Dip your tires in the Indian Ocean at the northernmost and southernmost points of Sri Lanka during this exhilarating top to bottom exploration!
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.
Why Sri Lanka now?
Sri Lanka is an often overlooked holiday destination – mostly due to the recently ended civil war – but it is now a vibrant and safe island to explore with a vast collection of ancient and natural sights and amazing beaches. For much of the past three decades large areas of the north were off limits, but this final frontier is now open.
What to expect
This 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 you to take in the best of Sri Lanka's culture, countryside and wildlife. Fabulous local foods, options for a quick massage and a safari, along with a few opportunities for a swim will round out this amazing journey.
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 untouristy 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
Trip details
This 12-day tour covers 9 days of riding over 1,000km on paved roads in good condition. 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. The climbs are easy gradients of 5%.
The trip is fully supported with knowledgeable guides, ensuring you 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.
24 May – 4 June
21 June – 2 July
19 July – 30 July
16 August – 27 August
20 September – 1 October
Costs and discounts
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 our May and June tours – use promo code JAFFNA and get 10% off!