Bike Aways

Negomba / Dambulla / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Matale / Kandy/ Dickoya / Udawalawa / Mirissa / Galle / Negomba

Think the Brittish Raj, anchient Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms, tea, elephants, string hoppers, cliff divers, old forts, coconut lined beaches, jungles, spices and the freedom of seeing all these things from the sadlle of a quality mountain bike on a fully supported cycling adventure covering 570 km.

Price: USD 2468 twin share.

Includes: 10 nights accomodation, quality mountain bikes, helmets, support vehicles, transfers, meals, guide, mechanic and entry fees.

Itinerary

 

Day 1 Negombo
Airport pick up to hotel D
Its a short drive from Negombo airport to your hotel. Arrive early and hit the beach or explore the colonial heritage of Negombo. Start with the old Dutch fort built in1672 now part of the prison, the Dutch canal, and Negommbo Cathedral. Outriggers pull into negombo lagoon from the open sea to dispense their catch. Fish auctions are a lively and slippery affair, with the exces dried on bamboo mats along the beach. Or simply relax at your hotel, the Goldi Sands resort hotel on Negombo beach before we meet the group over dinner. 

Day 2 Negombo Kurunegala Dambulla
45km easy BLD
After breakfast we get set up with our bikes and head inland, cycling a relatively flat 45km through villages and rice paddy fields to the town of Kurunagala with its towering landmark Lord Buddha statue. We drive to Dambulla stopping at an unusual temples buried in a maze – the Golden Cave Temple, 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. We visit five caves, containing both Buddhaimages, as well as a few sculptures of Hindu Gods. Relax by tyour hotel pool and enjoy the tropical grounds after your first day ride.

Day 3 Dambulla / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa.
80 km moderate BLD
A 55 km ride takes us to the towering rock fortress of Sigiriya – a 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky”. We pass throug the Minneriya jungles, “dry zone” farms and local villages along the way. Discover the anchient water gardens of this UNESCO listed anchient citadel before climbing 300m to the view the ruins of King Kasyapa’s summer palace on the summit.

Sigiriya is a massive rock transformed into a citadel during the reign of King Kasyapa, then abandoned after the king’s death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya is famous for its frescoes and mirror wall and is the most visited historic site in Sri Lanka Replenish your energy on the way down with cool coconut thambili drink before riding on through the rice paddies and jungle for 35 km toward Polonnaruwa. We transfer the remaining distance by vehicle then tour Polunnaruwa’s ancient ruins by bike on mainly flat tarmac roads.

Polonnaruwa – The second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms (capital from 11th -13th century A.D), is another World Heritage Site. The well preserved monuments include the circular relic house (Vata-da-ge) Lankathilaka, Thuparama, Royal Palace, Rankoth vihara and Galvihara and some beautiful rock cut Buddha statues

Day 4 Polonnaruwa Matale Kandy
110 km Challenging BLD
After breakfast today we ride a twisting hilly road to Matale and onward to Sri Lanka’s hill capital – the small lakeside city of Kandy. Kandy – Sri Lanka’s hill capital, stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is reguarded as Sri lanka’s most beautiful town at 488 meters above sea level. Check in to the hotel, evening at Leisure.

Day 5 Kandy.
Cycling free day B D
Visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden at Peradeniya renowned for its orchid collection and 4000 species that include spices, medicinal plants and palms and figs. Visit the sacred Temple of the tooth Relic of the lord Buddha, Which is a world Heritage site. nestled among hills and located by a lake. Picturesque Kandy has long been an important religious center of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Explore the town center’s old shops, the antique and gem specialists or the busy market.  

Day 6 Kandy / Kithulgala
70 km moderate BLD
Descending from 500 meters to 305 meters todays journey is a more gentle ride through manicured tea plantations with lunch by the river along the way. After checking into our hotel enjoy an evening cycle out to the Belilena prehistoric cave.

Day 07: Kithulgala
Cycle Free day B D
After Breakfast experience the thrills and spills of an exciting rafting adventure in a jungleparadise. Rafting mixes the ups and downs of rapids with calm sections that meander through the jungle clad mountains, tea and rubber plantations of the Kandyan hill-country. In the evening rainforest trekking in Kitulgala Forest Reserve. Experienced boatmen will takeyou across the 60 meter wide river and you will feel how the people negotiated the river in times where there were no bridges. Sri lanka is one of the most bio diverse places on the planet. Have cool dip in a clear water stream and waterfalls in the jungle of Kitulgala.

Day 8 Kithulgala Dickoya
45 km Challenging BLD
Cycling again through Tea Country, our road is relatively flat for some miles, before starting a

climb back into the hills of tea laid out in neat rows. Dickoya estate was one of the earliest plantations in the hill country.  With mist embraced mountains and lush green valleys, sparkling against a clear blue sky it was the upcountry retreat of choice for many.

Day 9 Dickoya Udawalawa
80km Challenging BLD 
After Breakfast visit the Tea Factory in Dickoya. Sri Lankan Tea – Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolkandura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain and is classified into 3 main groups of elevation as low grown, medium, grown and high grown. Its then a downhill trek to Udawalawa. Ride along the paved and unpaved road passing small town & tea estate. enjoying the scenery while riding through the plantations.

Day 10 Udawalawa Mirissa.
BLD 110km Challenging
We take a morning safari in Udawalawe National Park – created to provide a sanctuary for wild animals displaced by the construction of the Udawalawe reservoir on the Walawe River, as well as to protect the catchment of the reservoir. Before the designation of the national park, the area was used for shifting cultivation (chena farming). The farmers were gradually removed once the national park was declared. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan Elephants. After the safari we ride back roads.back into the paddy fields and small village houses all the way back to the coast at Marissa for a swim in the Indian Ocean

Day 11 Mirissa Galle Negombo.
No cycling – departure. B
Chill at the beach or join our optional early morning whale watching cruise. En Route back to the airport we stop at Galle Fort. Built by the Dutch in 1663, the 36-hectare Fort is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. Another UNESCO world heriatge site, the fort is a living architectural wonder with more than 90 families living within its walls. Galle is famous for its cliff diverrs, and also for a relatively new literary festival. This tour has been timed for people to join this highbrow event. For those not staying on for the lieterary festival we will continue your journey onward to Airport in time for your return flights.

The cost includes: 

• Transportation  – A/C Mini coach and Backup truck
• 10 nights Accommodation
• All Meals (as specified by the symbols BLD) excepet for lunches on Day 1, 5 and 7
• Galle city tour
• Water & Snack during the cycling.
• Local cycle guide for all the cycling tours.
• Cycle Cost & Helmet – 07 days.
• All the government Taxes
• Entrance Fees

1. Dambulla Cave Temple
2. Sigiriya Rock
3. Polonnaruwa
4. Temple of Tooth Relic
5. Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden
6. White water Raffting in Kithulgala
7. Udawalawa National Park
8. Udawalawa National Park

The cost not includes:

• Whale Watching – USD 50 per pax
• Expenses of personal nature (Telephone calls, Laundry etc.).
• Tips and gratuities.
• Any items specifically not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Video and Camera permits.