Sri Lanka Spice Trails

We meet at our tour hotel in the coastal region of Negombo for a bike fitting, trip briefing and welcome dinner.

We hit the ground running (well, cycling!) with an inaugural ride along the coast of western Sri Lanka before turning inland along backroads through coconut plantations. Afterward, we transfer for about three hours, with lunch along the way, to Dambulla, where we explore Sri Lanka’s most resplendent Buddhist cave temples.

We ride a broad loop through the countryside surrounding Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, along a mix of paved and unpaved roads, passing irrigation canals, reservoirs, rice fields, and elephant grass. The highlight is visiting Sigiriya, a giant granite massif with the remnants of a 5th-century fortress and palace.

Today’s ride winds through forested national parks, rural hinterlands, and ancient water reservoirs, leading to the historic city of Polonnaruwa. Here, we tour the ruins of palaces, temples, and chiselled stone monuments before settling into a hotel by the shores of Giritale Tank.

This morning, we ride from one scenic reservoir to another, following a winding irrigation canal. A tougher climb introduces us to hillier terrain, and we finish with a jaunt through rice fields before lunch and a transfer to Kandy, the gateway to Sri Lanka’s tea-growing highlands.

Today is free to explore Kandy at your own pace. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, royal palace grounds, or a nearby tea factory, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding hills from a rooftop lounge.

We tackle Sri Lanka’s central highlands, famous for Ceylon tea. After a transfer from Kandy, we ride 80 km through a hilly landscape of tea estates, wild forests, and market towns. Today features the tour’s toughest climbs, but the stunning scenery makes it an unforgettable day on the bike!

Today, we transition from the tea-growing central highlands to the tropical plains of the south. Our roughly 60 km ride includes a scenic ascent through remote tea plantations, followed by a thrilling descent into dense forests. We then transfer 1.5 hours to Udawalawe National Park.

After two challenging days in the hills, today offers a relaxed pace with a gentle morning ride through countryside, followed by an afternoon wildlife safari by jeep in Udawalawe National Park. This is one of the best places to see wild elephants in Sri Lanka!

We ride to Sri Lanka’s southern beaches, crossing a lush agrarian hinterland of banana plantations, coconut farms, and rice fields. After lunch (75 km), cycle 30 km to Mirissa or take a 45-minute transfer. In the afternoon, relax by the pool or dip in the Indian Ocean (or both!).

After a final "cool-down" ride through the spice-growing backcountry of the south, we explore the historic Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site blending Portuguese, Dutch, and British architecture. After lunch and some free time to wander Galle’s quaint streets, we return to Mirissa for a farewell dinner.

We organise a shared group transfer from Mirissa to Colombo and Bandaranaike International Airport. If you're extending your stay at another beach resort en route, we can drop you off there as well.