Cycling in Sri Lanka

Page sponsored by SpiceRoads

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Sri Lanka conjures up images of tea plantations, cool highlands, ancient cities and tropical beaches. Ceylon, as Sri Lanka was once known, has been influenced by many ancient dynasties all leaving their imprints on the country. This has resulted in a curious mix of ancient cities, monuments and atmospheric colonial architecture to explore. Not to forget the extraordinary flora and fauna, the religious and cultural beliefs and the tantalizing spices that contribute to making the local cuisine so delicious. All these factors mean that there truly is something for everybody in Sri Lanka.

With such an astonishing variety of cultural and natural treasures coupled with the quiet back roads of this tear-drop shaped island it makes Sri Lanka the ideal cycling destination.

On the SpiceRoads' Sri Lanka Spice Trails trip we cycle along estate tracks, gravel paths and cover 650 kilometres in 10 cycling days. Our trip starts along the west coast of the island catching glimpses of the distinctive patchwork sails of the local fishing boats, before cycling through a multitude of Buddhist and Hindu monuments. A definite highlight is the visit to a 2nd century Buddhist cave temple known as the Golden Temple, it is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in the country and contains more than 150 Buddha statues.

Among the many highlights you visit on the SpiceRoads tour is the ancient 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya (Lion Rock) and climb 300 m to view the ruins of King Kasyapa’s summer palace on the summit. The next day we stop at the once medieval capital and now UNESCO World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa. This 10th Century capital was abandoned in the 13th Century but then rediscovered in the 18th Century and is the best preserved of the ancient cities containing amazing chiseled stone monuments.

Taking a break from temples, the Sri Lanka Spice Trails tour stops at Wasgomuwa National Park, home to a vast array of wildlife including elephants, sloth bears, leopards, deer, wild buffalo and more than 100 species of bird and take a jeep safari ride. We then take a rest day at the hill town of Kandy, an important religious center of the Sinhalese and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. Here you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sacred Kandy which houses the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist relic, a tooth of the Buddha.

We then follow rivers flowing down to the south coast and after a break on the beach, we head to the historic port of Galle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Galle offers a unique blend of European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. You can stroll on the walls of the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.

During the SpiceRoads tour you will stay in a wonderful range of accommodation, from spa resorts to colonial bungalows on tea estates to remote rustic lodges to beach side hotels. Be captivated by the romance, colour and spice of Sri Lanka, a truly remarkable destination that you'll never forget!