Cycle Sri Lanka

Our tour starts today in Negombo, a coastal town that's famous for its fishing industry and golden sands. The perfect introduction to Sri Lankan life, Negombo is a busy coastal town with a lively fish market, traditional ketti-maran (catamaran) fishing boats scudding across the waters - the capital, Colombo, is a short distance away, too. Head down to the water to catch the sunset and spot locals bringing in the day's catch.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Negombo at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), which is a 30-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, there's the option to take a short cycle ride in the late afternoon, exploring the coast of Negombo with its colourful fishing boats - a gentle introduction to Sri Lanka's beautiful landscapes. If you want to join, we'll meet at reception at 4pm. First, we'll take some time to ensure everybody is happy with their bikes and make any necessary adjustments. The ride covers some 10 kilometres/6.2 miles, and we'll head back to the hotel before dark.

Leaving after breakfast this morning, we'll drive for 30 minutes to Dankotuwa. From here, we begin our morning's cycle ride through small backroads, gravel or dirt roads (15 kilometres/9.3 miles) and lovely forest to the outskirts of Kuliyapitya. Please note that the road surface for today's ride is in a poor state of repair. Arriving in Kuliyapitya, we'll then transfer to Dambulla by bus (a two-and-a-half-hour journey) to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll break our journey with a lunch stop in Kurunegala. Dambulla has a great series of caves which hide an incredible collection of temples, Buddhist images and Hindu sculptures that date back to the 1st century BC. After our visit, we'll continue to our hotel in Sigiriya by bus (a 30-minute journey).

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 38 kilometres/23.6 miles (total 390 metres/1280 feet accumulated ascent and descent).

First thing this morning, we'll drive the short distance back to Dambulla where we'll cycle (24 kilometres/14.9 miles) alongside lakes and canals to Sigiriya. We'll then leave the bikes as we climb the imposing 'Sky Fortress' of King Kassapa, whose 5th-century ruins are one of the country's major archaeological attractions.

Rising dramatically from the central plains, the UNESCO-protected ruins of this 5th-century 'Sky Fortress' are one of Sri Lanka's major attractions and an impressive feat of engineering skill. The fortress was built in just seven years as a fortified palace atop the granite peak, to protect the reign of merciless King Kassapa who had assassinated his father and deposed his brother.

Before our final ascent to the summit, we'll pass between a set of enormous lion paws carved out of the rock - all that remains of an ancient gateway that gave Sigiriya, the 'Lion Rock', its name. From here a series of switchback steel stairways ascend to the top. Once at the 200-metre/656-foot summit, we can take in the magnificent views of the surrounding jungle and countryside. We return to our hotel in time for a late breakfast.

Returning to the base of Lion Rock, we'll drive to Minneriya (a 45-minute journey) where the second leg of today's ride commences. Back on our bikes, we'll ride to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Our route follows a series of relatively straight and flat backroads through a landscape dotted with forests and villages, with around 10 kilometres/6 miles on decent, dirt road.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 50 kilometres/31.1 miles (total 340 metres/1116 feet ascent and descent).

Polonnaruwa reached the height of its glory in the 12th century and the city is still blessed with a number of ancient monuments, including the spectacular ruins of its Royal Palace and the Circular Relic House, a curious structure with a beautifully preserved 'moonstone' carved at the foot of a flight of steps. We'll spend this morning cycling around some of the area's major archaeological sites, before continuing by bike after lunch to explore the villages near Parakkrama Lake, one of the country's most impressive ancient reservoirs. Around 4 kilometres/2.5 miles of today's route is on gravel or dirt roads.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 33 kilometres/20.5 miles (total 210 metres/689 feet ascent and descent).

Today we'll cycle through the Knuckles Range and on to Kandy, one of Sri Lanka's cultural highlights. We'll start our day's ride at our hotel and cycle alongside Parakrama Samudra reservoir - built by the Singhalese kings in the 12th century - always staying close to Wasgamuwa National Park. Our ride ends before we get to Pallegama, and we'll get back in the vehicle to drive up into the Knuckles Mountain Range. These striking landscapes and isolated cloud forests provide a haven for a rich diversity of flora and fauna. After around an hour and a half, we reach the highest point at Riverston Pass. From here we descend for about another hour and a half to Matale Spice Gardens where we plan to visit. Finally, we drive on to Kandy and our accommodation for the night (a one-hour journey).

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 61 kilometres/37.9 miles (total 600 metres/1969 feet ascent and 500 metres/1641 feet descent).

With no cycling planned for today, we'll have free time to enjoy one of the country's cultural gems. Lying in the mountains to the north-east of Colombo, Kandy is renowned as a centre of spiritual and cultural importance. The busy city is home to the famous 'Temple of the Tooth', whose jewelled shrine is believed to hold the left canine of the lord Buddha. It was also the last capital of the Sinhala Kings, and its wonderful mix of colour, local life and vibrancy makes it an ideal spot to explore at our own pace.

For lunch we have included a visit to a social enterprise run by women who are either differently abled or come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The cafe gives them a chance to earn a meaningful income. In addition to the meal, there is a small on-site workshop where guests can see the women crafting handmade products, which are sold in the adjoining shop.

No cycling today.

Leaving Kandy this morning, after driving out of town we'll cycle on an undulating route leading towards the mountains. Then back in the bus we will drive for around two hours through a picturesque landscape of rolling, verdant hills into Sri Lanka's central highlands. On our journey, we'll stop at a tea estate to learn about tea picking and processing and to see the impressive Ramboda Falls. Following the tea factory visit, we'll continue on foot through the tea plantations to a Tamil hamlet and will hopefully meet some families of tea pickers.

Later today we continue by bus to our hotel near Nuwara Eliya. Nestling amongst the lush, cool hills, nearly 1,900 metres/6,235 feet above sea level, Nuwara Eliya was once a summer retreat for the British and still retains a distinctly colonial feel that harks back to its 19th-century origins.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 39 kilometres/24 miles (total accumulated 510 metres/1,675 feet ascent and 645 metres/2,115 feet ascent).

This morning, we'll leave the hotel, cycling out through the highlands passing forests and tea estates on another undulating ride with more downhill than up. We plan to visit the Bambarakanda Waterfall, the highest in Sri Lanka, before driving down through the southern, increasingly lush and tropical slopes of the mountain to the southern lowlands and our hotel for tonight.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 40 kilometres/25 miles (total accumulated 425 metres/1395 feet ascent and 1000 metres/3280 feet descent).

Today we'll cycle through the spectacular southern slopes of the highlands via Rajawaka and Pallebedda until we reach Highway 18 where our ride ends. We'll then drive to the Elephant Transit Home (a 30-minute journey) where orphaned elephants are cared for until they're old enough to be released back into the wild.

Afterwards, we'll either drive to our permanent tented camp with free time this afternoon to relax or alternatively have an optional 4WD jeep safari in Udawalwe National Park. The park is famous for its large elephant herds and has many other game to look for, from buffalo to sambar deer plus many bird species. This evening dinner is included. Tonight, we'll sleep in a permanent tented camp close to nature on the banks of the Rakwana River, close to the National Park. Each large tent is equipped with twin beds, simple ensuite bathrooms, fans and fixed mosquito nets making this a comfortable style of camping and waking next to the river is ideal for a spot of early morning bird watching. Our total cycling distance today is approximately 37 kilometres/23 miles (total 420 metres/1378 feet ascent and 830 metres/2723 feet descent).

Turning southeast this morning, our cycle route leads us to the town of Kataragama where we'll spend the night. We plan to visit the interesting local temple dedicated to Hindu and Buddhist gods. Lying close to the beautiful and abundant landscapes of Yala National Park, our afternoon arrival provides us with a chance to enjoy an optional game drive through the park. One of Sri Lanka's more popular reserves, Yala is home to a rich diversity of ecosystems and is blessed with an abundance of wildlife, including sea turtles, sloth bears, one of the world's highest concentrations of leopards and over 215 species of birds. We use one of the less frequented Yala park entrances, around a 40-minute drive from Kataragama.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 49 kilometres/30.5 miles (total 320 metres/1050 feet ascent and 370 metres/1214 feet descent).

This morning we'll drive for 30 minutes to the coast and then cycle the first 23 kilometres/14.3 miles section along the coast and Bundula National Park, giving us a good chance to spot crocodiles. We'll then get back in the vehicle and drive for around an hour to a point beyond Tangalla. From here, we'll cycle again following back roads heading to the west. Our cycle ride ends in Matara where we get back on the bus again and drive to the hotel in Koggala (a 45-minute journey). Around 20 kilometres/12.4 miles of today's ride is on gravel or dirt roads.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 65 kilometres/40.4 miles (total 600 metres/1969 feet ascent and descent).

We'll cycle from our hotel this morning, through the backroads. We'll explore the coastal and inland backroads, next to Koggala Lake on a bike route that eventually leads us back to the hotel in time for lunch. Later this afternoon, we'll drive for around 40 minutes to Galle for a stroll through the old town.

Our total cycling distance today is approximately 33 kilometres/20.5 miles (total 380 metres/1247 feet ascent and descent).

Today has been left free to enjoy the laid-back ambience and turquoise waters of Sri Lanka's southern coast. Rich in biodiversity, colonial history and golden beaches, the area offers a wealth of options to make the most of our last day in the country. There are snorkelling trips available, ayurvedic massages and even the possibility of enjoying a whale-watching trip during the migration season (December to April).

No cycling today.

The trip ends at Colombo airport. There are 2 transfers planned today.

Departing Koggala this morning, we'll drive for around two hours and 45 minutes to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo where our trip ends. The first transfer is planned to arrive at the airport at 09.45 am, the second transfer is planned to arrive at the airport at 5.20pm and you'll need to select which you want at the time of booking.

The earliest your flight can depart is around 12.45pm.