Tea Leaves & Tuk-Tuks

The island of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is the setting for this stunning section. The riders begin in Colombo, the nation’s capital and head inland past towering rock fortresses and ancient archaeological ruins before heading to the little visited northern areas of the country to experience Tamil culture and cuisine in Jaffna. The route now takes them south through small seaside villages and along the sprawling beaches of the east coast to the historic port city of Trincomalee.

The riders then spin back into the island’s centre, pausing to climb the incredible Lion’s Rock in Sigirya and explore the venerated Temple of the Tooth in the Buddhist city of Kandy. From there the riders trade in their bikes for a seat on one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys to the hill station of Nuwara Eliya. The route continues through vast tea plantations, descending to the famous beaches on the south coast and the historic Dutch Fort in Galle before returning to Colombo and the end of the section.

Highlights

• Lion’s Rock - Sigirya
• Sacred City of Anuradhapura
• Medieval architecture in Polonnaruwa
• Yala National Park