Sri Lanka Backroads and Beaches

Situated off the coast of India, Sri Lanka is an often overlooked gem in the Indian Ocean. An island of beautiful tropical beaches, spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife. Ancient Buddhist temples rub shoulders with landscaped tea plantations and lush tropical forests entice you to explore them.

Our cycling holiday in Sri Lanka starts on the coast at Chillaw. From here we head inland, taking in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. From Habarana we start our ride to the higher reaches, as we head into the lush green central hills and the mountains of the Knuckles to reach Kandy. Here we’ll visit one of the most sacred places of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka, the Temple of the Tooth.

Next is the hill station and colonial splendour of Nuwara Eliya and its world famous tea plantations, before we head downhill through teak and rhododendron forest to Horton Plains. The downward emphasis continues from here on in as we speed to the plains at Katharagama. Riding on the flat is then the order of the day from here on in as we head through the forest to Udawalawe. The National Park here is famous for its wildlife, especially elephants and with this in mind, we spend the next day on a jeep safari.

Our final day of this Sri Lanka cycling holiday ends at one of the best stretches of beach, Mirissa and is the perfect place to end our cycling journey. Next day we head to Colombo via the lovely colonial city of Galle, before our flight connections the next day.

Holiday Highlights
Eying up the elephants at Udawalawe 
Stunning Sigirya and the Lion Rock 
Colonial cool in Nuwara Eliya 
Honing in on Horton Plains after a day in the hills 
The Knuckles and Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth