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  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights
  • Adventures & Experiences - Classic Cultural Trips with a Twist - Wildlife Encounters with Specialists – Handpicked, small , unique accommodations - Meeting real local people – Lessor known highlights

Kalthota Cycling Trail

Quick Facts

  • Availability : all year round
  • Transfer arrangements to be picked up and dropped off to any preferred location could be provided on request
  • Starting time : 8:00 a.m. at Pambahinna Junction (Belihuloya)
  • Ending time : 1:00 p.m. at Big Game Camp Udawalawe (Hambegamuwa/Udawalawe)
  • Duration : 4 to 5 hours (with stopovers)
  • Cycling distance : 40 kilometres in total
  • Grading : Soft and moderate
  • Please Note : Not recommended for children under 14 years unless they have experienced similar excursions.
  • It is possible to extend the activity with accommodation at Udawalawe.

 

Why should you book this trip?

  • A ride from 50 metres to 1200 metres above sea level, passing breathtaking scenery, different vegetation types, different communities and even change in temperature.

  • Opportunity to engage with local communities. A cycling tour in Sri Lanka gives you the flexibility to stop and experience on a personal level, whether it is to see the traditional lifestyles of people or to take in the landscape.

  • Some of the tour highlights would be: Samanalawewa reservoir and dam, Kuragala temple and view point, the beautiful Kalthota Pass with its hairpin bends, Doowili Ella Waterfall, Kalthota irrigational canal and the Elephant Corridors of Udawalawe National Park.

  • You will be accompanied by a guide experienced in day trips in Sri Lanka.

 

Included in the price

  • High quality and well-maintained mountain bikes with helmets
  • The services of an experienced cycling guide
  • Drinking water during the cycling tour
  • Packed snacks and refreshments during the trail
  • Emergency back-up at any time
  • All Government taxes

 

Excluded

  • Transportation to the starting point and from the end point of the cycle trail (this could be arranged by us at an additional cost)

  • Any extra beverages, food and snacks consumed

  • Optional activity costs on the cycling tour

  • Any personal effects not mentioned in this description

  • Any tips for the staff

  • Any others expenses not mentioned in YOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES section

 

Tour in brief

  • You will meet our guide at the Pambahinna junction at the scheduled time.

  • After a brief on the cycling tour, safety and pit stop plan, cycling gear is worn and the trail begins. We cycle past the Sabaragamuwa University and some villages to reach the Samanalawewa lake dam which is breathtakingly scenic.

  • From here, we climb up few kilometres, through the forest reserve, to reach a viewpoint of the magnificent lake.

  • After a little rest, a few short uphill and downhill stretches are done, to reach the Balangoda/Kalthota road.

  • This route takes us to Kuragala. Bikes are parked and the climb to Kuragala Rock is taken. This is a sacred place for both Buddhists and Muslims.

  • Next on the Kalthota cycling holiday, we go down to the scenic Kalthota Pass up to the turn off to the Duwili Ella – a hidden gem of Sri Lanka. We will venture on a walk to see this magnificent waterfall, take photographs and catch a breather.

  • The following lap of the cycling tour is mostly downhill and flat. Upon reaching the Kalthota hamlet, we cycle along a beautiful canal until we reach a newly-built fairly broad tarmac road.

  • Our day tour will take us past a changing landscape, as we make our way through an Elephant Corridor.

  • Eventually we arrive at our final destination: the Big Game Camp at Udawalawe.

  • Following a short break, lunch will be served and continue the journey on this cycling tour in Sri Lanka.

 

Important

  • Lightweight clothes and biking shoes and boots should be worn on the ride , bearing in mind warm, windy and rainy conditions.

  • Insect repellent and sun lotion are recommended items to carry.

  • Water bottles and refreshments should be carried at all times.

  • Dress code for visiting temples: Clothing should cover shoulders down to knee level. Hats, caps and any other head covering should be removed prior to entering a temple.White (with none or minimal motif) is the widely worn color.

  • Avoid taking photographs without asking or referring signage, as some important religious places do not allow photography or videography.

  • Maintain low levels of volume while speaking whilst inside the temple.

Our Service Values

Exclusive  Experiences
It’s all about what you will be doing. 

We take pride in offering the exclusive and unique experiences going beyond just the tourist highlights. We believe that no two persons on this earth could be the same, so therefore no holiday created should be the same too. With our unparalleled access to all the hidden corners, we don't merely create holidays, we design experiences that money can’t buy.  

Genuine Encounters
It’s all about whom you are meeting.

Our tours are designed to grant you an intimate peak into the country and meeting real local people. With our special relationships cultivated over the years, our tours offer access into villages and homes to provide truly unique perspectives. This is something we are really specialized in. You do things together, share a meal or take part in a religious ritual; you become their guest but not a paid tourist.     

Spaces with Character
It’s about where you are staying. 

Our handpicked accommodations are way different to large chain hotels with conventional star ratings. We offers small properties with quality, character, ambiance and run by passionate people. The range does not limit to “hotels” and goes into Tented Camps, Lodges, Home Stays, Colonial Bungalows, Luxury Boutique Properties as well as Tree Houses that have won multiple awards and plaudits.


Passionate Sustainability
It’s about how we do things. 

We believe that the sustainability and conservation approach in tourism is not merely an option but a way of life. While offering you unique, unconventional experiences and encounters, we strive to stay conscious of the sustainability of our habitat, people and culture. You wouldn’t find the Elephant Orphanage, animal rides or shows, or any other experiences that exploit people or animals in our programmes.

 

Experiences Sri Lanka

Destinations Sri Lanka

MAP

Our Locations

Sri Lanka is an island that promises many types of adventures to suit visitors with various interests, made possible by our diverse local people who act as guides and hosts.

Sri Lanka’s diverse topography and our connectivity with each location, our professionalism and our exceptional attitude towards service make us an outstanding provider of activities and experiences in the region.    

     

One of the many attractions of the country is that you can do many activities in a very short time span, without having to travel long distances from one activity location to another. For example, you could do a rainforest walk in the morning, a whitewater-rafting trip by noon, and do a leisurely stroll on the beach in the evening, all on the same day!

 

 

Our stories in motion 


 

Why we do not promote following attractions

You may find that we have not included certain common tourist attractions that are generally found in other programme designs; namely, the turtle hatcheries on the southern coast, the Pinnawala elephant orphanage, the Habarana elephant rides and the Bullock Cart Trail. These are not included due to conservation and ethical reasons.

 

Turtle Hatcheries

We do not encourage our visitors to patronize the turtle hatcheries as this concept has serious negative aspects in terms of conservation. We encourage visitors to observe turtles in their natural habitats. For further information check the link below. 
More Information

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

We do not encourage our clients to visit the above either. We do not agree with the concept of how the establishment is run. We are happy to see that even the Born Free Foundation has now taken a similar stand. 

Elephant back rides – Habarana
We have concerns about the way this is being done. However, there may be a few ethical operators but in general, we do not agree with the “working hours”, how they give rest to the animals, trails they use etc.

Traditional village tour with a canoe trip and bullock carts – Habarana
This is an extremely commercialized touristic operation where a lot is “staged”. We encourage the visitors to have less touristic experiences and instead experience the real Sri Lanka.

 

Wildlife Tours Sri Lanka - Fixed Departures & Offers

wildlife fixed departure tour 01

Sri Lankan Gateaway Fixed Departure Tour

Cycling Tours Sri Lanka - Fixed Departures & Offers

cycling 10

cycling 14

 
 
 
 
 
Contact Us
Eco Team (Pvt) Ltd,
No: 20/63, Fairfield Garden,
Colombo 08, Sri Lanka
 
[P] : (+94) 70 222 8 222
Office Hours :
0830 - 1730 hrs
 
 
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