Tour overview

This 14-day cycling holiday crosses Sri Lanka on quiet back roads, from the cultural triangle through the hill country to the south coast. A tour leader rides with the group, which numbers between four and sixteen, with a support vehicle and a hybrid bike provided. You stay thirteen nights in hotels and guesthouses, with breakfast daily and nine lunches.

After climbing Sigiriya at dawn you ride to the Dambulla cave temple, then along a nature reserve road to Polonnaruwa for a cycle tour of its ruins. You follow canals through the spice-growing foothills to Kandy for a free day.

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The biggest challenge is a long climb through tea estates to Nuwara Eliya, followed by a hill-country ride to Ella and a long descent to the dry zone, past the rock-cut Buddhas of Buduruvagala. A safari in Yala, a ride past the lagoons of Bundala and a free day on the beach at Ahangama end the trip.

The physical rating is medium, with some challenging climbs. This trip suits keen cyclists who want to see Sri Lanka at a slower pace.

Trip highlights

  • Climbing Sigiriya at dawn (Day 2)
  • Polonnaruwa by bike (Day 3)
  • The climb to Nuwara Eliya (Day 6)
  • The ride to Ella (Day 8)
  • A Yala safari (Day 10)
  • Bundala's lagoons (Day 11)

Your route

18 stops from Sigiriya to Colombo

14-day route: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Tissamaharama – Ahangama – Colombo
  1. Sigiriya Days 1–2
  2. Dambulla Day 2
  3. Giritale Day 3
  4. Polonnaruwa Day 3
  5. Kandy Days 4–5
  6. Peradeniya Day 5
  7. Nuwara Eliya Days 6–7
  8. Bandarawela Day 8
  9. Ella Day 8
  10. Buduruvagala Day 9
  11. Tissamaharama Days 9–10
  12. Kataragama Day 10
  13. Bundala National Park Day 11
  14. Hambantota Day 11
  15. Ahangama Days 11–12
  16. Koggala Day 12
  17. Galle Day 13
  18. Colombo Days 13–14

Why choose this tour

Sri Lanka on quiet back roads. A support vehicle and a quality bike provided.

Best suited to

  • Keen cyclists
  • Active travellers
  • Solo travellers
  • Nature lovers
Sigiriya's Lion Rock above the forest

Day-by-day itinerary

14 days from Sigiriya, Sri Lanka to Colombo, Sri Lanka

  1. Day 1 · Sigiriya Sigiriya

    The trip begins.

    Hotel
    Hotel Sigiriya
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple Sigiriya

    A dawn climb.

    Hotel
    Hotel Sigiriya
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa

    Ruins by bike.

    Hotel
    Hotel Giritale
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Amban Ganga, Kandy Kandy

    The spice hills.

    Hotel
    Hotel Topaz
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Kandy Kandy

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel Topaz
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Tea estates, Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya

    A big climb.

    Hotel
    Araliya Red
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  7. Day 7 · Nuwara Eliya, Tea factory Nuwara Eliya

    Little England.

    Hotel
    Araliya Red
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  8. Day 8 · Bandarawela, Ella Ella

    Hill-country riding.

    Hotel
    Hotel Country Comfort
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Buduruvagala, Tissamaharama Tissamaharama

    A long descent.

    Hotel
    Chaarya Resort & Spa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Kataragama, Yala National Park Yala

    A temple and a safari.

    Hotel
    Chaarya Resort & Spa
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  11. Day 11 · Bundala, Hambantota, Ahangama Ahangama

    Lagoons and the coast.

    Hotel
    Insight Resort
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Ahangama, Koggala Ahangama

    A free beach day.

    Hotel
    Insight Resort
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Galle, Colombo Colombo

    Galle Fort.

    Hotel
    Ramada Colombo
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Colombo Colombo

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Stone columns at Polonnaruwa

Where you stay

  • Sigiriya (2 nights) Hotel Sigiriya
  • Giritale (1 night) Hotel Giritale
  • Kandy (2 nights) Hotel Topaz
  • Nuwara Eliya (2 nights) Araliya Red
  • Ella (1 night) Hotel Country Comfort
  • Tissamaharama (2 nights) Chaarya Resort & Spa
  • Ahangama (2 nights) Insight Resort
  • Colombo (1 night) Ramada Colombo

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights in hotels and guesthouses
  • Meals 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 1 dinner
  • Hybrid bike hire and a support vehicle
  • Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
  • Yala safari
  • Galle visit
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Meals not included 3 lunches and 12 dinners
  • International flights
  • E-bike upgrade
  • Sri Lanka ETA
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Tea fields below a mountain

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You are new to cycling
  • You want luxury hotels
  • You dislike heat
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–14 · Lunch: Days 2–4 and 6–11 · Dinner: Day 1
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka
A cyclist on a country path in Sri Lanka

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,958 per person, twin share, tour only. 33 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £2,482 (single supplement from £484).

Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How hard is the cycling?

Rides are mostly on quiet roads, with some long days and a challenging climb to Nuwara Eliya. The support vehicle is always on hand.

What bike is provided?

A serviced hybrid touring bike; an e-bike is available at extra cost.

Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka?

UK citizens need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Sri Lanka, applied for online before travel.

Is there a rest day?

Yes, a free day in Kandy and a free day on the beach.

Can I have my own room?

Yes, a single supplement is available on request.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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