“The group of 14 of us, aged from about 60 to 80, had biked together before in places far away from our Canadian home. A few very fit people were on mechanical propulsion only, but most of us elected to have E-bikes, which kept us all in a good group.
Waruna, our senior guide, was well informed, charming, and thoughtful. He kept us going through sometimes adverse weather as the monsoons seemed to stretch on a little longer than usual. The rest of the team was also of a very high standard, warm and friendly, supportive and helpful, quickly repairing flats when they occurred.
This route took us through very very terrain from sea level to 2200 m, from open Prairie to thick forest. This particular route was culturally very rewarding with ancient temples in impossible places, hinting at a well developed and powerful culture many hundreds of years ago.
Yes, it rained, but the rain was warm. We could repair to the bus for our transfers and be warm in no time.
The accommodations provided for us were of a high standard. Mostly buffet menus provided something for everybody, including the vegetarians among us.
The extras were much appreciated - temples in caves, a safari, a late night foray to see the turtles laying eggs. We’re still working on the many photos.”
“Rating: 5/5
Headline: Excellent tour that delivered on its “Vivid Sri Lanka” promise
Review: in January 2025 a group of 14 of us (4 regular bikes, 10 e-bikes) went on this 14-day Art of Bicycle tour entitled “Vivid Sri Lanka”. It delivered on its promise and for the most part lived up to the marketing hype in the brochure. As a group we have done other cycling tours around the world and this was definitely one of the best. The individual ratings below are offered for information and even though they may not all be 5/5, the overall experience was outstanding when everything is taken into account.
Here are our individual ratings:
Pre-tour 4.5/5. Generally responsive and helpful, with occasional lapses due to changes of staff who were responding to emails. Some difficulties with payment arrangements from North America.
Itinerary 5/5. Expertly-curated itinerary with lots of variety, rest-days with hikes, visits to attractions such as temples and wildlife reserves etc. Spectacular mountain cycling and canal-side cycling.
Bikes 4.5/5. An eclectic mix of bikes, none new, but all in reasonable shape. Occasional issues with the e-bikes were quickly fixed by the crew.
Support 5/5. Waruna was everything one could want in a guide: knowledgeable, good humoured, flexible, with excellent English. The crew provided excellent support.
Food 4.5/5. Good quality generally. Hotel buffets became a bit repetitive. Snacks were frequent (every 20 km or so) and often interesting.
Accomodation 5/5. Hotels were generally good, occasionally outstanding (Kalu’s Hideaway). One was past its best-before date (Queen Hotel in Kandy), but there were extenuating circumstances (a last-minute change due to the scheduled hotel being out of service).
Weather 4/5. This is obviously no reflection on the tour company but it is important information to know. We picked January because it seemed to be the best month for a Southern Sri Lankan cycle tour (which was confirmed by our guide). We experienced variable weather. It rained on several days, typically it was light and brief, occasionally it was torrential. It wasn’t a problem cycling in these conditions because the temperatures were warm, but a lightweight waterproof shell is recommended. Our packable umbrellas also came in handy when visiting attractions and hiking. Important to remain flexible, expect unpredictable weather, and enjoy sunny breaks as a bonus!
Overall this was an excellent experience, highly recommended.”
“Amazing bike trip in beautiful Sri Lanka! The team took excellent care of us. The guide was knowledgeable about plants, animals, geography and the history of Sri Lanka. The fresh fruit and treats from local markets were enjoyed by the group on the water breaks. Good selection of hotels and delicious meals.”
“We loved this trip. Waruna, our main guide, and his team took great care of us. The route was well planned and the scenery glorious. Food and accommodation were very good. Highly recommended.”
“The guide, Waruna and the support staff made this trip a fun and educational tour. Not only did I enjoyed the scenery Sri Lanka had to offer, Waruna was able to explain a lot of Sri Lankan's heritage and history to make this trip one will remember for a long time. The rides included challenging hills and thrilling switchback on the descent. Everything is so lush!”
“Overall with we very much enjoyed our tour and bike ride through Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is an awesome place to visit. We were very happy with the quality and maintance of the bikes. The tour guide was confident and flexible to our needs. The hotels were generaly of a high standard and some exceeding our expectations. Our driver was always very careful and mindful to lock the vechicle so we could safely leave our belongings in the bus.The food was generally delicious and plentiful but perhapes not as much protein (meat) as we are use to while riding. Snacks were always available and bus never far away. The extra activities were fantastic and really added to the trip and experience of Sri Lanka . The Safari was the highlight. Would have loved more time in the highlands exploring the tea plantaions and doing an extra hike !”
