Cycle the Back Roads of Sri Lanka

• 10 days cycling (including one optional ride) with full vehicle support
• 95 percent paved roads, five percent unsurfaced
• Routes mostly follow quiet backroads, with frequent climbs
• Group normally 4 to 16, plus leader and driver. Minimum age: 16
• 11 nights in hotels, two nights in guesthouses, all en suite
• E-bikes available for an additional cost

All breakfasts and 10 lunches included. We suggest allowing about 7,000 rupees (US$20) per day for lunch and dinner. You can eat out very cheaply in Sri Lanka, but if you mainly eat at the more expensive restaurants, you will spend more than the suggested amount. Sri Lankan cuisine is a fascinating reflection of the island’s heritage; there is a unique fusion of fresh local produce with spices brought to the island over the centuries by Malays, Arabs, Indians as well as the Dutch, Portuguese and English. Despite (or perhaps because of) these influences, Sri Lankan cuisine is often referred to as simply rice and curry. This is the staple dish in most restaurants and is usually a serving of rice accompanied by assorted meat and vegetable curries as well as various pickles, sambols (condiments), and a handful of tiny poppadum – all using the contrasting flavours of coconut, chilli, curry leaves, cinnamon and garlic. Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note, the availability of certain products is minimal or non-existent in Sri Lanka. For example, wheat- or dairy-free options outside of hotels are limited. Please be prepared for this and you may need to bring these from home. Spicier food can be avoided easily and lots of the hotels will serve Western options alongside traditional food. Mineral water is provided by our local operator in large containers throughout the trip so please bring a bottle with you to refill. Please note, restaurant service can be quite slow.

With a location near the equator, Sri Lanka has a hot and humid climate. At the higher elevations, however, it is cool; the humidity is lower in the northern and central parts of the country. The average annual temperature is 32C (90F) in the lowlands and 21C (70F) in the higher mountainous regions, though it can get chilly in the hill country at night.

This trip is rated Activity Level 4 (Moderate/ Challenging).

Average daily distance: 40mi (65km)

Number of cycling days: 10 (including one optional ride)

Vehicle support: Fully supported

The terrain is hilly, particularly around Nuwara Eliya and the hill country, but the support vehicle is available if required. Routes mostly follow quiet backroads with occasional unsurfaced sections, which may be rough in places. Rides are designed to run door-to-door without transfers. Keeping to the backroads means there is less traffic but it will become busier when approaching towns.

April Departures, Sinhala and Tamil New Year:

A unique celebration to the people of Sri Lanka, this important New Year national festival, known as Avurudu in Sinhala and Puththandu in Tamil, is not celebrated by any other nation. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities are observed by both Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus across Sri Lanka for two days on the 12 - 13 April 2024 and 13 – 14 April 2025 (may vary slightly year on year). If you are travelling in Sri Lanka over these dates you can expect to see religious ceremonies, family activities, traditional foods, colourful decorations and a general feeling of good will toward neighbours and friends. Parties can go on into the night and it can be quite loud during this period. Your Leader will be happy to show you some of the activities where your itinerary allows. Please note, during the New Year public holiday, most shops, monuments and attractions will be closed however, your Leader will modify the itinerary as required to ensure minimal disruption