune with the feelings and needs of the group. He was able to share his passion for his country with us and gave a measured and balanced account of the political situation. He was able to answer the obscurest questions about fauna and flora. Personally, he sorted out some problems we encountered relating to individual arrangements we had made. He was very well organised and inspired confidence.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  You need to be aware it is primarily a sight-seeing trip.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  We arrived prior to the main group and Exodus had booked the hotel for the previous night and arranged transport from the airport. However, there was no-one waiting for us at the airport and when we eventually arrived at the hotel they refused to accept the Exodus voucher and insisted we paid again for the room. At the end of the week our tour leader sorted it out and we got our money back.

  It's a shame that at least one night wasn't based in a hotel in Colombo.

   
• 

  Jamie May

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written December 2011

  A short trip around central Sri Lanka which amazingly packs in the highlights without being too rushed. 

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Bike riding around local villages with a buffet lunch in the middle of knowhere!
  Elephant riding on Christmas day!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The tour leader I feel really made this holiday. He was knowledgeable, passionate about his country, relaxed and flexible without compromising on anything. Nice little touches like stopping at the roadside to buy some fruit. local foods or just to show us something made this trip very memorable.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  This is a short trip but there is some down time if you want it, the journeys (contrary to some people'e reviews) are NOT long and there are always plenty of stops and breaks on the way. The flight back from Sri Lanka is 12 hours which is a long time so either extending a week's holiday in Sri lanka or stopping off in the Maldives would be really worth while.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  In summary, a really nice trip that actually exceeded my expectations. The tour leader really has got this trip down to a T and manages to make it fun, informative and relaxed.

   
• 

  andrea griffiths

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written October 2011

  I was rather dissapointed by this trip.It was more of a bus trip that I would expect to go on when Im a OAP. It was very much drive to a place have a very very short period of time there and drive to the hotel for the night. We spent 90% of our time on the bus.All but one night we ate at the hotel with the coach loads and I mean coach loads of other tourists. Most of the visits we seemed to do as fast as possible. We did the temple of the tooth in about 10 mins! We did a round trip of 5 hours for a 45min stop at a tea planation! We marched up the Lions rock and had a very quick march around the top and back to the bus. The elepahnt orphanage was done in an hour and a half including lunch .The hotels that we stayed at were very nice. However staying in the hotel all eveing with loads of ohter tourists is not how I want to experiance a country.  

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The extra trip to see the Elephants in the wild. We were lucky to see big herds however we were told the group before had only seen 2 elephants in the distance.

  Also the extra visit to the tea plantation was beautiful although this ment another round trip of 5 hours all for 45min tour! 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Sampath and the drivers were good apart from doing everything at the speed of light. He always wanted to get us back to the hotel for 5pm which to me was not neccesary as the hotels are in the middle of no where. I would have liked extra time at the places we visted.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If you are looking for sun don't go in October. We had less than an hour of blue sky for the whole week . It rainned every day. A trip to Sri lanka without seeing a tea planation and the  beaches is a waste of time. There are much better tours out there than this one. 

   
• 

  Julie Morgan

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written April 2011

  Sri Lanka is a great country to travel in - very friendly people, good food, great wildlife and interesting culture.  There is something for everyone and this trip packs quite a lot into a short space of time. 

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  We really enjoyed the bike ride (even though I hadn't ridden for 10yrs+!) - cycling at a manageable pace past lovely river & lake scenery, small villages with lots of friendly children and seeing many different birds & a large monitor lizard along the way.  I also really enjoyed the visit to a tea plantation - not in the itinerary but an extra opportunity that our guide offered us; I'd recommend it if you get a chance to go.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Subash was very friendly and approachable.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If you are at all interested in wildlife, consider taking a Sri Lanka bird/wildlife book with you - it also adds an extra dimension to the days that involve more driving - spotting birds along the way.  Also watch out for the bats on the electricity wires by the sides of the road - you'll know what I mean when you see them!  I'd highly recommend adding on a few days at the end of your trip if you can, for a bit of relaxation.  The trip is a busy one and we really enjoyed our few days on the Southern coast afterwards (particularly because we managed to see blue whales whilst there).  Oh - and don't forget to try an arrack cocktail!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Sri Lanka is a good place to buy souvenirs/gifts - make sure you save some space in your luggage. 

   
• 

  Philippa Harrison

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written April 2011

  Fabulous trip - my head is still buzzing with the number of things we saw, places we visited, people we met and people we spoke to.  Far exceeded my expectations. 

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  So many - the bike ride was fantastic - we went through beautiful lanes following a river and looking out over paddy fields, saw some mad lizards, and learnt how coconut milk is made (had no idea!).  We were all in need of some exercise as well after some jetlag and sitting on a bus.

  We organised with Subesh's very kind help a trip to the tea plantations which was stunning - the trip alone was breath taking then it was excellent fun to learn about then drink tea in the very English tea room/factory.

  The elephants - on safari, the ride and the orphanage were fantastic - this was a very special thing to be able to do.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our leader Subesh was a rockstar - he was not an experienced guide and, at times, needed a bit of prompting on what the group required (when's the next loo break, how long's the next trip etc) but once I pointed this out to him, he quickly sorted this out.  He was very kind to the group, and by the end of the week I think most of us were very fond of him.  His knowledge of history, culture, animals etc was fantastic and was deliverd in an interesting way.  He also did things such as stop to buy red bananas - very Sri Lankan but none of has had that before.  Subesh was a little reticent to eat with us at first - he sat a couple of seats away but we encouraged him to sit with us.  He was good at getting us from place to place on time.  I hope, with experience, he will learn more about us foreigners!  and hopefully to not take criticism - 1 (rude) person had quite a go at him and he was quite upset, and another (equally rude) person criticised his English (which was absolutely fine) which I think he found difficult.  Really good guide overall.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  A couple of domestics - For ladies - take tampons, very difficult to find and when you can they're non-applicator.  You don't need loo roll (as you do in Cuba) - as all toilets have this.  If you're travelling on after the tour, take a torch.

  If you're not sure about Sri Lanka, go on this tour anyway - so much to see, the people are fantastic and the food was really good.  I had thought it would be like India but found it much more chilled out and great food (and no-one got sick).

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  We didn't really get very much free time or time for shopping. On the last day we were taken to a department store (Odel) to do shopping but no-one was interested in this and would have much preferred to go to a market to buy handicrafts.   I would also recommend staying on in Sri Lanka after the tour if you can.

   
• 

  Shirley Morgan-Knott

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written April 2011

  We did enjoy the trip....we saw a lot of interesting cultural sights, the people/guide/fellow travellers were great and we do have lots of good memories etc.  However, on the downside, we were always either on the tour bus or in tourist restaurants, tourist hotels, eating at the hotel buffet as a group practically every evening (usually one of many similar groups) - it sometimes felt like a Saga/Kuoni type tour that my mum (who is 77) would go on, rather than the more adventurous Exodus style trip that we were anticipating.  Whether this is because Sri Lanka does not have the infrastructure to cope with larger groups of independent travellers - or perhaps is not considered safe enough to allow tourists to explore independently - I am not sure, but it made for a rather regimented trip sometimes.  There may be handicraft shopping opportunities in Sri Lanka - but we had literally zero time to stop and look....apart from the rather miserable western-style Odel shopping mall in Colombo on our last evening.     

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  By far the most interesting/inspiring/authentic moment (not to mention the tastiest lunch) was the cycling trip to the local village.....more of this type of experience (in preference to the gemstone showroom, or the sari shop, for example) would really enhance the trip in my opinion.. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Subash was great - responsive, kind, good company, knowledgeable.....perhaps he didn't realise however, that many people who go on an Exodus tour are quite well travelled and would appreciate a bit more independence and the opportunity to experience local culture/flavours a bit more. 

  Having said this, perhaps others on the trip enjoyed the higher level of protectiveness that was offered. 

   
• 

  Jonathan Stanton

  SRI LANKAN HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written February 2011

  An excellent short trip that covers a lot in seven days.  This trip gives a mix of history, culture, wildlife and local interaction - just what you would hope for from an Exodus trip. 

  Read full review

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The cycle ride though the local villages was not something that stood out on the itiniary, but it was an unexpected treat.  The cycling was very easy, and took us through beautiful countryside and past an eclectic mix of rural dwellings.  Stopping for a drinks break of coconut water, freshly chopped down before our eyes, was just the ticket to keep up going.  And a spicy lunch in a villagers garden topped off the morning.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Sampath was an excellent group leader and was a key part of making the trip a success.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage was something we were really looking forward to, but we felt it was disappointing for two reasons.  Firstly, it has become far too successful so there are too many people crowded around the elephants at feeding time.  Secondly the way some of the elephants are tied down with chains is simply wrong.  Both these issues are causing distress to the animals we went to watch.  The chance to see so many elephants going down to the river is an experience I will never forget, but was offset by the knowledge of how some of the elephants are being treated.  I would urge Exodus to consider an alternative attraction more in keeping with it's ethical tourism policies.

   

1 | 2