9 Day Sri Lanka Highlights Adventure Guided Loop Motorcycle Tour

DAY 1: ARRIVAL-COLOMBO/NEGOMBO

Depending on your flight, you will arrive at the airport of Colombo in the morning or afternoon. The drive to the hotel in the center of Negombo is about 20 minutes. In the late afternoon, we will pick up the motorcycles and meet the driver/mechanic who will accompany us on this trip.

DAY 2: NEGOMBO - KALPITIYA (PUTTALAM LAGOON)

Once we leave busy Negombo the road soon becomes quiet, especially when we turn off the main road and take a secondary road. We partly ride along the coast where there are many shrimp farms. We pass through an oasis of palm tree plantations and continue our ride on an unpaved road north towards Kalpitiya. This region is emerging as a kite and wind surfers paradise and because of it, you will find many small, friendly beach resorts and restaurants. From our resort, you can walk to the beach or see the surfers busy in the adjacent lagoon.

DAY 3: KALPITIYA-DAMBULLA

Today we are going inland. Soon we exchange the main road for small minor roads, the quality of which is immediately a lot less and is partly unpaved. The area where we are going to ride is characterized by the many water storage ponds and vast rice fields that provide a beautiful view. Our hotel with a swimming pool is located on the outskirts of the lively town of Dambulla.

DAY 4: DAMBULLA-KANDY

The day begins with a ride along the large Parakrama Samudra lake. Further, we drive via various villages towards Knuckles Forest Reserve. We follow an old road and climb and stop several times along the way to enjoy the view. Before Kandy we drive another beautiful circle via different tea plantations to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Kandy is known for the Temple of Tooth which we will visit. It is located in the Royal Palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, where the relic of the tooth of the Buddha is housed. Since ancient times the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that the one who holds the relic holds the governance of the country. The Museum of World Buddhist is situated behind this complex, and should definitely not be missed. It gives a nice explanation including many old pictures about how Buddhism was created. Our hotel with a swimming pool is near the city center and has beautiful views over the Valley.

DAY 5: KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA

From Kandy we start following the main road to enjoy the busy traffic with its many smelly old buses. As we get further driving away it is also quieter and after having taken 18 hairpin bends we store off and drive again relaxed on small roads, with again a lot of paddy fields around us. Starting in Victoria Randenigalla Rantembe Sanctuary we climb and soon we are between sprawling tea plantations, until we arrive at the hotel just outside of Nuwara Eliya. The Lady of the House will prepare a delicious traditional dinner for us.

DAY 6: NUWARA ELIYA - ELLA

We leave Nuwara Eliya to quickly leave the main road and go back to enjoy the many tea plantations with breathtaking views. While dimbing, the road gets worse and narrower. Just over the top we take a narrow path and drive through a wooded area. A bit later we pass several small villages where people earn their living while working on the various tea plantations. Then we drive all swinging towards Ella, if the weather is clear we will have some fantastic views. Ella is a pleasant village with several restaurants. We spend the night right on the edge of the centre in the middle of the Woods.

DAY 7: ELLA - UDAWALAWA

After breakfast, we head south. First, we drive peacefully through the mountains following a small road till we arrive on the main road. In Lunugamvehera National Park elephants can cross the road all of a sudden. Next, we proceed to Yala National Park where we drive over red dirt roads and small Sandy trails. If this was not enough adventure, we can take a shortcut off the road to Udawala drive. Our hotel is situated directly opposite the elephant orphanage. Optionally you can visit the elephants taking a bath in the river.

DAY 8: UDAWALAWA - NEGOMBO

We leave the south coast behind us and head towards the North-West, back into the mountains. Soon while climbing we pass tea plantations, the roads get worse and the weather gets colder. If the weather is clear we see the coastline behind us slowly disappear and through many hairpin curves we descend again and drive to Negombo.

DAY 9: NEGOMBO - DEPARTURE

Today you will be brought back to the airport in Colombo with a cab for your flight back home.

MOTORBIKES

During this trip, you ride an Enduro 250cc. You have the option to upgrade to a traditional Indian Royal Enfield.

DIFFICULTY AND OFFROAD

Often, we will be riding on unpaved roads or tracks. These are not very hard and can be done without any off-road experience. However, when the weather is bad the off-road path can be a bigger challenge.

ACCOMMODATION

Hotels and resorts on this tour are all securely selected - from basic guesthouses, bungalows and luxury resorts.

CLIMATE

Sri Lanka's climate is tropical and consists of distinct wet and dry seasons. All year long there is a possibility of rain, mostly in the mountains.. Generally speaking, the coastal areas of Sri Lanka enjoy temperatures averaging 28°C (82°F) while the upland areas are cooler and more temperate, with a yearly average around 16-20°C (60-68°F).

CLOTHING

The following items are mandatory: helmet, motorcycle jacket with protection, gloves, a good hard-wearing (motorcycle) trousers with protection or separate knee protection and solid high (mountain) boots. In the lower areas, it’s mostly warm with tropical temperatures, therefore we advise bringing a summer motorcycle jacket. In the mountains, it can be cold, especially on the Horton Plains. We therefore advise wearing warm clothing underneath your motorcycle gear. Furthermore, a good pair of sunglasses is very important as well as a helmet with a visor which protects against dust.

INSURANCE

Basic liability insurance and damage to the motorcycle can be insured.

VISA

A visa is required for Sri Lanka. You can buy this when you arrive at the airport. It’s about 60 USD. Your passport needs to be valid for another 6 months when you arrive in your home country.

Skill levels required for this tour: beginner, intermediate, advanced

Beginner:

• Can ride for 2-3 hours
• Minimal riding experience
• Assistance required
• Comfortable with curves and leans
• Basic experience with unsurfaced roads
• Short distance ascents and descents

Intermediate:

• Can ride for 3-4 hours
• Average riding experience
• Little assistance required
• Comfortable with extreme curves and leans
• Average experience with unsurfaced roads
• Steep ascents and descents

Advanced:

• Can ride for 5-6 hours
• Extensive riding experience
• Assistance on demand (if required)
• Experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
• Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions