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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

Sigiriya Cycling Tour

Quick Facts

  • Availability : All year around
  • Transfer arrangements to be picked up and dropped off at any preferred destination could be arranged on prior notification, at additional cost.
  • Starting time : Morning 7.30 a.m. or evening 2:30 p.m.
  • Starting Point : Main entrance gate of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • Duration : 4 hours (without the climb to Sigiriya)
  • Cycling distance : 20km in total – all flat terrain
  • Grading : Soft
  • Kindly note : This tour is not recommended for children under 12 years. It is possible to extend the activity with accommodation in Sigiriya as well. 

Sigiriya is land steeped in history dating back to the 5th century BC. The Sigiriya Rock, became the fortified kingdom of King Kasyapa who usurped the throne from his father and sought distance from his avenging brother. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress - the brainchild of King Kasyapa - built with surrounding gardens, baths and paces of worship, became and is still recognised as an architectural and engineering feat, complete with an aesthetic and planned layout.

Pidurangala Rock is a few kilometres north of the Fortress and its history is intertwined with latter. It became the site for a Buddhist monastery dating back to the first century BC and was patronised by King Kasyapa during his reign. The Pidurangala Rock bears a steeper slope on its summit and poses a great challenge to climb.

 

Why should you book this trip?

  • Eco Team’s cycling tour of Sigiriya takes you on a journey into the areas surrounding the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
  • Other things to do in Sigiriya would include:
  • interacting with the local residents and learning about their routine and lifestyle.
  • Visiting the Stupa believed to mark the spot where King Kashyapa (473 – 495 AD), the king who built the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, was cremated.
  • Seeing the Pidurangala Rock which was used as a Buddhist monastery during the reign of King Kashyapa.
  • If you have not climbed the Sigiriya Rock, it is possible to couple this cycling tour with the Sigiriya climb.
  • You will be accompanied by a knowledgeable and seasoned cycling guide for the duration of the tour.

 

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
  • Entrance permit for the Pidurangala Viharaya (Pidurangala Rock Temple)
  • Emergency back up at any time
  • All Government taxes

 

Excluded

  • Transportation to starting point and from the end point of the cycling tour of Sigiriya
  • Any extra beverages, food and snacks consumed
  • Entrance fees to Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • Optional activity costs
  • Any personal effects not mentioned in this description
  • Any tips for the attending staff
  • Any others expenses not mentioned in the INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE section

 

Tour in brief

  • Once your booking is confirmed, you will be informed of the meeting point, where your designated cycling guide will meet you.
  • The cycling tour of Sigiriya takes you on a trail into the areas surrounding the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
  • Beginning at the entrance to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress,  you ride through "Thalkote", a remote isolated village to the Thalkotawewa (reservoir).
  • At the village, you will see how traditional farming (paddy and other crops) and chena cultivation (slash and burn farming) is done and used in the area.
  • Thalkotawewa and the surrounding thickets can be great for for bird watching in the morning and evening.
  • If you choose to take the tour in the morning, there is a chance you may witness signs of the presence of wild elephants in the area, from the previous night.
  • Interact with villagers in the area and enjoy their hospitality.
  • Enjoy moments of history as you make brief stops at some archaeological sites.
  • Two important archeological sites we cover in this trail are the Stupa, believed to mark the spot where King Kashyapa was cremated and the Pidurangala Viharaya which dates back beyond the first century BC.
  • A climb up to the Sigiriya Rock Fortresscan be arranged, as an add-on to this cycling trip in Sri Lanka.
  • Stop at various points to refresh.

 

Important

  • Clients should bring suitable clothing for warm, windy and rainy conditions.
  • Lightweight clothes and suitable footwear should be worn for the cycling tour in Sigiriya.
  • Insect repellent and sun lotion are recommended items to carry.
  • Drinking water should be carried at all times. 

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

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Sri Lankan Gateaway Fixed Departure Tour

Cycling Tours Sri Lanka - Fixed Departures & Offers

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