Redesigned

Sri Lanka Heritage by Bicycle

Day 1 Meet in Negombo

Welcome to Sri Lanka! In the afternoon, we meet at our tour hotel in the coastal region of Negombo for a bike fitting, trip briefing, and welcome dinner. Located closer to Sri Lanka’s international airport than the capital, Colombo, and known for its relaxed seaside atmosphere, Negombo is the ideal starting point for our cycling adventure. Please let us know if you require assistance with airport transfers and pre-tour hotel bookings.

Suriya Resort
Dinner

Day 2 Negombo - Anuradhapura

Starting directly from the hotel, we hit the ground running (well, cycling!) with an inaugural ride through the coastal plains of western Sri Lanka. After a brief stretch on the main road, we manoeuvre onto the coast-hugging 'beach road,' following it for 20 km, passing fishing communities and towering palm trees. Catholic churches dot the region, a legacy of Portuguese influence dating back to the 17th century. The second part of the ride takes us inland, weaving along quiet back roads through a labyrinth of lush coconut plantations. We saddle off after around 41 km, where, appropriately, a refreshing reward of king coconuts awaits! From here, we hop in the support vehicle for a 3.5 hour transfer to Anuradhapura, stopping for lunch along the way. In the early evening we embark on a locally guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sacred City of Anuradhapura, housing the remains of Buddhist temples dating back to Sri Lanka’s first Sinhalese Kingdom (4th century BC - 11th century AD). Highlights of our visit include the holy Bodhi tree - said to be grown from a sapling of the same tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment – and Maha Thupa, a mesmerisingly colossal, white-washed stupa.

Rajarata Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 41km
+164m
-151m

Day 3 Anuradhapura - Ipalogama - Dambulla

Leaving Anuradhapura, we quickly find ourselves immersed in the gentle rhythm of the countryside, gliding past canals, rice paddies, villages, and scenic reservoirs. Locally known as tanks, these artificial lakes are impressive engineering feats, many dating back thousands of years and still providing vital irrigation for the surrounding farmlands, showcasing the ingenious ancient hydraulic civilization of Sri Lanka. Our nearly 50 km morning ride is predominantly flat, allowing us to enjoy a leisurely pace as we soak in the scenery and navigate a mix of paved back roads and red-dirt farmer paths. We end the ride near the town of Ipalogama and transfer around one-hour to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dambulla Cave Temple, home to a resplendent collection of centuries-old Buddhist statues and wall paintings. Led by a local guide, we'll delve into the history of the five caves before a short transfer to a rural resort, our base for the next two nights.

Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 48km
+274m
-244m

Day 4 Sigiriya Lion Rock Ride

Today’s ride brings us to the doorstep of one of Sri Lanka’s most treasured cultural attractions: Sigiriya, or Lion Rock. From our resort in Dambulla, we cycle around 37 km along a mix of paved and unpaved dirt roads, passing through small villages, rice fields, fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, and elephant grass. Jungle-clad, low-rising mountains loom in the background. Much of the route runs alongside a winding irrigation canal, ultimately bringing us to the base of Sigiriya — a giant granite massif rising dramatically from the plains. After a home-cooked Sri Lankan lunch served in a traditional wooden house, we set off on foot to explore Sigiriya, where a local guide leads us through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed remnants of a 5th-century fortress and pleasure palace carved into the rock. Reaching the top requires tackling a steep ascent, but the reward is unparalleled views and the remains of an ancient sky palace. After descending we transfer around 45 minutes back to our hotel in Dambulla where we spend a second night.

Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 37km
+141m
-125m

Day 5 Dambulla - Polonnaruwa - Giritale Tank

We begin the day with a one-hour transfer from Dambulla to our cycling start point near the Elahera Canal. Rather than sticking to the canal road, however, we veer off onto back roads for around 18 km, taking us through rice paddies, villages, and tropical foliage to reach the Sea of Parakrama, a vast ancient reservoir. For almost 15 km, we follow its scenic shorelines all the way to our lunch spot near the equally ancient city of Polonnaruwa where, after indulging in some tasty local cuisine, we enjoy a guided afternoon tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. By foot and vehicle, we explore the ruins of palaces, temples, and monuments built over a millennium ago by illustrious Sinhalese kings. Following the visit, we hop back on our bikes for a 20 km afternoon ride on rural gravel roads, culminating in a short climb to our accommodation overlooking the scenic Giritale Tank. Alternatively, if you’ve had enough action for the day, you can transfer around 30 minutes to the hotel.

Giritale Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 51km
+252m
-245m

Day 6 Giritale Tank - Gammaduwa

It is time to head for the hills! Departing from Giritale, we transfer around 1-hour south to a viewpoint overlooking a reservoir sitting in the foothills of the central highlands. From here, our ride begins on a quiet provincial road before winding along rural lanes through rice fields framed by rugged mountains. After crossing the Ambana River, the terrain becomes increasingly steeper, culminating in the leg-testing ascent into the foothills of the Knuckles Mountain Range. Working our way up to 700 metres above sea level, we witness a transition from the tropical lowlands to the temperate highlands, coiling our way up a narrow road for around 7 km with 5-6% average gradients, though a few sections that creep into the double digits. The last few kilometres are a true delight as we cycle past tea fields and pine forests blanketing the slopes. Our ride ends at a boutique highland bungalow where, in the afternoon, we join a hands-on demonstration on the tea making process from leaf to cup, gaining an insight into the rich heritage of Ceylon tea production which has profoundly shaped the Sri Lankan economy for well over a century.

Boutique Bungalow (No AC)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 37km
+861m
-369m

Day 7 Mountaintop Hike - Ride to Matale - Kandy

This morning we skip breakfast at the hotel, opting instead to head out at the crack of dawn and enjoy our meal on a mountain summit. A jeep will drop us off at a trailhead from where we hike a few kilometres to the Karagahatenna viewpoint. The mild hike takes us through lush cloud forests and the occasional patch of non-native pine trees. Once we reach the top, we unpack our breakfasts and tuck in accompanied by a panorama of the mist-shrouded peaks and valleys of the Knuckles Mountain Range, a vast, UNESCO World Heritage recognized, biodiversity hotspot. After returning to the hotel, we hop back on our bikes for our final ride to Matale. The first 12 km are primarily downhill as we head back to lower ground where we ride through Sri Lanka’s spice-growing region on mildly undulating provincial roads, known for its abundant cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and pepper. Upon reaching the highway into Matale, we conclude our ride and transfer by support vehicle for a one-hour journey to Kandy – Sri Lanka’s second-largest city, its spiritual heart, and the gateway to the tea-growing highlands — where we settle in for the final night.

Thilanka Hotel Kandy
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 26km
+299m
-647m

Day 8 Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Kandy Departure

Before saying goodbye, we’ll pack in one more essential Sri Lankan heritage experience: a visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage and important pilgrimage site for Buddhists, housing the revered relic of the Buddha's tooth. Several times a day, the temple’s guardians lead a sensory ritual involving drums, conch shells, and chanting accompanied by offerings of flowers and incense, creating an atmosphere of profound reverence and devotion. We’ll also visit the nearby royal palace grounds, where the kings of Kandy once ruled for centuries before the British takeover in the early 19th century. We head back to the hotel in time for check-out and a heartfelt farewell. Based out of Kandy, you can head to the famous Nuwara Eliya tea country by train (make sure to book ahead) before visiting one of Sri Lanka’s wildlife-rich national parks (such as Yala or Udawalawe) and relaxing on the white-sand beaches of the south (such as Mirissa). If you need to fly out, then Bandaranaike International airport is a 3-hour drive from Kandy. Please let us know if you need assistance with post-tour hotel bookings or airport transfers.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.