Explore Sri Lanka (12 Days)

Duration : 12 Days (10 days cycling)
Start & Finish : Negombo
Skill Level :
Support : support vehicle, guide, bike trailer & mechanic
Group Size : 3 - 10 persons
Best Time : October till May

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 01 : Arrival – Negombo
Arrive and proceed to Hotel in Negombo. Just a short drive from the airport. After a chance to relax from the overnight flight there will be the opportunity this afternoon to take a short cycle ride to break in our sturdy mounts for the coming days. Set amongst coconut palms and fishing boats, Negombo is a perfect way to start our trip and this evening there should be chance to sample some of the excellent seafood available in this atmospheric fishing town.

Total cycling distance 15km.[2 Hours- Soft]

Check-in at Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay at Blue Oceanic Beach Hotel in Negombo.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival transfer from the airport to Negombo and check-in at the hotel.
•    After a long journey leisure and relax at the hotel/ Fam Ride in the Town.
•    Dinner & Overnight stay at Blue Oceanic Hotel in Negombo.

Day 02 : Negombo - Giritale
After breakfast Cycle to Kurunegala, and Drive to Girtale via Dambulla Cave Temple.
We cycle to Kurunegala this morning, from where we transfer to Giritale by vehicle.En route we will stop at Dambulla, where a great series of caves have been turned into temples (dating from the 1st century BC). A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the caves are a mecca for crowds of worshippers and we will visit five separate caves, containing a large number of Buddha images, as well as a few sculptures of Hindu Gods. Finally we reach the small town of Giritale where it is possible to take a pleasant evening stroll around the tank, a lake created for irrigation purposes.
Total cycling distance approximately 35km. [5 Hours – Soft & Modarate ]

Check-in at Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner and overnigh stay at Giritale Hotel.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival Drive or Cycle to Kurunegala.
•    Visit Dambulla rock temple.
•    Dinner & overnight stay at Giritale Hotel.

Day 03 : Giritale – Polonnaruwa- Sigiriya -  Giritale
After breakast Drive OR Cycle to Sigiriya, ascend Lion Rock, continue to Polonnaruwa; visit ruins. From our base in Giritale we part drive & part cycle out today to visit Sigiriya, where we will ascend Lion Rock and climb up to the Sky Fortress. The ruins of this 5th century fortress are one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, a stupendous sight to behold and a feat of consummate engineering skill. A switchback series of steps (sometimes very steep and somewhat precarious) ascends to the top. Halfway up, tucked beneath a sheltering overhang of rock, are the famous frescoes –The Sigiriya Damsels, their colours still glowing and from the summit of the rock palace (200m high) there are magnificent views of the surrounding country. From Sigiriya we continue on to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which reached its height of glory in the 12th century. The city still has many interesting and spectacular buildings and monuments. There is the Royal Palace Group with its Audience Hall, Bathing Pool and Quadrangle–a very compact collection of ruins. Close by is the Circular Relic House, a curious round structure with a beautifully preserved ‘moonstone’ carved at the foot of a flight of steps. Another famous feature of the deserted city is the group of carved images of the Buddha known as Galvihara. Here there are three colossal figures, all of which are hewn out of solid granite - the Reclining Buddha is no less than 14m long! After our visit we return to Giritale by vehicle .

Total cycling distance approximately 40km. [4 hours – Soft] – You have the option of extending cycling sections.

Back to the hotel. Evening at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay at Giritale Hotel.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival Drive or Cycle to Sigiriya.
•    Visit Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa Ancient city.
•    Back to the hotel.
•    Dinner and overnight stay at Girithale Hotel

Day 04 : Giritale – Kandy
After breakfast  Cycle OR Drive to Kandy via Pallegama and the Yoda Ela. Using a combination of pedal power and car we travel to Kandy, passing villages, rivers and mountain summits en route. Heading first for Pallegama we pass by the Yoda Ela, before driving up into the highlands and then cycling down to nearby Matale. From here we drive again to the town of Kandy. Lying in the mountains, 112km northeast of Colombo, Kandy is in climatic terms, a world apart due to its altitude of 500m above sea level. The town was captured by the British in 1815, and is known more for its cultural and spiritual importance rather than its history. Buddhists from all over the world, come to this delightful old highland town, specifically to visit the Temple of the Tooth, the Dalada Maligawa. The costly jewelled shrine of the holy tooth (said to be 3.5cm long by 1cm thick and Buddha’s left canine) is kept in the upper floor of the original building. This relic was brought from India 1,500 years ago and every year, at the time of the August full moon, it is paraded round the town with great pomp and circumstance.

During this ten night festival of Perahera, the tooth (or a simulacrum) is borne along on a richly caparisoned elephant, surrounded by saffron-robed monks and Kandyan dancers. Kandyan dancers can be seen performing every night at one or two locales around town.There will be an opportunity this evening to visit the Temple of the Tooth.

Total cycling distance approximately 55km. [5 hours – Modarate ] You have the option of extending cycling sections.

Check in at Hotel Suisse.
Evening at leisure or Cit Tour. Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Suisse.

SCHEDULE
•    Drive or Cycle to Kandy.
•    Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic.
•    Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Suisse.

Day 05 : Kandy
After Breakfast take part in Cycling in the Hantana Hills. Afternoon do a city tour of Kandy and also visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. Driving to the foot of the Hantana Hills we spend this morning cycling through a landscape of tea plantations and rural villages, also including a visit to the Tea Museum situated in Hanatana, returning to Kandy this afternoon. On our return to the city we wander through the lush Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, located just outside the city, before taking a tour of the city itself. Kandy is a living museum to its traditional past; the last capital of the Sinhala Kings, it retains much of its old world charm and its streets are a wonderful eclectic mix of noise and bustle. The rest of the day is free for personal exploration of this city. Shopping is good at the Kandyan Art Association’s workshops, which has plenty of brassware, batik, lacquer work and other craft items.
Total cycling distance approximately 30 km. [4 hours –Moderate ]

On completion return to Hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Suisse.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival Drive or Cycle to Hantana Hills in Kandy.
•    Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.
•    Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Suisse.

Day 06 : Kandy – Hatton
After breakfast  Cycling through tea plantations to Hatton area. Leaving  Kandy this morning we drive part of the way to Nawalapitya, from where we will begin cycling along tea plantation roads that crisscross this landscape. Riding via Nawalapitya towards Hatton we travel through a scene of rolling hills covered in verdant green.

Total cycling distance approximately 50 km. [5 hours – Hard] You have the option of extending cycling sections.

Check in at a Guest Houe in Dickoya.

Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay  at Glencarnne Bungalow.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival Drive or Cycle through Tea plantations to Hatton.
•    Check in at a Guest House in Dickoya.
•    Dinner and Overnight stay at Glencarn Bungalow.

Day 07 : Hatton - Belihuloya
After breakfast Cycle or drive to Belihuloya. Driving to Bogowantalawa this morning and then we  cycle through the Peak Wilderness Natural Reserve to Balangoda / Belihuloya , where we arrive for lunch. Belihuloya is a climatically transitional area, which links the dry and wet zones at an altitude of less than 1500m. As a result, the vegetation it consists is  moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical savanna forests, dry patana grasslands and montane temperate forests. The vegetation in this environment has made this location an exciting one for the serious as well as the casual nature lover. The average temperature in the area is about 28.3 degrees Celsius and the mean annual rainfall is between 1,875 and 2,500mm.
Total cycling distance approximately 50 km. [4 ½ hours – Modearate & Hard]  

Check in at River Garden Resort.

Dinner and overnight stay at River Garden Cottages/ Eco lodge/ Campsite on availability.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival Drive or Cycle through Peak Wilderness Natural Reserve to Belihuloya.  
•    Dinner and Overnight stay at Belihuloya.

Day 08 : Belihuloya – Horton Plains
After a very early breakfast or preferably with packed breakfast we travel to Horton Plains in our vehicle. Nature walk in HORTON PLAINS NATURE RESERVE, which is approximately10,000 Hectares in extent, is haunted by Elk, Deer, Giant Squirrel, Wild Boar, Wild Hare , Porcupine, and a variety of Migratory birds, unique to this region. According to a recent count there are 16 Leopards in Horton Plains. If you are very lucky you may get a glimpse of a Leopard during your sojourn in the Horton Plains.
SATAN’S STEPS TRAIL STARTING FROM THE HORTON PLAINS ENTRANCE.

Finishing the walking trail [unfortunately cycling is not allowed inside the park] you would start today’s cycling section. Colonial planters has named a section of this trail as Satan’s Steps due to some serious hairpin bends. First we cycle across the plains and then start our amazing descend though a very remote tea estate. Our packed lunch will be taken at the Bambarakanda fall, Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall. From here it is still about 7 km of exciting downhill till we reach the main road. From here we have the option of cycling up to the Hotel or get in to the vehicle.[ 14 km]

BAMBARAKANDA FALLS
Within a majestic basin-shaped valley bordered by huge steep rocks and dark green forests of pines and tropic trees the highest waterfall of Sri Lanka [ 240.8m] plunges with two silver ropes over a vertical dark grey wall from the green saddle between Mt.Welihena and Mt. Bambaragala into a deep pool only 500m walking distance from the trail.

Total cycling distance approximately  40 km. [ 4/5 Hours – Moderate & Hard ]

Dinner and overnight stay at River Garden Resort.

SCHEDULE
•    Drive to Horton Plains after the breakfast.
•    Cycle downhill to Bambarakanda and drive to Belihuloya. 
•    Dinner and Overnight stay at River Garden Resort.

Day 09 : Belihuloya – Udawalawe
After breakfast we cycle to Udawalawe National Park. We return to our bikes for part of the way this moring as we head for the Udawalawe National Park. On arrival we will check in at Kalu’s Hideaway and then later we will have an evening game drive through the park or a Cycle Trail in the Village. Designated a national park in 1972, Udawalawe covers some 31,800 hectacres. Surrounded by mountains the park is a mix of rolling grasslands, teak plantations, rain forest and scrub. Reknowned for its large herd of elephants (this is in fact one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see them), the park is also home to deer, wild boar, buffalo, jackal, even the odd leopard and its resident bird population is second to none.

Total cycling distance approximately 45km. [ 4 hours – Soft and Moderate ]
You have the option of extending cycling sections.But on tarmac roads.

Check in at Kalu’s Hideaway.

Cycle Trail in the Village
This is another way to explore the village life of the dry zone villages. Their way of life, day to day activities, smiley faces could be experienced only by being with them even for a while. Riding along the irrigation canals, paddy fields, sugar cane plantations, chena cultivations etc… will add more uniqueness to this Biking Trail.

Dinner and Overnight  stay Kalu’s Hideaway in Udawalawe.

SCHEDULE
•    Drive or Cycle to Udawalawe National Park
•    Visit Udawalawe National Park by jeep.
•    Dinner & Overnight stay at Kalu’s Hideaway.

Day 10 : Udawalawe - Galle
After breakfast  Drive and Cycle to Galle. After another game drive this morning we drive OR cycle to Galle.Situated to the south of the capital Colombo, Galle is the most important town in the south.Once an important trading centre and reputedly to be the Biblical city of Tarshish, it is close to our destination for this evening.Unawatuna is the ideal place to finish our tour, with time to relax on the beach, or snorkel in the clear waters.For those seeking pure relaxation, local Ayurvedic massages with natural, aromatic herbal oils are highly recommended.
Total cycling distance approximately 60km. [6 Hours- Hard]

Check-in at Closenberg Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner and overnight stay at Lady Hill Hotel.

SCHEDULE
•    Arrival Drive or Cycle to Galle.
•    Overnight stay at Lady Hill Hotel.

Day 11 : Galle
Whole day free for exploration or relaxation, depending upon your mood. Morning is free for you to enjoy some time on the beach, whilst for those with a hankering for more culture.
Afternoon has the opportunity for an optional visit to Galle by car. An old, walled seaside town, Galle was important as a trading port for the Dutch from the 17th century when the fortress was constructed, but it had undoubtedly been a trading centre since ancient times. There is plenty to see, particularly in the old fort area, which was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1988. Overlooking the sea, the fort ramparts protect the harbour, old houses, churches, warehouses and the Arab quarter. The New Oriental Hotel, originally built in 1684, is the epitome of colonial architecture and worth a visit, if only for the atmospheric bar!
Total cycling distance approximately 60km.[5 Hours – Soft]

Dinner and overnigh stay at Closenberg Hotel.

SCHEDULE
•    Full day at leisure at Galle or optional for a Galle city tour.
•    Overnight stay at Closenberg Hotel.

Day 12 : Departure
After the breakfast proceed to Katunayake International Airport for Departure.

OUR RATES INCLUDE

• Accommodation at Hotels or similar hotels mentioned in the above itinerary (Sharing DBL rooms).
• Meal plan to be on Half Board basis for the entire tour.
• Transportation for 12 days tour in an Air conditioned Car/Van with an English speaking speaking  chauffer Guide. Please note the total mileage calculated for this tour is for 1700 Kms.   [ which is quite sufficient ]  If exceeded the above quoted mileage a supplement amount will be charged.
• Entrance fee to Horton Plains Natur Park, & trekker fee.
• Entrance fee to the Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave temple, Polonnaruwa heritage city
• Engtrance fee to the Temple of Tooth, Cultural show, Botanical Garden in Kandy
• Entrance fee to Udawalawa National park, trekker fee, jeep fee.  
• Charges for the Mountain Bikes in prime condition and Helmets for the entire tour .
• Well experienced cycling guide, his fees, meals and accommodation for the entire tour.
• Backup vehicle charges.
• Service charges and all Government taxes.

OUR RATES DO NOT INCLUDE
•    Any extra beverages or food.
•    Transportation (Given Separately, You have to apply the cost according to the number of people)
•    Lunch during the tour
•    Any tips to the staff.
•    Any personal effects not mentioned here.

NOTES :
•    Personal effects for windy/rainy/warm weather conditions should be carried by the clients.
•    Insect repellents, sun burn lotions etc, are recommended.
•    Cycling cloths/shoes/ boots are recommended.

PAYMENT POLICY :
Full payment with the confirmation

CANCELLATION POLICY :
•    90 Days or more - 200 US $ Administrative fee
•    60 to 89 Days - 15 % of the tour cost will be charged
•    30 to 59 Days - 25 % of the tour cost will be charged
•    14 Days to 29 Days - 50 % of the tour cost will be charged.
•    8 Days to 13 Days - 75 % of the tour cost will be charged.
•    Less than 7 days no refund.

NOTE : Days will be counted from the 6.00am on the tour starting day.

Please email us to book this trip.