90% of the roads in this itinerary will be Tarmac and the rest of the 10% is with little gravel roads. There is always the support vehicle which will accompany all bikers the whole cycling legs so you´ll have the opportunity to switch whenever you want to the van. We also recommend to bring your own, well fitted helmet and wear it throughout the whole cycling trip.

Your individual flight arrives at Bandaranaike International Airport and we transfer you to Sigiriya, (approx.. 4 hours) where we stay for the next 2 nights.

After breakfast, we ride along gravel roads following an old irrigation canal to Dambulla, the 2nd Century BC Buddhist cave temple. It is well worth the walk to view the five caves, which contain many ancient Buddha statues, some carved from the solid rock. Returning via the coach at our hotel for lunch (Clients Pay Direct) and a relaxing swim in the pool. In the late afternoon we climb the 5th Century Rock Fortress of Sigiriya to see the beautiful frescoes painted onto the rock face (not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo). The ruins of the palace on the summit are surpassed only by the magnificent aerial view of the surrounding jungle. Stay as long as you like, 7as it’s only 10 minutes’ walk back to our hotel. (380 hm)

After breakfast transfer to Minneriya Junction by the coach and then start cycling up to the lunch place. The lunch place is a typical Sri Lankan village house.You can interact with the locals and engage in a cooking activity prior to having lunch and then enjoy a Sri Lankan village lunch with the local family members. Then transfer to the hotel and relax for a while. For those who fancy a swim, the hotel also has a swimming pool, a pleasant place to spend the hot early afternoon. Later we tour the old ruined city of Polonnaruwa, which dates from the 10-13th Centuries. (288 hm)

We follow the local lake’s man‐made 6km dam and feeder canal to its source, the Amban Ganga River. Then you reach Bakamuna and from there take the coach to Matale. We enter the spice growing region of Sri Lanka. The night is spent in a family‐run guest house with small cabanas dotted around the estate, it’s basic but the home cooking in clay pots on wood fired stoves gives you the real flavor of Sri Lanka. If you would like to find out more about the spices used in the piquant Lankan curries, the owners can arrange a visit to one of the renowned spice gardens a short walk down the road. (690 hm)

Today is tougher as we head for the hills and Kandy, the spiritual and cultural capital of the hill country. Those who feel like an easy day can jump onto the bus for the 50km trip to Kandy, while the rest of us pedal away, riding through the Moorish town of Matale. Its inhabitants, descendants from Arab spice traders, still control most of the spice market, which is a good place to pick up some freshly ground curry powder. As Kandy’s roads are as old as the city itself, we may have to drive the last few kilometers to avoid the traffic. Surrounded by hills, the town is centered around a small lake and the Temple of the Tooth. The afternoon is free to wander through the streets and markets. Half way through the journey you get in to the coach and proceed to Kandy. (720 hm)

Optional Visit the Temple of tooth relic / Cost Per Person – USD 10.00, booking and paying locally

 

A free day to explore the town. Kandy has many interesting attractions including the wonderful Botanical Gardens, the famous Temple of the Tooth, and streets lined with interesting curio shops. The surrounding hills are dotted with wonderful temples.

Optional – Visit the Royal Botanical Garden. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British.  It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers and the beautiful avenues and Sprawling lawns are breathtaking./ Cost Per Person – USD 10.00 , booking and paying locally

In the evening visit a famous local pub in the Kandy city and you can experience the way of local life in Kandy. (booking and paying locally) It will be a different experience for you as you can see how people get together in the evening to spend time with their friends while sipping a beer in their hand.

 

For anyone who doesn’t do hills, we strongly recommend the train ride to Nuwara Eliya, the highest point on the island! For those who feel like a challenge, it’s 84km, climbing up to 2000m above sea level to reach the highest and most favored hill station. For the first part of the ride we take the old road, a far more pleasant route, and one of the few places where you see terraced paddy fields. Beyond the paddy fields is tea country and the area is reputed to produce the finest teas on the island.
Tickets for the train journey are dependent on availability on the day, although usually available there may be the chance that the bus will need to be used instead for those who don’t fancy the hill.
Those who like to experience cycling in the uphill can cycle up to Gampola and get in to the coach and complete journey to Nuwara Eliya. (2100 hm)

 

In the morning we visit a tea factory on the edge of the town, and then cycle through hill country towards Ella, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant and later tea in Bandarawella, a trading center where exotic fruits from the east coast are traded for hill‐country vegetables. Arriving in the late afternoon, we watch the sunset from the famous view point Ella Gap. On a clear day you can see the coast shimmering in the distance.

Descending 1000m we leave the breathtaking scenery of Uva Province for the gentle rolling hills of the dry zone, stopping at the impressive rock-cut Buddha Statues at Buduruvagala. The giant 15m rock carving of Buddha is flanked by small figures depicting his helpers and a very rare image of Maitreya, the future Buddha, which dates from the 10th Century. The tranquillity of the place is enhanced by the lotus‐covered lake; we will relax on the lakeside banks and enjoy some fresh fruit before the lunch. You will take the coach up to Thanamalwila and the ride the rest. (442 hm)

In the morning we cycle to Kataragama temple, which lies 16km northeast of Tissa. People of all faiths come to seek favour with the god Skanda, who is reputed to restore people’s health. The colourful and noisy pooja is always busy, with thousands of pilgrims during the festival season from July- August. Tissa is close to Yala National Park, the best park in Sri Lanka to see leopard. After lunch we have a safari in the park, when we may see elephant, deer, wild boar, sloth bear, Asian jackal, lots of birdlife and if very lucky a leopard. We return to Tissa for the night (please note that the sanctuary may be closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. We therefore go to an alternative area close by, usually the Udawalawe National Park). (181 hm)

In the morning we cycle to Kataragama temple, which lies 16km northeast of Tissa. People of all faiths come to seek favour with the god Skanda, who is reputed to restore people’s health. The colourful and noisy pooja is always busy, with thousands of pilgrims during the festival season from July- August. Tissa is close to Yala National Park, the best park in Sri Lanka to see leopard. After lunch we have a safari in the park, when we may see elephant, deer, wild boar, sloth bear, Asian jackal, lots of birdlife and if very lucky a leopard. We return to Tissa for the night (please note that the sanctuary may be closed for 4-6 weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. We therefore go to an alternative area close by, usually the Udawalawe National Park). (181 hm)

Relax at the hotel or join a late morning ride along rural roads to the village of Wandurugama and then transfer to a small temple to back before returning via Koggala Lake and then transfer to the hotel. At the temple you can worship Lord Buddha and Buddhist monk will give you the blessings with chanting pirith. This afternoon is free to explore the beach area or swim and laze by the pool, late afternoon the stilt fishermen climb their poles to catch a few bites for supper which is worth a watch. Late afternoon we can enjoy some sun‐downers followed by evening seafood BBQ at the hotel. From November to April you can also go whale watching off Dondra head, near Mirissa, which is one of the best places in the world for seeing blue and sperm whales. Huge pods of dolphins are also often seen accompanying the boats. If you are going for whale watching you need to do leave the hotel early morning.

Optional : We can offer a whale and dolphin watching tour in Mirissa which has to be as early as leaving the hotel around 6:30 am as the boats leave at 7:00 am. Approximately it will take 3 -3 ½ hrs for the whale watching program. Then clients will be returned back to the hotel around 11.00am. (This will vary according to the weather conditions/ time taken to witness the whales by the clients ect.) This can be done only on day 14 early in the morning. If so you will have to do the Galle Excursion late in the morning. / Cost Per Person – USD 65.00 , bookable and payable locally
Whale watching is seasonal and sighting whales can be arranged only during the period of NOVEMBER – APRIL

 

Leisure day at the hotel.
Optional – water sports activity directly paid in the hotel

 

Leaving mid-morning, we will stop to visit Galle. The Old Dutch fort was built in 1663 after the Dutch took the island from the Portuguese. The old ramparts and small back streets bring alive some of the history of the fight for colonial domination of this prized island. You’re free to find your own lunch, meeting back at the bus at 2.30pm for the 2hr drive to Colombo, arriving late afternoon. The rest of the day is free to relax by the pool or shop along the main street. For the last evening meal we can choose from one of the many restaurants in Colombo.

Optional: You can visit an Orphanage close by and do a service project to the small kids who lives in the orphanage.

 

Transfer to the airport. Individual departure flight.