OVERVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION
GETTING THERE
PACKING LIST
FAQs
OVERVIEW
An unforgettable, eight stage trip of a lifetime through the heart of Sri Lanka, this is an absolute bucket list ride.
Averaging 80-100km per day on a mix of back country dirt roads, gravel tracks, sand and mostly quiet lanes, experience the undiscovered gravel paradise of Sri Lanka. Our unique route winds its way from the west coast, north of Colombo, through the rice fields of the lowlands to the stunning private tea plantations in the highlands and back down to sea level again. We finish by the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of the south coast.
Off the bike, you’ll have the opportunity to visit some of the country’s ancient cultural and UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the rock fortress of Sigiriya & take in the famous scenic train ride through the tea country.
Whilst our accommodation will be in comfortable 3* & 4* hotels, we will be staying in some more rural parts of the country so you get a real feel for the warm and friendly Sinhalese culture. Our feed stops will be unlike any others, as we mix local roadside stalls with an abundance of the freshest, most flavoursome fruits you’ll ever taste (though beware the Durian fruit!)
Included in Ride Package
Accommodation
9 nights in a range of small 3* & 4* hotels. Choose private single, shared twin or shared double rooms.
Airport Transfers
Fly into Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), our team will be on hand to collect you & drop you back off on departure day.
8 Epic Stages
Full ride support with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stops. Optional rest day.
Meals
Bring some money for drinks but our package includes 9 dinners, 8 lunches & 9 breakfasts.
Checkpoints
Feed stops with mechanical support approx every 35km with local food & drink.
Luggage
We move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Insurance (mandatory), Drinks with evening meals
REAL RIDER REVIEWS
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ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrival in Colombo, transfers at 2pm to Chilaw (2hr journey).
DAY 1
Stage One: Chilaw to Chilaw - gentle warm up ride, 60km, 200m elevation. 50% off road.
DAY 3
Stage Two: Chilaw to Kalpitiya - 86km, 184m elevation. 65% off road.
DAY 4
Stage Three: Talawa to Dambulla - 101km, 421m elevation. 60% off road.
DAY 5
Stage Four: Dambulla to Dambulla - 60km, 400m elevation. 50% off road. Evening visit to Sigiriya
DAY 6
Stage Five: Queen Stage, Dambulla to Digana - 109km, 2156m elevation. 50% off road.
DAY 7
Stage Six: Optional rest day with scenic train ride OR Bandarawela to Bandarawela - 60km, 1500m, 60% off road.
DAY 8
Stage Seven: Bandarawela to Tissamaharama - 124km, 1198m elevation. 50% off road.
DAY 9
Stage Eight: Tissamaharama to Tangalle - 110km, 661m elevation. 50% off road.
DAY 10
Departure day, transfers leave at 6am for flights after 12pm
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS
Be one of the first to experience gravel in Sri Lanka!
With a massive network of unexplored gravel roads, single track through rice fields and dirt tracks through private tea plantations, on this trip you will take the roads less travelled and see the country from a unique perspective.
Get back to nature
Sri Lanka is a sensory overload with incredible biodiversity! An enchanting country, with an abundance of wildlife (think eagles, kingfishers, monkeys, leopards and elephants to name but a few), and incredible views everywhere you look, every day is guaranteed to ignite all your senses.
Food, Tea & Culture
Have you ever tasted a coconut roti hot off the grill? Or watched a delicious hopper (Sri Lankan pancake) being made for you? Or drunk a fresh King Coconut? And did you know there are over 20 different types of banana in Sri Lanka? Each day we will enjoy local foods and fresh produce, our feed stops will be unlike any others!
smiling faces all around
As we ride into remote sections of the country, we are greeted by friendly locals everywhere we go. From waving school kids, to local residents bringing us bottled water on hot days and local food stalls showing us how to make their snacks, the people of Sri Lanka will stay long in the memory.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Sri Lankan Gravel
Our route takes in some of the best gravel paths in the country (some are super smooth whilst others are a little bumpy), as well as quiet back country lanes and sandy sectors, but expect a fair bit of tarmac to connect the best off road sections together. You'll be introduced to 'broken road', where conditions are akin to UK pothole-filled roads, only worse! You'll be glad to be on a gravel bike for a more comfortable, grippy ride. The relaxed Sri Lankan pace is one to adhere to on the paths and roads, giving you time to navigate unusual obstructions such as dogs, water buffalo, snakes and water monitors that stray suddenly into your path! Our Queen stage is a spicy one - Sri Lankan climbs are long with short, steep sections that will test the legs, and we promise you that the incredible views are worth the effort.
Early Mornings
We have tried to create 10 days of balance fitting in as much of Sri Lanka as possible while still making it a relaxing trip. We start slowly with the first couple of days being pretty easy. However, we do start our rides early (7am to 8am) so be prepared if you normally like a lie in!
Heat & Humidity
December and January are the best times to visit the west and south coast of Sri Lanka. Expect plenty of sunshine and minimal rainfall and average temperatures around 30°C. If there is any rain, it is generally both warm and short lived. Humidity levels are high so the days can feel much hotter. You will need to stock up on hydration tabs and drink regularly on and off the bike to keep well hydrated. We plan early starts on ride days to avoid riding in the hottest parts of the day and give you time to enjoy the swimming pools at our end hotels. We even have some mid-ride swims planned to help you cool off.
Be Self Sufficient
You will be a true trailblazer on this ride and will likely not see another gravel cyclist apart from our group over the 10 days. Because of this, there are few bike shops and none are stocked like one back home. We bring some spares but come with everything you would need to be self sufficient on the trip (we will send a full packing list)
7 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS IN SRI LANKA
NUMBER One
Friendly faces at every turn
Without doubt, the highlight of any trip to Sri Lanka is the fantastic people we meet at every corner. The country is a patchwork of different religions and ethnicities meaning each region has its own look & feel.
Each week day we see school kids in their immaculate uniforms on their way to / from school who love to practice their English. The locals we see on the route always greet us with a smile and a wave and help out whenever needed.
We use lots of local businesses to make sure money stays in each area and the food stalls are always delighted to feed a group of hungry cyclists with their local specialities.
NUMBER TWO
Blessings from a Buddhist Monk
There are Catholic, Hindi & Muslim areas of Sri Lanka but Buddhism is the main religion for 70% of the population and we often pass stunning temples on our ride.
On stage one we stop off at a temple for a blessing ceremony. Monks make bracelets for us and spend hours chanting at these bracelets to bring us safety and luck for our journey ahead.
number three
Feed Stops - Fruits from the sublime to the ridiculous
We use lots of local business throughout the ride and we buy our fruit for the feed stops from the local farmers.
Different fruits are in season in different parts of the island so expect sweet bananas, juicy rambutan, watermelon, mango, coconut and if your unlucky, durian fruit.
These tasty tropical fruits are perfect to bring some energy back on a hot day.
Number Four
An Island of Amazing Beaches
We start our trip on the shores of the Indian Ocean in beautiful Chilaw. The first couple of days are spent along this less visited coastline in the west / north west of the island finishing in Kalpitiya with miles of empty, white sand beaches.
After an epic few days riding from the north west, through the centre of Sri Lanka to the South coast, the last day is spent close to the sea before finishing on the glorious beach at Tangalle. If you want to extend your trip with some lazy days on the coast, the south west is an ideal place for this.
Number five
A Train through the Tea Plantations
On day seven, after the Queen Stage, we have an optional rest day. For those wanting a day off the bike (normally just over half of riders choose this option), we head into the hills and visit a tea factory before some tea tasting (with cake of course).
After that we head to the train for one of the most picturesque trrain journeys in the world. This line goes through the tea plantations with some amazing views and with plenty of life happening in the train, its a great day off the bike.
Number six
Sigiriya: Sri Lanka's ancient rock fortress
After a short ride on day five, we head over to Sigiriya for a guided tour of one of Sri Lanka's most famous tourist attractions.
Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress dating back over 1500 years. You will see it on the ride as the rock is visible for miles around. Our expert guide tells us all about the history and the area. It's a decent climb up to the summit with some amazing views and the perfect way to spend an early evening.
Number seven
Curry, daal, hoppers, coconut pancakes & a whole lot of spice
Sri Lankan cuisine is incredible and we have some delicious local dishes each night after our rides.
Breakfasts are at the hotel and normally a buffet with a western section (cereal, fruit, eggs, bacon etc) and a local section (daal, curries, hoppers, curd).
Dinners tend to be a number of curries (lots of options for vegans) and its always hard to know which one is going to be super spicy! The food is definitely one of the lasting memories of this amazing island.
STAGE DETAILS
Route Summary:
Our first stage is a gentle warm up to get you used to the warmth and riding in such unfamiliar terrain.
Depending on what time we get into the hotel, we build bikes either on arrival on in the morning on stage one so we have a later start at 10am with our mechanics on hand to help out.
The route is a mix of gravel and tarmac with no major climbs. We stop off at a Buddhist Temple on the route to receive a blessing before heading back to the beach at Chilaw.
Ride Distance: 60km Ride Elevation: 150m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 1/5
Route Summary:
We start to ramp the ride difficulty up slowly over the first three days.
Our ride today takes us along the stunning coastline on mostly flat, quiet gravel roads. North of Chilaw is the heart of coconut country, full of coconut plantations.
As we pass through the area, our gravel tracks take us past many lagoons, lakes and salt plains. These natural gems are home to a variety of water birds, lotus flowers (the national flower of Sri Lanka) and vibrant water lilies.
Our ride finishes to the north of the Kalpitiya peninsula, home to kite surfing during the summer months and multiple water-based activities in the winter, such as scuba diving, snorkelling and dolphin watching.
Ride Distance: 86km Ride Elevation: 184m % Off Road: 65% Difficulty: 1.5/5
Route Summary:
We start the day with a short coach transfer to Talawa before we begin our ride. We have amazing red gravel and dirt tracks and quiet roads, passing through small farming communities. The area is surrounded by large ancient tanks, which are reservoirs filled by the monsoons.
Today is another steady ride on fast rolling gravel and dirt tracks. The route gently rolls upwards for most of the day, but you will hardly notice it! We pass by Dambulla at the end of our ride to get to our accommodation just south of the town.
Ride Distance: 101km Ride Elevation: 421m % Off Road: 60% Difficulty: 2.5/5
Route Summary:
After a couple of earlier starts, today is a more relaxed day with a later start and a fairly gentle 3hr ride around the countryside of this region.
We ride on lots of smooth red gravel roads with a couple of climbs to give us a taste of what is to come tomorrow. We expect today to take about 3hrs and we have time to get back, shower and change before heading to Sigiriya in the late afternoon.
Ride Distance: 60km Ride Elevation: 400m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 2.5/5
Route Summary:
Our Queen stage features two main climbs, making up the majority of today’s elevation. We start with a rolling 35km before we tackle our first climb, a 4.5km road climb with a few spicy sections. Once crested, we descend down towards Rattota then it’s straight into our main climb of the day.
The 14km, majority off road, ascent climbs up to over 1,100m high, providing you with stunning views up and out towards the majestic Knuckles Mountain range.
We then take a largely gravel descent down towards the Victoria Reservoir (created by the Victoria Dam), south of Kandy, to our eco hotel set in stunning natural surroundings.
Ride Distance: 109km Ride Elevation: 2,156m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 5/5
Route Summary:
You have an option today to take a rest day and go explore the tea factory and scenic rail journey.
If you want to ride, we have a great stage for you. We transfer a couple of hours to the historic town of Bandarawela and then have a 30km section in a private tea plantation before taking on the 10km climb up to Lipton Seat with a view of the entire region.
Ride Distance: 60km Ride Elevation: 1,450m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 3.5/5
Route Summary:
Our penultimate stage starts with a 10km mixed terrain climb up and out of the tea plantations. Take your time and soak up the sights and sounds as you tackle the final climb of the trip.
Once our climb is done, it’s mostly downhill or flat towards the coast, passing through farmlands, including paddy fields, pepper plantations and rubber plantations. We pass close to magnificent National Parks, all the way to the town of Tissamaharama, in the deep south of the country.
Ride Distance: 124km Ride Elevation: 1,198m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 3.5/5
Route Summary:
For our final stage, we are back to the fast rolling gravel and dirt tracks of the lowlands. Passing by rice fields and small villages, we wind our way steadily towards the coast.
In true Glorious Gravel international style, our finishers party will be in a beautiful setting. We roll to one of the South’s most stunning stretches of coastline near the Rekawa Lagoon. Our finishers party will be beside the tranquil turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, where you can share a cold beer and celebrate in style with fellow riders.
Ride Distance: 110km Ride Elevation: 661m % Off Road: 50% Difficulty: 3.5/5
ACCOMMODATION
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PACKING LIST
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GETTING THERE
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Flights
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Transfers
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Outbound
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Your Guides
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Rental Bikes
Some Brand
Some Model
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getting to Sri Lanka
Fly Into: Colombo (CMB)
Direct Flights From: Sri Lankan Airlines flight direct from Heathrow. Lots of other options going via the Gulf.
Transfer Times:
Arrival: On Friday we will be running a transfer at 2.15pm local time for anyone arriving at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport from London Heathrow (note that this flight departs the UK on Thursday at 9.30pm and lands at 12.45pm on Friday). The transfer to our hotel in Chilaw is approx 2 hours. If you plan to arrive in Sri Lanka earlier, you can either make your way direct to our first hotel, or return to the airport on 6th December to join the group transfer.
Departure: On Sunday, our transfer will depart our hotel in Tangalle at 6.45am and go direct to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport for the 1.05pm departure back to London. This transfer takes approx 3 hours.
First Town / Hotel if you want to come earlier: Anantaya Resort and Spa Chilaw
Accommodation & Meals
The hotels in Slovenia are a good standard. We stay in a mix of superior 3* and 4* hotels. Choose between a single, shared twin or double room. You can add your preferred room mate in the booking notes.
In Kranjska Gora & Bohinj the hotels overlook the mountains & lake. Our hotel in Lipica is world famous for it’s white horses and we finish overlooking the Adriatic. Luggage is transferred from hotel to hotel & bike boxes are transferred from Bled to Portoroz on the first afternoon.
Evening meals are buffets with pasta, salads, meat & vegetables. Lunches at feed stops are local restaurants as we try some of the local delicacies. Vegan, gluten free and other dietary options are available.
packing list
Cycling Kit
Bibs/shorts | Jerseys/tops (consider LS t-shirts for cooler temperatures)
Gilet | Waterproof jacket | Arm warmers
Cycling shoes | Socks | Mitts
Helmet | Sunglasses
2 bottles | Chamois cream | Sun cream
GPS device with handle bar mount
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
Spare tyre | Tyre levers
1 x puncture repair kit (if running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant)
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Spare rear mech hanger for your bike
Small pump | Rear light
Spare batteries/charging cables for lights
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Small set of scissors | Tweezers | Pain Killers (paracetamol)
Steri-Strips | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes)
Assorted plasters | Rubber gloves | Prescribed medication
Hotels & Meals
We stay in a mix of 3* to 4* hotels. The quality of hotel in Sri Lanka is excellent with swimming pools at most hotels and spas at some.
Breakfast is at the hotels each morning. Lunch is at local restaurants on the route (we have local food – expect fruit, pancakes, curries, daal) and then dinners are buffets at the hotel.
Choose between a private single room, shared twin room (2 beds) or shared double room (1 bed). We stay at:
Chilaw – Anantaya Resort ****(2 nights)
Kalpitiya – Capital Wind Hotel ***
Dambulla – Sigiriyana by Thilanka **** (2 nights)
Digana – Serendib Signature *****
Bandarawela – Bandarawela Hotel ***
Tissamaharama – Chaarya Resort ****
Tangalle – TBC
DATES & PRICES
START
FINISH
SINGLE ROOM
TWIN/
DOUBLE ROOM
DEPOSIT
DATES & PRICES
FAQs
Yes, SriLankan Airlines have daily flights from London Heathrow (9.30pm departure) direct to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) with a flight time of 10.5-11 hours. There are also return flights that depart Colombo at 1.05pm daily.
Arrival: On Friday we will be running a transfer at 2.15pm local time for anyone arriving at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport from London Heathrow (note that this flight departs the UK on Thursday at 9.30pm and lands at 12.45pm on Friday). The transfer to our hotel in Chilaw is approx 2 hours. If you plan to arrive in Sri Lanka earlier, you can either make your way direct to our first hotel, or return to the airport on 6th December to join the group transfer.
Departure: On Sunday, our transfer will depart our hotel in Tangalle at 6.45am and go direct to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport for the 1.05pm departure back to London. This transfer takes approx 3 hours.
December and January are the best times to visit the west and south coast of Sri Lanka. Expect plenty of sunshine and minimal rainfall and average temperatures around 30°C. If there is any rain, it is generally both warm and short lived. Humidity levels are high so the days can feel much hotter. You will need to stock up on hydration tabs and drink regularly on and off the bike to keep well hydrated. We plan early starts on ride days to avoid riding in the hottest parts of the day and give you time to enjoy the swimming pools at our end hotels. We even have some mid-ride swims planned to help you cool off
Gravel in Sri Lanka is mostly smooth with a few rocky sections. A lot of the route is on tarmac.
A gravel bike is ideal for this trip as it will cope well with the varied terrain on the route.
We suggest a wider tyres, over 40mm, will be ideal as they will offer comfort and stability on the rockier and more technical sections, and still be fast rolling on the country lanes. A gravel tread also works well, although you may wish to choose a tyre with more grip.
Remember to take care on any road sections, particularly in and around towns.
No, you cannot currently rent gravel bikes in Sri Lanka. However, you can take your bike box as part of your luggage allowance with SriLankan Airlines.
On our gravel trips to Sri Lanka we have felt very safe. Just take the usual precautions with valuables, particularly when carrying them in crowded areas. We will be staying in relatively remote places, where you need to be more cautious of the wildlife than anything else (there are some poisonous snakes, lots of friendly dogs on the roadside and water buffalo, cows and elephants can be known to stray onto roads, often at dusk). We’ll be setting you off in small groups with a guide and there will be daily briefings that highlight anything you need to be aware of.
As long as you are up to date with routine vaccinations, then you shouldn’t need any specific vaccinations for this trip. However, we recommend that at least 8 weeks before the trip, you check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/204/sri-lanka.
General information on travel vaccinations – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/ – is also available on the NHS website.
Yes, a Tourist Visa is required to enter Sri Lanka. There are many websites set up to help you obtain a visa, the official one is the best value – https://eta-gov.org/ – apply for your ETA – https://esrilankavisa.org/Apply-visa
You are welcome to extend your stay in Sri Lanka on either end of the trip. We can put you in touch with our local partner who can help you with any arrangements you need. Note the information about airport transfers and your options. SriLankan Airlines also flies to the Maldives so you could add on a relaxing stay there.
