General
Where else can you tick off five off the eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in one go? Consisting of Kandy, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, these three great, ancient capitals form the Cultural Triangle.
Crammed with monuments and ruined cities, there is so much to see in this one area, it’s an obvious ‘notto-miss’ on this small group cycling tour. Cycling offers the opportunity to see things close up, cycle the many backroads and absorb a grassroots feel of the country.
The ride commences on the road to the beautiful old town of Kandy. Sweet-sounding Kandy lives up to its name, deep in the heart of the island and in perfect proximity to explore Adam’s Peak, which is known by a multitude of different names and brings together four separate strands of religious beliefs. Kandy is home to the famed Temple of the Tooth Relic and located around an atmospheric lake. The following day pedal through open countryside to see the ancient Buddhist cave temples of Dambulla or the city of Polonnaruwa (which you may recognise from Duran Duran’s ‘Save a Prayer’ video if you are a fan).
Pedalling out of Dambulla head to Sigiriya, it’s dominating rock fortress will be in continuous view as you cycle towards it. It’s well worth the climb to explore its green slopes and holy summit. Taking a 4×4 through Minneriya National Park, home to herds of elephant, a sprinkling of leopards, buffaloes, boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, crocodiles and jackals, is another Sri Lankan treat and a generous slice of safari adventure. After an adventurous morning, cycle back to Polonnaruwa, an ancient former capital with 800 years of history and with fascinating ruins rescued from the jungle’s grip. Cycle through and explore this historic complex.
The last stop is the even more ancient heritage site of Anuradhapura, the centre of Theravada Buddhism and the most continuously inhabited city in the world.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU:
CYCLE THE SCENIC BACKROADS / ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS VISIT / GOLDEN TEMPLE OF DAMBULLA / SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS / JEEP SAFARI AT MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK / ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF POLONNARUWA / RUINS OF ANURADHAPURA
| Destination | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Cities and Locations | Negombo / Kandy / Dambulla / Polonnaruwa / Anuradhapura / Colombo |
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
Tour Schedule
This cycling holiday is a small group tour itinerary based on set departure dates; it can be booked as it is or created on a private basis with flexible dates.
This is an active tour including 5 days of undulating cycling covering 222km on back roads, estate tracks, gravel and some rough dirt tracks. A reasonable level of fitness is required however a support vehicle is always available.
All prices are person share twin based on low season.
Itinerary
This holiday is a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your perfect custom-made tour of Sri Lanka.
Terms & Conditions
Itinerary and price subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. Please refer to our full terms and conditions available on our brochure or from our website. Active Asia reserves the right to alter the hotels and/or the itinerary if needed due to availability and/or adverse weather conditions.
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