9 Day Sri Lanka Highlights Adventure Guided Loop Motorcycle Tour

Overview

The start of this varied motorcycle trip starts in Bali. We drive along coastal roads, over mountain passes and through green valleys. We take many back roads through small villages and plantations to discover pure Indonesia. Our route passes through the mountains of Rinjani, Pulu, Jala, Kalas, Gerungan, Saka, Daria, Iyasa, Nanggi, Ranaka, Leda, Lobobutu, Inerie, Kelimut to Munga. We visit Tanah Lot Temple, Komodo National Park and a number of traditional Ngada villages. We also take a boat trip and snorkel at the National Park 17 Islands Marine Park and view the unique National Park Kelimutu with the 3 color lakes.

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Colombo
• Visit Temple of Tooth in Kandy and Horton Plains
• Ride your bike on 18 hairpin bends amid rice paddy fields
• Navigate your bike through tea plantations and enjoy the scenery
• Opportunity to see elephants taking a bath in the river
• 8 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. DAY 9: NEGOMBO - DEPARTURE

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

Ride Details

Terrain

a mix of asphalt and off road (20%)

Bike

rental bike (Enduro 250cc or Royal Enfield)

Mileage

1420 kilometers / 882 miles

Daily rides

100 - 240 kilometers / 62 - 149 miles

Riding gear

not included, but mandatory: helmet, motorcycle jacket with protection, gloves, good hard-wearing (motorcycle) trousers with protection or separate knee protection, and solid high (mountain) boots

Meals

all breakfasts

Accommodation

During the tour, you will stay in various accommodations along the route. All accommodations are based on a double room with breakfast included daily.

Getting There

This tour will take you to various areas in Sri Lanka. Starting in Colombo to Negombo, you will head for Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Horton Plains National Park, Udawalawa, and back to Negombo. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-trails/9-day-guided-adventurous-colombo-loop-motorcycle-tour-in-sri-lanka# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-trails/9-day-guided-adventurous-colombo