Arrival, welcome by a representative of Lanka Sportreizen and transfer to Hotel in Negombo – Little Rome.

Negombo... Being one of the major tourist beach resorts of the island, this lively town is mainly inhabited by the fisher-folk. This is also one of the bholds of the catholic community of Sri Lanka and quietly correctly considered as the "Little Rome", located along the picturesque Negombo lagoon, along which hundreds of fishing boats and catamarans could be seen most of the time. The Town is dotted with several churches, some dating from the earliest colonial times. Sightseeing in Negombo includes the remains of the Old Dutch Fortress from 1678, the Dutch Canal constructed for the transportation of Cinnamon, St. Mary’s Church and the Old Dutch Cemetery, and naturally, the Negombo Fish Market –more famously known as the "Lellama".

Test runs for the bicycle in readiness for the tour.

Overnight stay at the Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo

After breakfast transfer by vehicle through the Airport Highway/Ring Road /Southern Expressway to Welipenna – exit closest to Bentota

After exiting, start cyclingInduruwa – 35km

We will cross a Ferry in the process and pass by Paddy Fields, Coconut/Cinnamon/Rubber Plantations and typical villages

Overnight stay at the Pandanus Beach Resort & Spa, Induruwa

After breakfast start cyclingtowards Galle -Southern Capital via Batapola, Karandeniya and Baddegama

In the process we will see one of Sri Lanka’s longest bridges

Galle … the port city, standing on one of the main sea routes in the southern part of the city, it has a unique charm among the many historic places in Sri Lanka. The Dutch built the 1st Protestant church in Sri Lanka here, and it is also famous for its Dutch Fort.

Visit the Galle Dutch Fortress, a World Heritage Site – Walk around the premises making various discoveries which are authored to the Dutch.

Overnight stay at the Amari Galle Hotel, Galle

After breakfast start cyclingtowards Embilipitiya. We turn towards the interior of the country passing Weligama – 75km

The route will be through flat land of the wet zone passing mainly small villages, townships, organized Plantations of Coconut/Cinnamon/Rubber

Overnight stay at the Centauria Lake Hotel, Embilipitiya

After breakfast transfer by vehicle to Wellawayaon dry zone flat land from where we start cyclingto Ella - 25km

It will be uphill all the way. Altitude Difference will be 184 – 1040m – the steepest climb

Enjoy nature at its best

Overnight stay at the Ella Flower Garden Hotel, Ella

After breakfast hike up to visit the famous 9 Arches Railway Bridge and the Mini Adam’s Peak

Enjoy the beauty of the Area including the Rawana Water Falls

Enjoy nature in the surroundings.

Adventurous people could – Trek to the Rawana Cave /Ella Rock

Alternatively, Spirituality could be gained by attending a Meditation Session at the Rakkithakanda Jungle Monastery

Overnight stay at the Ella Flower Garden Hotel, Ella

Armed with a packet of picnic breakfast we check out of the Hotel in chilly weather and start cyclingtowards Haputale – 25km

We either continue by bicycle or get transferred by vehicle to the Horton Plains – a part of newly declared World Heritage Site of Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, which is the island’s most isolated plateau situated 1860 meters above sea level

Horton Plains... The only National Park situated in the Hill Country is Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau at an elevation of more than 2000 meters and is located in the District of Nuwara Eliya. This 3,162- hectare National Park is a natural playground without rival in Sri Lanka and is a watershed of tremendous importance containing the second and third highest mountains in Sri Lanka with in its precincts. It’s widely spread Patna grass-covered plains are the haunt of many species of flora and fauna among which are found leopards, sambhur, deer, Slender Lories, purple monkeys, eagles and some 247 species of butterflies, rare orchids, rhododrendon trees and exotic mosses. Bridle paths through the plains lead to the precipice known as World’s End, a sheer drop of 1,050 meters and the much famous Baker’s Falls.

Start hiking to visit the World's End - a sheer precipice of more than 1050 meters, lucky if you can have a clear vision and proceed to visit the Baker’s Falls Water Falls, named after the person who discovered it.

Transfer by vehicle to Nuwara Eliya

Overnight stay at the Araliya Green Hills Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast we get ourselves transferred by vehicle to visit a Tea Factory and a Plantation to witness the manufacturing process of world famous "Ceylon Tea" and to taste a pure unblended cup of factory fresh tea before being sent to the Tea Auctions in Colombo leading to Export.

Start downhill cyclingto reach Kandy - "The Hill Capital" through picturesque landscapes mainly through Tea Plantations via Ramboda leaving behind the Hill Country of Sri Lanka– 60km

Kandy... literally the "City on the Hills" so named as it was protected by the nature - water , rocks and jungles. The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings before falling to the British in 1815AD which is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures vision of splendour of magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. The centre of attraction is the golden roofed Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha .The Kandy Lake built by the last King Sri Wickramarajasinghe in 1806 holds a prominent view of the City. It is a City for arts and crafts as well culture and history

It will be downhill all the way. Altitude Difference will be 1893 - 500m

In the evening watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers including devotional" Fire Walking"

Overnight stay at the Amaya Hills Hotel, Kandy

After breakfast undertake a City Tour by vehicle including the Upper Lake Drive - a place where one could have a bird's eye view of the city below, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha - by far the most important place of worship for Buddhists world over , the Royal Botanical Gardens - one of the best of its kind in Asia with more than 5000 species of different varieties of flora which incidentally was the Headquarters of Lord Louise Mountbatten - the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces during the 2nd World War, a Gem Museum - to see how the valuable gems that you see on a shop shelf are turned out from a raw stone with the back ground history and a Silk Shop where one could learn about the process of making Silk, Handlooms etc

After breakfast start cyclingto Dambulla – 70km

Dambulla... a collection of five caves of different sizes declared a World Heritage Site. Initial authorship is attributed to King Valagambahu who took refuge here after being driven out of Anuradhapura by invading armies, although the works span over all periods since then to the late Kandy Period in the 18th Century

In Dambulla visit the Dambulla Cave Temple considered being the largest painted caves in the world with more than 22,000 sq ft of painted surfaces with many paintings, sculptures, statues of Lord Buddha, his disciples, Kings, Gods etc.

En route visit a Spice Garden and take part in a conducted tour to get some knowledge about the growth and use of spices in the day to day life.

Relax

Overnight stay at the Amaya Lake Hotel, Dambulla

After breakfast start cyclingto Sigiriya. 15 km

Sigiriya... a Royal Citadel for 20 years in the 5th Century AD - stark and forbidding, haunted by an epic story of murder and betrayal is attributed to King Kasyapa who found hiding here after killing his father more fruitful than meeting the wrath of the people who loved King Dhatusena much more before meeting his rival - Prince Mugalan who had fled to India seeking reinforcements for his Army. This unique Rock Fortress or "castle in the sky" - a massive monolith of red stone that rises 600ft above ground , derived the name "Lion Rock" as the entrance to the climb to the summit is reached between the paws of a lion.

Climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, a World Heritage Site

Return by vehicle OR by bicycle if you have the energy

Relax OR

Take time to stroll round in the Dambulla City which is an important hub where the Economic Centre which is one of the biggest in the island where all types of commodities including fruits, vegetables , Grains, Yams etc from all around the island are traded both wholesale and retail and also in the area along the Colombo Road lining numerous Trade Stalls

Overnight stay at the Amaya Lake Hotel, Dambulla

After breakfast bicycle to Giritale – 65km.

The first part of the route will be on paved through patches of dry zone jungles passing the traditional forms of Cultivation called "Chena Cultivation" or "Slash and Burn Cultivation",

The 2nd part will be on asphalted and developed roads but mainly through jungle areas

Relax

Overnight stay at the Deer Park Hotel, Giritale

After breakfast bicycle to Polonnaruwa - the Medieval Capital of Sri Lanka - 11th Century AD – 40km all through agricultural areas and patches of jungle passing typical villages-35km

Polonnaruwa... the island’s Medieval Capital (11th – 13th Centuries AD) which rose to fame after the decline of Anuradhapura. The city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many shrines. A unique Irrigation complex watered the city as well as the surrounding plains helping in agriculture which made the island "the Granary of the East" . The largest of the manmade reservoirs, the huge Parakrama Samudra (the Sea of Parakrama), is larger in size than the Colombo Harbour. Polonnaruwa is home to two magnificent World Heritage Sites and numerous other sites of archaeological and historical interest, some of which depict the influence that Hinduism had on the Buddhist Civilisation during that period of history.

In Polonnaruwa, visit the many sites of archaeological and historical interest in the Sacred City of Polonnaruwa including the Grate Statue, Quadrangle, Royal Palace, Vatadage, Hatadage, Siva Devalaya, Gal Viharaya, AlahanaPirivena Complex, Kumara and Lotus Ponds, Thuparamaya, RankothVehera, PabaluVehera , Thiwanka Image House , The Museumetc some of which depict the influence that Hinduism had on the Buddhist Civilisation during that period of history.

END OF CYCLING

Pick up and transfer by vehicle to the selected Beach Hotel