Overview of the program
This is a cycling tour from the North to the South for a span of a fortnight in the beautiful island of Sri Lanka. The cycling trail is a moderate trail which runs mostly on flat terrain and tarmac roads and offers a diverse blend of experiences showcasing the natural beauty of the countryside along with exposure to the culture of the diverse local ethnic groups.
The trail will begin at Point Pedro in the Jaffna peninsula which is in the north of the island and will have you riding down the A9 road whilst you cycle down to the north eastern part of the country where you will have the opportunity to experience remains of the civil war which destructed the treasures of the country during the course of 30 years. Riding along the eastern coast of the island also offers you the view of a diverse blend of cultures and values which is a unique to that area. Afterwards you will be riding along the buffer zone of the Yala National Park where you will have the opportunity to experience a taste of the local wildlife scene and even witness the infamous Sri Lankan Leopard! You will end the expedition by riding up to Point Dondra in the southernmost tip of the island and celebrate in the Galle Dutch Fort which shows the glories of the bygone Colonial Era.
During the entire cycling expedition, we will be ensuring that your cycling tour in the island will not be just another ‘cycling tour’ but one that is an experience in itself. Furthermore, this will also be a learning intervention to a 2500 year old culture and you will have insights to a unique way of life in this land of exotic discoveries.
Our unmatched services are combined with professionalism and the best knowledge of the wilderness of Sri Lanka. Our own tour guides have experience of running many cycling tours with a vast number of professionals as well as cycling leaders from around the globe. In addition our staff is well trained in first aid and cycle repairs whilst our back up vehicle always carries spare bikes in the case of an emergency. We are constantly improving our cycling tour making sure that you have an enjoyable experience which will make you long for more and more.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 to Day 03
Day 1
Begin your fourteen day cycling tour by arriving in Colombo and meeting your cycling guide to discuss about the program. Afterwards you will embark on a familiarization ride around Colombo city to explore the city’s splendor. This is a soft graded cycling round for the day where you will ride a total of approximately 10 kilometers for about 2 hours. During the ride, you will be visiting the Dutch Museum which was built in the latter part of the 17th century and was once the home to Count August Carl Van Ranzow. Afterwards, explore the Neo-Baroque British built style Old Parliament Building which once housed the country’s legislative council until 1983. Since you are at Galle Face Green, take a pit stop to enjoy some pineapple sprinkled with chili, a popular local snack sold by the road-side vendors at Galle Face Green. Once you’re done snacking, visit a local home and then make your way to a Hindu Kovil to receive the blessings of God. The Colombo city cycle tour also covers several other historical and cultural sites such as the Railway Museum, Old Law Court, Kathiresan Kovil, Thamiul-ul-Alfar Mosque, Fort Railway Station, a beautiful Buddhist temple, Green Path Art Gallery, Colombo Museum, the Planetarium and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). We hope this comprehensive cycling tour has not only familiarized you with what to expect when cycling for the next 13 days, but also give you an up close and personal tour of the city.
Day 2
Today will be a day of early rising as you will have to check-out of your hotel and leave for the Colombo Fort Railway Station with a packed breakfast to get onboard the intercity express train leaving for Jaffna at 5.35am. Once you are at the Jaffna railway station, you will be transferred to your hotel for you to freshen up and rest after a long ride to the north of the country. After getting some rest, go around Jaffna town in the evening. The Jaffna district is in the northernmost region of Sri Lanka and is one of the oldest districts in the Lower South Asia whilst overlooking India, the Palk Straight and the Bay of Bengal. The Jaffna peninsula is connected with the rest of the country by a shallow lagoon where elephants wade across. Today Jaffna is home to 900,000 people and is one of the most densely populated areas in the country. For visitors, it seems like Jaffna has it all – friendly people, rich culture, salubrious climate and a picturesque island making this an ultimate traveler’s paradise.
Day 3
After breakfast at the hotel, we will embark on a 4 hour long soft to moderate trek of approximately 61 kilometers around Jaffna. Our first stop will be the Jaffna Fort which is only 3.5 kilometers from your hotel to view the remains of the Colonial Era. Another 3.5 kilometers away is the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple; one of the most significant Hindu Temples in the Jaffna District. After visiting the temple, we will be riding alongside a village whilst admiring the villager’s way of life until we reach the Kadurugoda Viharaya which is one the few Buddhist temples in Jaffna. Thereafter we will paddle to Keerimalai to visit the Keerimalai Natural Springs located just near the sea with only a wall separating the sea from the pool making this a must-see sight. After visiting the natural springs, we will be visiting the Keerimalai Naguleswaram Temple, a temple dating back to the 6th century BC which is a short distance away. Afterwards we will be cycling for another 24 kilometers from Keerimalai along the northern beach until we reach the northern point of Sri Lanka where you can stop to take a few pictures to remark your visit. Afterwards we will ride another few kilometers up to Point Pedro Lighthouse from where you will be picked up and transferred back to your hotel by vehicle.
Day 04 to Day 06
Day 4
On your forth day in Jaffna, you will begin today’s 60 kilometer long soft graded cycling expedition spanning for 4.5 hours after breakfast. You will begin your ride to Paranthan via Elephant Pass down the A9 road. On the way you will be passing through less inhabited areas with a few villages and towns on the way. Your first sightseeing stop will be at the Elephant Pass War Memorial and the Hasalaka Gamini Memorial which are two highly celebrated monuments even to this day. If you are keen, we can take an off-road bicycle ride for you to experience the daily lifestyle of the people in this area. Should you choose to continue the right along the straight main road, we will be passing by many Hindu temples as they are a common sight in the area. Afterwards you will be transferred by vehicle to Kilinochchi where you can check-into a guest house and end the day with dinner and a night cap.
Day 5
After breakfast at the guest house, we will begin our day’s soft to moderate graded cycling tour which will cover a distance of 58 kilometers within 4.5 hours. Your tour will begin with visiting important landmarks in Kilinochchi which will be covered by vehicle. Kilinochchi was the administrative center and the de-facto capital of the LTTE until the 2nd of January 2009 when Sri Lankan Army troops recaptured the city. The remains of the Kilinochchi water tower which was destroyed by the LTTE during the final stages of the war is left as it is as a stark reminder of the 30 yearlong civil war and is now considered as a war monument. Your next visit will be to the War Memorial Museum, another important landmark on the A9 road which is a must visit when in Kilinochchi. Afterwards, you will be transferred via vehicle to Paranthan from where you will cycle to Mullativu on the A35 road. On the way we will be making a couple of stops, first at the Puthukkudiyirippu War Museum which will take you through the dark history of the 30 yearlong war, next the Monument of Victory which is next to the museum, which was created to remark the victory of the location where the local troops ended the civil war in 2009. We will then continue to ride beside the paddy fields and Tamil villages whilst experiencing the way of normalizing the day to day lives of the village locals. Your final destination for the day is at Mullativu, a fishing village located in the north eastern coast of the island.
Day 6
After breakfast the guest house, today you will be cycling to Puliyankulam through Nedunkerny, a soft to moderate graded trail that is approximately 50 kilometers lasting for nearly 4 hours. Your first destination will be a ride to the fishing village to witness their day to day life. When at the Mullativu beach, you will be rewarded with the opportunity to view the remains of the grounded MV Farah III; a cargo ship that was enroute to South Africa from India carrying tons of rice which was captured and stripped bare by the LTTE. We will then resume our cycling to Puliyankulam by riding along the Nandikadal Lagoon where the local troops killed the terrorist leader and declaring the end of the war. Afterwards you will be passing a local town named Mullivalai and make your way further down along the shrubbery jungles and rice fields up to Nedunkerny. The next town down this stretch is Mathiyamadu and beyond it are more shrubbery jungles leading up to Puliyankulam. When in Puliyankulam, you will be transferred by vehicle to your next hotel in Vavuniya making this the end of your expedition for the day.
Day 07 to Day 9
Day 7
After breakfast your hotel in Vavuniya you will begin by cycling to Horowpothana, which will be a 4 hour ride covering a distance of 46 kilometers on a soft to moderate trail. You will be passing several kilometers on a busy road along the A29 road in a route surrounded by shrubbery jungles, paddy fields and chena cultivations denoting the obvious agricultural livelihood lead by the local community. Your next encounter will be the Kebithigollewa town, with a terrain that is very much similar to what you have experienced on the first half of the journey today as your day’s ride will be mostly along paddy fields. Once you reach Horowpothana, you will be picked up and transferred by vehicle to your stay for the night.
Day 8
Today will be a day of exploring the coastal town of Trincomalee. The expedition will be covering 68 kilometers during a span of 4 hours on a soft to moderate trek. Your first stop for the day will be at the Kanniya Hot Water Springs with a history dating back to the Ravana era according to the epics of the Ramayana. Cycling along the border of the China Bay Airport, you will be riding across the Kinniya bridge which goes on for 396 meters making this the longest bridge in the country. Our next stop will be at Seruwawila, an ancient temple which is one of the sixteen holiest Buddhist shrines in the country which was built during the 2nd century BC with the sacred relics of the forehead bone of Lord Buddha. After visiting the Seruwawila Temple, we will be heading towards Kathiraveli from there you will be transferred to Chenkaladi by vehicle. On the way to the hotel we will be passing Vakarai which was a stronghold of the LTTE terrorists since 1985 until they were pushed out by the Sri Lankan forces in 2007.
Day 9
Post breakfast at your hotel in Chenkaladi, you will begin a 4 hour ride covering 59 kilometers on a soft to moderately graded trail until you reach Karaitivu. Your first stop will be 7 kilometers into the ride to a handicraft manufacturing community in Myrambaveli village to experience the locals making handicrafts using palmyrah leaves; a common tree in the region. This is an once in a lifetime opportunity for you to interacts with the locals and experience their way of life in brief. What’s more, you are even free to purchase their handicrafts which will encourage the locals to engage more in the trade whilst you are able to make these perfect souvenirs of your loved ones back home! Afterwards we will continue south and arrive in Batticaloa; a major city in the eastern province which is also the administrative capital of the Batticaloa district. Passing this town, you will be riding past Kanthankudi and Kalmunai, which are vastly Muslim inhabited towns in the country. Here you will be able to see the difference between the Tamil community you encountered in the northern part of the country against the Muslim community in the Eastern part of Sri Lanka. Once we arrive at the Karaitivu junction, you will be picked up and driven to Arugambay, a popular surfing destination. On our way to Arugambay we will be visiting a handloom weaving community in Palamunai, where you will have the opportunity to view many colorful bedsheets, sarees and other colorfully woven products as well as the individuals behind the scenes and watch the ancient craft of weaving handloom. Any purchases made by you will be thoroughly encouraging the locals to pursue their creative efforts in this field whilst making these another beautiful souvenir option.
Day 10 to Day 12
Day 10
After breakfast at the hotel in Arugambay, you will begin today’s 4 hour soft to moderate graded trek trail of 67 kilometers leading to Monaragala. Your first visit for the day will be the Mahudu Maha Viharaya in Pottuvil which was built over 2000 years ago near the Pottuvil beach. After 15 kilometers away, is the MAgul Maha Viharaya, a location the king of the Ruhuna kingdom married Princess Viharamahadevi in the 2nd century BC according to folklore. The temple was later renovated by many other ruling monarchs with a supporting stone inscription as a statement which dates back to the 14th century AD. Continuing along our ride, we will then arrive at the Lahugala National Park, a lesser known National Park in Sri Lanka. Afterwards we will be passing Siyambalanduwa on the A4 road until we reach the Monaragala town, from where you will be picked up and driven to Yala via Buttala and Kataragama giving you the opportunity to visit the Skanda Temple in Kataragama which is a very famous religious site for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees.
Day 11
Having stayed the previous night at our Big Game Campsite in Yala, you will be waking up to maximum luxury in the wild followed by a sumptuous breakfast. Considering that we are in Yala, you have the option of going on a jeep safari around the Yala National Park prior to breakfast and starting the rest of the cycling expedition for the day. Yala is home to the world’s largest population of illusive leopards as well as sloth bears, elephants and a variety of other animals and birds. After breakfast we will start our 12 kilometer long ride to the 2nd century BC built Sithulpawwa Temple which is along the buffer zone of the Yala National Park. After cycling for another 24 kilometers you will reach Yodakandiya where you will have to turn left to fall to the Kirinda Road. Here you will be visiting the Viharamahadevi Temple that’s located 8 kilometers away from Kirinda and afterwards continue to ride until we reach the border of the Bundala National Park in Weligaththa. You will then be picked up via vehicle and be driven to Tangalle down the A2 road marking the end of your day’s cycling journey.
Day 12
Post breakfast at your hotel in Tangalle, you will commence your ride to Point Dondra via Mulkirigala, Beliatta and Talalla. This is 5 hour long ride spanning across a soft to moderate trek lasting for 56 kilometers. Our first ride will be up to Mulkirigala which is an 18 kilometer long ride. In Mulkirigala you will be visiting the Mulkirigala Ancient Rock Temple which is built on a 205 meter high natural rock, surrounded by four other rocks. The Mulkirigala rock was called the ‘Adams Berg’ by the Dutch during their rule of Sri Lanka in the colonial era. This name has often confused many European travelers who confuse it with Adam’s Peak which is in the central highlands of the country. After you have paid your respects at the Mulkirigala Temple, we will continue our ride to Point Dondra through Beliatta and Dickwella. This route falls on a less busy road enabling you to admire the natural beauty of the local countryside and help you experience the local villager’s way of a simple life. However, the cycling stretch from Dickwella to Point Dondra is a stark contrast to the road you just passed, as this A2 road will be busy with traffic. When you arrive at Point Dondra; the southernmost point of the island, you will finish your day’s quota of cycling and be picked up and driven to Galle. You will be in Weligama, a beautiful town in the Galle district with an equally beautiful coastline enabling you to witness stilt fishing, a method of fishing unique to Sri Lanka – and if lucky, you too can be part of this fishing experience!
Day 13 to Day 14
Day 13
After breakfast at your hotel in Galle, we will be visiting the Galle Dutch Fort to do some exploring, sightseeing and also possible shopping (should you wish). The Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a rich history dating back to Sri Lanka’s period of colonization. Afterwards you will be driven to Negombo, another coastal city which is very much close in proximity to the airport. Once you check-into your hotel in Negombo you can take a stroll through the town and enjoy the rest of the day leisurely followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 14
After breakfast you will be leaving Negombo to reach the airport to catch your return flight back home taking back many the beautiful memories you have made in Sri Lanka.
Please note that you are to check out of the hotel by 12 noon and check in to the airport at least 3 hours before the expected time of departure.
