Cycling in Sri Lanka

Day 1 - Arrival in Sri Lanka

Arrive in Sri Lanka and we meet at the hotel in Negombo for a trip briefing and welcome dinner.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Negombo

Day 2 - Negombo – Dambulla

After breakfast we start riding directly from the hotel along the old coast road. Keeping the sea on our left we pass the distinctive patchwork sails of the Karavas fishing community. Their boats pulled up along the beach or sailing just off the coast make for excellent photos as does the many fish markets you’ll cycle past. We leave the coast road after cycling for 30 km and head inland on quiet back roads that give you a flavor of Sri Lanka. After 50km we rack up the bikes and transfer 3 hours to Dambulla breaking for lunch at Kununegala lake. Dambulla the 2nd century Buddhist cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple, it is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in the country and contains more than 150 Buddha statues. Once we have taken in the views from the caves we’ll have a short transfer or ride to our peaceful hotel situated amongst mango trees and paddy fields.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Dambulla

Day 3 – Dambulla Loop

We’ll ride through the countryside on a mix of tarmac and red dirt roads passing orchards, paddy fields and elephant grass. Riding along the shores of Kandalama Lake we’ll have excellent views of the ancient 5th century rock fortress Sigiriya (Lion Rock), our destination. We’ll park the bikes and walk through the old water gardens before climbing 300m to the view the ruins of King Kasyapa’s summer palace on the summit. To distract us from the walk up we’ll pass the impressive frescos that depict more than 500 ladies. After our descent we’ll head to a local restaurant for lunch. Our afternoon ride follows an old irrigation canal and we cycle on red dirt roads, framed by long green grass and seeing lots of people bathing as we head back to out hotel in Dambulla.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Dambulla

Day 4 – Dambulla - Polonnaruwa

Riding from the hotel we have a bit of an ascent over the Kaladuwa Hills. The riding is on a good road surface, but wild elephants have been known to cross the road on the descent, so please beware. We’ll be riding on a tree-lined road in part of a forest reserve until we reach Polonnaruwa tank, a very large manmade lake, and lunch at a local hotel. We then ride through the historic park of Polonnaruwa, the 10th Century capital and best preserved of the ancient cities. Abandoned in the 13th Century, it was rediscovered in the 18th Century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the chiseled stone monuments show us the glory of the ancient Rajarata Kingdom. After seeing the main sites we’ll have a 20 minute transfer to our hotel on the banks of the reservoir.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Polonnaruwa

Day 5 - Polonnaruwa - Wasgomuwa

After a filling breakfast we’ll cycle out of Polonnaruwa and ride along the eastern fringes of Wasgomuwa National Park, home to a large population of Sri Lankan elephants and many other mammals — including sloth bears, leopards, deer, wild buffalo — and more than 100 bird species. There’s a chance the ride can be shortened by 25 km if the water is too high to cross at the bridge as a transfer will be necessary. In the afternoon we swap our two wheels for the four wheels of jeeps and take a 3-hour safari inside the park.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in wasgamuwa.

Day 6 – Wasgomuwa - Kandy

Today we climb up to the Laggala pass at 1000 m and what is often described as the most stunning road in Sri Lanka. Our undulating climb takes us through the Knuckles wilderness before descending 1000 m over 27 km on the so-called spice road to Matale, the spice center of Sri Lanka. Though in the tropics, it can be cool and misty at altitude, so a waterproof jacket is recommended. We transfer the last part into Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second largest city, to avoid busy roads.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Kandy

Day 7 – Kandy

Nestled among hills and centered around a lake, picturesque Kandy has long been an important religious center of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Today you can explore the town center’s old shops, antique and gem specialists or the bustling market. A must do is to see the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sacred Kandy which houses the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic, a tooth of the Buddha.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Kandy

Day 8 – Kandy - Kotagala

After a day of rest your legs will be ready for today’s tough and long day of long climbs. We transfer the first 10 km and then ride on minor estate roads through hilly countryside, passing by small Tamil communities, colorful Hindu temples, scared tree shrines and lots of tea plantations. We refuel with a tea break before starting the 420 m climb up, but at 15 km long it’s an easy gradient. Then it’s all downhill to the town of Nawalpitiya before we head up again to tea plantations and have a stop to have a cup of the finest local tea. We’ll reach a highpoint of 1386m, but if the hills are too much there’s always the support vehicle to hop into if you tire. We overnight at an old colonial bungalow set in lovely gardens to enjoy the view from.

Overnight Stay at Bungalow in Kotagala

Day 9 - Kotagala - Udawalawa

Today’s ride will be along tea estate tracks, through the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea growing region. You’ll be greeted by the pickers at work and their children as we head towards the Peak Wilderness with the distinctive triangle mountain know as Adam Peak. Riding through Norwood Bazaar the long easy climbing up to Bogowantalawa town can be broken with photo and tea stops before breasting the ridge and descending down a paved switchback road to a picnic style lunch stop with wonderful views of Balangoda Town in the valley below. We end the ride close to the town, and take rest as we pack the bikes up for the transfer to our hotel on the boarder of another national Park center around a huge man-made lake/reservoir.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Udawalawa.

Day 10 - Udawalawa – Tangalle

Riding from the hotel we pick up one of the irrigation canals flowing south, that provides water for the Banana plantations, we have 14 varieties of Bananas each with nits own taste and medicinal qualities. We stop for lunch a a small road side restaurant which use the Ash Plantain (cooking banana) and several dry zone vegetables not usually seen in the west, these all add flavor to these distinct local curry’s. Depending on the group wishes we will either transfer to the beach hotel or continue rural country roads riding the last few KM along the main coast road to Tangalle a series of rocky coves and the perfect stop to what the sunset in the India Ocean.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Udawalawa.

Day 11 – Tangalle Rest Day

Free to relax or visit the near town or the turtle sanctuary at Rekkawa about 20km away.

Overnight Stay at Hotel in Udawalawa.

Day 12 – Tangalle - Galle – Airport (Departure)

Today we transfer to the historic port of Galle (pronounced Gaul). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Galle offers a unique blend of European architectural styles and south Asian traditions.We will go for a guided walking tour of the fortified old city of Galle, then you will have time wander the narrow streets on your own or to stroll on the walls of the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers We meet up for lunch and then transfer 3 hours to Colombo where we’ll have our farewell dinner. As most flights depart late at night we’ll have a transfer to the airport or we can drop you at a hotel if you are extending your stay in Sri Lanka.