Ride SriLankan

SriLankan Airlines has block reserved seats from various worldwide destinations to Colombo return 

The dates and prices for these flights are detailed on the registration form

The flight payment will be made directly to the airline and is not included in the tour package cost.

If you have selected to take this flight on the application form as part of your entry, you will receive details of a dedicated SriLankan Airlines representative to contact to book the flight. To reserve your seat on the flight, the ticket must be paid for at the time of booking

The 2027 entry fee is a one time promotional offer highly discounted and supported by SriLankan Airlines with limited rider numbers. For this reason, once your application has been accepted, payment in full will be required within 7 days to secure your place. Full details will be included in your acceptance email.

We like to call it an adventure. Having hosted countless sporting and non competitive events, SriLankan Airlines realise that everybody’s goals are different.

Timings will be available for those that want to test themselves and push the boundaries but likewise there will be no pressure to race for those that are looking for a more relaxed ride. Ride Sri Lanka is all about inclusivity and introducing everybody to the amazing trails that travel through Sri Lanka’s spectacular landscape.

Ride Sri Lanka 2025 has been designed to be most conducive to gravel biking, but could also be ridden on a mountain bike . The route definitely wouldn’t be suitable for road bikes.

Please check with your local doctor, GP or travel clinic prior to flying to Sri Lanka as this can vary depending on country of origin. The following vaccinations are recommended for people visiting Sri Lanka, but the list is not extensive;

• MMR (and all other boosters and primary vaccinations)
• Tetanus
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Japanese Encephalitis

Remember to plan well ahead with vaccinations. Allow up to six weeks to receive the full course, for some vaccinations require more than one dose, and some should not be given together.

Ride Sri Lanka  has been carefully designed to be as inclusive of as many abilities as possible

Whilst we wouldn’t accept entries from riders without any biking experience, we would actively encourage both elite riders and those embarking into their first taste of adventure cycling to take on the challenge, assured with the knowledge that safety and comfort of all riders participating is one of our primary objectives.

Most stages also have shorter versions and there is always the option to sit out a stage (or 2) if you don’t fancy it. The route has been selected to be tough enough to challenge the fittest of riders if ridden in it’s entirety but also enjoyable if taken more leisurely. Either way you will get to see some of the most amazing sights of Sri Lanka and to ride trails that very few have ridden before.

Of course!! We would like nothing more than for you to have your family or friends along to enjoy the Sri Lankan experience together. SriLankan Airlines have put together a comprehensive daily tour package for those not so keen to ride their bikes giving an incredible insight to the sights and attractions of each region the event travels through.

Whilst a lot of the Ride Sri Lanka course is on gravel roads and a degree of experience riding off road would be advantageous, there are no technical sections in the 2025 route.

Yes! Most dietary requirements can be catered for. There is a section on the application form to let us know of any specific requirements. Given plenty of notice it is usually possible to fulfil most requests but in the unlikely event it is not possible we will let you know before confirming your place.

We don’t have a partner policy with any specific insurance company but have found that Yellow Jersey

provides  cost effective and complete cover for most cycling needs

Yes. Nearly all nationalities need a visa to visit Sri Lanka. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) can be applied for in advance here for a fee of $20 USD for residents of SAARC countries, or $50 USD for other countries for 30-day visas. Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your arrival date in Sri Lanka. More details can be found on the eta.gov.lk website and you can check with your local embassy.

For riders arriving on the flight from London Heathrow on the 1st of March there will be a coach waiting at the airport to transfer you to the hotel in Trincomalee ( approx 4.5 hour transfer). For riders arriving at other times please let us know your flight details and a private vehicle will be arranged for your transfer to Trincomalee ( extra fees may be incurred)

If you are arriving a few days earlier and would like to arrange your own transport to Trincomalee or would like a transfer from somewhere other than the airport then please let us know.

Yes! The route passes through some very remote area of Sri Lanka. In the event of an emergency, helicopter evacuation maybe necessary. This is a very expensive procedure so it is essential that all competitors and companions have insurance that will cover this and any medical treatment that may be required whilst in Sri Lanka. Proof of insurance (including helicopter evacuation), for both riders and companions, is an entry requirement . Any riders or companions without adequate insurance will not be allowed to participate.

Your bike box / bag will be transported with you from the airport to the first hotel in Trincomalee. Once you have built your bike the box / bag can be handed over to one of the team and it will be waiting for you at the hotel in Colombo on the final day.

Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka is the only international airport in Sri Lanka.There are a number of airlines that fly to Sri Lanka, including Sri Lankan Airlines, Qatar, Emirates and Etihad (this list is not exhaustive). 

Seats on the flight from London Heathrow on 28th February to Colombo returning 10th March are available to the first 30 riders to sign up at a cost of £700. As SriLankan airlines are hosting this event they will be offering discounts on other flights from a number of countries on their route. Please contact us for more details.

Your bike will be transferred between destinations in the back of a large secure truck.  In January 2023 SriLankan Airlines hosted a large group of some of the world’s best endurance riders so they have first hand experience of how precious and valuable your bikes can be and how to pack and transport them in the most appropriate manner.

Riders and companions are restricted to 1 piece of luggage for the duration of the tour. This can be up to 80ltrs in capacity and must not weigh anymore than 20kg.The reason for this because the tour changes hotels regularly through out the10 days and it is a lot of work for the baggage handlers to move heavy items or multiple small bags.

Bags must be clearly labelled with the riders name  so that it is easily identifiable.

Wifi is available at the majority of the places we stay but it can sometimes be slow, especially when all riders and companions have returned to the hotel. SIM packages with data are available at the airport from Sri Lanka’s biggest mobile network supplier, Dialog and if you are planning on using the internet a lot it would be worth while investing in this local sim card. Just remember that your phone needs to be unlocked and able to accept sim cards from different providers.

Yes! Each evening riders will be briefed on the following days ride. It is mandatory that ALL riders attend this briefing from a safety perspective as important information regarding weather and trail conditions will be discussed, together with details relating to start times, route deviations etc. Briefings will generally be carried out before dinner at 7pm and timings and locations will be displayed on the race notice board in a prominent position in the hotel. Briefings will be conducted in English, and so you must be able to speak and understand English language or have somebody that can translate for you.

Buffet breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included in the ride entry fees for the duration of the race (as set out in the race itinerary). All meals will be tailored towards an endurance athletes needs with lots of carbs, fresh fruits, vegetables, soups, breads, pasta, noodles, curries etc.

For the Ride Sri Lanka ’25 there have been no half measures. You will be staying in the very best accommodation on offer. All hotels are at least 4*.

The hotels used during Ride Sri Lanka, whilst being the biggest and best in the area still have limited capacity. Rooms will allocated on a first booked basis and where the first choice hotel is full, alternate hotels will be allocated, which may be a lower quality and involve longer transfers.

* SriLankan Airlines reserve the right to change advertised hotels without prior notice.

Links to all the hotels can be found under the “Whats included” section

Whilst we use the biggest and best hotels in the area, accommodation is still very limited. We endeavour to accommodate couples in private rooms and keep friends together. Rooming will be on a twin share occupancy.

Single room occupancy can be purchased for an extra £1000

There will be a full medical team, including a fully qualified doctor, for the duration of the adventure. They will be based strategically on the ride course to assist with any emergencies or accidents that occur and will also be based at the hotel  at the end of each day for anything less serious. Please ensure that you complete the medical section on the application form as comprehensively as possible so that our medical team are armed with all the correct information relating to your medical history.

For the majority of the ride, it will be hot & humid!! Temperatures can range from 35°C in the coastal areas and lowlands , to 5°C when we are up in the central highlands. Generally, the rain tends to stay off for the ride but there is always possibilities of rain and high winds on the plains and higher elevation areas. For a more in depth weather review, please read below:

“Arguably the best overall month for optimum weather conditions throughout Sri Lanka, March is expected to showcase the very best of Sri Lanka across every region. A predominantly dry month, with temperatures averaging up around the mid-30s °C. On the east coast, things are also starting to warm up as the monsoon blows itself out, especially later in the month
The Cultural Triangle, as is often the case, is expecting minimal rainfall, and the usual high temperatures. To the south, Kandy and the hills of the Tea Country are also at their finest, as the region experiences some of its lowest rainfall of the year, with temperatures expected to hover around the mid-20s °C”

Yes. Most of the hotels we stay at have Wellness/ Spa / Massage facilities which can be booked and paid for directly at the hotel

A member of the mechanics team will be happy to clean and lubricate your bike for you

Due to the remote locations that Ride Sri Lanka travels through, with limited hospitals and health centres, it would be worth riders and companions to pack the below for ‘just in case’ moments. Plasters (including blister plasters) Bandages Antiseptic spray and/or wash Hand sanitiser and/or hand wash Pain killers i.e. paracetamol, ibuprofen etc. Any prescribed medication (in original containers, clearly labelled: check with your airline whether they should be packed in checked in or hand luggage) – including inhalers / epi-pens Diarrhoea and vomiting tablets Constipation tablets Anti-allergy tablets Throat tablets Water filters and/or purifiers for areas of non adequate drinking water Strong factor of suncream High factor lip salve Good quality sunglasses We would also advise that all riders and companions see their local doctor or GP regarding getting advice and/or medications for the following: Antibiotics or medications for gastroenteritis Antibiotics for wound infections (if these differ) Pain relief Any currently prescribed medication that you are taking For more information on health whilst traveling abroad please visit – FitforTravel

Safe drinking water will be supplied at all water stations during the race. Otherwise water, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks will need to be purchased separately. Please remember that tap water is not safe to drink, unless you have the correct filtration system.

Each rider will be sent .gpx files to the exact course at least one week before the adventure commences. All riders are expected to upload these to their GPS device and use this information to navigate the course. Please ensure this is done prior to leaving your home country, as we may be unable to complete this once in Sri Lanka.

Yes, there will be a bike mechanic based at the hotels and on call during the ride who will carry a comprehensive tool kit and list of spares but if there are any tools / parts that are specific to your bike then it would be prudent to bring them along.

All potential riders need to complete the registration form which is available here –Registration form. Once we have received your completed application we will contact you with whether your application has been accepted or not, and further details on procedures of how to secure your place in the race. Please fill in details on the application form as thoroughly as possible as this will help us to make a speedy decision on your application.

Yes, the race mechanic will have a range of spare parts for sale at local prices (which due to import costs are higher than UK, Europe and USA prices). However, it is advisable to bring any specialist spares and at least 1 spare tyre with you.

At the moment, our preferred method is via bank transfer into either our USD ($) or GBP (£) account. We can accept PayPal payments, however this will have to be in GBP (£) and an additional 5% will be charged to cover fees. Alternatively, if you wish to pay by card you can use a service called Transferwise which offers low rates for transferring money internationally, just create an account fill in our details and they will transfer the money to us directly. Please remember that all transfer fees must be covered by the ordering customer. Full details will be included in the application acceptance letter, but if you do have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.

When in Sri Lanka, the adventure never really finishes! but this particular ride will finish in a town called Dambulla close to the geographical centre of the island. From here you will be transported by luxury coach to Negombo, Sri Lanka’s west coast beach resort to celebrate and bring to a close this amazing experience.