Cycling Tour Sri Lanka  14 Days

Cycle your way through the various landscapes Sri Lanka has to offer. A support van and passenger bus will be available throughout the journey.

Negombo>>Dambulla>>Sigiriya>>Polonnaruwa>>Knuckles>>Kandy>>Nuwara Eliya>>
Udawalawe/Embilipitiya>>Tissamaharama/Yala>>Bundala>>Matara>>
Unawatuna>>Mirissa>>Weligama>>Galle>>Departure

 

Day 1:   (10-15km)

• Welcome on arrival and transfer to a hotel in the coastal town of Negombo.
• Short ride around Negombo and surrounding area.
• Overnight in Negombo

Day 2:   (40-45km, 270m ascent and descent)

• Travel to the historic city of Dambulla, riding along certain stretches of the route. (Via Dankotuwa, Kuliyapitiya, Kurunegala).
• Visit the Cave Temples of Dambulla and proceed to Sigiriya.
• Overnight in Sigiriya.

Day 3:   (60-65km, 250m ascent, 350m descent)

• Climb the Sigiriya rock fortress in the morning.
• Ride from Sigiriya to ancient Sri Lanka’s 2nd capital, Polonnaruwa. (Via Giritale)
• Overnight in Polonnaruwa

Day 4:   (30-35km, 100m ascent and descent)

• Spend the day exploring the archeological sites of Polonnaruwa, the Parakkrama Lake and surrounding rural villages (by bicycle)
• Overnight in Polonnaruwa.

Day 5: (40-45km, 250m ascent and descent)   

• Cycle and drive to Kandy, passing through the Knuckles Mountain Range and the Matale Spice Gardens on the way.
• Overnight in Kandy.

Day 6:  (No cycling)

• Explore the city of Kandy on foot.
• Spend the day at leisure in Kandy.
• Overnight in Kandy.

Day 7:  (OPTIONAL: 18km, 900m ascent)

• Drive through lush tea fields and forests of the central highlands to Nuwara Eliya. (Visit a tea estate on the way)
• Optional 18km ride. (Steep climb on a good tarmac)
• Explore the picturesque town of Nuwara Eliya and its surrounding tea fields on foot.
• Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 8:   (60-65km, 400m ascent, 1500m descent)

• Ride through the highlands, a tea estate (Haputale) and Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall (Bambarakanda), towards Udawalawe.
• Overnight in Udawalawe.

Day 9:   (40-45km, 315m ascent, 730m descent)

• Cycle through the southern slopes of Rajawaka and Pallebedda.
• Drive to the Elephant Transit Home, to view the feeding of orphaned baby elephants.
• Spend the afternoon at leisure. (Optional afternoon safari in Udawalawe National Park)
• Overnight in Embilipitiya.

Day 10: (45-50km, 200m ascent, 250m descent)

• Travel (cycle and drive) to the ancient South Eastern city of Tissamaharama.
• Optional afternoon safari in Yala National Park.
• Overnight in Tissamaharama.

Day 11:   (65-70km, 450m ascent and descent)

• Cycle and drive along the coast and rural backroads, via Bundala National Park and Matara, to the coastal town of Unawatuna.
• Overnight in Unawatuna.

Day 12: (30-35km, 100m ascent and descent)

• Drive to Mirissa and cycle along the coast and backroads to Weligama Bay, with a possible option to visit an Ayurvedic snake doctor.
• Return to Unawatuna by train or bus and explore the nearby Galle fort in the evening.
• Overnight in Unawatuna.

Day 13:  (No cycling)

• Spend the day enjoying the sun, sand and surf.
• A whale watching excursion off the coast of Mirissa is optional, depending on the season (December-April)
• Overnight in Unawatuna

Day 14:  (No cycling)

• Departure.