Sri Lanka, the 'Teardrop of India', is a collection of ancient and natural delights that will bedazzle visitors as you move from religious to monarchical to colonial sites. Left behind by Buddhists, Hindus, the British, Dutch, Portuguese, and Indians, these influences are seen throughout the trail of historical and cultural sites.
SpiceRoads CyclingSri Lanka’s “Cultural Triangle” — a region in the heart of the island filled with ancient cities and temples — is one of the country’s most treasured destinations. Home to five of Sri Lanka’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it’s often explored quickly by those eager to check off must-see attractions. But on this 8-day tour, you’ll take a different approach — slowing down, hopping on your bike, and experiencing Sri Lanka in a more meaningful way. Each day, you’ll ride along quiet back roads, connect with local communities, savor authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, and relax in comfortable hotels.
Your adventure begins on the palm-fringed western coast in Negombo, where you’ll cycle inland and travel north to the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s oldest capital, to see its sacred bodhi tree and immense white stupa. From there, you’ll head south along classic red-dirt roads to Dambulla, home to the island’s most magnificent Buddhist cave temples. You’ll then follow an irrigation canal to Sigiriya Lion Rock, a towering granite monolith with the ruins of a 5th-century fortress and palace at its summit. Continuing on, you’ll skirt the shores of a vast reservoir to reach the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, where intricately carved stone monuments reveal stories of Sri Lanka’s royal past.
In the final stretch, you’ll ride into the foothills of the Central Highlands, where tea bushes blanket the slopes and spices like cinnamon and cardamom grow in the gardens. You’ll take part in a hands-on tea-making workshop, hike to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Knuckles Mountain Range, and enjoy one last countryside ride before driving to Kandy. The journey concludes with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic — Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Join this moderately paced, heritage-rich cycling adventure and experience Sri Lanka from a whole new perspective!