We will meet you at Bandaranayake International Airport and transfer you to our nearby hotel in Negombo. This evening you can get to know your fellow cyclists over a welcome dinner.
Our first day will give you the perfect taste of Sri Lanka, riding amongst coconut and rubber plantations and rice paddies. Next, we begin climbing through the Balana Gap, then onto the Royal Botanical Gardens. From here we save the best until last, as we end the day in Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s most cherished destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site which houses the Temple of the Tooth.
Today’s first stop is the small town of Matale, renowned for its spices. There’s more Sri Lankan scenery today in the form of colourful fruit orchards en route to the Golden Temple of Dambulla. You will find out more about the rock temple that was built in 1st century BC before discovering the caves King Walagamba hid in during his 14 year exile. During this time he built some of Sri Lanka’s finest rock temples.
Today we visit a landmark Sri Lankan monument, Sigiriya, aka the ‘Lion Rock’. Cycling along the shores of the Kandalama lake will give us great views of the rock fortress, built in the 5th century before we explore this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This morning we head to Minneriya National Park for a jeep safari, where you will hopefully see some wild elephants. The park also provides habitat to a number of species including buffalo, sloth bears, leopards, crocodiles and jackals. We’ll cycle along a flat tree lined road through a forest and go onto explore Polonnaruwa this afternoon, our fourth UNESCO World Heritage Site and a 10th century capital.
Today there will be a transfer to Anuradhapura, one of the oldest and continuously inhabited ancient cities in the world. It is considered a place of holy significance for Buddhists, due to the Bodhi Tree. Legend has it the tree grew from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment.
After a leisurely breakfast it will be time to say goodbye to your fellow cyclists. We will transfer you Bandaranaike International Airport, just outside Colombo.
Sri Lanka offers incredible scenery, outstanding natural beauty and an abundance of Buddhist monuments and ancient kingdoms. From the Singhalese capital Annuradhapura BC200-AD1000, a centre of power for over a 1000 years, to the forts and churches built by the Portuguese in the 1500’s, Sri Lanka offers a journey through history like no other.