DAY 1, Arrive Sri Lanka: Arrive Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer (40km/1½hrs) to Colombo. Check into our hotel (rooms reserved from 1200hrs); rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight in hotel.
DAY 2, Colombo – Sigiriya (drive about 160km/4hrs): After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Sigiriya. Check into hotel Sigiriya. After lunch we set up the bikes and take a short familiarisation ride. If impartial to your own cycling gear, you may bring your own saddle and gloves. In the late afternoon optional visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya is considered by many to be the 8th wonder of the world. It is famous for its remarkable frescoes, known as the “Sigiriya Maidens”. Sigiriya was a royal palace, which was situated on a 600ft. high rock, giving stupendous views of the surrounding jungle. Dinner & overnight at Hotel Sigiriya.
**CHALLENGE BEGINS**
DAY 3, Sigiriya – Wasgomuwa (bicycle about 90km; Steep +300m approx.): After an early breakfast, check out from the hotel and set in motion the cycling challenge.
Starting from Sigiriya we follow an irrigation canal path to Kalundewa Jungle; crossing the bridge we descend to the banks of Amban Ganga River, close to Elahera, for a break. After a picnic lunch we follow quiet ‘back roads’ along the border of Wasgomuwa National Park. Arrive at Willy’s Safari Hotel (standard AC rooms {unclassified}) in late afternoon. Have a refreshing dip in the pool and prepare for a jeep safari (optional) at Wasgomuwa National Park, famous for wild elephants. Dinner & overnight at Willy’s Safari Village.
DAY 4, Wasgomuwa – Minipe – Randenigala (bicycle about 80km; Steep +100m approx.): After breakfast, check out from hotel and start the second day’s challenge.
We set out through the huge rice plains of Mawaweli Irrigation project. Bicycling along the irrigation canal road – this is a secondary road with many causeways – we come to the historical town of Mahiyangana. The giant white ‘dagoba’ of Raja Vihara is built on the spot where Buddha preached. After lunch at a rest house we ride alongside Mahaweli River to Minipe – an area known for traditional Henna cultivation. The tree houses on our on route are used by local farmers when wild elephants wander into their fields. In Randenigala, we camp in the safety of a large family estate overlooking the channel. Barbecue dinner & overnight in tents.
DAY 5, Randenigala – Ragala – Nuwara Eliya (bicycle about 75km; Steep +1500m): After breakfast, we pack our stuff and proceed towards hill country.
Crossing Randenigala Dam – one of the largest and most scenic reservoirs in Sri Lanka – we head for the hills. The verdant rice plains give way to slopes covered with tea – Sri Lanka’s finest export. The eye-catching lush landscape, dotted with waterfalls and brightly dressed tea-pickers, provides excellent footage for photography. We break for lunch at one of the roadside tea stalls on route to Nuwara Eliya. There is a chance to stop at one of the tea factories, before we reach Nuwara Eliya, to learn about the tea making process. The final ride into town passes the old race course and ends at Grand Hotel. Check into Grand Hotel (Governor’s Non AC rooms {3 star}). Rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight in Grand Hotel.
DAY 6, Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains – Kithulgala (bicycle about 95km; Steep +600-1800m approx.): After break fast, check out from the hotel and proceed on the longest and most difficult trail, rewarded by breathtaking scenery on the way.
A 28km ride on a hilly road from the hotel, leads us to a 2000m high grassy plateau known as the Horton Plains (highest plains in Sri Lanka), home to Sambar deer and the Leopard. From here we move down for a picnic lunch in the shade of a giant rain tree. There is a perceptible change in vegetation from the windswept bridge forest and grasslands of Horton Plains, to tea gardens and tropical rain forest of the foothills. The ride ends at Kithulgala, a picturesque town, where the classic “The Bridge over the river Kwai” was filmed. Check into Kithulgala Rest House (Standard Non AC rooms {unclassified}). Dinner & overnight at Kithulgala Rest House.
DAY 7, Kithulgala – Ingiriya (bicycle about 70km; Steep +300m approx.): We saddle up for the final part of the cycling expedition, negotiating the shaded trails of rubber estates, in the lowland foothills, concluding our journey close to Ingiriya about 40km (1-2hrs) from Colombo. After a refreshing drink we clamber aboard our bus and transfer to Colombo for a well-earned rest, and to reflect upon a fascinating journey. Celebratory dinner & overnight in hotel.
DAY 8, Departure: After breakfast, check-out and transfer to airport for return journey.
