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After landing at Bandaranayake International Airport, you will transfer (approximately 30 minutes) to a hotel in Negombo. In the afternoon, you will have a bike fitting and a short test ride before sitting down to enjoy your first evening meal in Sri Lanka. You will receive a full trip briefing over dinner, providing you with the perfect opportunity to get to know your cycling team. Be sure to get a good night's rest before your first day in the saddle! (L,D)
Overnight: Hotel
After an early breakfast, you will commence your cycle with a relaxed ride along a route of small roads and lanes known as ‘Little Rome’. You will then join the old coast road, riding by the sea and through local fishing communities. After a brief stop at a local fish market, you’ll head inland through coconut plantations and rice fields. The cycling day ends at a local restaurant on the banks of the Maha Oya River where you can enjoy refreshments while the bikes are loaded onto the vehicles for the transfer to Kandy – the capital of the hill country. The rest of the afternoon will be yours to relax before dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)
Overnight: Hotel
This morning you will climb out of Kandy towards the spice estates of Matale, through clove and pepper plantations. The cycle will offer glimpses of the impressive Knuckles Mountains that surround Kandy. After lunch at a beautiful spot overlooking a scenic lake, you will travel 6km along gravel roads towards Dambulla. You will arrive at your hotel by mid-afternoon, giving you some free time to relax in the spacious grounds and enjoy the colourful birdlife around you. You will also have the option of a 2 hour guided tour of the Dambulla Cave Temples, a World Heritage site consisting of five caves adorned with frescos and statues. After watching the sunset over the caves, you will return to your hotel for your evening meal. (B,L,D)
Overnight: Hotel
Starting from your hotel, you will cross the Kaluduwa hills. This jungle lined road is part of the elephant corridor, linking Wasgomuwa National Park Jungle to Minneriva National Park. You will stop en-route at a village tea shop before continuing your ride surrounded by jungle hills on one side and terraced rice fields on the other. Once you reach Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval capital, you will have time to cycle around the ruins before finishing at a picturesque lunch spot. Be sure to have your cameras at the ready to snapshots of the large grey langur monkeys foraging around the ruins!
From here, you have the option of cycling the final 17km to the door of your hotel or transferring the final section by vehicle. Your hotel for the night overlooks a picturesque lake, the perfect place to sit back, relax and spot local wildlife. (B,L,D)
Overnight: Hotel
Your final day in the saddle will begin by cycling along the border of Mineriva National Park. Keep an eye out for wild elephants that occasionally cross the road! Next, you’ll travel along village roads all the way to Sigiriya where the finish line awaits. After freshening up, you will have the opportunity to climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress, otherwise known as ‘Lion Rock’. Starting at the water gardens, you’ll climb up 200m to see the beautiful frescoes painted onto the rock face. The ruins of the summer palace at the top are only surpassed by the magnificent views of the surrounding jungle. Back at the hotel, you will be able to reward yourself at the celebration dinner. (B,L,D)
Overnight: Hotel
It’s time to say goodbye to your team and wave farewell to Sri Lanka as you depart from the hotel at around 9 am. It is a 3.5hour drive to the hotel in Negombo where we can arrange your immediate transfer to the airport (1 hour) or you are free to have lunch here at your own expense if your flight is later in the day. Individual transfers to the airport are included throughout this afternoon if you provide us with your flight details at least 8 weeks in advance of the trip. Please do not book a flight before 5 pm on this day. If your flight is the following day, or you wish to make your own arrangements after this point, please book and pay for transfers and hotel accommodation directly with the hotel or another local provider. (B)
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
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