SpiceRoads has been cycling in Sri Lanka and developing tours there since the 90’s. We were captivated by the island’s still relatively unknown rustic charm, heritage sites, tea-covered mountains, and stunning coasts. But unlike countries such as Thailand, where the cycling industry boomed shortly after its inception, in Sri Lanka the effects of Civil War and economic hardship mired the trajectory of its tourism development. Even today, this legacy hangs like a dark cloud over the global perception of Sri Lanka as a travel destination and we often get asked if the country is safe to bike in. The answer is a resounding yes and, in fact, we would go as far as saying that Sri Lanka is undergoing a cycling resurgence, a Ceylonese cycling renaissance if you will! Without the spectre of war and with a vastly enhanced tourism infrastructure, we are now pedaling towards the lofty vision we held for Sri Lankan cycling adventures more than two decades ago. In February 2025, SpiceRoads Product Manager Sidney travelled to Sri Lanka, immersed himself in this new era, and worked with our local teams to refresh our signature tours. If you’re wondering what cycling in Sri Lanka is like and which trip is right for you, then keep reading!
The Big Picture
Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean. The majority of the population is Sinhalese or Tamil, two distinct cultures with their own languages, traditions, and religions. Despite a shared history impaired by a civil war that lasted for nearly three decades, since 2009 Sri Lanka has been on a steady path of reconciliation. A visit to Sri Lanka today quickly reveals a peaceful atmosphere, with road signs written in both Sinhalese and Tamil guiding motorists and cyclists across a landscape dotted with Buddhist stupas, Hindu temples, Christian churches, and Muslim mosques thriving harmoniously side-by-side. Sri Lanka’s economy has, in recent years, also captured international headlines with news of goods shortages and protests. While there’s still a way to go, the country is now on a clear recovery path with a discernibly dynamic energy in the hustle and bustle of its cities and the productivity of its agricultural hinterland. Tourism has also emerged as a vital catalyst for rebounding economic growth. Post-COVID, Sri Lanka has rapidly risen to the top of many a bucket list, drawing visitors with alluring images of the massive stone paws at the iconic Sigiriya Lion Rock, trains rattling through hills covered in tea fields, wild elephants roaming in grasslands, and foaming surfs washing up on pristine beaches. Add a straightforward tourist visa process, affordable travel expenses, a robust infrastructure of hotels, transportation, and tourism personnel and friendly locals with widespread proficiency in English, and it is no surprise that Sri Lanka is experiencing a tourism boom! And for us, the cyclists, this compelling allure translates into an unparalleled opportunity to explore the best of Sri Lanka by bike. At SpiceRoads, we have three signature Sri Lanka tours – all of them ridden and refreshed in 2025 – aimed at every level of rider, from leisure-focused, to all-rounders and serious roadies. Let’s get into each of them.
This one is for the all-rounders: an iconic, moderately challenging 12-day journey providing a comprehensive distillation of Sri Lanka by bicycle.
The Stats:
- 12 days / 11 nights.
- 9 cycling days.
- 594 km of cycling.
- 66 km average per day.
- +594 m average of climbing per day.
- Longest day: 103 km
- Toughest climbing day: +1639 m
The Route: Starting from the coastal area of Negombo (near the main international airport), we make our way east into the Cultural Triangle before climbing over the Central Highlands to reach the southern plains and, ultimately, the beaches near Galle. Some days we cycle hotel-to-hotel, while on others, we include a transfer at the start or end, allowing us to avoid busy main roads, keep the distances manageable, and focus on the most enjoyable routes
The Roads: You can expect around 85% of the route to be on paved surfaces, consisting of good-quality asphalt as well as broken, bumpy, and cratered roads (some asphalt and others concrete). The remaining 15% is made up of vehicle-width gravel and dirt roads.
The Bikes: SpiceRoads provides high-quality mountain bikes, fitted with narrower tires for optimal performance on both paved and unpaved roads. E-bikes are also available for hire. If you prefer to bring your own bike, it does not necessarily need to be a mountain bike - hybrid or gravel bikes are also excellent choices for this tour.
The Highlights:
- Cycling on backroads through coconut plantations.
- Hiking up to the iconic Sigiriya Lion Rock.
- Skirting large, man-made reservoirs that irrigate vast rice paddies and fruit orchards.
- A guided tour of Polonnaruwa to see the ruins of palaces, temples, and monuments built over a millennium ago.
- A free day to relax in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second-largest city and home to its most sacred Buddhist temple.
- Challenging your legs with climbs above 1,500m, through a landscape of endless tea terraces draped over steep hillsides.
- Seeing wild elephants up close during a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park.
- Riding on dirt roads past spice farms to reach Galle, a well-preserved colonial fort on Sri Lanka’s southern coast.
- Going for a swim in the Indian Ocean near the beaches of Mirissa.
Sidney’s Favorite Moment: The morning ride on Day 8, weaving through the tea plantations of the Hatton region in the Central Highlands. The combination of the fresh mountain air, quiet roads surrounded by tea fields, and catching glimpses of Sri Lanka’s hard-working tea pluckers was a truly mesmerizing experience.
Sri Lanka Tip to Tip by Road Bike
This one is for the roadies: the ultimate north-to-south traverse along the island’s finest paved roads, earning you a spot on Sri Lanka’s road biking hall of fame!
The Stats:
- 12 days / 11 nights.
- 9 cycling days.
- 671 km of cycling.
- 85 km average per day.
- +677 m average of climbing per day.
- Longest day: 118 km
- Toughest climbing day: +1412 m
The Route: After a warm-up ride out of Negombo and a transfer north to Jaffna, the tour is then divided into stages based on Sri Lanka’s north-to-south geography. Stage 1 (days 3 & 4) is centered on the flat, northern plains of the Jaffna Peninsula and Mannar Island. Stage 2 (days 5 - 7) takes us through the agrarian heartland and so-called “Cultural Triangle” of Sri Lanka, with mostly flat and gently rolling terrain. After a rest day in Kandy (day 8), Stage 3 (days 9-10) involves the biggest ascents and descents of the tour as we climb over the Central Highlands. Stage 4 (day 11) takes us through the lush, southern lowlands. Some days we cycle hotel-to-hotel, while on others, we include a transfer at the start or end allowing us to avoid busy main roads, keep the distances manageable, and focus on the most enjoyable routes.
The Roads: This trip is on paved roads which are mostly in good condition, though broken asphalt/concrete, road debris, and potholes do present themselves. The route is on a mix of quiet, countryside roads and provincial main roads. Sri Lanka is an economically fast-moving country and riding on paved surfaces means regularly sharing the road with trucks, buses, cars, tuk-tuks and motorbikes. Oh, and herds of cows of course!
The Bikes: We provide high-quality SUNPEED INVINCIBLE carbon bikes. You are welcome to bring your own road bike if you prefer.
The Highlights:
- Hopping across lagoons in the north of Sri Lanka - once the centre of Sri Lanka’s long-lasting Civil War, today it is a peaceful and prospering region known as the heartland of the country’s Tamil population. We ride to the northernmost point of the country, Casuarina Beach.
- Spending a night on Mannar Island, a birdwatching paradise known for its annual migration of flamingoes.
- Riding through the country’s “rice bowl” to discover a triad of UNESCO World-Heritage Sites: the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sigiriya Lion Rock, and the Dambulla Caves.
- A free day to relax in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second-largest city and home to its most sacred Buddhist temple.
- Challenging your legs with climbs above 1,500 m, through a landscape of endless tea terraces draped over steep hillsides.
- The option to see wild elephants in Udawalawe National Park.
- Reaching the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka – the iconic Dondra Lighthouse – and celebrating our achievement on the beaches of Mirissa.
Sidney’s Favorite Moment: Riding the Jaffna causeways was a truly serene road biking moment. We picked up speed on wide, nearly empty asphalt roads spanning the lagoons of northern Sri Lanka, surrounded by shallow waters dotted with fishing huts and wading birds.
- This tour has been re-designed - the new itinerary, on which the details below are based, will be launched within August 2025.
This one is for the cultural connoisseurs: an action-packed week of cycling and sightseeing in Sri Lanka’s famed Cultural Triangle - home to 5 out of 8 of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
The Stats:
- 8 days / 7 nights.
- 6 cycling days.
- 240 km of cycling.
- 40 km average per day.
- +332 m average of climbing per day.
- Longest day: 51 km
- Toughest climbing day: +861 m
The Route: After starting with a ride along the Negombo coast we transfer north and cycle through Sri Lanka's ancient heart, exploring Anuradhapura's sacred stupa and Bodhi tree, Dambulla's vibrant cave temples, Sigiriya's iconic Lion Rock fortress, and Polonnaruwa's intricate stone monuments. Our journey then leads into the foothills of the Central Highlands, where we ride through lush tea fields and spice gardens, enjoy a tea-making workshop, and hike to stunning viewpoints overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Range. The tour culminates in Kandy with a visit to the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic. Each day we include a vehicle transfer at the start or end of the ride, allowing us to avoid busy main roads, keep the distances manageable, and focus on the most enjoyable routes.
The Roads: You can expect around 80% of the route to be on paved surfaces, consisting of good-quality asphalt as well as broken, bumpy, and cratered roads (some asphalt and others concrete). The remaining 20% is made up of vehicle-width gravel and dirt roads.
The Bikes: On this tour the bikes are included in the tour cost - we provide high-quality mountain bikes fitted with narrower tires for optimal performance on both paved and unpaved roads. E-bikes are also available for hire at additional cost.
The Highlights:
- Warming up along the beach road of Negombo with fishing villages, Catholic churches, and palm trees lining the way.
- Exploring one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities: Anuradhapura.
- Riding on backroads through expansive rice paddies.
- Hiking up to the iconic Sigiriya Lion Rock and the intriguing Dambulla Caves.
- Riding along irrigation canals and vast reservoirs.
- Ascending into the tea-covered slopes of Gammaduwa and learning about the process of tea production from leaf to cup.
- Hiking to a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Range.
- A relaxing ride into the tea fields of Matale.
- Capping off the adventure with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Sidney’s Favorite Moment: The atmosphere at dusk in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's oldest city, was captivating. We visited the sacred Bodhi tree and a massive, white-washed stupa as the sun set, with Buddhist pilgrims arriving to worship. The flickering candles, the droning of monks chanting, and crowds of people deep in prayer blended into a heady scene.
