The trip is a great introduction to Sri Lanka well organised with a packed varied and interesting itinerary. There was a good mix of activities (walking, rafting, cycling) varied transport (buses, boats, bikes, tuk tuk and a train as well as culture (temples, ancient cities, tea & cinnamon farms, markets, botanical gardens and beaches. There was still enough free time to explore on your own or use the pools/swim in the sea.
The hotels were better than we expected, in good locations, most with lovely pools. The exception was Araliya Red in Nuwara Eliya which was a huge cold soulless barn of a place with the worst food and service of the holiday.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya Trips
Crowning a titanic granite column, the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya surveys the rainforest of Sri Lanka. These are the fifth-century ruins of King Kasyapa’s home and palace, with superb water gardens and paintings. And the location is truly incredible… Lion Mountain is a vast 200m-high monolithic rock pillar that juts from the middle of a plain. Reaching the summit is tricky enough now, with its steep steps and gangways; building a huge fort there 1,500 years ago, must have been near impossible.
From the top, there are breathtaking countryside views. There’s a certain sense of foreboding as you step between the paws of a huge lion carved into the rock to enter the site. And under the deep green and red leaves of the Indian rose chestnut trees below, giant golden Buddhas gleam, peacefully guarding colourful cave temples.
Sigiriya Holidays
Linda Hamilton Discover Sri Lanka
Claire Wood Cycle the Back Roads of Sri LankaFrom start to finish, the trip felt thoughtfully curated rather than just ‘planned’. Routes flowed naturally through coastal roads, lush tea country, and quiet village back roads, giving a real sense of Sri Lanka’s contrasts in a relatively short time. There was a balance between time on the bike and cultural stops. Suresh chose routes that avoided the worst of the traffic and heat, favouring early starts, stops in small towns you’d never find on your own, favouring up-to-date routes. One day your riding past rice paddies and temples, the next you’re winding through ‘undulating’ tea plantations with cooler air and big views, constantly changing scenery, friendly faces at every tea stop and what incredibly tasting tea it was.
Suresh our guide set a clear standard of safety:maintained bikes, clear hand signals, calm, confident road positioning around buses, tuktuks, and the dogs. Hydration and breaks were planned at sensible pauses.
Suresh gave depth of local knowledge wherever we were and each stop became a mini-lesson in history, religion, food, wildlife: you never felt rushed away from a conversation with a local or from a viewpoint. His love for his country shone through as we too fell in love with their country.
Xiaolin WU Cycle the Back Roads of Sri LankaWe went there in December, just after the country suffered severe cyclone and flooding. Very nice hotels, plenty of food (maybe too much), and well looked after by the team. Nice relaxing pace of cycling. Plenty of interesting places to see on the way.
We made a Youtube video to share our experience: https://youtu.be/N06BHdyCL00?si=VRTgl8lFxGbMP4uA
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