1. Scenery. Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as the finest island of its size in the world (and he had done his share of travelling!). From the tropical rainforest in the south, through the tea plantations and gentle rolling slopes of the Hill Country to the wilderness peaks of the Knuckles Range, few areas of this size can match the variety and beauty of Sri Lanka’s scenery.
2. Crowds. Not here. These days some popular cycling areas can seem like Oxford Street during the January sales. In Sri Lanka you will have the back roads of the hill country and tea plantations to yourself.
3. Wildlife. The whole island is full of wildlife ranging from monkeys and mongooses to monitor lizards, wild elephants and even the occasional leopard. Sri Lanka is also home to over 450 species of birds. There’s no better way to get up close to the local wildlife than on a bike.
4. Weather. While summers in the UK can seem hit or miss affairs and the rest of the year often blends into continuous drizzle, Sri Lanka has a relatively constant temperature of 25-30 degrees – enough to make you take off a layer or two.
5. Culture. Temples with spectacular religious ceremonies, ancient cities perched on precarious outcrops, giant Buddhas, Royal Palaces, a fascinating mix of Sinhalese Buddhism and Tamil Hindu culture, not to mention the ancient aboriginal Vedda tribe – the island packs a considerable cultural punch.
6. If 5 reasons weren't enough: refresh after your ride with cup of local tea and a plate of Sri Lanka’s famous rice and curry.
