“Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, “Serendip – the Enchanting” “Ceylon- the Island of Spices” are all fitting names for this paradise island in the Indian Ocean that captivates all guests with its incredible tropical natural backdrop. Sri Lanka – “The Venerable Beauty” has been the official and apt name since 1972. This wonderful lovely guided Sri Lanka motorcycle tour combines motorcycle adventure with culture and a tropical beach vacation and offers diverse insights into the picturesque island paradise.
The tropical flora and fauna, the Buddhist environment and the friendly people paired with beautiful winding roads and endless sandy beaches provide an incredible backdrop for motorcycle explorations. The delicious local cuisine makes the pleasure even more intense. In Kandy and Ella we experience the highlands with beautiful motorcycle routes through hills and tea plantation landscape. In Nilaveli and Mirissa we relax on beaches, one on the east and one on the west coast of the island. A visit to the elephants in the Uda Walawe National Park of course not be missed. We start our guided Sri Lanka motorcycle tour in the pleasant port city of Negombo, which is about 15 minutes from the airport. The outrigger boats with their brown sails, called Oruwa, are the trademark of Negombo. Especially when they go through the Negombo lagoon after fishing and return to the fishing island of Duda, they give a picturesque impression. These outriggers are considered the forerunners of modern catamaran.
The city of Negombo is dominated by churches and holy shrines, hence the nickname for Negombo: “Rome of Sri Lanka”. Our journey first leads along the tranquil coastal route characterised by salt pans and coconut palm groves and past small fishing villages. We avoid the big roads as far as possible and ride to the Kalpitiya peninsula. Kalpitiya protrudes more than 30 kilometers into the sea like crab claws and separates the Indian Ocean from the Putalam Lagoon. A lively scene for kite surfers has developed here in recent years. Between November and April, Kalpitiya is Sri Lanka’s best place for dolphin watching. East Pacific dolphins cross the lagoon here in groups of up to a hundred, but you have to be able to endure somewhat stronger waves for the trip.
From the lagoon Kalpitiya we ride into the lush green inland. This small island has an enormous variety of plants that will enchant you. Of the more than 2900 flowering plants on the island, we will certainly encounter a few hundreds on the route, but above all the national flower, the blue water lily and the lotus flower will be a constant companion. The inland is home to diverse culture and we are heading towards the rather unknown Buddha of Aukana. By far the best example of Sri Lankan stonemasonry is the standing 13-meter-high Buddha statue. The day is far from over, we continue on picturesque roads to the cave monastery of Dambulla, one of the largest of its kind in South and Southeast Asia. It offers a fascinating spectrum of Buddhist painting art on an area of over 2000 square meters. The next day begins with a cultural highlight that shouldn’t be missing on any Sri Lanka motorcycle tour. We explore the rock mountain of Sigiriya. The ruins of the old capital Sigiriya (a World Heritage Site since 1982) lie at the foot of a 185-meter-high boulder, flattened at the top.
After so many cultural impressions, it is definitely time again to ride our motorcycles to the east coast of Sri Lanka. Azure coastlines and wide beaches, one of the world’s largest natural harbours and a tourist yet undiscovered region make Nilaveli a highlight. The route leads us initially on a paved road past lush green densely forested jungle and gradually a more dry scrubby landscape emerges. The east coast has been badly affected by the decades of war and it is only in the last decade that the economy has started to recover. The Nilaveli beach (blue sand) has a magical atmosphere in the mornings and evenings when the fishermen are near the shoreline .
Trincomalee, the city near Nilaveli, was historically a bone of contention for power interests, especially for the colonial powers, due to the natural harbour and the strategic location. Today it captivates with a beautiful exotic market, a Portuguese fortress and a Hindu pilgrim temple. Our next stage leads back inland to Polonaruwa. The royal city of Polonaruwa, successor to the destroyed Anuradhapura, was overgrown by the jungle for centuries like other royal cities before being rediscovered by a British officer in the 19th century. In the middle of a lavish park landscape, a magnificent centre of power emerged. Monumental monolithic Buddha statues, stone lions, dwarfs and elephants, sculptures of dancers and musicians, elaborate relief work and remains of wall paintings still impress today.
From Polonaruwwa it goes into the highlands to Kandy, idyllically situated at a height of 500 metres between forested hills on a lake. One of the most outstanding sanctuaries in the country is the Dalada Maligawa or “Temple of the Tooth Relic”, on the northeast side of Lake Kandy. A visit to the evening mood will remain in our memory forever. On small and partly bad, but beautiful and low-traffic roads, partly on slopes through tea plantations, we ride into the Knuckles Mountains. Northeast of Kandy, the Knuckles Range, often shrouded in clouds, rises with the 1863 metres high Tunhisgala as the highest elevation. The shape of the massif reminded the British of the knuckles of a clenched fist. Here are still untouched cloud forests and a rare fauna that were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.
We spend the next few days in the highlands and visit small former colonial places like Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Haputale. We learn a lot here about a drink that we are all too familiar with: tea. We ride through endless tea plantations that spread their green and shrubby carpet over the hilly landscape. In a tea factory we also learn the basics about tea cultivation and preparation.
From Nuwara Eliya we ride down the plain to the Udawalawa National Park. The popularity of large national parks lies in the large number of wild elephants and the very high likelihood of seeing them at the pool at the reservoir. After all, up to 600 elephants are supposed to roam here. The park landscape is characterised by a mixture of abandoned teak plantations, jungles and wetlands with high grass growth. We end our Sri Lanka motorcycle tour in Mirissa. Even the melodic name suggests that one of the most beautiful bays in Sri Lanka is located here. It is a lively place with beautiful beach bars adapted to the European palate. A welcome hustle and bustle at the end of the trip.
The temperatures in Sri Lanka are tropical, except in the higher mountain regions. Daytime highs of up to 30°C, nighttime lows never dropping below 18°C. Little chance of rain, other than brief tropical showers.
The food consists mainly local South Asian specialities, including a lot of tropical fruit, seafood, curries and savory rice dishes. The food is spicy, freshly prepared, sometimes a bit on the hot side. There are also plenty of international dishes suitable to western tastes.
Anyone who has ever wanted to get to know an island paradise that offers excellent food, friendly people, untouched nature and a lot of relaxation on the beach will find it in Sri Lanka. We attach particular importance to authentic encounters, nice relaxing hotels and resorts and a culture-sensitive tour to bring you closer to the country, its people and their history. Of course, all tourist highlights such as Sigiriya, Kandy and Galle are included, as well as lesser known but well worth seeing gems such as Dambulla, the Knuckles Mountains, the still unexplored east coast and visits to tea and spice plantations.
You can also book our Guided South America Motorcycle Tour and savor breathtaking contrasts—from Amazonian rainforests and ancient Machu Picchu ruins to vibrant cities and soaring Andean peaks—offering an unforgettable adventure at every turn.
Hotels, Meals, Motorcycle, Tour Guide, Service Car and more
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Accommodation in mid-range hotels and guest houses.
15 days / 14 nights / 12 riding days
Arrive by plane. Transfer to the your hotel in Negombo. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach and in the hotel garden. The varied history of Negombo is reflected in the townscape. We still find water canals that exude a Dutch flair, Portuguese and English sacral buildings. If there is time and mood, we visit the impressive fish market early in the morning, including one of the largest markets for tuna fish in the world. The dry fish market also offers an odour intensive but very picturesque experience.
In the morning we start with a leisurely ride with our Royal Enfield Bullets along the coast to Kalpitiya, a straight ride where you have the opportunity to get to know the bikes and the local driving style. The afternoon is spent relaxing on the secluded lagoon at our Resort. If someone wants to see dolphins, evening / early morning excursions can be arranged from here.
Distance covered: approx. 130 km
We ride to Dambulla mainly through lush green landscapes adorned with lakes, rice fields and hills. Halfway we visit a hidden gem, the Buddha statue in Aukana. This statute from the 6th century expresses calm and serenity in a haunting manner. Despite its gigantic size, the figure is astonishingly filigree: For example, the robe that the Buddha has thrown ruffles into such a multitude of fine folds that one might think that it would actually be churned up by the wind. The face shows a perfect expression of meditative, unearthly calm. The right hand is raised in the “gesture of blessing” Ashiva Mudra.
In the late afternoon we visit the impressive Buddhist caves of Dambulla from the 2nd century BC. When in 104 BC the second great Tamil invasion took place, King Valagama Bahu was forced to leave his capital Anuradhapura. The king fled to the rock caves of Dambulla, about 70 km south of Anuradhapura. When he returned to the capital after 14 years in exile, he left a grand cave temple complex. The granite rock of Dambulla is approx.
170 metres high, the five cave temples are located at a height of approx. 110 metres the walls and ceiling paintings show scenes from the life of Buddha and Sri Lankan history, including the arrival of Vijaya, the ancestor of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. Some pictures depict scenes from Anuradhapura, such as “planting the holy Bodhi tree”.
Distance covered: approx. 130 km
We visit the famous mountain of Sigiriya early in the morning to avoid the sun and the crowds. Incredible what extravagant palace King Kassyapa, AD 500 must have lived. Spiral stairs lead up to the frescoes by the cloud girls and the palace in the sky. Don’t worry, if you don’t want to climb the mountain, you can stay in the shady garden. It continues through the tropically fertile landscape on the east coast to Trincomalee. We spend two nights in the deserted and heavenly beach of Nilaveli, overnight in beautiful Beach Villas.
Distance covered: approx. 120 km
We enjoy miles of pristine beaches. For the restless among us there is a short trip to the city of Trincomalee or the option of snorkeling.
Beautiful stage to Polonnaruwa past rice fields and small lakes full of lotus flowers and water lilies. In Polonnaruwa we visit the charming old Buddhist site of Gal Vihara, the carved Buddhas are among the most beautiful in the world. In the evening we have the opportunity to try delicious local food in the middle of rice fields and learn the subtleties of Sri Lankan cuisine.
Distance covered: approx. 140 km
Today we ride one route highlight after another. From Polonaruwa we ride into the highlands to Kandy, idyllically situated at a height of 500 m between forested hills on a lake. We take the scenic Riverstone Road with endless curves and spectacular slopes. Overnight in the cultural capital Kandy. We visit the most sacred shrine in Sri Lanka, the Temple of the Tooth. According to myth and folklore, a tooth is worshiped here by Lord Buddha. On the first floor of the temple, the Udamale, a “right molar Buddha” is kept in a shrine. It is enclosed in an elongated container, richly covered with precious stones, called “Karanduwa”, which in turn lies in a large container.
There are seven such wrappings in total. The capital of the Kingdom of Kandy, founded in the 16th century, was able to remain independent until the beginning of the 19th century and defend itself against the colonial invaders. Only the British, who replaced the Dutch in their rule, were able to integrate the Kingdom of Kandy into the crown colony of Ceylon. The Sri Lankans still refer to Kandy as their cultural capital.
Distance covered: approx. 170 km
We have a leisurely morning with a walk around Kandy Lake and some shopping if desired. Then we get back on our motorcycles and ride to a remote corner of the Knuckles Mountains. The road that leads to our resort has seen better days, but it is definitely worth the trip. Some spectacular views await us. Here we are on a remote part of the island in the middle of cardamom and spice plantations. In the evening, there is an off-road excursion deeper into the mountain landscape for all adventure riders.
Distance covered: approx. 60 km
Another beautiful and spectacular day of riding awaits us today. The ride from Knuckle to Ella goes past tea plantations, waterfalls and small villages to Ella. The impressive Ravana Ella waterfall, 120 meters high, pours south from here. According to tradition, the demon Ravana brought the captured Sita here when he was persecuted by Rama and the monkey god Hanuman. Sita is said to have bathed in the pool at the foot of the waterfall. A 2 km hike leads from Ella to the Ravana Cave, a cave in which Ravana is said to have held the kidnapped Sita. Four kilometres further on, you finally reach the Ravana Ella Rock at 1,350 metres. According to legend, Hanuman climbed up here to look for Sita. In Tea Country past endless hills lined with precious tea bushes, we will spend the night in a beautiful lodge in the small hill station Ella, with its nice hippie traveler atmosphere.
Distance covered: approx. 130 km
On the motorcycle-free day in Ella we take a small hike that takes about 4-5 hours. A complete change of scenery is revealed on a mountain saddle located 2134 meters above sea level, the legendary cloud forest of the Horton Plains. Tropical mountain plants and bizarre rock formations reinforce the mystical impression. We hike over the plateau to the “World’s End”, which offers a wonderful panoramic view of the 500 metre lower level.
Morning ride to Lipton’s seat and then in a tea factory we learn more about tea and tea making. We spend the night in Nuwara Eliya (1900 m) with its colonial charm. Nuwara Eliya, mostly called Nurelia for short, was only “discovered” in 1826 by some British officers who had strayed there while hunting elephants. At that time it was still a tiny sleepy village, but soon a rapid development began and the British governor of Ceylon built a residence there, today’s “Wattles Inn”. The governor recognised Nurelia’s potential as a climatic health resort, and a recovery station was opened there in 1829 at his request. As a result, many of his countrymen flocked to Nurelia. The colonial officials had English country houses built, which could also have been in Cornwall or Yorkshire.
In 1875 a racecourse was added and in 1889 a golf club. Nuwara Eliya (“Royal City of Light”) became “Little England”. Nurelia lies on a plain about 6.5 km long and 2.5 km wide and is surrounded by mountains all around. The soil, consisting of a deep layer of black topsoil over layers of yellow clay and gravel, gave every gardener euphoria. On its north side, Pidurutagala (Mt.Pedro) rises the highest mountain in Sri Lanka at 2540 metres. The springs gushing in the area brought crystal-clear, pure water to light, which one knew how to use very well: Sri Lanka’s first brewery, the Lion Brewery, was founded here in 1911.
Distance covered: approx. 120 km
We slowly return to the plain after thousands of turns. A real biker pleasure to ride on small private biker streets. We will rest for the night in the enchanting surroundings of the Udawalawe National Park. Here we change vehicles and drive jeeps on an elephant safari.
Distance covered: approx. 150 km
The last stage of the ride leads through the plain, but very scenic. We ride on good roads to the picturesque and lively beach town of Mirissa. We say goodbye to the bikes.
Distance covered: approx. 94 km
Relaxation day on the beach. We also pay a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Galle and take an atmospheric evening stroll there. Galle owes its legendary reputation as a tourist attraction primarily to its well-preserved old town, whose origins date back to the 16th century. Lying on a promontory and surrounded by thick walls, it protects the wide, curved bay like a fortress. Traders from Arabia and China met here a thousand years ago to do business with each other. Today it is a successful exotic mix of Asian present and colonial-European past. A popular destination also for the country’s local elites, many nostalgics, artists, dropouts and late colonialists bustle here. Farewell dinner with a view of the Indian Ocean. It’s time to say goodbye.
Distance covered: approx. 60 km
The guided Sri Lanka motorcycle tour ends in Mirissa. If you want to extend your beach vacation, you can do so here at the Paradise Beach Club. Alternatively, there is also a good Ayurveda resort. We organise the transfer directly from the hotel in Mirissa to the airport (3 hours drive max.).
Distance covered: approx. 176 km
Transfer from and to the international airport
14 nights in excellent hotels and resorts
Breakfast, dinner
Small snacks for lunch, water
Motorcycle (Royal Enfield 350cc Bullet) Support vehicle for luggage and pillions
Mechanic throughout the tour
English speaking tour guide
Jeep Safari in Udawalwe National Park
Entry to the Hortons Plains National Park
All entrance fees for group excursions and visits liste above
Snorkeling, dolphin watching and diving
Own trips in your free time
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