Day 1: Kandy - Take a Train Ride, then a Bike Ride

Riding: 15 mi - 23 km

Meal: LD

We start today with an early pickup from your Colombo Hotel before we drive to the Colombo Fort station to board the train that takes us up into the hills towards Kandy. The scenic journey takes 3-4 hours before we arrive around lunchtime, to meet our support team and our bikes. To warm up our legs, we’ll cycle from the train station into the center of town, pedaling down small roads to escape the traffic. Our ride takes us along a river and its local villages. In the evening, there is time to visit the Temple of the Tooth, where the sacred Buddha tooth relic is placed with supporting stories illustrated in a prayer hall. Tonight we’ll enjoy our first dinner together in Kandy.

Special Information: 
Today's adventure kicks off with a scenic 3-hour train ride to Peradeniya Station, just before reaching Kandy. After grabbing a coffee, you'll take a short 30-minute transfer to a lovely lunch spot. 

Refueled and ready, you'll hop on your bike and start a 23.4km (14.5mi) ride from the train station into the heart of town. With a manageable 392 meters of elevation gain on paved paths, this ride is a great way to warm up and get into the swing of your cycling journey. 

Day 2: Ride & Train to Nuwara Eliya, Colonial-era Hill Station

Riding: 16 mi - 26 km

Meal: B,L,D

Today we pedal back roads and find ourselves climbing soon after leaving Kandy. As we go, the population thins out and the tea creeps in. As we weave our way through tea plantations, keep an eye open for roadside shops selling delicacies such as fresh dates and dried corn crackers. We then enjoy some descents today and a wide variety of road surfaces, always with minimal traffic.

We finish our ride down at the Gampola railway station where we board the train for the higher elevations. The train ride is stunning, and the carriage is quite comfortable. We alight at Nana Oya and then travel by car the short distance to Nuwara Eliya. You will need your warm clothes up here, but the hotel does have an open fireplace and a great meal for dinner.

Note that the short ride group today will be able to linger over breakfast a little longer, before taking a short van transfer to their start point at the top of the climb. From there on, the two groups will follow the same route.

Special Information: 
The day starts with a 1-hour transfer to the cycling starting point. From there, enjoy a morning ride to Gampola Railway Station, covering 26.3km (16.3mi) with a 497m elevation gain on paved paths. After the ride, board the train and then a van for a scenic 3.5-hour transfer to Nuwara Eliya, where you’ll unwind and take in the stunning views. 

Day 3: Explore the Highland Tea Plantations - Nuwara Eliya

Riding: 27 mi - 43 km

Meal: B,L,D

Today we take a loop ride that takes us first on a fun descent, then on a sustained, but not terribly long climb up through tea plantations. We will likely see colorfully dressed ladies with baskets on their heads, picking the tender leaves from the tea trees. 

We reach a ridgeline and ride through Ambewela, an area known for its dairy farms. We stop at a strawberry farm and if time permits, a dairy. We will stop for a cup of tea in quaint Ambewela and then ride the ridge back to Nuwara Eliya through a lovely, lush green landscape.

In the afternoon, we venture out to a tea factory, set on a plantation where we can see the process that transpires after the pickers turn in their baskets full of tender leaves. We’ll learn a little about the history of tea in Sri Lanka and of course, have an opportunity to sample the product. 

We'll return to Nuwara Eliya for another evening at our comfortable hotel.

Special Information: 
Today's adventure includes a loop ride through picturesque tea plantations, covering 43km (26.7mi) with a total elevation gain of 933m. We’ll visit a strawberry farm, and if time allows, a dairy farm for some local treats and a refreshing cup of tea at a charming spot in Ambewela. 

With our support vehicle always on standby, you can push your limits comfortably. After cycling and exploring, a 30-minute van transfer will take you to your hotel for a relaxing evening. 

Day 4: Hike to World's End Lookout, Bike to Haputale

Riding: 25 mi - 41 km

Walking: 9 km - 6 mi

Meal: B,L,D

A very early start is needed today for the transfer by vehicle up to Horton Plains National Park, and we’ll enjoy some light snacks to get us started. From there, we will walk through grassy highlands to World's End Lookout where we take in astonishing views over the valley from the clifftop. Keep your eyes peeled while you walk, as we should hopefully glimpse some deer and monkeys along the way.

A local breakfast of roti and sambal is had back at the hike start/finish point and once we have warmed ourselves with a cup of tea, we can commence a truly thrilling bike ride, descending from 2100m above sea level to about 930m. That is not to say the whole ride is a descent, there is some up and down to keep the legs moving and overall it is a beautiful route that starts in cloud forest and montane grassland, descends through Eucalypts and cedar, and ends up back down in tea plantation country. The scenery is stunning and by the time you roll into another comfortable hotel, you have probably earned yourself a restful afternoon.

Special Information: 
Today's journey starts with a 1-hour transfer to Horton Plains National Park, where you'll embark on a 9km (5.6mi) loop hike to the stunning World's End Lookout. After soaking in the breathtaking views, you’ll cycle 40.7 km (25.3mi) to Haputale, with an elevation gain of 742m on paved paths.  

Enjoy frequent stops for lunch, exotic fruit snacks, coffee, and tea, and with the support vehicle always available, you can confidently push your limits. 

Day 5: Transfer, Bike & Transfer to Yala National Park

Riding: 22-31 mi, 35-50 km

Meal: B,L,D

We will take a drive through the beautifully scenic landscape. After easing our way into the day with those nice views, we arrive at a little town called Ella where we take to our bikes. From here we'll cycle out along a ridge, with deep valleys on either side and tea plantation workers often out in the fields picking tea or tending to the plants. The first 15km has us climbing to a point where the short ride group will join. Then it is an enjoyable and continual downhill coast to the flatlands. When we run out of gravity-assisted riding, we'll stop for lunch in a small village and immediately you can feel the shift between regions.

People on the flatlands and plains move a little more slowly and with good reason, it's pretty warm down here. We are now in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, and after loading into the van we will drive between two National Parks, the famous Yala on one side and the lesser-known Lunugamvehera on the other. We often encounter Elephants along this road who levy a toll on us, paid in bananas.

We reach the coast and our stunningly located beachside resort around the mid-afternoon, so there is time to rest a little and then enjoy a walk on the beach and a sundowner before dinner.

Special Information: 
Today begins with a 2h45m vehicle transfer to the cycling starting point. After a visit to Ella Tower for coffee and a brief walk, you'll start your bike ride to Buttala. You’ll cover around 35-50km (21.7-31mi) with a 476m elevation gain on mostly paved paths. 

After a well-deserved lunch, enjoy a 2-hour van transfer to your hotel for a well-earned rest. 

Day 6: Safari of Yala national Park Seeking Leopards & Elephants

Meal: B,L,D

Today is safari day. We will take our local specialists' recommendations on whether it should be a morning or afternoon safari. That advice will depend on seasonal animal movements and the weather patterns of the day, and it will provide us the best conditions for wildlife spotting.

Either morning or evening, the safari will last around 2.5 to 3 hours and there is usually a good chance to see a range of animals. Of course, the Leopard is the star of the show and we often see them. It helps that our preferred Naturalist knows the park better than most, so he will guide our driver to avoid other jeeps and will favor sitting in wait t key locations rather than constantly driving to find animals.

Aside from the safari, the day (morning or afternoon) is yours to rest, relax and take stock of the adventure so far. The hotel has fantastic facilities including a 75m swimming pool, and the beach is patrolled by the hotel's lifeguards who are trained in Australia. Your three meals will also be served at the hotel today with plenty of flexibility.

Day 7: Ride to the beach

Riding: 29 mi - 46 km

Meal: B,L,D

For our last day on the bikes, we’ll roll straight out from our hotel in Yala and enjoy a scenic ride towards Bundala National Park. The route takes us through peaceful rural landscapes, with a good chance of spotting some local wildlife along the way.

Once we wrap up the ride near Bundala, we’ll hop into the support vehicle for a short transfer to our lunch spot — time to refuel and relax before the final leg of the journey. From there, we head to Galle, Sri Lanka's second-largest city. It is a historical location, which we will explore in more depth with our guide tomorrow, and also a location made famous by a game very popular in Sri Lanka, cricket.

In the evening, we’ll take a quick transfer to Wijaya Beach, a laid-back spot with a stunning ocean view and some of the best wood-fired pizza around. Feet in the sand, drink in hand—it's the perfect way to wind down before tomorrow’s Galle exploration.

Day 8: Guided Walk of Galle Fort - Conclusion of Tour

Meal: B,L

The story of Galle Fort is fascinating and dates back even further than the 16th century when the Portuguese built the first ramparts. The Dutch arrived later and heavily fortified the settlement and then eventually along came the British. Through these many changes of rulers, the ethnic makeup of the city was born through its significant role as a trading port. Today the families who live in the fort have in most cases, lived there for many generations. This is a story that deserves two hours and we will tell it as we walk through the atmospheric streets and along the ramparts with the ocean crashing against the rocks below.

After our delightful lunch within the fort, our tour gracefully draws to a close. The support vehicle will be awaiting your departure, ready to whisk you away to Colombo City. However, if you're tempted to linger amidst the stunning beaches of Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, or Bentota, fret not. We've got you covered with transport arranged for your convenience. Please note, our transport service extends to these specific areas only. If you have alternative drop-off preferences or wish to book a departure transfer, our dedicated customer service team is just a call away, eager to assist with your travel arrangements.

Special Information: 
On your final day, enjoy a morning walk through Galle Fort for about an hour, followed by a 30-minute stroll to your last lunch stop before a van transfer to Colombo. 

NOTES:

What's the riding like? 

On this tour, you’ll cover 216-271 km (134-168 mi), with options for both short and long rides each day. The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads, secondary roads, and quiet country lanes. You’ll face a few sustained climbs, but don’t worry—they’re pretty manageable and not too steep. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy some thrilling descents along the way! 

Unsure about the challenge? Our support vehicles are on standby for those moments when you need a little breather. 

For an extra boost, upgrade to our pedal-assist E-bikes for $495.