Overview
This four-day cycle gets you right into the historic heart of Sri Lanka. We start the ride by heading to the significant and ancient Sigiriya rock fortress. Not only do we explore the sites of the area, but you'll also engage with the people of the area with a great home-cooked meal included as a culturally immersive part of the journey.
The coming days will be filled with a deeper exploration of the area, along with some stunning riding along ancient reservoirs, which is the perfect chance to see Sri Lanka’s diverse birdlife. To finish off the tour, we head deep into tea plantation country, where we’ll step back in time to stay at a carefully selected tea bungalow set in stunning nature for an authentic experience in Sri Lankan heritage with plenty of stories of times gone by.
Finishing off in Kandy sets you up perfectly to continue your holiday with us on our Sri Lanka by Bike or Sri Lanka by Bike The Easy Way tours, which continues down through the country to the southern coast port of Galle, or to carry on independently.
Pedal-assist E-bikes are an available option on this tour for $140.
200 Km riding. The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads on secondary roads and quiet country lanes, there is also a mix of elevation. Around Sigiriya, it is relatively flat but as we make our way toward the tea growing areas we approach the foothills of the central highlands and encounter a few climbs, although not too steep.
This is an ‘On Request’ bike tour - We understand active travelers value flexibility and we do our best to accommodate every request. Simply propose your travel dates, bring one or more companions and you will receive our standard price - no private tour markups.
Traveling in a group of 6 or more people? Contact our team about special group pricing for our on-request tours.
Highlights
Learn about the history of the Sigiriya rock fortress as you take in dramatic views of thick forests down below.
Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Golden Dambulla Caves that have been a pilgrimage site for many centuries.
Stay the night in a traditional tea estate bungalow for a better understanding of the British colonization of Sri Lanka.
Savor a home-cooked meal in a local family home as you make connections with Sri Lankans and hear their stories.
Day to Day
An early morning pick up from your Negombo or Colombo accommodation puts us in good stead for an early morning transfer out of the city and towards central Sri Lanka. The traffic thins out as we go, and we find ourselves in the dry zone where subsistence farmers tend to their rice crops, aided by irrigation tanks constructed mainly during ancient times. We mount our bikes in a small town and enjoy a ride on deserted backroads, some paved, some unpaved. After pedaling to a nice resort just outside Sigiriya Village, we’ll take a short drive in the car to reach Sigiriya Rock. As the sun gets low in the sky, we climb this impressive rock fortress and learn about some of its history from our guide. Take in the stunning views of thick green forests framed by distant mountains before we descend and enjoy a tasty Sri Lankan meal back at the resort.
Today is unique, as we will spend an extra day in the same location in order to give Sigiriya’s hidden spots the time they deserve. With some fantastic cycling ahead of us, we start mid-morning and make our way on a loop ride around the complex. We will be using quiet backroads again, cycling through local villages and past the reservoir at the foot of the Sigiriya Rock. As part of the loop ride, we will be able to stop and explore the smaller, yet equally as stunning Pidurangala Rock, with another opportunity to climb up above the plain for some epic photos. Making our way back to the hotel around mid-afternoon gives us a chance to enjoy the resort facilities and a few free hours for any further exploration you may like to do. Dinner tonight is a truly special occasion, as we skip the hotel offering and transfer to a local family home where we will enjoy a home-cooked dinner and hear the life and past stories of real Sri Lankans in the Sigiriya area. This is an excellent opportunity for an authentic cultural experience.
Today is one of the longer cycling days of the tour, with some hills to contend with, but there are plenty of breaks and incredible sights along the way and it will be a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Heading out from our Sigirya accommodation in the early morning, we make our way towards the UNESCO heritage site of the Golden Dambulla Caves, where we will explore the complex which has been a sacred pilgrimage site for over twenty-two centuries. After a good dose of cultural heritage, we’ll jump back on the bikes and pedal our way towards the highlands. We roll into Tea Plantation country in the final part of our ride with some stunning scenery as we approach. Our destination, a former tea estate bungalow nestled on the hilltop of a tea plantation, is the perfect place to reflect on the day and share stories whilst getting our first glimpse into the British colonial influence in Sri Lanka. Take in the serene surroundings on this unique opportunity for an interesting overnight.
A thrilling descent awaits us this morning as we roll down through tea hills and small villages into the valley. We’ll ride a short way on flat roads before beginning to climb again, although with a much gentler gradient than yesterday. After gaining some elevation again, we ride ups and downs along the side of the valley before eventually coming out just east of Kandy. The roads get slightly busier on our approach, with moto rickshaws and the like before we cross the river and tackle one last hill to arrive at the main lake in Kandy. This is an atmospheric town worth a good walk and features some decent places to reward yourself with cake, coffee and maybe a cocktail or two. The tour concludes with a drop off at your hotel.
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
This Sri Lanka Heritage Cycle tour is scheduled upon request, meaning the planning is flexible to fit your schedule and available to a family or group of friends. As always, we make an effort to get off the beaten path with our carefully crafted itineraries that will bring you to the highlights of Sri Lanka as well as the hidden gem destinations. Enjoy cultural experiences that show you the locals’ Sri Lanka and will leave you with lasting memories and appreciation for Sri Lankan life as well as photos of its jaw-droppingly beautiful landscapes.
