Cycling Sri Lanka
For those seeking a more active holiday in Sri Lanka, there are some interesting cycling options on offer. Cycling in Sri Lanka falls into two categories: gentle tracks and minor roads near the coastline or more strenuous hill country tracks perhaps with an experienced guide and back-up vehicles.
Cycling near the coast
On and near the coastline, a number of hotels have bicycles available for gentle gradient cycling through villages and rural landscape along minor roads and tracks, passing rivers, plantations, villages and lagoons. Both Heritance Ahungalla and Aditya provide recommended routes. Kahanda Kanda offers a one-way bike ride mostly downhill from KK to The Fortress in Koggala where you can relax, enjoy lunch and the hotel facilities by the sea. You and the bikes will then be transported back to KK at the end!
Cycling in the hills
The ‘High Tea country’ in the highlands is the coolest and most popular area in Sri Lanka for walking and trekking, set amidst stunning mountain scenery. Cycling in the High Tea country and the Kandy hills is usually fairly challenging - up and down hilly, bumpy tracks. Bicycles can be hired at Bandarawela Hotel, Ceylon Tea Trails, Victoria Golf Resort and Jetwing Hunas Falls. At Ellerton Bungalow the bikes are free for guests to use, with maps for two fairly easy-going trails provided.
Where to stay: If you stay at Ceylon Tea Trails you can follow the trails of the planters of Ceylon, old and new, in the enchanting Bogawantalawa valley and by Castlereagh reservoir. Watch tea pluckers and visit a tea factory as you mountain bike from one bungalow to another. The staff at Ceylon Tea Trails could also organise for you to embark on a scenic railway journey passing tea-clad slopes and waterfalls, returning to your bungalow on mountain bikes.
For those staying in the Kandy area, we can organise a moderate to hard half-day to full-day cycling excursion in the Hantana Hills. The 26km cycle ride follows a trail through villages, grassland, forest and tea estate, stopping at a tea factory to sample a refreshing local brew and see how tea is produced (plus off-road and steep options) An experienced cycling guide and back-up vehicle are provided.
Cycling in the Cultural Triangle
In the Cultural Triangle, bicycles are available at all our selected hotels and can also be hired at Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura for cycling around the ancient sites. Cycling is a pleasant activity in the early morning and late afternoon. Although the terrain is mostly flat, the tracks are often un-shaded and the weather is hot so cycling should be avoided in the middle of the day. Heritance Kandalama offers guided cycle rides of 15km or 30 km (3.5 hours) around the local area passing farmland, wildlife and villages. Keen and fit cyclists could cycle to the rock fortress from the hotels positioned near Sigiriya.
Soft adventure, staying at one base in basic accommodation or camping
For those who are prepared to rough it and would like to spend 2 to 5 days doing soft adventure activities, we offer the option to stay in a mountainous area in the heart of Sri Lanka and use it as a base for trekking, canoeing and mountain biking. The region is a mix of dry patana grasslands and tropical forest, with reservoirs, rivers, waterfalls, paddy fields and rural villages. The activities can be tailored to suit your competency and fitness levels. Trekking options can involve a gentle 6km nature/village trail, Horton Plains, an ascent of Adam’s Peak, arduous 15 mile hikes to waterfalls and overnight treks. Canoeing is enjoyed on a reservoir whilst mountain biking can be on or off-road, amidst thick forest, tea plantations and by cooling waterfalls.
Being active can pose its challenges in this tropical island; visitors need to take into account the heat and humidity, especially at the height of the day, as well as the profusion of insects and wildlife that might become hostile when disturbed.