Cycle the Back Roads of Sri Lanka 14D13N (Tea Hills, Safari & Coasts), Fully Guided

Kick off your Sri Lankan cycling trip in Sigiriya. We have no activities planned for today, so take your time relaxing in the hotel and resting those legs before our two-wheeled adventure begins in earnest tomorrow. Around 6pm, say ayubowan to your tour leader and fellow travellers at our 4-star hotel, the Hotel Sigiriya. This accommodation is situated within Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle and in front of the iconic Sigiriya fortress, offering breathtaking views. Surrender to serenity with Ayurvedic spa treatments and moments of quiet reflection by the pool, all while enveloped by the breathtaking natural beauty of this ancient landscape.

We gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Sri Lankan welcome by arranging a group dinner with some of the most delectable dishes.

Approx. 48 km (30 miles), 2-3 hours biking

Set out early to climb the fifth-century rock fortress of Sigiriya before the crowds arrive. The palace ruins on the cliff and rockface frescoes are surpassed only by the magnificent aerial view over the jungle. Please note that this is not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo.

Head back to the hotel for a late breakfast and then ride along gravel roads tracing an old irrigation canal to Dambulla, a second-century BCE Buddhist cave temple. On the way, we stop at the Kandalama reservoir, which is rich in birdlife. Arriving in Dambulla, it is well worth the walk to view the five caves, which contain many ancient Buddha statues, some carved from solid rock. Returning via the bustling market town, we take another quiet back road through chilli and rice fields before pedaling back to our hotel.

For dinner, you can choose to check out the hotel’s main restaurant for an alfresco dinner featuring delicious Chinese and Western dishes, or consider exploring nearby restaurants like the family-run Mili’s Restaurant, where you can savour chicken kottu and vegetable curry.

Approx. 56 km (34 miles), 2-3 hours biking

This morning, we have a long ride along a serene back road, which forms part of the Sigiriya nature reserve, where you often find monitor lizards and monkeys, before joining the highway to Polonnaruwa and cycling to Hotel Giritale, our home for the night. This 3-star resort in the heart of Sri Lanka offers scenic lake vistas and a peaceful escape. After about 24 km (15 miles), we take a 15-minute bus transfer to avoid a stretch where wild elephants roam, then get back on our bikes to complete the ride.

The second stretch of the ride takes us through tiny hamlets and verdant rice paddy fields. We pass a couple of quiet reservoirs and an irrigation canal running parallel to the road – look out for mongoose, kingfisher, storks, and birds of prey amongst the rustic scenery.

Later, we explore the ruined city of Polonnaruwa, dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries. In the evening, you can choose to join your tour leader at a family-owned restaurant to experience local food and culture.

Approx. 76 km (47 miles), 4-6 hours biking

We follow a 10-kilometre (6 miles) long artificial dam and canal to the source of a local lake, the Amban Ganga River. Our afternoon ride is fringed by the Kalanduwa hills on one side and the Wasgomuwa Wildlife Park on the other. As the jungle gives way to plantations, we enter Sri Lanka's spice-growing region. The ride starts at an elevation of 100 m (328 feet). Our destination is at an elevation of 250 m (820 feet). Upon arriving at the main road, we disembark and board the bus for the journey, as the road to Kandy can get very busy. En route, we stop at a spice garden to learn more about the spices used in the flavourful Sri Lankan curries.

During today’s ride, we also visit a special roadside tea shop near Polonnuaruwa. Following the stall’s disintegration, our Sri Lankan tour leader, Ruwan Balasuriya, donated the prize money he won entering our Leaders’ Hall of Fame to help the owners renovate the stall, making it a welcome stop for all passersby.

At the end of the day, retire to your luxurious escape, Hotel Topaz, located on Anniewatte Mountain and famed for its 360-degree views of the city. Choosing to enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Tamarind Restaurant means you get to enjoy a mouth-watering mix of Sri Lankan favourites and international dishes, including Dutch and French-inspired cuisines. You can also ask your tour leader for recommendations if you wish to savour some other flavour.

Relish a free day to explore. Kandy has a lot to offer, including the magnificent botanical gardens, the temple of the Tooth, and streets lined with curio shops. The neighbouring hills are adorned with wonderful temples. Walk around the lake in the heart of the city to see large monitor lizards, fruit bats, palm squirrels, and birds such as kingfishers, pelicans, and night herons. Also, don’t miss the fruit and vegetable market for a chance to see busy Kandy in full swing.

Approx. 80 km (50 miles), 4-6 hours biking

If you’re up for a challenge, it’s 84 km (52 miles). Climb up to 2,000 m (6,562 feet) above sea level to reach this favoured hill station.

A short drive from the hotel will take us to the starting point of the ride, allowing us to bypass Kandy’s busiest roads. 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 is tea country, famous for producing the finest teas on the island. We pedal through thousands of acres of tea crops, where you will spot the tea pickers moving swiftly between the bushes in their colourful clothes.

For anyone who isn’t a fan of hills, we strongly recommend the train ride to Nuwara Eliya. Tickets for the train journey are subject to availability – they can only be purchased on the day and cannot be reserved in advance. If unavailable, we can use the bus instead. Arrive at your home for the next two nights: the 4-star Araliya Red, located in the heart of Nuwara Eliya and offering breathtaking garden and mountain views. Its restaurants feature menus containing Sri Lankan, Chinese, Indian, international, and fusion cuisines, depending on your mood and cravings.

Approx. 20 km (12 miles), 1-2 hours biking

Nuwara Eliya was a famous hill station during the British era and is located in the chilly highland air at 1,890m (6,200ft). Known locally as Little England, it is dotted with British-style houses and parks, and even features a golf club and racecourse.

After a leisurely breakfast, we take a short bus transfer into Nuwara Eliya town and then cycle to a tea factory through little villages and patches of vegetables. As we twist and turn on the meandering, windy road, we get to see the town from different viewpoints. After understanding the journey from leaf to cup, we pedal back to the hotel through lush green tea plantations.

In the afternoon, you are free to explore Nuwara Eliya. You can journey to the Horton Plains National Park and hike to the famed World’s End (it’s approximately a 10 km (6-mi) circular loop that takes between 3-4 hours to complete) or enjoy a more leisurely activity like a visit to the lively Gregory Lake and perhaps enjoy a picnic.

Approx. 62 km (39 miles), 3-5 hours biking

This morning, we cycle through hill country towards Ella, pausing briefly for tea in Bandarawela, a trading centre where exotic tea from the east coast is traded for hill country vegetables. After a relaxing tea break, we take backroads through hundreds of acres of tea plantations and ride along the edge of the Central Highlands to reach Ella. On reaching Ella, we stop for a late lunch before check-in.

Your accommodation is the colonial-style Hotel Country Comfort, popular for its prime location on Police Station Road, a minute walk from Ella town and the railway station. We have the chance to watch the sunset from the Ella Gap viewpoint. On a clear day, you can see the coast glistening in the distance.

In the evening, we join a local family to share authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and learn firsthand about their customs and culture.

Approx. 102 km (63 miles), 5-7+ hours biking

Descending 1,000m (3,281ft), we leave the awe-inspiring scenery of the Uva Province for the calm rolling hills of the dry zone, taking a break en route at the dramatic Ravana Ella waterfall before stopping at the rock-cut Buddha statues at Buduruvagala. The 15m (49 ft) 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 serenity here is enhanced by the lotus-covered lake.

We relax on the banks and eat fresh fruit before riding to lunch. Here we can take cover from the heat of the day before the final 30km (19mi) to Tissamaharama, the capital of the old Ruhuna kingdom, and then to our lodging, the Chaarya Resort & Spa. This 5-star resort, formerly known as Hotel Chandrika, is seated within lush tropical gardens and features elegantly designed modern decor. For dinner, check out its on-site restaurant, which serves a varied buffet of tasty Asian and international cuisines. You can also opt for nearby places to eat, such as The Flavors Restaurant, Chef Lady Restaurant, and Smoky Kitchen.

Approx. 41 km (26 miles), 2-3 hours biking

In the morning, we journey to the Kataragama temple, which lies 10mi (10km ) northeast of Tissa. People of all faiths come to seek favour with the god Skanda, who is reputed to restore people’s health. This vibrant and noisy pooja (ritual) is always lively, with thousands of pilgrims during the festival season from July to August. Tissa is close to Yala National Park, the best park in Sri Lanka for leopard sightings.

We eat lunch and then have a safari in the park, where we may see elephants, deer, wild boars, sloth bears, Asian jackals, lots of birdlife, and, if we’re lucky, a leopard. We traverse the lesser-visited Block 5 area, which has denser vegetation than the open plains but the same chances of seeing the elusive leopards and sloth bears, all without having to compete with multiple other game vehicles. Afterwards, we return to Tissa for the night.

Please note: the sanctuary may be closed for 4 to 6 weeks from September to October to allow park authorities to check the animals. We therefore go to a nearby alternative, usually Lunugamvehera or Udawalawe National Park.

Approx. 36 km (22 miles), 2-3 hours biking

Leaving early to escape the heat of the dry zone, we ride along the boundary of Bundala Bird Sanctuary. We hit the main road for the final 19mi (30km) to Hambantota, a series of sandy bays extending from this typical coastal town. We then transfer from Hambantota to Ahangama by coach.

For the next two nights, we stay at Insight Resort in Ahangama – our 3-star beachfront hotel famous for its laid-back atmosphere and proximity to popular surfing and whale watching spots. You can enjoy dinner at its in-house restaurant featuring authentic Sri Lankan and Western cuisine.

Today, you can decide your own adventure. Either enjoy a slow day at the hotel or join a late-morning ride (25 km/15.5 mi) along rustic roads to Wandurugama village, where you stop at a colonial manor house for high tea and an authentic Sri Lankan snack. Presently, it is known as Thalpe Walawwa Heritage Villa and is occupied by a prominent family within the local ancient Sri Lankan society. Quite a few distinguished personalities were born and spent their childhood in this beautiful residence. After the visit, return to the hotel via Koggala Lake (approximately a three-hour ride).

You have the afternoon to yourself and can choose to explore the beach. Laze by the pool or join an optional boat ride through mangrove swamps to a cinnamon plantation and monkey island on Koggala Lake. Later in the afternoon, we can view the stilt fishermen climb their poles to catch a few bites for supper. From November to April, we can also go whale watching off Dondra head, near Mirisa, which is one of the best places in the world to see blue and sperm whales. Large pods of dolphins often accompany the boats.

After breakfast, we leave early and stop in Galle. The fort here was built in 1663 after the Dutch took the island from the Portuguese. The old ramparts and small back streets bring to life some of the history of the fight for colonial domination of this precious island. You’re free to find your own lunch, meeting back at the bus mid-afternoon for the two-hour drive to Colombo, and our final accommodation for the trip, Hotel Cinnamon Red. It’s a 4-star, lean-luxury hotel at the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital, offering easy access to major city attractions. You are free for the rest of the day 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.

You’ve explored Sri Lanka from the saddle, hiked striking Sigiriya and been on safari in Yala National Park, but today, the adventure comes to an end. Enjoy one last breakfast before a dip in the rooftop pool, a perfect time to reflect on your incredible adventure.

Alternatively, if you’re craving a little R&R, speak to your sales representative about a post-trip adventure in the Maldives or time relaxing on the golden sands of Sri Lanka.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.