Wild Sri Lanka
Experience Overview
Sri Lanka is well known for cultural heritage and picture-perfect beaches, but perhaps less known is that it’s one of the best locations in Asia for wildlife. The wide range of altitudes on this small island results in a variation of climates and diversity that is normally only found across a whole continent. Blue whales congregate off the southern coast, elephant herds gather in Udawalawe and the elusive leopard rules in Yala. As well as game drives in the most famous national parks in Sri Lanka, we visit the steamy Sinharaja Rainforest and relax on the south coast, where the warm waters of the Indian Ocean lap the shore.
Profile
— Accommodation: 6 Superior nights (4 hotel, 2 lodge), 3 Classic nights (hotel) — Travel by private bus, boat and 4×4 — All breakfasts and nine dinners are included — Whale-watching season: November to April
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 6 Superior nights (4 hotel, 2 lodge), 3 Classic nights (hotel) — Travel by private bus, boat and 4×4 — All breakfasts and nine dinners are included — Whale-watching season: November to April
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Four. Visit our Activity Level Guidelines page for more on our trip gradings or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
This is a moderately easy itinerary, staying in comfortable accommodation throughout and travelling on air-conditioned buses, private boats and 4x4 game vehicles. There are some long drives and early starts, and if you’re prone to sea sickness you may wish to take medication for the whale-watching excursions. Temperatures are typically hot although the early mornings can be cool.
There are some important things to note about wildlife watching in Sri Lanka:
Yala is the most popular national park in Sri Lanka, attracting many international and local visitors in peak season. Game drives in Yala are a very different experience to being in Africa; geographically the area is much smaller and wildlife tourism is a relatively new thing, which means the number of vehicles in parks and communication between vehicles is not being controlled by the authorities at this time. In peak times, there can be many vehicles in the park and this can result in traffic jams, where several vehicles are present at the same sighting. The naturalist guides and drivers that Exodus work with do their best to avoid such sightings and, although we always try to make sure you see a leopard, we ensure this is done in a safe and sensible way away from the crowds as much as possible. Our preference is to focus on the quieter areas of the park to enhance the quality of the wildlife encounters – we believe this is the most responsible way to operate game drives in Yala.
Whale watching is becoming an increasingly popular activity here, yet there are very few regulations on the industry in Sri Lanka. Exodus have chosen a responsible operator and our boat trips are always accompanied by a naturalist guide, with a focus on education. We are careful to use small, private boats for our groups and ensure wildlife is approached at a minimum boat speed and only ever from a sideways angle, as approaching head-on can be threatening for cetaceans. In addition, we adhere by responsible tourism guidelines to spend no more than 20 minutes at any sightings.
Enforcing these regulations on ourselves, and educating our clients in best practice, is the simplest way of encouraging responsible behaviour around marine life and we hope to see such behaviour adopted by other boats in Sri Lanka.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year (April departures)
A unique celebration to the people of Sri Lanka, the important new year national festival known as Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil is not celebrated by any other nation. The festivities are observed by both Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus for two days on 12-13 April 2024 and 13-14 April 2025 (may vary slightly year on year). If you are travelling in Sri Lanka over these dates, expect to see religious ceremonies, family activities, traditional foods, colourful decorations and a general feeling of goodwill towards neighbours and friends. Parties can go into the night and it can be quite loud during this period. Your leader will happily show you some of the activities where your itinerary allows. Please note, during the New Year public holiday, most shops, monuments and attractions are closed; however, your leader will modify the itinerary as required to ensure minimal disruption.
Group Description
Our Sri Lankan team of leaders has proved very popular with their incredible knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is no better way to experience Sri Lankan culture than letting a local leader show you around their country.
On this trip you will have a dedicated naturalist travelling alongside your leader with the group. Where the group is occasionally separated across vehicles during the game drives, your leader and the naturalist will rotate around the jeeps as much as possible to provide everyone with some time with them for insight into the flora and fauna within the national parks.
Depending on the group size, on occasion you may be accompanied by the national park driver and ranger but the leader and naturalist will be close by in separate vehicles.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts and nine dinners are included.
We suggest allowing about 7,000 rupees (US$23) per day for lunch and dinner.
You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka and your leader will provide recommendations for where to eat locally however, the options may not always be suited to larger groups. Some locations you stay may have limited local restaurant choice, in which case meals will be at the hotel. Hotel meals are generally buffets; the majority offer an à la carte menu, but service can be slow. Where suitable, your tour leader will be happy to arrange a shuttle transfer into the local town or, if you prefer to be more independent, take a tuk tuk or taxi. Your leader can help recommend some good places to eat.
Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply rice and curry. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, sambols (condiments), and a handful of tiny poppadum – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food.
Mineral water is provided in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow.
Transportation
We use an air-conditioned minibus or coach depending on the size of the group. Vehicles in Sri Lanka tend to have limited legroom so we try to stop for comfort breaks as needed.
In Udawalawe and Yala National Park, 4x4s are used for our game drives. For whale watching, we use a small, private boat for a maximum of 16 people, which has an overhead canopy for shade.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Insight Resort, No 67 Matara Rd, Ahangama 80650, Sri Lanka
Start hotel for the 30 January 2025 departure: Mandara Resort Mirissa, 416 A, Mirissa, Weligama 81740, Sri Lanka
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 2hr 30min drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:
Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Make your own way
We recommend joining the group transfer where possible given the distance to travel to the south coast. If not, a taxi from the airport to the start hotel costs approximately US$125-US$150. On arrival at the hotel, please make the reception staff aware that you are part of an Exodus group and they will have more details on meeting with your leader and group.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Weather Information
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with two distinct wet seasons or monsoons. The southwest monsoon brings rain to that area of the island between May and August. The northeast monsoon takes place from October to January and only really affects the north and east coastal regions. Generally, expect rain some of the time but with plenty of sunshine. On the plains, day- and night-time temperatures are warm to hot with Colombo having an average daytime temperature of 30C (86F).
Spending Money
For small purchases, particularly at local shops and markets, cash is generally preferred and easier for transactions than credit cards.
It is recommended that you allow at least 2,200 Sri Lankan rupees (US$6) for personal expenditures such as stamps, postcards and soft drinks. Some sites may charge a small fee for camera use. Shopping opportunities in Sri Lanka are endless and we suggest you take money for souvenirs, even if you are generally not a keen shopper, we have found most people succumb to the wide variety of handicrafts on offer.
All entrance fees and activities described in the itinerary are included with an exception for the optional activities mentioned on some days.
Tipping
Tipping is part of the culture in Sri Lanka. However, it can often be an awkward affair, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar country. As such, your tour leader will offer to arrange and look after a tipping kitty, which is used to tip hotel staff, local guides, bus drivers, and other support staff on the trip (optional excursions are not included in the group kitty).
Your leader will suggest how much to contribute, but it is usually about 15,000 rupees (approximately US$45) per person. At any time during the trip, your leader will happily show you an account of how the kitty is being distributed.
Tips for the leader, national park guides and transfer crew are not included in the kitty and are at your own discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation, our recommendation is as follows:
For the driver and assistant: 650-950 rupees (US$2-US$3) per person per dayFor your leader and the naturalist/national park guides: 1,400-1,900 rupees (US$4-US$6) per person per day.
Where possible, please try to tip in the local currency.
Highlights
— Private whale watching from a chartered boat — Four game drives within Yala and Udawalawe national parks — Visit Sinharaja Rainforest and Dickwella Beach — Enjoy the benefit of a naturalist guide accompanying the group throughout the tour
Trip Details
Product Code: 4299
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: or shade.
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: WIYA
Starts: Mirissa, Indian Ocean
Finishes: Mirissa, Indian Ocean
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
— All breakfasts and nine dinners included — All accommodation — All transport and listed activities — Tour leader throughout — Naturalist guide throughoutAccommodation
Hotels and eco lodgesWe have nine nights in hotels and lodges, several of the hotels have swimming pools. Dickwella Resort & Spa will no doubt be a highlight – set in tropical grounds with a freshwater swimming pool, comfortable rooms, three different dining options, a spa and fitness centre that makes for a memorable and fantastic island getaway. Worth knowing Paying the single supplement may not mean that you receive a double or twin room for sole use. The room you are allocated may differ from hotel to hotel and on some nights a smaller room for one person may be allocated. The start hotel for the adventure commencing on 30 January 2025 is the Mandara Resort Mirissa. The start hotel for all other departures is Insight Resort.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,320 ($532 /day)
Itinerary
Our Sri Lankan adventure begins. It’s a 2hr 30min transfer to the south coast – please refer to the Joining Instructions for further information. As we approach the seaside suburb of Galle, we see coastal coconut groves and tall palms giving way to magnificent views of the ocean. Accommodation: Insight Resort or Mandara Resort Mirissa (or similar)
We depart for the harbour shortly after sunrise, where we board a small, privately chartered boat for a whale-watching excursion. Accompanied by excellent crew and a naturalist guide, we spend the morning searching the Indian Ocean for whales and other cetaceans. The vessel is fitted with radar and GPS, which increases our chance of success. Blue whales, the largest animals that have ever lived, typically frequent these waters between November and April. They are huge, reaching up to 100ft (30m) long and weighing about the same as 30 elephants. We may also be lucky enough to encounter sperm whales, bryde’s whales and large pods of spinner or bottlenose dolphins. After spending the morning at sea, we return to the harbour and our hotel in Ahangama. Later this afternoon, we have a guided visit to Galle to discover the historic fort, a fabulous Unesco World Heritage site. Built by the Dutch in 1663, it is a maze of cobbled streets crammed with cafes, boutique shops and beautifully restored colonial houses. Accommodation: Insight Resort or Mandara Resort Mirissa (or similar)
This morning, we transfer to Sinharaja Rainforest, the last undisturbed rainforest area in Sri Lanka. This biodiversity hotspot harbours several endemic species. Canopy trees reach heights of up to 145ft (45m) and bird species number 160 and counting. Among the insects, amphibians and reptiles are mammals such as sambar deer, marking deer and wild boars. Purple-faced langurs usually congregate in groups of 10 or more and are fairly common to see among the trees. Around 15 leopards are known in this area but sightings are very difficult due to the dense vegetation. This afternoon, we take a walk to discover Sinharaja and its many inhabitants, accompanied by our naturalist guide. Accommodation: Rainforest Eco Lodge or Sinharaja Forest Edge (or similar)
Wake up to birdsong and get ready for another day in the forest. Sinharaja covers a narrow sliver of land, covering roughly 27,643 acres (11,187ha). Within this area live 43 percent of all species recorded in Sri Lanka. Our naturalist guide takes us on a wildlife walk to discover the many trails and abundant diversity here. Accommodation: Rainforest Eco Lodge or Sinharaja Forest Edge (or similar)
This morning, we leave the rainforest and travel further inland to Udawalawe National Park, which lies on the boundary between the wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka. Udawalawe is one of the best parks in Sri Lanka to see elephants with around 600 in the park roaming in herds of up to 50 – the highest concentration of wild elephants in Sri Lanka. The Udawalawe Reservoir is at the centre of the park and makes a stunning backdrop among the otherwise lightly vegetated area. For this reason, wildlife watching in the national park is relatively easy. Aside from elephant families feeding in the grasslands, we may encounter sambar deer, spotted deer, water buffalos, wild boars, jackals and mongoose on this afternoon game drive. Accommodation: Centauria Wild (or similar)
This morning, our 4x4 safari vehicles are waiting to take us back into Udawalawe for a second game drive. Game drives typically last for three hours, depending on sightings, and are always accompanied by a naturalist guide. In the afternoon, we visit the Elephant Transit Home, just 3mi (5km) from the park entrance. The transit home is run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. It provides a safe environment for orphaned elephants, who are typically looked after at the home until they reach four years’ old, at which point they are old enough to be released back into the wild. Our visit coincides with feeding time, where the juveniles are given bottled milk by a team of park rangers and the noisy spectacle can be witnessed from the viewing platform. Accommodation: Centauria Wild (or similar)
We start our day before breakfast and head out on a walk to a nearby village (approximately 3kms), a chance to observe and interact with the locals starting their day as well as spot the wide variety of wildlife en route. The early walk takes us alongside an irrigation canal, rich in bird life such as Ibis, Kingfishers, Cormorants and Storks. The canal feeds into the banana, mango, guava, peanut trees and many more crops grown alongside it. This area is also home to eagles, kites, horn bills, lapwings, sun birds, mongooses, monitor lizards and chameleons. Midway through our walk, we stop at the village shop for tea and a piece of fruit to snack on. During our walk, we have a local initiative in place which distributes a variety of fruit trees to the families in the village. These fruit trees hold a sustainable and commercial value to the villagers, in time they can be cultivated and sold to generate income for the families as well as provided for the community. We finish our walk at a farm where our breakfast will be served close to the river. After breakfast, we return to the hotel by 4x4 vehicles and get ready to depart for Tissamaharama and Yala National Park, a drive of around three hours. On arrival in Yala, we check into our hotel; around 3pm, we head out in 4x4s for our afternoon game drive. Yala is famous for having one of the highest concentration of leopards in the world. In the lowland dry zone in the southeastern corner of the country, Yala is extensive, covering some 242,000 acres (97,880ha). The vegetation primarily consists of dense secondary forest, semi-arid thorny scrub, brackish lagoons and mangroves since the park borders the coastline. With this diverse habitat comes a huge array of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bears, spotted deer, water buffalos, sambar deer, wild boars, langurs and macaques. Bird counts are also high, with more than 215 recorded species, including thousands of migrating waterfowl. Our group is split evenly between 4x4s and is joined by the tour leader, naturalist and tracker who each sit in a different vehicle. The game drive this afternoon lasts around three to four hours, before we return to the hotel to freshen up and have dinner. Accommodation: Kithala Resort or Mandara Rosen (or similar)
Wildlife tends to be at its most active in the early morning, so we have a morning game drive in Yala, returning to our hotel for a rest and lunch afterwards. Our naturalist guide will focus on the diverse wildlife and birds of Yala, with our game drive lasting around three hours. After lunch, we transfer (around 3hr 30min) to Dickwella – in our opinion, one of the most picturesque beaches in Sri Lanka – where traditional fishing boats rest on the sand in front of palm trees. Accommodation for our two nights here is at a lovely resort with direct access to the beach. The resort is set on tropical grounds and is among the top beach hotels in Sri Lanka! Relax under swaying palms by the pool and enjoy long beach walks. The rooms have contemporary amenities and you could simply surrender yourself to healing Balinese rituals at the spa during your seaside getaway in paradise. Accommodation: Dickwella Resort & Spa (or similar)
Today is free to enjoy all the facilities at Dickwella Resort & Spa. Why not stroll over to Turtle Cove, true to it's name you're almost certain to see turtles swimming around by your feet. Alternatively, just relax within the hotel grounds, enjoying the sea view while taking a dip in the pool. Accommodation: Dickwella Resort & Spa (or similar)
This morning, we check out and make our way to Colombo Airport where our adventure comes to an end. Alternatively, an additional night’s accommodation can be organised near to Colombo Airport if you would like fly home the following day.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
In Business Since 1974
Reviews
Margaret Dunn - Traveled, March 2024
Good but not outstanding Good trip itinerary, with great wildlife viewing opportunities. Unfortunately didn’t get to see a blue whale or a leopard. Accommodation very good. Most Inspirational Moment The sounds of the birdsong in the rainforest. Also having a natural fish foot spa - again in the rainforest. Thoughts on Group Leader Friendly and approachable. Spoken English good but had difficulty understanding questions at times. Advice for Potential Travellers Don’t come with high expectations of seeing a blue whale - sounds like you would be very lucky to see one. Definitely bring binoculars.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/21/2024
Nigel Battrick - Traveled, February 2024
Wild Sri Lanka I thought the guides were excellent but overmanned do we need four? .The naturist Dinth was very good and Chandril helped me with regards to my poor hearing.Overall I found the trip disappointing .I think you could make the whale watching optional and cut galle fort its a bit boring .I think more time should be spent at udawalawe and yala with two extra game drives in each .Also I found going to the forest a lot of effort for little reward I could just as well have gone for a walk in the woods back home apart from the leeches Whilst I agree you little control over any countries tourism plans there does seem to be a trend to cater for a nice comfy holiday that many westerners seem to expect opulent hotels and our dreadful culture ie pool parties and full blast music of a sort ,no wonder all the wildlife disappears .Therefore with regard to wildlife holidays they need to be not so comfortable and more remote and we in the west also need to understand this. When I visited sri lanka many years ago there were many large lizards wandering around the roads now there are only dogs another sign of how wildlife has disappeared I hope things can change in the future. Most Inspirational Moment Watching a huge tusker coming out of the bush at udawalawe his tusks were practically touching the ground .At night seeing a family of palm civets living under the drainage ducts at one of the hotels. A sloth bear in yala. Two large hornbills perched on top of the air ducts at the hotel Thoughts on Group Leader As stated above excellent just to many staff Advice for Potential Travellers Read my summary you go for the wildlife not a comfy stay in a european style hotel
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/12/2024
John Jessup - Traveled, December 2023
Disappointing game drives Beautiful country, fascinating culture, friendly people, lovely hotels, great food, helpful guides, plenty of birds but very disappointing game drives in the national parks on our itinerary. We saw more elephants from the tour bus outside the parks than on the game drives within them, fleetingly glimpsed a leopard on an unscheduled visit to a different park which we paid extra for and saw no sloth bears. I appreciate wildlife viewing is not guaranteed, and I know south Asia is not east Africa, but think Exodus should review the current itinerary to assess whether it offers customers the best viewing opportunities. Either that or re-badge this as a bird-watching trip with possibility of seeing a few mammals along the way. Most Inspirational Moment Watching a baby purple-faced langur clinging onto its mother as she feasted on fruit in the Sinharaja Rainforest. Thoughts on Group Leader Nalaka Thennakoon Advice for Potential Travellers Bring some decent binoculars.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/25/2024
Jennifer Thompson - Traveled, January 2023
Wildlife galore Although we didn’t see whales or leopards this trip showed us much of the amazing wildlife of Sri Lanka. The landscapes were spectacular too. We saw more birds than I could count and lizards, monkeys, bats, mongoose, elephants, dolphins, crocodiles, wild boar, buffalo…and many more. The tour leader was excellent and knowledgeable the accomodation always excellent too. A great trip for wildlife watchers Most Inspirational Moment Too many to mention but I did enjoy seeing the dolphins and close encounters with turtles. Also the amazing fruit bats flying over me during my evening swim in the pool. I can't forget the many huge monitor lizards... Thoughts on Group Leader Our leader was excellent! Always helpful, considerate and very knowledgeable with a passion for his country and the wildlife. He has a good sense of humour and lots of patience always helpful and great company. Advice for Potential Travellers Take warm clothes for the rainforest as it can be cool in the hills at night and also for the early morning game drives as it is cool before the sun rises. Be prepared for some early starts and very bumpy roads on the game drives - not for those with disabilities or serious back problems! Binoculars and insect repellant essential. Food was good and varied but not much choice for vegetarians.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/15/2023
Alison Pitts - Traveled, October 2022
The most amazing place - go now! Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and its people the most friendly and welcoming I have encountered. And the place is empty! Firstly covid then the earlier political problems mean tourist numbers are a fraction of the norm. Most hotels we had to ourselves, with only a handful of other guests in the rest. The safaris were also much quieter than usual and it’s possible (apart from at leopard sightings) to drive around for 3 hours barely seeing anyone else. I did have some concerns before going, but was reassured by Exodus and they were right – you’d never know anything had happened. Most Inspirational Moment It's impossible to name one - the wildlife sightings of course (elephants, leopard, blue whale come top for me, plus the many beautiful birds). But also the people - they were so welcoming and pleased to see us. At Kithala Resort we had a welcoming ceremony, we all lit candles and the manager wished us a long life which was very touching. Thoughts on Group Leader Nalaka 1 was at least joint best of any tour leader I've ever had. He gave us lots (but not too much) of information about his country during the bus journeys, and nothing was too much for him. He made sure everyone in the group was happy, and didn't forget a couple of things we asked him to arrange for us. He worked brilliantly with Nalaka 2, our naturalist guide (also extremely helpful). Between the two of them we got to see almost everything we could have done, including the main draws. Advice for Potential Travellers Although I think it will be some while before tourist numbers reach pre-covid levels, it won't stay as quiet as it is for long, so if you're thinking of going, go soon. Exodus advise taking binoculars but I would say they're a must to get the most of the wildlife sightings, especially the birds.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/13/2022
JILL JAMES - Traveled, February 2022
Amazing Loved every minute of this trip. The leader and the specialist were so informative and very helpful to me. I am 74 and they looked after me excellently. This is my 3rd trip with Exodus and hopefully not the last!!! Most Inspirational Moment The rain forest and the elephant orphanage. Also the safaris and the beach time Very Thoughts on Group Leader Very informative and extremely thoughtful 1 minor thing Advice for Potential Travellers One minor thing. You put leech socks on the list which l got, but didn't need them as they were supplied.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/10/2022
mary roser - Traveled, January 2022
You have to go! Where do i start…..what an amazing country – Sri Lankan people were welcoming and felt completely safe, everything is spotless, food delicious, sun shines brightly, amazing wildlife, amazing contrasts of environments, great guides and best group anyone could ask for! Most Inspirational Moment I loved watching the leopards mating ritual - whole half hour in open grassland. The bit when they were play flirting with each other and she lay down and wrapped her tail gently around his head and he just purred and smiled. Loved that. Thoughts on Group Leader both excellent plus the driver and bus sanitiser and temp man Advice for Potential Travellers dont need leech socks - the rainforest hotel supply them. You dont need to get much cash from the airport in Columbo - £180 per person will be enough. There are atms towards the end.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/17/2022
John Burrows - Traveled, November 2019
Brilliant introduction to Sri Lankan wildlife I’m writing this from my Sri Lankan poolside as just about to embark on a more cultural highlights tour but having completed the Wild Sri Lanka trip I’m even more excited about what’s in store, this is a wonderful country. If you arrive with realistic expectations of hotels, food and especially wildlife sightings, you will not be disappointed. All accommodation has been clean, tidy and comfortable. Kithala resort was idyllic and a real treat, whilst at the other extreme Talalla retreat was eclectic and not my cup of tea but an experience none the less. It was fun watching the monkeys in the trees while I showered in the open roofed area but I did wonder if they may come and grab my shower gel! The game drives were varied and generous, each being at least 3 hours giving as much opportunity as possible to view the animals on offer. Being “Wild”, nothing can be guaranteed, but our trip did see a Leopard, Sloth bear, multiple close encounters of Elephant, several wild boar, hares, mouse deer, ever present displaying peacock a Civet cat and, for the bird lovers, in excess of 140 different species. Food has been plentiful, of an acceptable standard. Not surprisingly, curry has been a staple, but be prepared for them to be spicier than their Indian counterpart. There are some long days of travel (as identified in some earlier reviews) but this is clearly stated in the itinerary and………Sri Lanka is a big country and this trip sees a lot of it. For a real taste of wildlife from the Tropical rainforest to a coastal game reserve this trip offers it all. Most Inspirational Moment Being in close proximity, as in 1 metre, to a male Tusker elephant who was completely at home in his natural environment and so much better than “Woburn”. Thoughts on Group Leader An excellent leader, endlessly patient, organised and knowledgeable. Advice for Potential Travellers Arrive with realistic expectations, prepare to be hot (if used to UK conditions) and treat long journeys as an opportunity to relax and soak in the wonderful varied scenery.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/15/2019
Nancy West - Traveled, April 2019
Wonderful wildlife This was a fantastic trip! From the whales and dolphins to the elephants and leopards (yes, we saw one!) every day had an unforgettable highlight. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country of lovely welcoming people and was very well represented by our two wonderful guides. The hotels were very varied in character but of a high standard as was the food. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for a relaxing trip in the beautiful nature of Sri Lanka. Most Inspirational Moment All of the wildlife encounters we had: I couldn’t pick just one. We saw whales and dolphins on our boat trip; leopards in Yala and I would never tire of just sitting and watching the elephants! Thoughts on Group Leader Excellent! Our group leader Dilshan was unfailingly friendly, cheerful and helpful. He was a great source of information about his country and managed to strike the perfect balance between talking to us about a range of subjects related to Sri Lanka and giving the group quiet time to relax on the journey. He also managed to identify and address potential issues before they became an issue. Our wildlife guide Dineth was a fountain of knowledge when it came to the wildlife and I am still in awe of his ability to spot even the tiniest bird in the undergrowth from a moving vehicle! He also had a very impressive repertoire of bird calls! They made a great team! Advice for Potential Travellers Go! A small umbrella can be useful for when it’s hot but also raining!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/23/2019
ROBERT RAWLINGS - Traveled, March 2019
Sri Lanka - An Experience A wonderful country and friendly people who love their home. We got to see a variety of habitats in the south during this trip which makes for an interesting trip with great variety. Our tour manager went out of his way to give us the best “Sri Lankan Experience”. We were able to see a wide range of wildlife. For birders the variety seen was good. Mammal life is restricted in what Sri Lanka has but we managed to see many of what there is, exceptions the Sloth Bear and Leopard. The scenery was fantastic in places, loved the tea plantations and trees. Hotels were average, clean and comfortable, what you might expect on a tour to some remote areas, this is not a 5* hotel tour. The weather was good, tropical downpour in the rain forest and hot, dry, dusty days in the parks. Most Inspirational Moment Hard to choose one. The scenery and tea plantations, national parks and the animals within including monkey, jackals, wild boar and elephant. The Elephant transit home at feeding time. Thoughts on Group Leader Thushan was full of enthusiasm. Determined to provide us with real Sri Lankan experiences, which he succeeded in. A little more assertiveness in decisions required maybe as he tried to please everyone and found it impossible to please all. We had some issues with a couple of members of the group and he was tested, but handled the issue professionally as far as he was allowed. He gave everyone in the group equal attention and made sure we kept hydrated and safe. Advice for Potential Travellers Expect early starts and some long days, only way to see the best on offer over a wide area. Do not be disappointed if you do not see everything, the wildlife is wild, not captive. Take care with the leeches, they can be picked up even in the rainforest lodge grounds, socks are available at the lodge so you need not take your own. Do not forget sun protection. Wild Sri Lanka Reply from Exodus We would like to thank both Robert and John (review below) for their reviews, although we remain sorry that their trips were impacted on by this unfortunate incident. It is incredibly unusual that there are any altercations or disagreements between group members, and we appreciate that group members can have different perspectives when an incident like this occurs. As a tour operator, Exodus has to have a zero tolerance towards any violence on our trips and we have been in touch with both clients about the very different concerns that they raise. Lucy Crabb – Customer Services Manager
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/21/2019
John O'Connor - Traveled, March 2019
The tour was good, Exodus UK repsonse to critical incident was poor i returned from Wild Sri Lanka, the tour was good. If your a birder you will love the trip but you will need to take binoculars. I did not take mine as prior the trip did another trip to the Ancient cities and Jaffna. The accommodation is ok , although the last hotel was really hot and is the one that is not air conditioned. The heat made it quite uncomfortable. The tour guide, driver and assistant were excellent. The naturalist seemed more interested in talking to people with big cameras, chatting to the two young women and at times taking pics for Instagram On the trip you will see a great variety of birds and some mammals. On this trip we saw Blue Whale, Pilot Whale, Spinner Dolphin, Bottle nose Dolphin. Elephant, Mongoose, Purple faced Leaf Monkey, Macaque Giant Squirrel , another type of squirrel, water buffalo, Hare, Wild Pig. Alas no Leopard or Sloth Bear. I think it was the wrong time of year to see Leopard. Unfortunately i was assaulted by another member of the tour group and it took Exodus UK more than 24 hours to remove the person. The guide and country rep have no power to take action. Exodus UK dealt with the issue during UK business hours. It was a very scary 24 hours having to be around the perpetrator for 3 meal and 2 activities. I chose not to do the extra safari and the perpetrator was going on it. After the removal of the person , no contact from Exodus UK about how i was. IT is only on my return to Australia and after complaining in writing and then to my travel agent that a company representative did contact me. I found there response to my concerns not satisfactory, they were really defensive. So if you do go on this tour , i really hope nothing bad happens and you wont get a prompt response. Most Inspirational Moment Perhaps seeing Blue whale Thoughts on Group Leader Thushan was excellent and we had many "Sri lanka" experiences. I really liked his style Advice for Potential Travellers Beware if a critical incident occurs, make sure you have a sri lankan sim and email. So you can contact Exodus UK directly and your own travel agent Review Centre Reply from Exodus We would like to thank both John and Robert (review above) for their reviews, although we remain sorry that their trips were impacted on by this unfortunate incident. It is incredibly unusual that there are any altercations or disagreements between group members, and we appreciate that group members can have different perspectives when an incident like this occurs. As a tour operator, Exodus has to have a zero tolerance towards any violence on our trips and we have been in touch with both clients about the very different concerns that they raise. Lucy Crabb – Customer Services Manager
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/18/2019
Maureen Pearce - Traveled, February 2019
Wacky Races in the National Parks! Our trip specifically aimed at maximum attention on wildlife was somewhat disappointing. The reason for the disappointment was especially the complete lack of control of the amount of safari vehicles allowed in the national parks and the drivers disregard for speed control (25K per hr) we must have been doing at least 35 – 40 mph and overtaking masses of other vehicles all racing to see either the sighting of a sloth bear or latterly the sighting of the leopard in a tree about 300 meters away in a tree. I wouldn’t be surprised if all the animals scattered during visiting times of tourist knowing what mayhem was in store! Once in view of the leopard (only seen with binoculars at that distance) passengers then suffered from carbon monoxide fumes whilst drivers went past the area not once, not twice but three times!. It is difficult to know how you can change the culture of such behaviour of the guides/drivers as it seems to be inherent. Walks in the Udawala were along the road track leading to the eco lodge were ok but not astoundingly memorable. The birders in the group were enthused. Most Inspirational Moment Inspirational moment of the trip was seeing a blue whale right up next to our tourist boat. We shared the morning sightings of our whale with about 12 other loaded boats, but having said that we saw our whale dive several times showing it's fluke and blowing before diving. Thoughts on Group Leader Dilshan Chathuranga was the most uninspiring Exodus leader I have ever had the chance to come across in all of our trips. He did the basic essential travel connections without any problems but seemed to lack the passion of other group leaders. When asked a question by clients he would often retort "I have told you that, wern't you listening?". His English was OK but sometimes difficult to grasp. I know that he caused offence and anger amongst at least 4 of the clients, reducing one Canadian guest to tears because she complained about the inept guide on their safari vehicle! He took the complaint personally and attacked her verbally insinuating that she was making a fuss. "what is that in the tree?" a monkey - was the response by the safari guide! when they wanted the type of monkey. He also gave incorrect names to birds seen and had little knowledge. It is the first time I have been on an Exodus trip where there had not been a thank you speech and presentation of tips etc. at the last evening meal end of the trip. Advice for Potential Travellers Contrary to your trip note you do not worry about leech socks as the Eco Lodge provides them. The whale watching trip organisers also provide sea sickness pills.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/12/2019
Cheryl Evans - Traveled, February 2019
Wild Sri Lanka Wild Sri Lanka – this trip was really disappointing as a location for wildlife. We certainly didn’t see elephant herds in Uawalawe and I was horrified that on one occasion we were part of a group of 6 jeeps surrounding ONE elephant. This is not acceptable wildlife viewing. As a result of such a disappointing day I didn’t go on the morning game drive in Yale NP on Day 8. The transfers between places were far too long. For example: On Day 8 the safari trip started at 4.30am – a one hour drive to NP – 4 hours in a Jeep – one hour drive to return to the accommodation then after lunch a 3 1/2 hour drive to Talalla !! This was a day of nearly 10 hours in a jeep and coach. This is absolutely unacceptable. Finally, I was totally fed up with buffet food. We had just one hotel that offered us a choice in 15 days. The best food was provided by our visit to a local village. Superb! Most Inspirational Moment Whale watching session. Cycling through the local villages with village meal. Visit to the rainforest. Visit to the Elephant Freedom Project. Thoughts on Group Leader Dilshun was a good leader who dealt with any problems very efficiently. Advice for Potential Travellers Potential travellers should ascertain the exact length of the transfer journeys. I shall never book this type of trip again without confirming transfer times.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/16/2019
Susannah Muldoon - Traveled, January 2019
Amazing holiday I wasn’t sure what to expect but wanted a holiday especially for the wildlife. I was not to be disappointed. We travelled between hotels in a large air conditioned coach. The food was excellent in most of the hotels especially the Hotel Insight and Kithala resort. I loved staying at the Eco Lodge but there was very little selection for vegetarians pasta with cheese or tomato sauce. The standard of hotels were very good although the service level at the Nil Days Mankada was poor. I would have preferred to stay a couple of nights at the Kithala resort instead of going to the Talalla retreat but that is just a personal preference. The whale watching was good and we did see blue whales dolphins a turtle and a ray but felt a bit sorry for the whales being converged on by so many boats. We had our on boat which was a lot nicer. The game drives were fantastic and we saw lots of birds and animals (even a leopard) and great to share the adventure with a lovely group of people. Most Inspirational Moment I think the early morning drive in Yala as the wildlife was just waking up and it seemed less busy then the other reserve. Also the Eco Lodge and watching the birds all around and waking up to the sounds of the jungle. Thoughts on Group Leader Our Group Leader and guide were fantastic and very proffesional taking such good care of us. Making sure we got the very best out of the holiday. Can't be praised enough. Advice for Potential Travellers I bought leech socks which are needed but the eco lodge did have them to lend to you so no need to buy in advance. Take binoculars and a camera.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/13/2019
Catherine Stothart - Traveled, January 2019
Wonderful wildlife, great food, friendly people and a lovely group We wanted a holiday where there was plenty of opportunity to see wildlife, and this lived up to our expectation. Whale watching (saw blue whales and pilot whales), lots of colourful birds, mammals and reptiles too – the bio-diversity, especially of birds, was staggering. We had a naturalist with us who was really good at spotting and identifying birds – that really made a difference. The hotels we stayed in were all different with their own character, and with one exception, were of a high standard. Loved staying in the rainforest and doing yoga at the beach. Enjoyed Sri Lankan food and especially having tropical fruit every day and fresh fruit juices. The group of people we were with were all great. Most Inspirational Moment Looking across a lake and seeing herons, cormorants, pelicans, storks, crocodiles, water buffalo, kingfishers.......just so much to see, all in one place. Hearing the birds and frogs in the morning. Seeing orphan elephants running to be fed. Doing yoga looking at the sunrise over the sea. Thoughts on Group Leader The group leader was excellent - knowledgeable, organised, helpful, friendly, sense of humour. He told us bits about Sri Lankan history and society, which were really interesting and took care of all our needs. Advice for Potential Travellers Take binoculars - it's much easier to appreciate the birds if you can see them properly!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/15/2019
Kim Lester - Traveled, April 2018
Wildlife Sri Lanka Thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Sri Lanka, the hotels are all unique, really enjoyed the container accommodation in the rainforest. The people all seemed very friendly. The Whale watching was a little disappointing as we only saw the one Blue Whale and it felt a little as if we were chasing after it when it breached, on the plus side we had the boat to ourselves. The driving is pretty interesting but we had total confidence in our coach driver. The food was very good, but you probably need to like curries! The game parks are good, initially i thought they were going to be really busy with all the jeeps queuing to get their permits, but it was surprising where they all disappeared to within the parks. Downside was when we found a leopard all the drivers communicate this to each other and everybody descends on the spot. Most Inspirational Moment hard to say which was most inspirational, all very good. Thoughts on Group Leader Nakala was lovely, very passionate about sharing his country and culture with us. Advice for Potential Travellers A fantastic trip, although leisurely, 2 days at each hotel, there was enough to keep you entertained from morning til evening.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/10/2018
Vicky Campbell - Traveled, February 2018
Well organised trip We booked this trip to make viewing wildlife easy for ourselves. We joined after 16 days of doing our own thing and looked forward to the group tour. The arrangements went according to plan except for the starting hotel which had been changed without our knowledge. On arrival at the correct place, we found it to be a pseudo-Egyptian monstrosity. The rest of the accommodation was much more as expected. The whale watching was tedious and involved 7 hours on a boat with a distant view of the tail of a whale. The boat race which ensued when it appeared that there was a chance to get closer to a whale was not productive and did not feel very considerate. There was a distinct lack of birds in Sinharaja and the attempt to see leopards in Yala was beyond belief with tens of trucks vying for position to see the tail of a leopard which was hidden in a tree. Not all of the hotels had much Sri Lankan food and there was limited vegetarian food at times. The packed lunches were poor. Most Inspirational Moment Making friends with two other couples Udawalawe Park was the most interesting, various birds, elephants and a few other mammals including a jackal. In both Udawalawe and Yala, we had good safari drivers. Thoughts on Group Leader He was a very considerate person who took time to get to know each of us and to establish what our interests were. His explanations about various aspects of life and history in Sri Lanka were most welcome. Advice for Potential Travellers Don't go with any hopes or expectations as to what wildlife you might see. Do take leech socks for Sinharaja, although these were made available.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/15/2018
Emma Dart - Traveled, January 2018
Great way to see the nature of south Sri Lanka This was a fantastic trip which gave great opportunities to see the diverse wildlife and landscapes of Sri Lanka. It was hot / humid when we went so the air con on the bus and the majority of the hotels was welcome. It was nice to have a couple of nights in most hotels. The stay in the rainforest lodge was incredible, and the rooms in the Talalla hotel were unusual and enjoyable. The bus journeys between accommodations were not too long, and the scenery was very enjoyable. There is so much birdlife and wildlife to see here. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing a blue whale. We also loved seeing the fireflies in the rainforest and at Tallala. There is not much light pollution there so the stars were incredible. Thoughts on Group Leader Dilshan was fantastic. He was so engaging, knowledgeable and well organised. The naturalist on the trip, Devaka, was enthusiastic and highly skilled. Advice for Potential Travellers Many of the plug sockets accommodate do UK plugs. Where they did not, we were glad to have purchased an adaptor as our multi adaptor did not cater for Sri Lanka plug sockets. We did not see many mosquitoes, but were careful with using deet and covering up. The sun is very strong as well. The rainforest lodge provided leech socks, which seemed to work very well. There were only a couple of times where we encountered small leeches and the guide removed them easily.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/05/2018
Claire Howard - Traveled, January 2018
Lovely country, lovely group but disappointing wildlife experience Sri Lanka as a country is gorgeous and the people are delightful. My disappointment with the trip relates to how the tour was delivered by the local company and the fact that this should be advertised as a bird watching trip with the odd mammal sighting possible. We did see elephants and the blue whale but 90% of wildlife sightings are birds. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing an adult male elephant with a prostetic limb play in the watering hole at the Udawalawe Transit Home followed closely by spending a couple of hours watching a blue whale. Thoughts on Group Leader He was a delightful young man who was extremely enthusiastic and good fun to be around but he failed to adequately deal with concerns/ complaints raised by the group. The game drives were poorly organised. There was 16 in our group. We were put in 3 trucks which they named AB &C and we were we told we had to stay in the same groups so that we all had access to the nature guide. This didnt happen. As a member of jeep C, for all 4 game drives were we the third jeep in the line with limited sightings and always late to the wildlife party. Concerns were raised but not acted upon by the tour guide even when these become complaints. My wildlife game drive experience was eating my fellow travellers dust, hearing out what they were looking at and often seeing things behind shrubs or flying away when disturbed. I’ve never beed on a trip where the game drives were organised this way. If you were in jeeps A or B which alternated being at the front you had a much better experience than the 6 of us in jeep C Advice for Potential Travellers This is a bird watching trip. That was the emphasis of our naturalist guide and birds were in ambundance. Mammal sightings were limited. I didnt appreciate this and so was disappointed by the safari experience for this reason as well as how the jeeps were managed. I enjoyed staying in the rain forest and the ecolodge. The converted shipping containers were really cute and one of my hilights. They were hot during the day and cold at night but blankets are provided. We didnt walk along trails but walked up and down the tarmac road to the ecolodge. This limited the opportunity for wildlife sightings or should i more accurately say bird sightings as we were passed quite frequently by motorbikes. You need leech socks. These are provided so no need to bring your own. You need long trousers for this part of the trip. Review Centre Reply from Exodus We would like to thank Claire for her feedback, although we were very sorry that her experience was so disappointing. We have responded to Claire directly and in response to this feedback, Exodus has reminded our local partner in Sri Lanka to try to ensure that the naturalist guide in Yala National Park rotates between the vehicles, and that the vehicle order should also be rotated where possible to ensure that everyone has a fair chance of wildlife sightings. Jennifer Cox – Product Manager
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2018
Jo Carr - Traveled, April 2017
Wild Sri Lanka This was a wonderful trip that certainly lived up to its promise of plenty of wildlife encounters. Sri Lanka is stunningly beautiful and has a lovely relaxed vibe. Most Inspirational Moment There were many - a blue whale popping up in front of our boat, the stunning scenery, the friendly people, the narrow streets of Galle and the pristine beaches Thoughts on Group Leader We had a leader, Kingsley and a naturalist, Sunil. Both made sure we were well informed without being intrusive and were great company throughout the trip. Advice for Potential Travellers If you are British take Stirling to change at the airport (loads of change bureaus as you leave). Don't change heaps because it's really easy to use atms as you go along and every hotel took credit cards for settling bills. Don't bother packing beach towels - every hotel had pool /beach towels for you to use. Pack light - you will be living in shorts and t-shirts as it is so hot and humid. An umbrella is useful for a sudden downpour or as a parasol. In Talalla have lunch on the beach at the seafood hut - it looks basic but the food was fabulous.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/12/2017
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