SpiceRoads Creates 12-Day Road Biking Tour of Sri Lanka

SpiceRoads has designed a 12-day road biking tour from the northern most point to the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka.

This Sri Lanka Tip to Tip by Road Bike tour has been designed for road biking enthusiasts looking to ride big distances with a few gradual climbs.

The road ride follows the length of Sri Lanka through a wide variety of terrain from the northern plains of the Jaffna Peninsula with its unique mixture of colonial charm and vibrant Tamil culture, the central highlands where the famous Sri Lanka tea is grown, to the white sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters of the India Ocean.

The route is designed for riders to take in the best of Sri Lanka's culture, countryside and wildlife.

Tour Highlights

- Cycling through Anuradhapura amongst some of the oldest and largest Buddhist monuments in Asia;

- Exploring the Jaffna Peninsula and surrounding islands with its unique mixture of colonial charm and vibrant Tamil culture;

- Riding to Mannar Island, formerly a renowned center of pearl fishing;

- Crossing the causeway linking Kayts Island with its Hindu temples and tiny fishing villages to Jaffna town, passing the old Star Fort built by the Portuguese in 1618;

- Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy;

- Being on the look-out for sightings of dugongs, purple-faced langurs and other rare species during the 12 days;

- Spending the night in a colonial-era tea plantation bungalow in the central highlands;

- Catching an early morning safari in Uda Walawe National Park, known for its herds of elephants, crocodiles and a plethora of bird life.

- Cycling the length of Sri Lanka, from north to south, climbing a total of 8,400m.

The 12-day tour covers 9 days of riding over 1,000km on paved roads in good condition, though there are a few rough sections. The first half of the tour is mainly flat but the distances are long. Once the tour heads into the hill country of the central highlands the distances become shorter, and the climbs are easy gradients of 5%.

The trip is fully supported with knowledgeable guides, ensuring riders always know what is coming up in terms of distance, terrain and sights. There will also be an air-conditioned bus with a constant supply of cold drinks and fresh fruit on hand to pick up riders in need of a break.

The tour cost is US$2,750 (US$675 single supplement) with an additional US$295 for standard bike rental (US$420 for carbon bike). Included are accommodation, all meals and drinks and snacks while riding.

For the May and June tours – use promo code JAFFNA to get 10% off.

2015 Departures

24 May – 4 June
21 June – 2 July
19 July – 30 July
16 August – 27 August
20 September – 1 October