Date: Year round departures available (join a small group or build your own departure)
Host: Local guides
Group size: Minimum 4/Maximum 14 participants
Cost: From US$2,890 per person
Take a 9-day guided adventure in paradise. Not only does this trip to Sri Lanka include some of the most beautiful bike riding in South Asia, but it also includes great hikes through national parks, a jeep safari with the chance to see leopards, luxurious lodgings, mouthwatering food and a cultural experience like no other.
Sri Lanka, a small island with a big heart, is well known for its highland tea plantations that we will spend some days riding through. We also take in the city of Kandy with its sacred Buddha tooth relic and pleasant climate. Pedal by Yala National Park where we often see animal and birdlife and spend some time on the southern coast with its crashing surf, relaxed pace of life and historic Portuguese forts.
This is the perfect tour to see some of the best of Sri Lanka in just over a week. You'll get a taste of the highlights & hidden treasures and be blown away by the diversity this small island nation boasts.
Highlights
- Explore Horton Plains National Park and take a walk to World’s End for dramatic mountain views.
- Take a tea tour to learn about the interesting process, then make tasty Sri Lankan curry in a cooking class.
- A jeep safari through Yala National Park reveals elephants, leopards, wild boar, buffalo, and monkeys.
- Visit Dutch fort at Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Questions? Please contact one of the Civilized Adventures' Adventure Travel Specialists at info@civilizedadv.com
Itinerary
Day 1: Train & Bike to Kandy
We pick you up from your Colombo hotel and catch the train into the hills. The ride takes 3-4 hours and we will arrive near Kandy at around lunch time.
Meet our support team and your bikes. On our first cycling day we ride from the train station into the center of the town, on small road to avoid the traffic passing the river and local villages. In the evening, visit the Temple of the Tooth and enjoy our first delicious dinner together. 26km ride (L,D)
Day 2: Bike to Gampola, Train to Nuwara Eliya
Cycle on back roads and leave Kandy. We will be surrounded by tea plantations and will have our first climbing sections in front of us which are again followed by a nice descend with minimal traffic. The ride ends at Gampola train station where we board the next train for higher elevations to Nuwara Eliya. Get your warm clothes out! 27km or 43km ride (B,L,D). Note that the short ride group today will be able to linger over breakfast a little longer, before taking a short van transfer to their start point at the top of the climb. From there on, the two groups will follow the same route.
Day 3: Hike Horton Plains to World’s End, Cycle & Tea Factory
We get up very early and transfer up to Horton Plains National Park for some light snacks before we start the walk through grassy highlands to World’s End. Enjoy the astonishing views from the clifftop. With some luck we see monkeys or deer.
After the hike, we will be transferred by van back to town, where our lunch will be arranged. After lunch, we will cycle through tea plantations and visit an operational Tea Factory where those little buds picked by the colorfully dressed ladies are turned into a salable product. Then we will ride through Ambewela, an area known for its dairy farms. We stop off in this quaint little village and then ride the ridge back to Nuwara Eliya through a lovely, lush green landscape. 39km ride (B,L,D)
Day 4: Ella - Ride & Cooking Class
For the long ride group today, we get to lose about 1000m in elevation over about 20km, so by the time you need to start pedaling again, you might have forgotten how! The short ride group will meet us some way into the ride where the terrain undulates before descending into the lovely little town of Ella.
The scenery through today is beautiful at every turn. Tea as far as the eye can see and lots of friendly, somewhat surprised villagers, not so accustomed to seeing foreigners riding bikes through their village. Back in town we will join a cooking class and whip some Sri Lanka curry. 29 or 63km ride (B,L,D)
Day 5: Yala - Ride & Transfer to the Beach
Cycle a few more climbs through villages and tea plantations with stunning views. A huge descend will await us after our morning tea. We reach flat roads and the heat increases again when we reach lunch. After lunch we transfer to the coast and reach our stunningly located resort. Enjoy a walk on the beach and a sundowner before dinner. 50 or 65 km ride (B,L,D)
Day 6: Safari of Yala National Park
Today board a jeep for Yala National Park. With a bit of luck we will see deer, wild boar, buffalos, elephants, monkeys and leopards. Rest of the day is at leisure. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Udawalawe – Ride & Optional Elephant Safari
Back on our cycle, we will passe through a dry landscape, punctuated by small villages. As we reach the town of Udawalawe, we will start to see more and more irrigated land where farmers will be growing a variety of crops including rice. Udawalawe National Park is located just nearby our hotel. A safari is not organized as part of the tour, but your Tour Leader can easily arrange one for you if you would like to visit the park. This park is known mostly for the Elephants of which there are a great many. 46 or 75 km ride (B,L,D)
Day 8: Ride to historic Galle
We cycle towards the coast and the historical city of Galle. The route today features lots of variety and the short option concludes at lunch. The short ride group will then move on to Galle while any hardy riders wanting to ride the big one can continue on. 56 or 102 km ride (B,L,D)
Day 9: Guided Walk of Galle Fort, Tour Concludes
Today visit the Portuguese fort with its stunning coast setting. After lunch, you will be transferred back to Colombo by bus. (B,L)
Call us to create YOUR Custom Civilized Adventure!
272-412 Km riding. The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads on secondary roads and quiet country lanes. There are a few sustained climbs (although not too steep) at times and some thrilling descents. There is always a support vehicle on hand to give you a lift if you need a break from the riding.
Dates & Cost
- January 24 - February 01, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- February 27 - March 07, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- March 20 - 28, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- May 29 - June 06, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- July 25 - August 02, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- August 14 - 22, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- September 25 - October 03, 2021 - US$2,890 per person
- December 22 - 30, 2021 - US$2,990 per person
- December 31, 2021 - January 08, 2022 - US$2,990 per person
There is no surcharge for single travelers - we will match you with another same-sex single traveler. If you want a single room there is an optional upgrade that you can book.
Accommodation and tour are subject to availability. Please contact us for more information and pricing based on your dates and customizations.
