Overview
This is a cycling tour across tea country towards southern beach through the Land of Elephants; Udawalawe. Instead of only taking you to all the clichéd attractions recommended to you by travel guides, we take you to some of the less-frequented, hidden treasures spread throughout the island as well.
The adventure begins from Hill Capital Kandy, you are picked up from the airport and transported to your hotel in Kandy or you can arrive in Kandy on your own from any location in Sri Lanka. Here, you will meet the crew and set off on your adventure soon after you arrive in Kandy.
The riding experience from Kandy to Hatton would be through the hill country tea plantations with breathtaking views, a ride in less traveled areas will enable to give you many opportunities to mingle with the local falks.
Your expedition includes a walking trail through Sri Lanka’s highest situated national park at Horton Plains. See some of the unique wildlife featured here before heading back down to the traditional villages seen in Belihuloya.
Elephants and more exotic wild animals are up next as you cycle to Udawalawe. Birds and beasts are plenty here and your authentic camping experience out here in the wild will ensure you have an unforgettable time.
Then it’s down to the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Galle is a culturally and historically significant city and will be your final destination before departure. Explore its colonial fort and enjoy its sunny beaches before you are transferred back to the airport in time for your flight.
This is your chance to get to know the land intimately and visit some of Sri Lanka’s true gems that have been tucked away from hordes of tourists.
Highlights at a glance
- Full day cycling tour in the suburbs of Kandy
- Cycling to Hatton
- Trekking in Horton Plains National Park and cycling to Belihuloya
- 30 km cycling trail to Kosgama
- Cycling from Belihuloya to Udawalawe
- Cycling to Unawatuna
- Visit the Galle Fort
Itinerary
SCHEDULE
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Arrival in Kandy and meet the cycling guide.
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Full day cycling tour in the suburbs of Kandy.
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Lunch in a village along the way.
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Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy (HB).
DISTANCE: 59 kms
DURATION: 6 – 7 hrs
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
The full-day suburban cycling tour will take you to experience the historical and the traditional landscapes of Kandy and its outskirts. During the tour, you will have a chance to visit little rural temples, tea and railway museum; ateliers and home-based workshops of local artisans; Dawson Tower and the 80-hectare Gannoruwa Agro Farm displaying fruit, vegetable and herbal gardens, and an insect zoo. A traditional Sri Lankan home-cooked lunch will be arranged at a local house.
Thilanka Hotel
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the hotel.
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Cycling to Hatton via Nawalapitiya.
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Check in to the hotel in Hatton.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Hatton (HB).
DISTANCE: 75 kms
DURATION: 6 – 7 hrs
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
Today, you will head to Hatton, located in the Nuwara Eliya District that is famous for Ceylon Tea. Theses parts of the Sri Lanka’s Hill-Country offer the most scenic, mist-wrapped sceneries of dramatic mountain peaks and rolling hillsides, carpeted with tea plantations. A world away from the tropical beaches and sweltering cities in the lowlands, the peaceful highlands with the emerald green landscapes and the cool climate are a nature lover’s paradise.
The Argyl
SCHEDULE
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Early departure to Horton Plains with packed breakfast.
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Arrival in the Horton Plains National Park around 7:00 am.
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6 km trail to Baker’s Falls and World’s End.
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Lunch will be provided in a suitable location.
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Cycling trail to Bambarakanda Waterfall.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the River Garden Resort (FB).
TREKKING DISTANCE: 6 km trail in Horton Plains National Park
GRADING: Soft
CYCLING DISTANCE: 15/21 kms to Bambarakanda Waterfall, and 20 km back to Belihuloya
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
The famous Horton Plains is a nature reserve characterized by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, forests, and grassland. The highest plateau in the island, spanning approximately 10,000 hectares, is home to 24 species of mammal – such as elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine, and leopard.
More about the trekking trail in Horton Plains:
In Horton Plains, you will first visit the Baker’s Falls. To reach them, you will deviate from the main trail and go approximately 500m on a steep downward path. From the waterfall, you will continue to the World’s End – the famous escarpment that falls 880 meters to the lowlands of the southern region of the island. When the clouds clear up, the misty cliffs boast a fabulous view of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant southern coastline.
After the trek in the national park, you will head on to Bambarakanda Waterfalls, 21 kms from the park’s entrance. You may go all the way by bike or car, or take the vehicle for the first 6 kms to Udaweriya Estate Junction and start cycling from there.
The 15-km trail from Udaweriya to Bambarakanda, going through Kingslyn and West Haputale Estates, is demanding, but the sceneries at the majestic waterfall will be the most rewarding! Bordered by steep rocks and dark green forests, the 240-meter-high Bambarakanda is Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall, and you may have refreshing bath in the deep pool underneath it.
From the waterfalls, you will cycle 6 kms to Kalupahana, from where you may go by car, or cycle, 14 kms back to River Garden Resort.
Kinchigune Adventure Camp
SCHEDULE
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Early breakfast at the hotel.
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Start the cycling trail to Kosgama at 7:00 am.
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Lunch at River Garden Resort.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the River Garden Resort (FB).
CYCLING DISTANCE: 30 kms (to Kosgama and back via Seelogama and Kinchigune)
DURATION: 5 – 6 hrs
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
Today, you will be taken for a 30 km cycling trail through small villages, forests and paddy fields in the gorgeous sceneries of the Sri Lanka’s Hill-Country. The trail starts from the River Garden Resort and takes you first to the little village of Seelogama, from where you will take a single track steep down to Belihuloya River. After crossing the river (depending on the water level, you might need to carry your bike across), you will continue to Samanalawewa reservoir and steep uphill on a paved road to Kinchigune Eco Lodge, where you can take a little break enjoying some refreshments and the beautiful views.
Start off again and ride 1.5 kms uphill to the village of Pambahinna. From there, you will cycle around 9 kms on gravel to Kosgama – picturesque little village surrounded by paddy fields and lush green forests. Along the way, we will pass by a small village school to which we can pay a visit, with the principal’s permission, if it is a school day. From the village, the trail continues a couple kilometers mostly uphill to Kosgama River, and then comes the real challenge – the 4.5 kms steep uphill ride to Marangahawela. Here, you will cycle on a narrow paved road, and the lush forests will provide you with a cool shade. After the tiring climb, you will get to enjoy an easy 12 km downhill ride from Marangahawela back to River Garden Resort along the main road. On the way, you may have a break at the Surathali Ella Waterfall.
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the hotel.
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Cycling to Hambegamuwa.
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Check in to the Big Game safari campsite in Udawalawe.
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Lunch at the campsite.
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Optional: Half day safari at Udawalawe National Park in the afternoon.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the Big Game camp in Udawalawe (FB).
CYCLING DISTANCE: 69 kms (from Belihuloya to Hambegamuwa)
DURATION: 5 – 6 hrs
GRADING: Moderate / Hard
From Belihuloya, you will head to Udawalawe. With approximately 400 elephants residing within the area of 31,000 hectares, it is one of the best places in the world to see wild elephants. In addition to this main attraction, the park is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer and monkeys. When in Udawalawe, you may go for an afternoon safari in the national park, and your accommodation will be arranged at the fully serviced Big Game campsite.
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the campsite.
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Cycling to Urubokka and transfer to Unawatuna.
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Check in to the hotel
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Relaxing time
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Overnight stay in a hotel in Unawatuna (BB).
CYCLING DISTANCE: 60 kms (from Udawalawe to Urubokka)
DURATION: 5 – 6 hrs
GRADING: Soft / Moderate
Unawatuna beach is a picturesque semicircular bay that stretches no more than one kilometer. With palm-lined beaches, turquoise waters and a good selection of restaurants, it is a great place to take it easy and enjoy the sun. Take your time relaxing on the beach, or go snorkeling in the clear waters. For those seeking pure relaxation, Ayurvedic massages, with natural herbal oils, are highly recommended.
Joes Unawatuna Resort
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the hotel.
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Visit the Galle Fort by bike or by car.
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Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Unawatuna (BB).
The bustling provincial capital and administrative center of the south, Galle, was Sri Lanka’s first international commerce and trade center. The Galle Fort overlooking the ocean is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Portuguese in 1587 and reinforced again by the Dutch. The 36-hectare fortress is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, its ramparts protecting the harbour, old houses, churches, warehouses and the Arab quarter. Even as the city of Galle modernizes, its remarkable collection of ancient structures transports visitors to another time.
Joes Unawatuna Resort
SCHEDULE
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Breakfast at the hotel and check out before noon.
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Departure.
Includes/Excludes
Includes
- Accommodation & meals as specified in the programme.[Half Board Basis].
- Cost of Lunches as specified in the itinerary
- Mountain Bikes in prime condition and Helmets.
- Transport for the tour. [ A micro van should be provided with ample space / hood rack for clients bikes / spare bike / guide's bike] Please note that the same vehicle will be used for the client transfer.
- Well experienced cycling guide , his fees , meals and accommodation.
- Entry Permits to Kandy Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Horton Plains National Park
- All government taxes & all service charges.
Excludes
- Any extra beverages or food.
- Separate vehicle for passenger transport.
- Cost of Optional Activities (USD 85 for a Jeep Safari in Udawalawe National Park)
- Compulsory peak seasonal meal supplements (Christmas Eve & New year Eve Gala Dinner supplements).
- Kandy Esala Perahera Supplement at Kandy Hotels (dates TBN)
- Any tips to the staff.
- Any personal effects not mentioned here.
When it comes to the accommodation, all the reservations are subject to availability at the time of confirmation, and as soon as we have received the payment, our Tour Operations Team will take in charge of your tour and proceed with the reservations. In case a hotel mentioned in your itinerary has no availability, we will find you an alternative. No changes will be done without your approval!
We will make a rough day-by-day schedule for your tour, but won’t set you exact timings for each and every activity – unless there is a an activity which start at a specific time. Since you will be traveling by private vehicle, with a knowledgeable driver-guide, we want you to have your part in decision making. With the help from him, you may tune the schedule to your rhythm.
Along the destinations included in your itinerary, you are free to take as many stops as you want to. When it comes to additional visits and destinations that are located out of the original route, the extra kilometers will be taken in consideration. For your journey, we will calculate a total mileage that is sufficient for the whole tour and mentioned in your itinerary. If this limit is exceeded, we will charge a supplement according the extra mileage.
We’ll do our best to accommodate the programme in your needs and wishes, if something urgent occurs during your tour. In a situation that requires changing the accommodation, the cancellation policies of the hotels concerned are to be taken on account.
Since the 1st of January 2012, all travelers must be in possession of a visa when arriving in Sri Lanka. Citizens from Singapore and The Maldives are the only exempt. Visitors can apply for the official Electronic Travel Authorization (visa) via www.eta.gov.lk, or upon arrival at the airport. There is a small fee to pay, and you must have at least six months left on your passport at the time of travel to obtain one.
MasterCard and Visa are widely used and accepted by many local shops, restaurants and hotels, but it’s always better to double check. Other major cards such as AmEx and DinersClub are accepted often also.
The important stuff
Sri Lanka is a nation where religion and culture occupy an important place in the day-to-day lives of the local people. It is important to be aware of the customs and practices that are particular to the location you are visiting, so here are a few general tips to keep in mind during your travels. Your guide will assist you with more detailed information.
- If you plan on visiting any temples, ancient or current, you should wear clothing that covers your body from your shoulders down to your knees. Head coverings such as caps or helmets should be removed and shoes must be taken off at the entrance. White coloured clothing is generally a good choice to go with here.
- Some religious places do not allow photography or videography without prior permission and some may not allow it at all. Refer to signage or ask your guide about the policy or protocol. Don’t try to photograph or take videos without permission.
- If you have any tattoos associated with Buddhism, Hinduism or Islamism, it’s best that you cover them completely in public places.
- Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, workplaces and on public transport.
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