14 days: Hidden Treasures

Schedule:

• Meet at the Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

• Overnight stay at Suriya Arana (or similar), Negombo (BB)

Upon your arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, you will be transferred to a nearby hotel in the coastal town of Negombo where you will spend your first night. Relax at your accommodation before having a pre-dinner meeting with your cycle guide(s) in order to discuss the cycling programme.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Giriulla – Ambanpola

  • Distance: Approx. 78 km

  • Time: Approx. 6 hrs

  • Grading: Soft

• Dinner & overnight stay at Big Game Camp (or similar), Wilpattu (HB)

After breakfast in Negombo, you will be transferred to Giriulla. This city is nourished by the Maha Oya River and will serve as the starting point to your cycling adventure. This 91 km trail across part of the country’s dry zone will be the ideal cycling session to warm you up for what lies ahead. This 6 – hour cycling trail will cover a fairly flat terrain with a combination of both tarred and byroads. Due to the conditions of the area, you are advised to keep yourself hydrated at all times. See all that rural Sri Lanka has to offer as you cycle across beautiful scenery, quiet villages and vast, green paddy fields. Keep an eye out for exotic birds as a vast array of species inhabit these areas. The session will end at Ambanpola from where you will be transported to your accommodation near Wilpattu where you can feel the presence of wild animals.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Wilpattu – Anuradhapura

  • Distance: Approx. 42 km

  • Time: Approx. 3 – 4 hrs

  • Grading: Soft

• Visit Anuradhapura

• Dinner & overnight stay at Elephas Resort (or similar), Sigiriya (HB)

After your overnight camping adventure, it’s time to hit the road again. This time you will be cycling through some of Sri Lanka’s most important historical sites which date as far back as the 4th century BC. But first, your trail will take you along the outskirts of the Wilpattu National Park. This park is known as one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest parks while being famous for elephants, leopards and sloth bears. You will encounter gravel and tarred roads on a fairly flat track while you will also get a chance to get close and engage with the villagers in the vicinity.

Schedule:

• Visit Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress

• Cycling:

  • Route: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa

  • Distance: Approx. 78 km

    • Time: Approx. 4 hrs

• Grading: Soft

• Dinner & overnight stay at Hotel Mahanuge (or similar), Polonnaruwa (HB)

After an early breakfast visit the magnificent 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya. This palace and stronghold was once inhabited by renegade King Kashyapa. It is also renowned as one of the best remaining examples of ancient urban planning. Afterwards you will continue the tour by cycling to the second most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa, which dates back to the 13th century. The track provides a smooth route on a fairly flat and open terrain as well as taking you through a forest patch. You will cycle along the great Minneriya Tank which was built by King Mahasen. This wonderful feat of human endeavour covers an area of approximately 4,670 acres. Visiting the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is kept for the next morning.

Schedule:

• Visit Polonnaruwa

• Cycling:

  • Route: Polonnaruwa – Pasikuda

  • Distance: Approx. 70 km

  • Time: Approx. 5 hrs

  • Grading: Soft

• Overnight stay at Amaya Beach (or similar), Pasikuda (BB)

Following a rejuvenating rest in Polonnaruwa you will cycle from this ancient city to Pasikuda which boasts one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka. Situated on the eastern coast of the country, Pasikuda also has one of the longest stretches of shallow coastline in the world. You will travel across the Manampitiya Bridge which will be one of the key features of today’s ride. This bridge is renowned for being one of the longest metal bridges in the country and was once used as a crossing for both automobiles and the local trains. This area is also known for its dry weather, so it is advisable to keep yourself well-hydrated at all times.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Karadiyaru – Dambana

  • Distance: Approx. 65 km

  • Time: Approx. 5 – 6 hrs

  • Grading: Soft

• Visit indigenous tribes museum

• Dinner & overnight stay at Keven’s Casa (or similar), Dambana (HB)

After enjoying the golden beaches of Pasikuda, it’s time to go exploring into the heart of Sri Lanka. Discover Sri Lanka’s indigenous roots with a ride to Dambana where the country’s native “Veddah” tribes reside. Dambana is home to around a thousand Veddahs and is known as a refuge for this indigenous population as well as their moribund Veddah language. Due to its prominence, this is also a well-known location for many eco-tourism projects as well. You will gradually cycle inland until you reach Dambana.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Gurulupota – Kandy

  • Distance: Approx. 65 km

  • Time: Approx. 4 – 5 hrs

  • Grading: Hard

• Overnight stay at Thilanka Hotel (or similar), Kandy (BB)

Today you will have a much more challenging task on your hands as you will switch it up a gear and tackle the hills of Kandy. Following an initial ascent of about 24 kilometres you will reach Hunnasgiriya from where you will descend all the way down to Kandy. You will cycle along the Mahaweli River, the longest river in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the hill capital of the island and is also a very important location in terms of history, culture and religion with its numerous attractions.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Kandy loop

  • Distance: Approx. 53 km

  • Time: Approx. 4 – 5 hrs

  • Grading: Moderate

• Visit Tea Museum & Royal Botanical gardens

• Overnight stay at Thilanka Hotel (or similar), Kandy (BB)

Today, you will spend the morning cycling through the charming landscape in Kandy. Tea plantations and quaint rural villages are aplenty in this city and a visit to the Tea Museum in Hantana is also part of the day’s itinerary. After returning to the city, we have organised a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya before taking a tour of the city itself. Kandy is one of Sri Lanka’s most important cities both historically and culturally. Known as the last bastion of the ancient kings, this hillside heaven is a living museum of the past. You can spend the rest of the day exploring the city on your own or shopping for some of the local crafts that include brassware, batik and lacquer work.

Schedule:

• Train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya (Subject to availability!)

• Cycling:

  • Route: Nanu Oya – Nuwara Eliya

  • Distance: Approx. 7 km

  • Time: Approx. 30 min

  • Grading: Moderate

• Overnight stay at Heaven Seven Hotel (or similar), Nuwara Eliya (BB)

You will take a scenic train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya (Subject to availability!) and thereafter cycle around 7 km from the station to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya. This hilly paradise is known for its vast green tea plantations, colonial estates and its cool climate. It boasts some of the best mountainous scenery available in the country and will no doubt be a pleasure to explore. Spend the rest of the evening roaming around the city. Often referred to as “Little England”, Nuwara Eliya is a doorway to a different time. This city was heavily influenced by the colonial planters who lived here and provides a truly unique look into Sri Lanka’s past. Many of the structures here retain its old colonial style including the Golf Club which dates back to 1889.

Schedule:

• Morning Trek Horton Plains National Park

• Cycling:

  • Route: Horton Plains – Kalupahana

  • Distance: Approx. 23 km

  • Time: Approx. 3 hrs

  • Grading: Moderate

• Dinner and overnight stay at River Garden Cottages (or similar), Belihuloya (HB)

Following a relatively relaxing previous day it’s time to get back on the road. After breakfast and a warm pot of Sri Lankan tea you will be transported to Horton Plains. Situated around 2100 m above sea level, Horton Plains is a large plateau situated snugly in the misty mountains of Nuwara Eliya. Keep an eye out for Sambar deer and Leaf Monkeys during the ascent. Since cycling is not allowed here, we will conduct a nature walk through the Horton Plains National Park which is around 10,000 hectares. Elk, deer, squirrels, wild boars, hares and porcupines reside within the park along with an array of migratory birds. You will then get back on your bike and descend through what’s known as “Satan’s Steps”. This steep descent gets its name from the hairpin turns along its path. After a brief stop at Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall, Bambarakanda, a further 6 km descent awaits you.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Belihuloya – Hambegamuwa

  • Distance: Approx. 71 km

  • Time: Approx. 5 – 6 hrs

  • Grading: Moderate

• Optional: afternoon safari Udawalawe National Park

• Dinner and overnight stay at Big Game Camp (or similar), Udawalawe (FB)

It’s time to experience some of Sri Lanka’s most renowned wildlife highlights. You will cycle from Belihuloya to Udawalawe, home to one of Sri Lanka’s most beloved national parks. You will ride alongside the Samanala wewa (reservoir) which has the second-largest hydroelectric scheme in Sri Lanka. Once in Udawalawe you will have the option of taking an afternoon safari in the national park which is populated by large herds of elephants. The Udawalawe National Park is the only place in the world where an elephant sighting is guaranteed on every drive.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Godakawela – Weddagala

  • Distance: Approx. 44 km

  • Time: Approx. 5 hrs

  • Grading: Hard

• Dinner and overnight stay at Sinharaja Adventure Resort (or similar), Sinharaja (HB)

• After a comprehensive tour of a range of terrains in the dry zone it’s time to make a foray into the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka. The beautiful and enigmatic Sinharaja Forest Reserve is your destination today. Roughly translated as ‘Kingdom of the Lion’, it is known to be the country’s most treasured rainforest and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. It has also been named a World Heritage Site. After breakfast near Udawalawe you will begin your cycling journey to Sinharaja while a mixture of rugged terrain will challenge you on this trail. However, the shift in climate will help you cope with the strains of this trail. The cool atmosphere of the Wet Zone together with the breath-taking bird and flora species you may encounter en route will make this an unforgettable cycling experience.

Schedule:

• Cycling:

  • Route: Neluwa – Galle

  • Distance: Approx. 62 km

  • Time: Approx. 5 – 6 hrs

  • Grading: Moderate

• Visit Galle Dutch Fort

• Overnight stay at Joe’s Resort (or similar), Unawatuna (BB)

From the cool climate and the natural setting of the Sinharaja rainforest to the historical port city of Galle. Today you will head back south to visit one of Sri Lanka’s most significant port cities and the capital of the Southern Province. Galle served as an important hub for the colonists who once occupied these lands and is filled with several historical and cultural sites that point to its eventful past. You will descend through forest patches along a fairly soft and moderate track while exposing yourself once again to the heat of the Dry Zone. Be sure once again to keep yourself hydrated throughout the journey. The final stretch before reaching Galle will be on a flat surfaced road.

Schedule:

• Transfer to airport

• Optional: extend your stay

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake in time to catch your flight back home. Take with you a host of memories and experiences of Sri Lanka that will be second to none.