Chic & Charming Sri Lanka

Transcription

1 Chic & Charming Sri Lanka 11 days including 9 riding days Best season: January - April HIGHLIGHTS o Comfort and luxury accommodation o A perfect combination of rides amidst breathtaking landscapes and free time to make the most of your stay o A Safari in the Yala National Park and its amazing flora and fauna DIFFICULTY: AVERAGE This trip is open to riders of all levels. The major part of the itinerary follows good asphalt roads, sometimes broken trails. Several easy trails. ROYAL ENFIELD 350CC Our fleet in Colombo consists of 10 Royal Enfield 350cc. 5 gears with left-side selector, 1st gear down. Single-cylinder. Dual-saddle pilot & pillion. P a g e 1

2 LOGISTICS & ORGANISATION Your guide is an experienced motorcycle rider, English-speaking, who knows region well. He ensures the smooth running of the tour and manages the coordination of the support team (mechanics, drivers, helpers...). The tour leader does not act as cultural guide, so please take your "Lonely Planet" with you. The team consists of a tour leader and a mechanic. A support vehicle with driver is provided for groups of more than 3 people, convenient for personal and collective luggage, mechanical spare parts and giving the passengers the opportunity to choose between the motorcycle and the comfort of an airconditioned car. To guarantee an enjoyable trip, the group is limited to 12 participants (including passengers). For A La Carte and Tailor Made formulas, we are able to accommodate a larger number of participants. In this case, for your comfort and safety, the program and logistics may vary slightly (number of days, number of tour leaders and support vehicles...). Ask your travel advisor. P a g e 1

3 AT A GLANCE Vintage Rides is proud to be the pioneer of Royal Enfield tours in Sri Lanka. Aboard the legendary Indian motorcycle, you drive 1000 km on small roads across the island of Ceylon. Your starting point: Negombo, a fishing port, seaside resort and an ideal first stop only 20 minutes from the airport. The next day is the big day! You start your journey along the coast, close to the ocean air. The Kalpitiya Peninsula welcomes you for a relaxing session on the Indian Ocean. Dolphins frolicking offshore are waiting for your visit at sunrise! You then head east, inland towards Sigiriya and its impressive fortress "Lion's Rock", peaking at 200 meters above the surrounding plains. Your stay in the Cultural Triangle gives you the opportunity to visit Polonnaruwa, the beautiful ancient city, World Heritage of UNESCO. You then ride towards the south to reach the heart of Sri Lanka: the Knuckles Range. For bikers, it's a real pleasure to ride on these perfect and winding mountains roads. The popular city of Kandy awaits you for a shopping and visit break. The journey continues towards the highlands of Sri Lanka. The road goes through tea plantations that stretch to the horizon. Before arriving in Nuwara Eliya, marked by the legacy of English settlers, you can visit a tea factory. Then, you head south across fabulous landscapes: rice fields, banana and coconut plantations. It s in Yala that you will have the opportunity to experience the joys of a safari and where you can expect to see the famous leopard! You finish the motorcycle tour in Matara where you ll enjoy a relaxing session on a beach with crystal clear waters. It is in a private vehicle that you reach the capital with a stop in Galle to visit the old Dutch fortress. Throughout the tour, you ll mostly ride in the morning to enjoy the afternoons in beautiful locations. Vos hôtels sont des hébergements spécialement sélectionnés pour votre plus grand confort. P a g e 2

4 ITINERARY - Program subject to change depending on circumstances - D 1: Colombo international airport Negombo [20 minutes in a private vehicle] You are greeted at the airport and after 20 minutes, you reach Negombo, a fishing port and seaside resort. Check-in at the hotel. You can relax on the beach or by the pool depending on the season. From the shore, you can admire the fleet of oruwas, traditional canoes with square sails dancing on the ocean. When exploring the Promised Land, the "Little Rome" of Sri Lanka holds many surprises with its many churches, its colorful boats and the Dutch canal. D 2: Negombo Kalpitiya [120km 4H ride] This morning, your tour leader will introduce you to your new ride: the Royal Enfield. You start your journey heading north towards the Kalpitiya peninsula. You link a series of red sand tracks along the ocean and through fishing villages. Tropical landscapes march to the beat of coconut plantations before giving way to shrimp farms. Before Puttalam, you turn off to the peninsula and ride between lagoon and ocean to Kalpitiya. The peninsula, with its fishing villages and huge sandy beaches, is still preserved from tourist invasion. Check-in at the hotel. P a g e 3

5 D 3: Kalpitiya Sigiriya [190km 6H ride] You have to get up early to watch the water ballet of the dolphins off the coast of Kalpitiya (November to April). Back to dry land for breakfast before hitting the road to the Centre North of the Island. After 70 km on the main road, you fork full East. You ride in beautiful landscapes dotted with jungles, paddy fields, coconut groves and banana plantations, complemented by lakes. You follow the Balalu-Kalawewa, gigantic reservoir of 64 km in circumference that has been irrigating crops for centuries. Arriving at Sigiriya, you ll be impressed by the imposing Lion rock with its orange color, giving the surrounding landscapes a halo of soft light. D 4: Sigiriya Polonnaruwa Sigiriya [90 km 1H30 ride] Today you take a trip to Polonnaruwa. You ride on the edge of the Minneriya National Park, where the "Great Gathering" of Elephants takes place every year (August and September). After a break near the Giritale reservoir you visit Polonnaruwa, the beautifully preserved ancient capital of Lanka. After discovering this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a lunch in the countryside awaits you. A great opportunity to taste the culinary specialties of the island; prepared by the host family. Free time in Sigiriya. For a change, go for an elephant or bullock cart ride! D 5: Sigiriya Knuckles [140 km 3/4H ride] This morning we set sail towards the south to get to the Knuckles Range. You make a first stop in Dambulla, where you let go of the throttle under the gaze of the imposing Golden Buddha overlooking the temple. In the company of monkeys, you climb the rock that gave its name to the cave temple. In the caves, numerous Buddha statues defy time. We get back on the road, driving in the middle of rice fields and lakes before seeing the peaks of the Knuckles Range on the horizon. You reach your home base on a pretty and winding mountain road with beautiful views. Check-in at the hotel. P a g e 4

6 D 6: Knuckles Range Kandy [45 km 1H30 ride] In the morning, you meander around to explore this beautiful region of the Knuckles, registered Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. You then take the road to the bustling city of Kandy. Check-in at the hotel. In the late afternoon, enjoy the ceremony to visit the Temple of the Tooth whose name evokes the famous, holy relic it contains. The temple is illuminated; the faithful gather with offerings of flowers and light up hundreds of oil lamps to the sound of the Kandyan drums! D 7: Kandy Nuwara Eliya [120 km 3/4H ride] Today you get to the heart of the tea region. The road is winding, the passing scenery is dazzling with its hills covered with tea and the impressive Ramboda waterfall you bypass. You descry the Pidurutalagala, the highest peak in the country surrounded by a huge forest. The air freshens as you ascend up to 1400 meters. Before reaching Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in the country, you are introduced to the secrets of the famous Ceylon tea by visiting a factory. Check-in at the hotel. Yes, you are in Sri Lanka although the decidedly colonial architecture of many buildings might lead you to believe that you are in England. British settlers left a strong impression in their favourite hill-station, with a golf course that runs through the city and a racecourse that is still active. Put yourself in the British time by taking a "High Tea" in one of the hotels of that era! P a g e 5

7 D 8: Nuwara Eliya Ella [60 km 1H30 ride] The journey is short, the mountain road is very curvy and the traffic is dense. Your eyes can only be struck by the magnificence of the landscapes, sculpted by the tea farming. The extraordinary shades of green, the tumbling and roaring waterfalls, the views of the peaks and valleys! Check-in at the hotel in Ella. Breathe the mountain air and admire the mountains overlooking the tea fields! If you fancy a walk, you can go to the top of Little Adam's Peak crossing a tea plantation! D 9: Ella Yala [105 km 3H ride] Today you leave the highlands for the south coast. After a refreshing stop at the foot of the Ravana falls, you continue your journey on a beautiful winding and smooth mountain road. You keep heading south on a lavish rustic road before skirting the Yala National Park, the second largest animal reserve on the island. Wild animals may cross your path! Check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, if you are tempted by the photographic hunt of the leopard, sloth bear and elephant, go on safari in the Yala Reserve, which contains the greatest diversity of species across the country. P a g e 6

8 D 10: Yala Matara [150 km 4H ride] Enjoy the last ride on your Royal Enfield! You head towards the West along the south coast. You ride on the edge of the Bundala National park, whose lagoons attract thousands of birds. You stop in Tangalle where coconut fringed beaches compete in beauty and Dondra, whose octagonal lighthouse marks the southern tip of the island. After crossing the bubbling Matara and its citadel, you arrive at your destination for the last night, bordering the Indian Ocean. Check-in at the hotel. You park your bike for the last time and hand-over the keys. D 11: Matara Colombo international airport [190 km 5H ride] This morning, it is on 4 wheels that you drive along the coast to Galle via the pretty seaside town of Mirissa and the colorful harbor of Weligama Bay. You can see the fishermen perched on stilts in the ocean. In Galle, after roaming the walls and parapets of the impressive Dutch Fort, take the time to stroll through the streets of the walled city. The Dutch colonial houses, the animated cafes, craft shops and artist workshops give Galle an undeniable charm. You take the road to Colombo. Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. Note: The schedule is indicative. The course may slightly vary from year to year depending on the condition of the roads and tracks. P a g e 7

9 PRICES & SERVICES* Season 2015/2016 A La Carte Formula Choose your dates 11/12 pers. = /10 pers. = /8 pers. = /5 pers. = /3 pers. = 5640 Prices are valid for all tours from November 1st 2015 to march 31st 2016 *Pillion: Deduct 400 *Single room supplement : 1310 PRICE INCLUDES A Royal Enfield 350cc with full mechanical assistance and spare parts Domestic transfers as per the progran in a private vehicle An experienced Tour Leader, english speaking, from D2 to D11 Fuel expenses A support vehicle with driver for groups of 4 of more participants; side luggage carrier for groups of less than 4 participants. Your luggage can be stored in the assistance vehicle. An expert mechanic of Royal Enfield motorcycles Accommodation: in standard and comfort hotels, in double or twin rooms. Participants not travelling in duo will share a room with another participant. If you wish to have a single room (supplement), please let us know at the time of booking. Meals : Half board (breakfast and lunch from D2 to D11) Jeep safari in Yala Third party motorcycle insurance PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE Compulsory insurances : A medical insurance covering all medical costs A repatriation insurance in case of an accident A legal assistance Visa fees International flights and airport taxes A refundable security deposit of 500 for the motorcycle (to pay in cash on arrival) Bank fees Tips Dinners Meals on Day 1 Drinks (tea, coffee, sodas etc ) Activities, entry fees to monuments, temples etc. Personal expenses Christmas Eve and New Years Eve event fees P a g e 8

10 My checklist Appropriate equipment is a key component to a successful journey! Travel light: TRY TO STAY UNDER 20KG BAGS: A sailor bag or a big backpack (without steel bars) that you can close with a padlock. (Don t forget to tag it before leaving with your address. Also with the address of Vintage Rides) A small backpack of 20 liters is advised for daily necessities such as camera, sunscreen lotion CLOTHES AND PERSONAL EQUIPMENT: Light pants Shirts, 3 t-shirts (including some with long sleeves, to protect yourself from the sun 1 warm sweater for the chilly evenings A swimming suit Sunglasses A hat A light pair of shoes Flip-flops A flashlight Some sweets and cereal bars SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE CLOTHES: Motorcycle boots or trekking shoes (waterproof) Light motorbike jacket (leather or synthetic) Rain suit (just in case!) Gloves Goggles Helmet PERSONAL MEDICINE: Sun screen Lip balm Broad-spectrum antibiotic Paracetamol Anti-diarrhea Elastoplast Skin disinfectant Bandages and special blisters bandage Need more info? Contact Vintage Rides at: contact@vintagerides.com P a g e 9