With rugged mountain paths, winding coastal roads, and tranquil countryside trails, Sri Lanka offers some of the most scenic bikepacking adventures in Asia. Whether you’re chasing sunrise views in the highlands or pedalling through sleepy fishing villages, every route brings a new discovery. With BSL Tours, your ride is thoughtfully planned to blend adventure, culture, and the simple joy of the open road.
Two Wheels, One Island
Adventure, culture, and natural beauty await on every turn of the trail
Why go bikepacking?
Bikepacking combines all-terrain cycling with backpacking. You have the freedom of backpacking and the flexibility that cycling gives you to explore more off-the-beaten paths in Sri Lanka. However, bikepacking in Sri Lanka isn’t very popular. That’s largeyly because no one thought to offer the services you need to have a great trip. In addition, the tropical heat around midday means you must stay holed up somewhere with plenty of shade.
Bicycles often give you access to places you can't reach with bigger vehicles
Things to consider on a bikepacking trip to Sri Lanka
- Route planning: Take advantage of the island’s geography, your cycling capabilities and interests to plan the best route. You can cycle along a coastal road, through the hill country’s tea estates or even the ruins of ancient capitals.
- Equipment: Ensure you have a bicycle capable of travelling off-road and that it’s in good condition. Take spare parts, a repair kit and the necessary tools with you.
- Packing: Pack lightly, but don’t forget camping and cooking gear!
- Weather: Before you cycle off to the sunset, check the weather forecast. Sri Lanka’s weather can vary from region to region.
- Navigation: GPS devices and smartphone apps can help with navigation for the most part. If you grab a local SIM card, you can stay connected to the internet since most of the island has coverage. However, packing an old-fashioned paper map of Sri Lankan routes wouldn’t go amiss.
- Camping regulations: You can easily find affordable accommodations that fit the budget for bikepacking in Sri Lanka. However, camping might be a more attractive option along some route. Pay attention to local regulations.
Bikepaking route suggestions
One of the best things about bikepacking in Sri Lanka is that even if your tour ends in a matter of hours, you get to see a lot. And depending on your route, you can start on a coastal road. At the end of the day you might find yourself on the summit of a mountain or by the side of an ancient ruin!
The right setting even lets you set up a retro photoshoot
Here are some of the best routes for a bikepacking tour in Sri Lanka.
Colombo to Galle
Enjoy the beautiful coastal views this route gives you. You pass along scenic coastal towns like Hikkaduwa, Bentota, and Bentara. However, the Galle Road remains busy throughout the day, so excercise caution when you cycle.
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, one of the most ancient towns in Sri Lanka, is perfect for a bikepacking tour. You can cover the most famous ruins in Anuradhapura in one day and then use whatever remaining days you planned to stay in the area to explore lesser known destinations.
Ella to Kataragama
This route takes your from the hill country to the southern coast. It’s arguably one of the best bikepacking routes in Sri Lanka. As you cycle, you can observe the lush forests and tea estates of the hill country slowly turn into grassy plains and wildernesses of the dry zone.
The Jaffna Peninsula
This route is unlike any other in Sri Lanka. While Jaffna is a beautiful town, the peninsula is what makes the bikepacking tour worth it. Get to know the intricacies of the Hindu culture, the stuning baches that surround the peninsula and more.
The Knuckles Range
The scenic Knukles Mountain Range offers opportunities for bikepacking, hiking and camping. The challenging routes take you through rugged terrain, charming mountain side villages, dense forests, verdant tea estates and past remote waterfalls.
Official tours
Join our Sri Lankan Beach Escape, unwind with a A Week in the Tropics, or extend your Cultural Triangle Luxury Tour or Sri Lanka Hill Country & Tea Trails to fully explore the island.
About Gayathri Kothalawala
A senior travel writer at BSL Tours, with an eye for Sri Lanka’s romantic landscapes and timeless charm. Through her words, she brings to life the island’s serene beaches, misty hills, and soulful traditions, inspiring travellers to uncover the most intimate side of Sri Lanka.
