Sri Lanka Spice Trails

Day 1: Arrival in Sri Lanka
Day 2: Negombo - Dambulla, 34 mi. (54 km)
Day 3: Dambulla Loop, 37 mi. (60 km)
Day 4: Dambulla - Polonnaruwa, 49 mi. (78 km)
Day 5: Polonnaruwa - Kandy, 46 mi. (75 km)
Day 6: Kandy Rest Day
Day 7: Kandy - Hatton, 49 mi (78 km)
Day 8: Hatton - Udawalawa, 36 mi. ( 58 km)
Day 9: Udawalawa loop, 32 mi. ( 52 km)
Day 10: Udawalawa - Mirissa, 50 mi. (81 km)
Day 11: Galle loop, 24 mi. (39 km)
Day 12: Galle - Mirissa - Colombo 

This bike tour often goes beyond the beaten track and therefore not always predictable. It is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. A tour will not be changed unless necessary for safety or to improve it. The hotels listed are always accurate at the time of writing, but if it is necessary to change, it will always be for a similar or better one.

Day 1: Arrival in Sri Lanka
There will be a welcome meeting at the Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. (D)

Accommodation: Suriya Resort

Day 2: Negombo - Dambulla, 34 mi. (54 km)
Directly from the hotel, the cycle route follows the old coast road, past the distinctive patchwork sails of the Karavas fishing community. Turning inland on quiet back roads, after cycling approximately 50 km, there is then a transfer of approximately 3 hours to Dambulla, breaking for lunch at Kununegala Lake. Dambulla is famous for the 2nd-century Buddhist cave temple, Golden Temple, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in the country, containing more than 150 Buddha statues. A final short ride will lead to a peaceful hotel amid mango trees and paddy fields. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Thilanka Spa & Resort
Elevation gain/loss: + 402 m/- 364 m

Day 3: Dambulla Loop, 37 mi. (60 km)
Today's ride is through the countryside on a mix of tarmac and red dirt roads passing orchards, paddy fields, and elephant grass. You cycle along the shores of Kandalama Lake to the ancient 5th-century rock fortress Sigiriya (Lion Rock) where the 300 m ascent will challenge, but the views of the ruins of King Kasyapa's summer palace will reward. After the descent, the afternoon ride follows an old irrigation canal along red dirt roads, framed by long green grass. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Thilanka Spa & Resort
Elevation gain/loss: +555 m/-578 m

Day 4: Dambulla - Polonnaruwa, 49 mi. (78 km)
You could be awarded a glimpse of wild elephants on the ascent over the Kaladuwa Hills! The ride passes along tree-lined roads through the historical park of Polonnaruwa, the 10th Century capital and best preserved of the ancient cities abandoned in the 13th century since rediscovered in the 18th Century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Deer Park
Elevation gain/loss: +538 m/-655 m 

Day 5: Polonnaruwa - Kandy, 46 mi. (75 km)
A short transfer takes you back to Polonnaruwa, where you ride around the huge lake known as the Sea of Parakrama, named after the great king who built it. Part of the ride is through Angammedilla National Park, built to protect the water source. This small forest reserve is an elephant corridor linking Minneriya and Wasgomuwa National Parks. Here you retrace part of yesterday’s ride, following the Ambon Ganga (river) back towards its start point in the foothills around Naula, said to be the center of the Island. You end the ride here to avoid busy roads and transfer to lunch in Matale, situated in Sri Lanka’s spice-growing region, and on to Kandy, the spiritual and cultural capital of the hill country and Sri Lanka’s second-largest city. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Thilanka Hotel Kandy
Elevation gain/loss: +620 m/- 381 m

Day 6: Kandy Rest Day
A rest day is scheduled today in picturesque Kandy, an important religious center of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Nestled among hills and centered around a lake, picturesque Kandy has long been an important religious center of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Today you can explore the town center’s old shops, antique and gem specialists, or the bustling market. A must-do is to see the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sacred Kandy which houses the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic, a tooth of the Buddha. (B)

Accommodation: Thilanka Hotel Kandy

Day 7: Kandy - Hatton, 49 mi (78 km)
After a day of rest, you are ready to tackle hill country. For those who enjoy riding but find hills a bit too challenging, there is the option of taking the train for the final part into Hatton. A short 8-km transfer takes you out of town to Peradeniya, famed for its Botanical Garden and university. Starting the ride from the campus, you wind your way along a river valley with some short climbs opening out to the surrounding vistas, with your first tea stop in Gampola 21 km away; the optional train journey begins here. From Gampola, you start to see the tea carpeted slopes of the hill country. Riding at a gentle pace, you can stop to take photos of brightly dressed tea pickers and colorful Hindu temples. You regroup at the tea outlets brewing the best tea on the island, fresh from their respective estates. Reaching Hatton, you descend to one of the old colonial tea planter bungalows set in lovely gardens. Those taking the train will be met at the station and shuttled to the bungalow. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Upper Glencairn Bungalow
Elevation gain/loss: +1530 m/-891 m

Day 8: Hatton - Udawalawa, 36 mi. (58 km)
Today’s ride will be along tea estate tracks, through the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea-growing region. You’ll be greeted by the pickers at work and their children as we head towards the Peak Wilderness and the distinctive triangle-shaped mountain, Adam’s Peak. The long climb with an easy gradient up to Bogowantalawa gets tougher for the last 10 km to a remote pass with dramatic views. The mountain pass is part of the Peak Forest Reserve; its distinctive stunted forest contains many rare, endemic plants and the shy bear monkey more often heard than seen. The reward for the long climb is a stunning 30 km, 1000 m descent through small villages and tea communities, ending close to Banlangoda. After lunch at a local restaurant, we pack our bikes and transfer to our hotel on the edge of Udawalawe National Park, set on the banks of a lake. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Grand Udawalawe
Elevation gain/loss: +1040 m/-1675 m

Day 9: Udawalawa loop,  32 mi. (52 km)
Riding from the hotel, you cycle 21 km to Udawalawa National Park, one of the best parks to see wild elephants in Sri Lanka. The park, centered around a reservoir, has approximately 400 elephants in small herds scattered around the park, and mid-morning is a good time to see them close to the water’s edge. You may also see wild buffaloes, crocodiles, sambur deer, and monkeys. There are lots of resident waterfowl and hawk eagles to keep the photographers happy. You enjoy lunch in a nearby eco-lodge and then mount your bicycle to follow an irrigation canal back towards your hotel. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Grand Udawalawe
Elevation gain/loss: +415 m/-414 m

Day 10: Udawalawa - Mirissa, 50 mi. (81 km)
Riding from the hotel, you use a network of back roads for some fantastic cross-country riding. Here you get to experience southern Sri Lankan charm - lots of smiling faces and a slow pace of life. It’s quite a long, undulating ride, with lots of fruit stops to break up the day. Be sure to try one of the 14 varieties of bananas in Sri Lanka, each with its own taste and medicinal qualities, to give you energy. We try to get to the beach by the early afternoon, leaving you free time to enjoy the beach or a nearby surf camp. Tonight you will dine at one of the many nearby restaurants in the evening. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Mandara Mirissa
Elevation gain/loss: +844 m/-932 m

Day 11: Galle loop, 24 mi. (39 km)
Cycling through open paddy fields and cinnamon estates, you arrive in Galle mid-morning, giving you plenty of time to explore this historic masterpiece. The Dutch expanded the original fort to its present size, and later the British added the court complex and several other outstanding buildings. The different architectural and cultural influences meld to create a magnificent sight. You are free to choose your own lunch. and we meet up again for a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: Mandara Mirissa
Elevation gain/loss: +237 m/-233 m

Day 12: Galle - Mirissa - Colombo
You are transferred 3 hours to Colombo where you can either be dropped off at the airport or a hotel if you are extending your stay in Sri Lanka. (B)

Please see day to day detail for the preferred hotels. These are carefully chosen accommodations that are the best available for the location and offer a good mix, from local bed and breakfasts to luxurious lodges.