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Cycle Sri Lanka

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: HPXC
Overview
Destination:
Sri Lanka, 
Start:Negombo, Sri Lanka
Finish:Colombo, Sri Lanka
Duration:14 days
Type:Group tour (max 16)
Style:
Cycling,
Small group,
Travel Period
March 2025 - December 2026
Guided by an expert local leader, this 14-day cycling trip through Sri Lanka will take you to tea plantations, fishing villages, national parks, cities and lush green jungles. From Negombo to Colombo, you’ll see why Sri Lanka is Asia’s most exciting new destination. With pristine coastline, ancient ruins, rugged peaks and wildlife-filled national parks, it’s a dream for travellers who like to get active. In between two-wheeled treks, you can go on safari to spot leopards, take on optional food crawls, laze on the beaches of the southern coast, ride the rails (a must in Sri Lanka), explore the country’s premier Hindu and Buddhist sites, and see the famed UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya. With days of riding and nights of feasting, Sri Lanka will soon make its way to your heart.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.

2. Some travellers have reported being approached by locals offering excursions before their Intrepid trip commences. This has been particularly prevalent in and around the hotels used by Intrepid. These guides are in no way connected to Intrepid and we cannot guarantee the safety or quality standards of their tours. We advise customers against joining any tour offered by the unauthorised guides.

3. A Single Supplement is available on this trip, please ask your booking agent for more information.

4. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.

5. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.

6. Due to Intrepid's stance on elephant cruelty we do not visit the Perahera Festival and cannot purchase tickets on your behalf.

7. Train tickets are in very high demand. We always try our best to secure tickets, but on the rare occasion that we cannot book them, you will continue your journey by private vehicle.

8. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

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Standard inclusions
  • Meals: Meals: 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 2 dinners.
  • Transport: Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support vehicle, Train, Jeep.
  • Accommodation: Hotels (13 nights).
  • Anuradhapura - Bodhi Tree Temple.
  • Anuradhapura - World Heritage Site of ancient kingdom ruins.
  • Anuradhapura - Isurumuniya Temple.
  • Ritigala Monastery Entrance.
  • Polonnaruwa ancient ruins.
  • Sigiriya - Lion Rock Fortress Visit.
  • Kandy - Temple of the Tooth.
  • Kandy - Hela Bojun social enterprise lunch.
  • Giragama Tea Factory Tour.
  • Scenic train ride from Kandy to Hatton.
  • Yala/Udawalawe National Park - Wildlife safari.
  • Galle - Galle Fort Walking tour.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Negombo
Ayu-bowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka. Your adventure begins in the town of Negombo, close to the airport. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5:30 pm tonight, but if you arrive early, you can get into the spirit of seaside Sri Lanka by observing the local fishing craft in the town. Maybe feast on fresh seafood or rent a bike from the hotel reception and explore the surrounding countryside on two wheels. Tonight, your leader will have great recommendations for local dinner spots.
Day 2: Chilaw & Anuradhapura
Rise early and have some breakfast at the hotel, then start your cycling adventure with a test-ride through the city streets. Cycle from Negombo to Chilaw, through fishing villages, the scenic Dutch canal, coconut plantations and various tile factories. Sit down for a picnic lunch when you arrive in Chilaw. After, hop aboard a coach and travel to Anuradhapura. Here, you can settle into your hotel, relax and perhaps take a swim in the pool. You have the option of joining a 'food crawl' through the streets and markets of Anuradhapura tonight – this is a great chance to sample some tasty local cuisine.
Day 3: Anuradhapura
After breakfast, cycle to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Anuradhapura for a guided bicycle tour of the ancient city. Among the ruins you'll see the sacred old Bo Tree – a spiritual reminder of the beginnings of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the inspiration for Anuradhapura's great buildings. The ruins themselves are spread over quite a large area, with some in woodland settings and others appearing more cultivated with columns and ponds dotted throughout. Visit the impressive Isurumuniya Temple and the Anuradhapura Museum, then sit down with your group for a local lunch. Return to the hotel for a free afternoon and evening.
Day 4: Ritigala & Polonnaruwa
Cycle from Anuradhapura to Ritigala this morning, passing rice paddies, man-made water tanks and jungle scenery. Have some lunch along the way at a countryside kiosk then visit the beautiful Ritigala monastery, which dates back nearly 2000 years and is named after the mountain on which it sits. After exploring the site and learning a thing or two about its local mythology, board a coach and travel to Polonnaruwa. When you arrive, take the opportunity to relax and recharge.
Day 5: Polonnaruwa & Dambulla
Saddle up for a morning ride to Polonnaruwa – the second oldest kingdom in Sri Lanka. Visit the Vihara Temple, Parakrama Statue and Siva Temple while you explore the site, then cycle to Diyabeduma. The scenery along the way includes sanctuaries, man-made channels and farmlands. Refuel with a picnic lunch then travel from to Dambulla by coach. In the evening, you'll visit the Dambulla wholesale vegetable market, where there will be an option to join in on a local food crawl.
Day 6: Sigriya Rock & Kandy
Early this morning, you’ll cycle from your hotel in Dambulla to Sigiriya – this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to an ancient rock fortress that sits 200 m high among the surrounding gardens and reservoirs. Along the way, see the water garden, the boulder garden, the mirror wall and Sigiriya's frescos. You’ll want your camera today as the image of this site against the skyline is one to remember. Hike to the top of the fortress and enjoy some well-earned breakfast at the peak, taking in the panoramic views. After, jump back on your bike and pedal your way through the countryside, stopping for lunch at a spice garden near Matale. Enjoy a rest in the support vehicle as you drive the final leg to Kandy. Tonight, you’ll be treated to a traditional Kandyan dance performance – an insight into an age-old culture.
Day 7: Kandy
After breakfast at the hotel, you have the option to either head out for some extra cycling in the Hanthana Mountain Range (weather/time permitting) or stay in Kandy and explore. Later this morning, you’ll head to Giragama for a guided tour of a tea factory, learning about how Sri Lanka's favourite drink is made and sampling some of the delicious varieties. For lunch, visit the Hela Bojun Restaurant – a social enterprise founded by the agriculture ministry of the Sri Lankan government to provide employment for women from local communities while training and empowering them. Try some Sri Lankan dishes prepared by the women while learning a little more about the restaurant and their important mission. The rest of the afternoon is free. Tonight, visit the Temple of Tooth Relic – the most important Buddhist site in the country – then return to town for a food crawl.
Day 8: Hatton
Transfer to Kandy railway station after breakfast this morning. From the station, you’ll embark on a scenic train trip from Kandy to Hatton, where you’ll then cycle to Maskeliya. Ride through leafy tea plantations to your lunch spot, where you’ll enjoy an authentic Tamil meal from a local kiosk. Check into your guesthouse, then relax this afternoon. Time permitting, you can take on an optional trek of Adam's Peak – a conical mountain that sits at 2243 m high. The pilgrimage season runs from late May to early December and is a fascinating time to visit.
Day 9: Tissamaharama
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before cycling down from Bogawanthalawa to Balangoda. This is a short ride but one of the most beautiful stretches of road in Sri Lanka, following a path along the tea plantations and pine forest passes. Alongside mountainous views, you’ll cycle through tall trees, lush vegetation and serene landscapes with a soundtrack of birdsong. Maybe see some trickling waterfalls before stopping among the green slopes of Balangoda for lunch. Then, transfer to Tissamaharama. When you arrive, wind down at your hotel and share stories over a group dinner.
Day 10: Yala National Park
Cycle the tree lines roads through villages from Tissamaharama to Kataragama after breakfast. The holy city of Kataragama is a colourful and vibrant religious centre that rivals Adam's Peak in terms of national importance. This is where the two-week Kataragama Festival attracts thousands of Hindus and tourists each year in July/August. After, take a jeep ride through the beautiful Yala National Park – home to elephants, crocodiles and waterbirds like the great thick-knee. Yala also lays claim to one of the world's highest concentration of leopards! Return to Tissamaharama for the night where you’ll sit down for a group dinner.
Day 11: Mirissa
After breakfast, cycle from Tissamaharama to Hambantota via Bundala National Park. After lunch at Hambantota, continue to Mirissa on your bike. You’ll have a free afternoon of beach time in Mirissa, where you can chill out and swim. The beach itself is a long curve of sand with clear waters, perfect for taking a dip and watching the sunset. You can also cycle to nearby Weligama, where the colourful fishing boats bring fresh fish to sell along the shore. The local cottage industry of lace products is also well worth a look if you’re seeking something authentic to bring home.
Day 12: Mirissa & Galle
Enjoy a free morning to relax. Later, you’ll drive to Galle – home to an impressive World Heritage-listed Dutch fort. Surrounded by the ocean on three sides and filled with fascinating landmarks like ancient mosques, churches, museums, and boutiques its maze of gallery-filled narrow streets showcase a unique mix of European architecture and South Asian traditions, reflecting over 400 years of rich history. Spend the afternoon exploring on a leader-led guided walk, then in the early evening watch the sunset from the ramparts before driving back to Mirissa.
Day 13: Colombo
Depart Mirissa after breakfast and drive to Colombo. When you arrive, check into your hotel and then head out on a leader-led walk of the city, passing the bustling Petta Bazaar, Independence Square, Parliament and the National Museum. You’ll finish at the Barefoot fairtrade store, where you can find a collection of handicrafts from around the country and support small cottage industries. Tonight, there's an optional group food crawl to celebrate your journey. If you’d like to celebrate a trip well travelled, you’ll head to the local market stalls and tuck into some of Sri Lanka’s best street foods.
Day 14: Colombo
There are no activities planned after breakfast today and your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time after check out. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Departure dates

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Travellers

Operator
Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

Important Information
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*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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13 nights
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