On the Roads of Ceylon

It is our Sri Lanka tour: 12 days with 10 days of riding, from Negombo to Galle, through coast and jungle, UNESCO sites such as Sigiriya Rock, the Knuckles mountains and the tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya. It suits couples and solo riders looking for culture and nature, and it is a great introduction to Asia. For a longer tour in southern India, see The Spice Route or The Great Crossing.

The tour is rated Intermediate: you should ride regularly, but no off-road experience is needed. We cover about 845 miles over 10 riding days, 50 to 130 miles a day, mostly on small roads, with about 15% of easy dirt roads. The days are well paced. Some stages are far from medical help: the support vehicle follows the group.

A Royal Enfield Classic 350, serviced by our mechanic, who follows the group with the spare parts. It has a low seat. If your height makes you hesitate, either way, talk to your travel advisor before booking.

Yes, this tour works very well two-up: little off-road, and the luggage travels in the support vehicle. The tour costs $4,090 per rider and $3,390 per passenger.

An English-speaking motorcycle tour leader and a mechanic, with a support vehicle that carries your luggage and the spare parts. The group is limited to 10 motorcycles (12 participants with passengers).

$4,090 per rider and $3,390 per passenger. The price includes the motorcycle, gas, the team, lodging, breakfast and lunch on riding days, the jeep safari in Udawalawe, the Sri Lankan driving permit and airport transfers. You pay for your flights, the visa, dinners (allow about $12 to $30 per meal, without alcohol), drinks, entrance fees to the sites, tips and a $708 deposit per motorcycle.

Yes, traffic drives on the left in Sri Lanka. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival and an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which you apply for before you travel on the official Sri Lankan ETA website. To ride, a Sri Lankan driving permit is mandatory: we arrange it from your passport, an ID photo, your national license and an International Driving Permit, which is now required. Send us a copy of your license about a month before departure. Full details are in our list of documents for Sri Lanka.

You fly into Colombo airport, at Negombo, and you book your own flights. Our team meets you on day 1. On the last day we ride from Galle to the airport, about 3 hours by road: book an evening flight, or ask your travel advisor about an extra night in Negombo. To arrive earlier or stay longer, they will tell you what is possible.

The season runs from December to April; open dates are shown on this page, and other dates are possible on request through your travel advisor. It is hot, around 86°F during the day, with a few possible showers, especially in the central mountains. In Nuwara Eliya, at about 6,560 ft, nights and mornings are cool, around 59°F: bring a warm layer and rain gear. Full details are in our Sri Lanka weather guide.

In standard to comfort hotels and guesthouses, from the seaside to the tea plantations. The support vehicle carries your luggage: bring a soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase.