Sri Lanka Back Roads Cycling

This Sri Lankan cycling journey begins in Sigiriya. There are no planned activities today – you can unwind at the hotel and rest your legs before our ride begins in earnest tomorrow.Around 6pm we meet our tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel to get to know one another and hear about the adventures ahead, followed by a welcome group dinner.If you would like to explore further, you can arrange extra hotel nights before the tour through your sales representative.

Rise early to climb the fifth century rock fortress of Sigiriya before the crowds arrive. The palace ruins on the summit and rockface frescoes are matched only by the magnificent aerial view over the jungle. Please note, this is not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo.We return to the hotel for a late breakfast, then ride along gravel roads following an old irrigation canal to Dambulla, a second century BCE Buddhist cave temple. On the way, we stop by the Kandalama reservoir, 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 busy market town, we take another quiet back road through chilli and rice fields before cycling back to our hotel.

This morning, we ride a quiet back road through the Sigiriya nature reserve, often encountering monitor lizards and monkeys, before joining the highway towards Polonnaruwa and continuing to our hotel. After around 15mi (24km), we take a 15 minute bus transfer to avoid a stretch where wild elephants roam, then get back on the bikes to complete the ride.The second section winds through small villages and lush rice paddy fields, past tranquil reservoirs and an irrigation canal that runs beside the road – watch for mongoose, kingfishers, storks and birds of prey.Later, we tour the ruined city of Polonnaruwa, which dates from the 10th to 13th century. In the evening, you can choose to join the tour leader at a family owned restaurant to experience local food and culture.

We follow a 6mi (10km) artificial dam and canal to the source of a local lake, the Amban Ganga River. In the afternoon, our ride is flanked by the Kalanduwa hills on one side and Wasgomuwa Wildlife Park on the other, and as jungle gives way to plantations we enter the spice growing region of Sri Lanka. Today’s ride starts at about 328ft (100m) and finishes around 820ft (250m).On reaching the main road, we dismount and take the bus as the route to Kandy can be very busy, stopping at a spice garden to learn about the flavours behind Sri Lankan curries.We also pause at a much loved roadside tea stall near Polonnaruwa – our Sri Lankan tour leader, Ruwan Balasuriya, donated prize money from a leadership award to help the family renovate it, making it a welcoming stop for travellers.

Enjoy a free day to explore Kandy. You can wander the wonderful botanical gardens, visit the Temple of the Tooth, browse streets lined with curio shops and discover temples dotted among the surrounding hills. You can also walk the lakeside path in the heart of the city to spot water monitor lizards, fruit bats, palm squirrels and birds such as kingfishers, pelicans and night herons, and drop by the vibrant fruit and vegetable market to see Kandy in full swing.

For those keen on a challenge, it is 52mi (84km) with steady climbing to about 6,562ft (2,000m) above sea level to reach this much loved hill station.A short drive from the hotel brings us to the start of the ride, avoiding the busiest streets. We take the old road at first – a far more pleasant route and one of the few places where you see terraced paddy fields. Beyond lies tea country, famed for some of the island’s finest leaves. We cycle through thousands of acres of tea, watching pickers move swiftly between the bushes in vibrant dress.If hills are not for you, you can take the scenic train to Nuwara Eliya – tickets are only sold on the day and cannot be reserved in advance; if seats are unavailable, we use the bus.

Nuwara Eliya, a popular hill station during the British era, sits in the cool highland air at about 6,200ft (1,890m). Known locally as Little England, it features British style houses and parks, plus a golf club and racecourse.After a leisurely breakfast, we take a short bus transfer into town and then ride to a tea factory through small villages and vegetable plots. As we twist and turn on a rolling, windy road, the town reveals itself from different viewpoints. After learning how leaves become tea, we ride back to the hotel through lush green plantations.You then have a free afternoon to explore Nuwara Eliya.

In the morning, we cycle through hill country towards Ella, stopping for tea in Bandarawela, a trading centre where exotic fruits from the east coast are exchanged for hill country vegetables. After a refreshing break, we take back roads through hundreds of acres of tea and ride along the edge of the Central Highlands to reach Ella. On arrival, we stop for a late lunch before check in, and, if skies are clear, we watch sunset from the Ella Gap viewpoint – on a good day the coast shimmers in the distance.In the evening, we join a local family to share authentic Sri Lankan cuisine and learn first hand about their customs and culture.

Descending about 3,281ft (1,000m), we leave the sweeping scenery of Uva Province for the gentle rolling hills of the dry zone, taking a break at the impressive Rawana Ella waterfall before visiting the rock cut Buddha statues at Buduruvagala. The 49ft (15m) carving of the Buddha is flanked by smaller figures of his helpers and a rare image of Maitreya, the future Buddha, dating from the 10th century. The tranquillity is enhanced by a lotus covered lake – we relax on the banks, share fresh fruit and then ride to lunch, a welcome retreat from the heat, before the final 19mi (30km) to Tissamaharama, capital of the old Ruhuna kingdom.

In the morning, we cycle to Kataragama temple, about 10mi (16km) north east of Tissa. People of many faiths come to seek favour with the god Skanda, who is said to restore health. The colourful, noisy pooja is always busy, with thousands of pilgrims in the July to August festival season. Tissa lies close to Yala National Park, the best place in Sri Lanka to see leopards.After lunch, we take a safari in the park, where we may spot elephants, deer, wild boar, sloth bears, Asian jackals and plentiful birdlife – and, with luck, a leopard. We explore the lesser visited Block 5 area, where denser vegetation replaces open plains yet the chances of seeing elusive leopards and sloth bears are the same, without having to compete with multiple other vehicles. Afterwards, we return to Tissa for the night.Please note: the sanctuary may close for four to six weeks from September to October for animal checks. In that case, we visit a nearby alternative, usually Lunugamvehera or Udawalawe National Park.

Leaving early to avoid the heat of the dry zone, we ride along the boundary of Bundala Bird Sanctuary, then join the main road for the final 19mi (30km) to Hambantota, where sandy bays fan out from this typical coastal town. From Hambantota, we transfer by coach to Ahangama, our base for the next two nights.

Today you can choose your own adventure. You can relax at the hotel or join a late morning ride of about 15.5mi (25km) along rural lanes to Wandurugama village, where we stop at a colonial manor for high tea and authentic Sri Lankan snacks. Today it is known as Thalpe Walawwa Heritage Villa, long associated with a prominent local family in historic Sri Lankan society, and several notable personalities were born and raised in this beautiful residence. After the visit, we return to the hotel via Koggala Lake – the ride takes around three hours.This afternoon is free to enjoy the beach, laze by the pool or take an optional boat ride through mangrove swamps to a cinnamon plantation and monkey island on Koggala Lake. In the late afternoon, we watch the stilt fishermen climb their poles to catch a few bites for supper. From November to April, you can also go whale watching off Dondra Head, near Mirissa, one of the best places in the world to see blue and sperm whales – huge pods of dolphins often accompany the boats.

Leaving early after breakfast, we stop to visit Galle, where the fort was built in 1663 after the Dutch took the island from the Portuguese. The old ramparts and narrow back streets bring alive the history of the struggle for colonial domination of this prized island. You are free to find your own lunch, then meet back at the bus in the mid afternoon for the two hour drive to Colombo. The rest of the day is free to relax by the pool or shop along the main street. For our final evening meal, we can choose from the many restaurants in Colombo.

You have explored Sri Lanka from the saddle, summited mighty Sigiriya and gone on safari in Yala National Park – today the adventure comes to an end.If you are craving a little rest and relaxation, speak to your sales representative about an extension in the Maldives or extra time on the golden sands of Sri Lanka after the trip.