Itinerary
Ride SriLankan 2026
Program 28th February to 09th March 2026
Feb 28th
Arrival & Transfer to Negombo
On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be met by the team from SriLankan Airlines and escorted to the luxury air-conditioned coach waiting outside the airport. The transfer to Negombo will take around 30 minutes. Once at the beach side resort hotel you will be checked into your room, with the rest of the day to relax around the pool, on the beach or to explore the town / surrounding fishing villages.
March 01st Build bikes, short test ride, relax by pool / beach. Evening welcome Event
Before the riding begins, you’ll have a day to build your bike, relax by the pool, swim in the sea or even grab a massage at the in-house spa (we can recommend all these).
There’ll be a mechanic on hand to assist with any bike building problems, and we’ll arrange an optional short spin around the area to test the legs and bikes before the first day's riding. In the evening there will be an informal get together to introduce the team, go over the route and plans for the following day and to answer any questions you may have.
March 02nd
Ride approx. 41km / 100km towards Kurunegala then transfer to Dambulla
- Short route 41km -400m ascent. Approx 75% sealed 25% unsealed
- Long route 100km – 900m ascent. Approx 70% sealed 30% unsealed
- Overnight Dambulla
Riding directly from the hotel the route soon leaves the bustle of Negombo and travels along quiet sealed roads before diverting onto a network of flat narrow village and gravel road and into a rural landscape far removed from the city. For those wanting an easier start or those not quite acclimatized to the heat there is an option to finish after 41km and take a transfer directly to the finish hotel.
For those that want to maximize their time in the saddle, there are another 59km of tracks ahead of you to finish at the beautiful Kurunegala lake after which the air-conditioned bus will be waiting to whisk you on the 90-minute journey to the hotel for the next 2 nights in Dambulla.
Everybody should make it to the hotel in time to see the sunset over the western jungles, whilst taking in the tranquil surroundings sat around the pool.
Ride SriLankan 2026 - Negombo to Kurunegala - Route Profile
March 03rd
Optional 86km loop around Sigiriya. Sunset hike up Sigiriya.
- Loop 86km – 655m ascent. Approx 20% sealed, 80% unsealed
- Overnight Dambulla
To ride or not? We say yes, do it, but of course it’s totally up to you.
Today's ride is a beautiful fairly flat 86km loop that follows shady waterways, borders massive lakes and passes by the iconic landmarks of Sigiriya and Pidurangala. It’s undoubtedly one of our Favorite routes in Sri Lanka!
The afternoon is free to relax around the pool, do any necessary bike maintenance or explore the surrounding area. In the late afternoon there will be a bus waiting to take you for an optional sunset hike up Sigiriya (additional costs apply). This will be an approx. 3 hours round trip but you’ll be back in time to enjoy the resplendent hotel buffet dinner!
Ride SriLankan 2026 - Loop Sigiriya - Route Profile
March 04th
Ride approx. 51km / 97km to Mahiyanganya then transfer to Nuwara Eliya
- Short course 51km + 520m ascent. Approx 95% sealed, 5% unsealed
- Long course 93km + 900m ascent. Approx 95% sealed, 5% unsealed
- Overnight Nuwara Eliya
It's time to leave our home of 2 nights in Dambulla and head to the high country. Nuwara Eliya, also known as Little England due to its cooler climate is the highest town in Sri Lanka and will be home for the next 2 nights.
Both courses today pass between the Knuckles Conservation Forest and Wasaguma National Park so you can be assured of a scenic ride whichever option you take. Once the riding is over, it's an approx. 3.5-hour transfer to Nuwara Eliya.
Ride SriLankan 2026 - Dambulla to Nuwara Eliya - Route Profile
March 05th
Optional 40km loop around Nuwara Eliya the highest town in Sri Lanka.
- Loop 41km – 1300m ascent. Approx 70% sealed, 30% unsealed
- Overnight Nuwara Eliya
You’re in the hill country now, which can only mean 1 thing, hills!
Today’s loop starts with a rapid 15km descent down to the Kothmale Oya (river) at Talawakelle. After crossing the river its then an steady 25km climb through tea plantations, working villages and past beautiful waterfalls all the wqy back to the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Of course, if a 25km climb doesn’t appeal to you, then you can always sit out this loop and soak up the colonial atmosphere of Nuwara Eliya.
Ride SriLankan 2026 - Nuwara Eliya Loop - Route Profile
March 06th
Ride approx. 45km / 102km to Wellawaya. Transfer to Tissamaharama
- Short course 49km + 700m ascent
- Long course 102km + 1700m ascent. 95% sealed, 5% unsealed
- Overnight Tissamaharama
We’ll be leaving the highlands and heading back down to the tropical lowlands and whilst there will be more down than up, there are still some climbs to conquer today.
Both routes will climb up to and traverse the beautiful Horton Plains nature reserve at 2100m above sea level and then drop nearly 1000m over 16km, at which point the shorter route will finish.
The longer option continues for another 52km through tea plantations eventually descending to just 100m above sea level and finishing at the beautiful hotel where both groups (short and long course) will regroup and have lunch before the 1-hour transfer to Tissamaharama.
Ride SriLankan 2026 - Nuwara Eliya to Tissamaharama - Route Profile
March 07th
Optional 40km loop around Tissamaharama
- Loop – 45km – 260m ascent. Approx 80% sealed, 20% unsealed
- Overnight Tissamaharama
As with every loop day it’s up to you whether you want to ride, or do your own thing, but as this is the last day, we’d totally recommend ride.
A fairly flat but beautiful loop around an area abundant with wildlife. The route follows the shore of the magnificent Yoda Wewa, takes in the beautiful golden sands of Kirinda beach at the southern tip of Sri Lanka before returning to the hotel via the banks of the Kirinda Oya (river).
In the afternoon there is an opportunity (additional costs apply) to join a 4WD drive safari around Yala National Park, the perfect way to round off your Sri Lankan experience.
Ride SriLankan 2026 - Tissamaharama Loop - Route Profile
March 08th
Transfer to Colombo. Pack bikes. Evening closing ceremony.
No holiday in Sri Lanka is complete without a visit to the cosmopolitan capital city Colombo. This is one city stay you won’t forget as your last night in Sri Lanka will be spent at the magnificently opulent 5* Cinnamon Grande Hotel, central to all the attractions, sight and sounds of the city, the perfect place to end your Sri Lankan cycling adventure.
After an early breakfast, we will leave Tissamaharama for the 3.5-hour drive to Colombo. Once checked in there will be ample time, with mechanics available to assist, to clean and pack your bike ready for departure the following day.
At around 6pm everyone is invited for cocktails and a closing ceremony, where videos and photos from the previous day's adventures will be shown, followed by dinner at the hotel.
March 09th
Departure
Breakfast in hotel and proceed to airport for the departure flight.
