An intrepid all-rounder, she has cruised India’s roads with many groups, and knows the country like the back of her leather-gloved hand.
Imagine a motorcycle tour where you ride beautiful roads and each stage ends in a fabulous hotel – all under the Sri Lankan sun. A recipe for optimum discovery, as you savour the island’s most seductive features. From the cultural triangle to tea plantations to the southern beaches, the smiles of the Sri Lankans you meet along the way will leave unforgettable memories. This motorcycle trip is perfect for nature-loving couples seeking an exclusive experience, staying in Sri Lanka’s finest hotels.
Period
January to April
Duration
11 days incl. 9 days' riding
Level
Accessible
English-speaking tour leader
Accommodation
Comfort or Superior Comfort
From
€3,950/pilot
You're met at the airport and transferred to Negombo, your first stopover on Sri Lankan soil. After you settle in at the hotel, time for some beach- or pool-based R & R! Depending on your arrival time, you can explore the fishing port and stroll around the small town. You can even take a boat ride on the canal if you really want to start off on a good foot!
We begin the tour along the west coast, heading for Kalpitiya peninsula. We leave the usual tourist trails behind us and ride coastal tracks, passing fishermen selling their catch of the day. We reach an asphalted stretch lined by huge coconut plantations before shrimp farms come into view. At Puttalam Lagoon, we fork off onto the peninsula and ride between the lagoon and the ocean. We’re in paradise!
If you’re prepared to wake up at dawn, you can start the day dolphin watching (November-April). We have breakfast back on dry land and head towards the centre/north of the island to the famous Cultural Triangle. We're deep in a tropical world with a wonderful mix of landscapes including jungles, rice paddies, coconut plantations and a host of small lakes.
In the morning, we ride to Sigiriya fortress. You can climb the rock, with its enormous lion paws, greet the women who were immortalised in the frescoes on the walls and enjoy exceptional 360° views from the top. Then, after criss-crossing the rural roads, we stop for lunch in the countryside: a great opportunity to sample local cuisine in an authentic setting!
This morning, we set off southwards to the Knuckles Mountain Range. We make our first stop in Dambulla to admire the imposing golden Buddha, overlooking the temple. Then, we ride along a pretty, little track between hundreds of rice paddies and irrigation canals, before the Knuckles Range appears on the horizon. We take a charming mountain road with wonderful views to reach our home for the night.
In the morning, you explore the superb Knuckles mountain region, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then back on the road to Kandy, where we’ll find busy city life again. We settle in at the hotel, and then late in the afternoon we can take advantage of the ceremony to visit the Temple of the Tooth, named after a famous holy relic housed there.
We make our way up into the heart of the tea region on a winding road with stunning landscapes of hills blanketed in tea plantations and we pass the impressive Ramboda waterfall. We spot Pidurutalagala in the distance, the country’s highest peak, surrounded by vast forests. The air grows cooler as we climb, reaching almost 2,000 m altitude.
We take many hairpin bends and we’re not going to be alone on the road. Pioneers really made their mark on the landscape when they planted the first tea plantations! After settling in at the hotel, you can stretch your legs and take a walk up to the top of Little Adam’s Peak, an easy walk through a tea plantation, or simply admire the Ella Gap, the vertiginous fault that marks Ella’s landscape.
Today, we ride towards the south coast. We make a short detour to Buduruwagala, where we’ll see seven colossal Buddha statues carved into the rock. We continue southbound along a wonderful country road to the edge of Yala National Park, one of the country's largest. We check in to the hotel and leave the Royal Enfields for an afternoon jeep safari. Yala reserve is known for the diverse animal species that live there.
Make the most of your last day in the saddle! We set off west, along the south coast. We ride along the boundary of Bundala National Park, whose lagoons host thousands of birds. We arrive in Tangalle, where the coconut-lined beaches compete for attention and Dondra’s octagonal lighthouse marks the island’s southernmost point.
This morning, you travel by private vehicle to the airport, along the south coast. Now you’re not behind the steering wheel, you can really appreciate the views as we pass Weligama’s beautiful bay with colourful bobbing boats and fishermen perched on stilts. Important: Make sure that you book a late evening or night flight (from 7 pm).
“Have done Mongolia and Sri lanka, both Excellent and cannot wait to get on another trip, always good company great riding and a fabulous adventure.”
“I was born in Sri Lanka but I was taken to parts I didn't know existed. Excellent knowledge of which routes to take to avoid the sometimes hellish traffic. The bikes were great fun : this is despite me being 125 kilos on a 350 - impressed ! They seem to be constantly reviewing their hotels which can only mean a better experience I would recommend this company to my biking friends”
“Vintage Rides, are a great outfit, providing great bikes,fabulous itinerary, accommodation and crew, could not do enough to ensure we were all happy.This was my third trip, and not my last.”
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