This trip was a really fun and varied adventure through the south and central parts of Sri Lanka. From the ancient ruins, to the wild landscapes, bustling towns, incredible wildlife, and fantastic food experiences, every day was a new adventure that kept the whole group engaged. I came away with a new appreciation for what this small island has to offer - and we didn't even see it all!
My main criticism is that while the trip is called "Sri Lanka In Depth", the itinerary focused entirely on the Buddhist, Singhalese side of Sri Lanka, and therefore neglected to cover the Hindu, Tamil aspects of the island. We did not visit any Hindu temples despite passing some temples of great historic significance, and the guide provided no information about the Hindu religion. Similarly, Tamil food and culture was also omitted from the tour, with some dismissive remarks made about Tamil people by the guide. I therefore felt that we got a one-sided, and somewhat misleading view of Sri Lanka. More generally, the civil conflict in Sri Lanka was entirely glossed over the by the guide, who simply referred to it as a "terrorist issue" which has now been solved, thereby completely undermining a complex 40 year war and the implications for Sri Lanka economically and socially. I am not sure if government propaganda was at play, but I think Explore should look to minimize this when choosing local tour companies and present a more balanced, unbiased view of a country, to international visitors.
In terms of transport, while it made sense to travel via minibus given the smaller roads in the more rural areas, the bus was very uncomfortable (narrow seats, limited space to store day packs, drinks, cramped leg space), and not suitable for the long drives. While the guide did try to relieve some of the discomfort by organising a separate bus for the luggage after the first day, this did little to help. I do not think the minibus was suitable for 16 people; a group of 10 would have been a little more comfortable. Better still, a better bus.
I found the guide friendly, caring, attentive, and informative. He was always good natured and handled unexpected issues very well. He also took extra steps to enhance our experience e.g buying local food and drink for us to try, and taking us to a Buddhist temple during a service. While the guide had an excellent command of English vocabulary, I do feel he would benefit from some further training around communication style as he was often confusing when communicating information to the group, which created some frustration.
The food offerings varied from absolutely outstanding to dreadful. My advice would be to avoid ordering Western food as it was often not well executed. The Sri Lankan food was generally pretty good, and in some cases unbelievably good.
Adam's Peak was very tough, even if you are fit and used to hiking! However it was well worth the effort if you are up for the challenge.
Overall, a fantastic trip but needs more balance.
