The island of beaches spices and mountains
Sri Lanka is an island located in southern India in the Laccadive Sea. Sri Lanka's natural beauty with tropical forests, beaches and mountainous landscapes with tea fields make it a world-famous tourist destination. An ideal destination to travel by motorcycle with a rich cultural heritage and a colonial past. We will ride the country in a circular tour through the most interesting roads. Following the coast where we will enjoy paradisiacal beaches and fishing villages. Incredible roads and bridges over the sea, interconnecting different islands that will give us unique sensations. We will go up mountain roads to the highest peaks of the country from where to grasp the best views of its world famous tea fields of unique beauty. We will visit the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura or Sigiriya and the Yala national park, with a large number of wild elephants, crocodiles, leopards and many more species.
Motorcycle tour through quiet and secondary roads and very fun on a motorcycle.
Tour of 1200 kms approx in Royal Enfield 350cc.
Day 1 Arrival of international flights to Colombo. Transfer from the airport to our hotel in Colombo where we can enjoy its beaches and colonial architecture present in its many churches. Meeting in the afternoon and making contact with the motorcycles
Day 2 Negombo - Anuradhapura 4 hours. Start the day on a coastal road from which we can enjoy the view of different beaches and local markets where fishermen sell their goods at the foot of the road. We arrive after having lunch at the hotel in Anuradhapura. Anyone who wishes can visit the ancient Buddhist temples of the city considered a world heritage site. Night at Anuradhapura
Day 3 Anuradhapura - Jaffna. 5 hours. We will ride to the north of the island, a very sparsely populated area with different natural parks and dotted with countless water reservoirs. Arriving in Jaffna we will cross one of the most emblematic pass over the sea in the area longer than 4 kms. We will arrive at our destination in the afternoon. Night in Jaffna.
Day 5 Jaffan - Trincomalee 6 hours We will head to the eastern coast where we will circulate along secondary roads, crossing fishing villages until we reach the beaches of Trincomalee where we can relax in our hotel by the sea. Hotel in Trincomalee.
Day 6 Trincomalee - Sigiriya 6 hours. Making our way through a dirt track that crosses the Somawathiya National Park we’ll stop in the midle of the way for lunch. Only to reach some two hours later to the impressive Sigiriya, where one of the wonders of Sri Lanka is located. Unesco World Heritage Site since 1982. Hotel in Sigiriya.
Day 9 Kandy - Ella 7 hours. 180 km of curves that will take us all day. We travel sections of roads with spectacular views of rice fields on terraces of rounded shapes. We will reach the maximum altitude of 2200 m high, giving way to a different vegetation. We will have a lunch break by Lake Gregory to reach our final destination at sunset
Day10 Ella - Tissamaharama 6 hours. We will visit Lipton's Seat, to reach it we will drive along small roads between tea fields from where we will enjoy a panoramic view at almost 2000 m, one of the most spectacular viewpoints of the trip from which we’ll have one of the best panoramic views. We will visit a tea factory to understand the processing and brewing process and the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka with a 220m high fall. After a few kilometers of flat road we will arrive at our destination, not before having stopped at Tissa lagoon to contemplate migratory birds that meet every year on these dates. Check in at our hotel where we relax in the hotel pool. Hotel at Tissamaharama
Day 11 Tissamaharama - Mirissa 3 hours. Option to visit the Yala Strict game reserve, where a large community of wild elephants, crocodiles, birds live and with some you will have a glance of the elusive leopards. For this it will be necessary to get up early to arrive by jeep before sunrise. We return to the hotel to get on the motorcycles and we will drive following the sea line to the coastal town of Mirissa. Hotel in Mirissa.
Duration of the tour:
Travel time: 13 days 12 hotel nights (day 1 to 12 included).Your international flight must arrive to Colombo day 1.
Companions may come who wish to make the trip as passengers behind a motorcycle or in the assistance vehicle.
The price includes:
• Hiring of the motorbike throughout the whole trip (350cc Enfield Bullet).
• Moslty 4* hotels.12 nights (1 to 12 included).
• Twin-share basis; (single room supplement, additional 650€). (1*)
• Breakfast, water and tea during the trip on the road.
• English speaker road guide during the motorcycle tour, a mechanic on Enfields.
• Back-up vehicle and driver, for luggage and provide assistance on the road.
• Spare parts, tools, first aid equipment and medicines.
• Full petrol during the tour, tools and repairs and third party insurance.
• Transfers from/to airport to hotel in Colombo.
The price mentioned above does not include
• Visa for Sri Lanka
• The international flight to Colombo. (between 450 and 800€)
• Personal expenses such as washing clothes, souvenirs, alcoholic beverages or entrance fees to monuments.
• Tips for the staff of the tour or of the hotels and restaurants.
• Dinners and meals not included in "the price includes". Average price of a meal in Sri Lanka 3/4€ .
• Transfers or transport during free days.
• Travel assistance insurance. Required (2*)
• 500€ deposit for the motorcycle. The deposit is returned at the end of the trip if the motorcycle has damages.
• Entrance to game reserves or sports activities etc.
Climate and clothing during the trip
The average temperature in Sri Lanka during travel is 26 ° / 28 °. The weather is generally dry and sunny, but it can change and temperatures can drop in the mountains and in some cases in the morning. We should have very sunny and warm days, some cold nights, and maybe a few hours of rain. Therefore, it is advisable to wear high sun protection cream, sunglasses and gloves.
Motorbike gear: helmet (best an open one), windtobreaker, gloves, closed boots, and motorbike equipment for the rain (those in two parts preferably). In windy days, the top of the windtobreaker could be enough for not feeling cold. In this season, the rain is rare, but the weather is unpredictable. If you are sensitive to the cold, bring protection. A motorbike tank bag is very useful to keep the camera, hand gloves or small things within reach.
Road and driving conditions in Sri Lanka
Driving in Sri Lanka is very similar to European driving, taking into account that you drive on the left side, although you adapt quickly. An advantage is that in general, there is little traffic on the roads and they do not drive fast. Most of the roads are paved and in a very good condition, although we can do a few kilometers of dirt track.
This circuit can be done by a driver with little experience due to the ease of the route and the good general condition of the roads.
Having a good disposition and a good dose of humor is essential to enjoy this trip to the fullest
The Royal Enfield
The Royal Enfield continues to be manufactured in the Indian factories of Madras after the closing of the head office in England in the Fifties.
There have been very few aesthetic and technical changes since then. It is a very solid motorbike with a legendary look and motor noise. With a 500cc engine, the Royal Enfield gives a pleasurable sense of a bygone time on the Indian roads. The Bullet is far from being a fast motorbike but it is the best adapted for the hard conditions of the roads in this part of the world.
Our fleet of Royal Enfields motorcycles are all 500cc models with right side 5 speed gearbox, disk brake and electric start.
1*- Registrations will be made in strict order of the reservation date. Which means that if you book last minute, you may have to opt for a single room if there is no other person to share a double. You know, the earlier you make the reservation, the more chances you will have to sleep in a double room.
2*- It is mandatory to subscribe a travel assistance insurance that covers the use of a motorcycle. If you don't have one with your credit card or with your car or motorcycle insurance. This type of insurance covers medical expenses abroad and repatriation by plane in case of illness or accident.
