Cycle The Backroads of Sri Lanka

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...

Average Review Rating: from 47 reviews.

Sidney Khadhouri

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written April 2013
A fascinating, beautiful, inspiring and perspiring! cycle tour. The tour is thoughtfully planned, the hotels are great, providing a variety of scenery and terrain,with excellent and comforting support when needed. Not a moment wasted yet wonderfully paced so that relaxation and fun are an essential part as well as being part of the joyous "cycle train"!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The cycling! Whether cycling through nature reserves, around an old palace ruins site, on the levee of a reservoir, above the lush palm tree laden rainforests, by paddy fields, by tea plantations and spice trees, whether on small roads or pathways or through towns, whether zooming down winding mountainous roads GO!GO!GO! or pushing hard up hills the other side, and all the time with the wonderful Sri Lankan people waving and children smiling shouting their greetings. Every single day contained many moments of inspiration as well as moments of perspiration.
What did you think of your group leader?
Suresh is a great credit to Exodus. We did not have to worry about a thing, just enjoy the rich variety of wonderful experiences. He organised and managed every aspect of our tour in an efficent and unfussy way and always with a big heart, a huge smile and a hilarious giggle! As well as our tour leader I feel honoured to call Suresh my friend. The support team of Uppali, Kussun and Shameron were superb and always there to support us, nourish us,water us and pick us up if the going got too hot.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
YOU MUST DO THIS TRIP WITH EXODUS AND SURESH! Ensure that you are fit and prepared to cycle 4-7 hours a day. Make sure you have some pocketable energy foods, a gel saddle, padded shorts, gloves and a cycle helmet. I had a ski helmet which was fine for the UK but far too hot for comfort in the warmth of Sri Lanka. Drink lots of water. Enjoy the scenery and people and make sure you look around you. Most of all, just go with the flow, make sure you get to know everybody, and have lots of fun. Its probably better to do this trip before March / April as it warms up by 5-6 degrees more by then.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is truly a magnificent trip, well organised and seamlessly run. The tour leader Suresh and his team - Uppali, Kussun and Shameron - were simply wonderful. This is a trip that runs through the very heart of Sri Lanka in so many ways, from the beautiful lush countryside to its warm hearted and generous people. An unforgettable time!
Sue Goddard

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written March 2013
A challenging adventure in an amazing country with a great group of travelling companions which surpassed all my expectations.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Reaching the top of the mountain at Nuwara Eliya after 10 hours on the road and a climb up tp 2000 m. (And I thought I might do the easy option and take the train!)
What did you think of your group leader?
Brilliant - Suresh was an exceptional leader. He couldn't have tried harder to ensure everyone was happy.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't hesitate - book the trip now. The country is beautiful and the people exceptionally friendly and welcoming. You will not be disappointed. But this is no gentle, Sunday-afternoon bike ride - it is serious stuff and you need to be pretty fit to complete the 700 km in 10 days. (The support vehicle is always there if you really need it, but you really don't want to miss any of the amazing routes we cycled through.)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The majority of the hotels/guest houses used were very good (some excellent). There were a couple which I hope Exodus will take note that are not really satisfactory.
Annie McDonnell

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written March 2013
We found the friendliest people and beautiful scenery on every backroad of Sri Lanka. Enough Km's to work up an appetite for the fragrant Sri Lankan cuisine and a wonderfully relaxed and flexible itinerary guided by our fearless leader Suresh! Cooler and safer on your deadly-treadly!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Whilst fixing flat tyres at a drinks break in a tiny little town on a road to nowhere, one guy in the exodus group started kicking a softdrink bottle around with some school kids in the middle of the road - lots of laughs and fun for everyone. Just proves you don't need much to have a bit of fun!
What did you think of your group leader?
Great. Knowledgable, friendly, relaxed, flexible, thoughtful, accomodating.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't hesitate to visit Sri Lanka.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I should have been more thoughtful before I left home but would have liked a prompt to bring things of mine that I could give to some less fortunate people in Sri Lanka.
Jayne Phelan

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written March 2013
Fun, educational, inspiring and beautiful.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
1. Reaching the top of the hill in the tea plantation because I never ever thought I would be capable of doing anything like that.
2. The naughty monkeys, perhaps not inspirational but certainly frightening because they were so human. I never thought I'd get that close to nature!
3. The people. Suresh and the support team were fantastic and were open to our questions. Everyone would wave as we cycled past and some even thought we were racing! We may have looked the part but that was as afar as it went.
4. The moments of quiet contemplation at Lion Rock or at the cave monastery when looking at Buddha.
What did you think of your group leader?
I thought Suresh was the best tour leader I have ever had! He couldn't do enough for us. Our welfare was always at the top of his agenda. I think it was him that really made the trip for me. He was highly organised and had us organised but you didn't feel like you were being organised at all! I could just relax and enjoy the holiday knowing that everything was in hand. He was good because he was friendly, personable, responsible and fun. He was also very patient with us as many people would ask the same questions as they wouldn't always listen. He taught us a lot about the history, the people and even the wildlife of the country. If every tour leader was like him I would book all my holidays with Exodus.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
theonly thing I would advise is that if you are keen to cycle the full distance, whcih I fully recommend, then do make sure you are quite fit. I would class this a little more than moderately challenging if the individual is not accustomed to regular exercise.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go to Sri Lanka. It is a bountiful country. There is so much to see and do. The people are friendly and there is just so much wildlife and greeenery. Beautiful. The cycling route was great as you saw so much up close. I will certainly recommend this to people.
Shannon Berdal

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written March 2013
Are great way to experience the country and its people. The food was awesome, i think i ate my own body weight in in delicious Sri Lankan curries. Many of my Sri Lankan friends back home have said i've seen more of their country than they have. Some days the cycling was tough but you dont feel rushed to get there and you can take your time. If it ever gets too much you can jump on the bus for a while.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
cycling through beautiful scenery villages and small towns where the children run up to wave as you cycle past
whenevery a Sri Lankan person asked you where you had come from or where you were cycling to they would always lose it laughing, they all thought we were mad to be cycling!
What did you think of your group leader?
Suresh is amazing, friendly, so helpful and even when you know he has been asked the same question about a billion times stills answers it like it was the first time. Suresh had so much knowledge about his country and its history. A trip to Sri Lanka would not have been as great without him. He also has the most wonderful giggle!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
bring padded shorts/seat it will be your best friend
and suncream that is sweat/water resistant and has a high SPF
Rebecca Webster

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written March 2013
If you're wondering whether you should go on this holiday I would say (if you have a good level of fitness) stop thinking about it and book it - it will be one of the best (if not THE best) holiday you have ever been on! With Suresh and his team looking after you, you can experience this beautiful country the best way possible - on a bike (or in the van if you fancy)
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I found the people of Sri Lanka the most inspiring part of this holiday. From the small children who are clearly so excited to see you riding through their village, to the people encouraging you along the way, to the kindness and friendliness of all the people we met where we stayed I would say the Sri Lankans really made this holiday for me. By far the friendliest people of all the countries I've been too. Considering such a violent recent history I found it a very humbling experience.
What did you think of your group leader?
Suresh and his team were - quite simpy - fantastic. None of the group had to think for the whole time we were there. You woke up, ate, went outside and your bike was all ready and waiting for you. Food and water were just around the corner. Between them they made sure we were all cared for during the cycling from the moment we left to our arrival at the next hotel. At every junction someone would be there directing you and stopping the traffic if necessary. They also arranged regular breaks - often ready waiting with drinks, biscuits and fruit. If you're worried about the logistics of a cycling holiday - don't be - they couldn't make it easier.
I've been on a few group holidays now and Suresh is definitely the best leader of all those holidays. His love for his country is very clear and that was fantastic to see as we went to different places. He was also very good at making sure people were aware of what the cycle was going to be like - i.e. the state of the roads (generally very good), sections that would be difficult, the heat of the day - and most importantly what the hotel pool would be like at the end! His patience as 16 people each asked the same question time and time again was admirable...
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you're wondering whether you can do the cycling my advice would be - if you're of a good fitness level and you can take the heat then you will be fine. I haven't cycled much since I was a teenager so more than fifteen years ago and I managed to complete all the cycling on this holiday - even up to Nuwara Eliya. I go to the gym about 3 times a week so I am quite fit despite the lack of cycling experience. But it's definitely not a holiday where you can just wing it. The heat gets to you (often 35C), the distances are long, and the country is hilly. Different people find different things difficult but I would say the hardest part for me was (some of) the roads which were quite rough in places (but on the whole were excellent). And the van is always there to pick you up if you need a break.
On a practical level I would say - take more cycling gear than you think necessary and lots of handwash. Invest in a good gel seat and shorts with very good padding. You do get sore but as long as you have the gear you'll be fine. I didn't have as much as I could've taken but it was fine but if I was to do this holiday again I would make sure I had more changes of clothing for cycling as the heat means you sweat a lot. I would also make sure that what you take is 'very active' wear. Take factor 50 and don't do what I did and buy cycling gloves with holes on the back of the hand - that part of your body will burn (badly)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, with lovely people, amazing wildlife and a really interesting history. I found the whole holiday really inspirational, from visiting parts of the island destroyed by the tsunami to realising that I was capable of cycling to an altitude of 2k. Yes the cycling was hard in places but getting up every morning knowing that you would be cycling through beautiful countryside made it worthwhile. I have no other cycling holiday to compare it to but for me it was an incredible holiday.
Ellen McPhillips

CYCLE THE BACKROADS OF SRI LANKA

Written February 2013
This is a great trip. Cycling is varied, accommodate overall very good. A lovely country to see by bike.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Several great moments inlcuding the tea plantations, whale watching, the elephant orphanage but mostly simply cycling through so many interesting places. Only one slight negative was the Spice Gardens - ok if you don't a fairly full on sales pitch.
What did you think of your group leader?
Surresh was our group leader. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and very helpful. He couldn't do enough for the group and would do his best to sort out any request - no matter how unusual. We all loved him.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Some challenging days cycling with the hills so the fitter you are the more you'll enjoy it (and the less time you'll spend in the support van!)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Sri Lanka is really worth a visit. The local people are very welcoming and keen to ensure you enjoy their country. A few roads have a rough surface so some bumpy rides but nothing you can't deal with if you have a gel saddle ....