Most Inspirational Moment
Making it to Nuwara Eliya!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Superb! (Suresh.)
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take this holiday!
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
A great holiday with a good mix of cycling (some tough), culture, sightseeing and team bonding.
A great holiday with a good mix of cycling (some tough, and one day in particular-the climb to Nuwara Eliya, not for the faint hearted!) with culture, sightseeing and team bonding all thrown into the mix. But fear-not as if you don’t fancy the climb then there’s always the option of the train from the word go, or the ever-present bus or cycle van bringing up the rear if your just not sure and want to see how far you can get. And this is also the case on any ride on any day of course.
We were lucky to have an excellent, award winning, guide but the standard generally is very high, not least because being a guide in Sri Lanka is one of the most sort after and hard to get jobs, with the result that they all take huge pride in their work. We thourougly enjoyed all aspects of the trip. Any minor issues were quickly dealt with. No major issues occurred because of the degree of organisation, planning, (by the company) and diligence on the part of our guide on the trip itself.
Thoroughly recommended!
The Best So Far!
A fairly challenging cycle tour of Sri Lanka, taking in some of the culture, wild life and sites and sounds.
Most Inspirational Moment
Completing a 2,300m climbing day through the tea plantations (with life saving cake) and finishing with a very special evening in Nuwar Eliya.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh, what gent! The best so far! Suresh, made us all feel incredibly welcome, nothing was too much and always had a plan.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It gets very hot, sun tan lotion, water! But mostly Suresh has it covered with plenty of tea (ginger beer, roti and cake) stops.
The Best So Far!
A fairly challenging cycle tour of Sri Lanka, taking in some of the culture, wild life and sites and sounds.
Most Inspirational Moment
Completing a 2,300m climbing day through the tea plantations (with life saving cake) and finishing with a very special evening in Nuwar Eliya.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh, what gent! The best so far! Suresh, made us all feel incredibly welcome, nothing was too much and always had a plan.
Advice for Potential Travellers
It gets very hot, sun tan lotion, water! But mostly Suresh has it covered with plenty of tea (ginger beer, roti and cake) stops.
Maximum damage, maximum fun!
This was my first group ride and, as such, didn’t know what to expect. However, from arrival at the airport and meeting the group leader, it was obvious that this was going to be fun and a little challenging at times, mainly due to the heat and humidity.
I have to say that the whole trip was very well planned out, with plenty of good cycling, fabulous sightseeing, food and drink sampling, with friendly locals along the way.
Many happy memories, new friends and a longing for the next trip!
Most Inspirational Moment
Several of the amazing sights, wonderful temples, massive variety of great food; some good challenges on the bike too.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh is one of those people who make managing a group of 16 people, bikes, itineraries etc look easy. Calm assurance and reassurance, if need be, along with a permanent smile and sense of humour, helped us all through the cycling even when the going got a bit tough. He’s a great asset to Exodus and I’d recommend him for ‘tour guide of the year’ without a moments hesitation.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take your own saddle and pedals if possible, as this can make a big difference to you; keep well hydrated throughout and eat sensibly.
Cycle the Backroads of Sri Lanka
Fantastic! Sri Lanka is a hidden gem, a beautiful country and to explore it on 2 wheels you see it at it’s best. I’ve enjoyed all our cycle trips with Exodus, but this one in particular benefits from door to door cycling and it’s only the transfer from Colombo airport/return which you have to jump into the minibus.
Most Inspirational Moment
Cycling along the river bank watching families swimming, women washing their clothes and water buffalo further downstream, not to mention all the wildlife.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh was brilliant. I couldn't believe our luck as he has previously won Guide of the Year. Superb and the best leader in our experience. We will vote for him as Guide of the Year and hope he wins again. He couldn't do enough for the whole group and had his eye on personal attention to detail with each individual.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just book it, you'll love this trip.
Backroads of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a really beautiful country and there is no better way to see it than on a bike with a group of like minded people cycling alongside. This was a special holiday full of interesting and fascinating things to see. It offered a real mix of both challenging and easy enjoyable cycling. Our guide Suresh was nothing short of marvellous. His attention to detail combined with his sense of humour and his care to make sure we always had what we needed was exceptional. I have been on three Exodus holidays so far and this one must surely be the best so far….guaranteed!
Most Inspirational Moment
While on safari we were lucky enough to witness a leapord and her cub come walking towards us to take water at a waterhole. They drank while watching out for danger and then wandered back off into the wild. The moment lasted about five minutes or so and was simply magical.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh was marvellous. His attention to detail combined with a great sense of humour was excellent. He went the extra mile on many occasions to make the holiday memorable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
On one or two of the days the cycling is quite challenging where long distances have been combined with significant hill climbs and very hot temperatures. The bus is always available to get onto but don’t underestimate the effort required to make it to the end or top. This holiday is rated a four in effort level and having completed two other cycling holidays that were rated threes, I can confirm that there is a difference!
Cycle the Backroads of Sri Lanka
An amazing experience with Exodus & Suresh as tour leader.
Most Inspirational Moment
The challenging ride to Nuwara Eliya & feeling a great sense of achievement. Visiting the impressive rock cut Buddha statues at Buduruvagela.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh is a Legend. His deep passion for his country & wealth of knowledge ( historically & geographically) made the trip a memorable experience. Suresh greeted us every morning with a broad Sri Lankan smile & would give a short briefing before guiding us safely through the back roads to the next overnight stop. With Suresh's expert guidance we also visited World Heritage sites, spotted animals on Safari & was delighted by his culinary skills in the kitchen. During the trip any requests were dealt with immediately- organising massages, early morning runs, bird watching at dawn, to name a few. Nothing was too much trouble. Suresh is one in a million & a first class Tour Leader for Exodus in Sri Lanka.
Advice for Potential Travellers
A good fitness level is definitely required.
Backroads of Sri Lanka - cycle
To see Sri Lanka on two wheels was just the most amazing experience for us. Cycling through tea plantations, rice paddies, local villages and wildlife sanctuaries. A stunning country with the friendliest of people. Being part of a group made the holiday like one big party with friendly banter from breakfast through to lights out in the evening. Early starts met with the usual groan but what a way to spend the day flying along the roads enjoying all the sights along the way. A well organised trip with an excellent leader in Suresh. Nothing is too much trouble. A must do for the those out there thinking about your next Exodus adventure.
Most Inspirational Moment
Watching the sunset and the sunrise the next morning in Ella listening to the call to prayer across the valley with the mist swirling around the mountains. Peaceful and just magical.
Thoughts on Group Leader
How many words can we use. Suresh. Amazing. Witty. Helpful. Great listener. Entertainer. Historian. Super fit. Playful. Comedian. Kind. Considerate. Our group were 16 who became one large family all of us chatting and having the best time with Suresh being the party organiser. A great trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Book it and ask for Suresh as your tour leader. Nothing is stopping you. This has to be the only way to see this beautiful country. Get out there and see it.
Cycling and so much more.
This is a cycling trip for anyone of average cycling ability, or above, who also wishes to sample all the culture sights, sounds and tastes that beautiful Sri Lanka has to offer. Accommodation varies from simple guest houses to nice hotels, but it is as stated in the trip notes and perfectly adequate in all instances to refresh and rest after a fantastic day. The food is delicious, be it served in a street café or hotel buffet, and options for those who don’t like their food too hot are always available.
Most Inspirational Moment
Every minute spent cycling through this country is inspirational. The scenery and wildlife are awesome and the friendly locals (in particular the children) ensure you are never lonely. They will take time out of their daily schedule to wave, cheer and speak as you pass; making you feel humbled to be so welcomed to their beautiful country. Time taken to enjoy a fantastic jeep safari in Yala National Park, climb Lion Rock at Sigiriya, go whale watching and explore the old towns of Kandy and Galle are also extremely memorable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I have never travelled with any other tour guide who commits himself so totally to ensuring that his clients have a fantastic holiday in the way that our guide Suresh Bandara did. His love and knowledge of his country shine through and he shares this with the group in the most enthusiastic and entertaining manner. He constantly goes the extra mile to cater for the individuals interests (for example organising two extra early morning bird walks for interested parties) and has a knack for identifying when a special occasion is being celebrated and organising a special surprise. The safety and comfort of the group are clearly paramount to him and cycling is always undertaken at a pace to suit everyone.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel light. Apart from your cycling clothes you don't need a lot more. The Sri Lankan people are quite reserved so shorts which go below the knee and long light trousers are more useful than very short shorts when not cycling! You will also need long sleeves and trousers to protect against the insects at night in some locations. It is fun to haggle the price when shopping in Kandy and Galle, however you will find the hotel shop in Kandy is very good value for anything from jewellery to trousers and they are prepared to barter.
"Best holiday so far.........guaranteed!"
A great trip that had everything including dramatic scenery, lush countryside, wonderful cycling, adventure in a safari park, beautiful beaches and of course lots of tea!
Most Inspirational Moment
We really enjoyed the safari and seeing elephants, crocodiles and leopard in their natural habitat.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Suresh took care of our every need from the moment we arrived and met us at the airport. He goes above and beyond in ensuring that we all had a fantastic experience, taking any stress away from us so we could enjoy every moment. His excellent relationships with the locals tells you that this is someone who is well respected among the community, which in turn means you get the best out of seeing how the people live and work.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Well everyone talks about that hill! My advice is to enjoy it - take it at your pace and see how you get on. If you are an accomplished rider then you will love it, if not, then it is a great challenge! There is of course the support bus always at hand. There is also the alternative of the train, for which 1st class tickets need to be booked months in advance. 2nd class tickets are available on the day but be prepared to stand the whole way! The tea and water stops are great but do not include electrolytes so you might want to take your own.