A morning ride along the coastal streets of Negombo and adjacent villages
- A glimpse of the busy coastal fishing villages
- Beautiful backdrops of farmlands, coconut cultivations and small canals
- Meet villagers with distinctive livelihoods indigenous to the region
- Probable sightings of various bird species sheltering in the marshy lands and the wayside trees
Distance
Approx. 40km ride
Road
Mix of dirt and tarmac road
Difficulty level
Easy
Age Group
Suits above 12 Years Old
Terrain
Mostly flat terrain
USD 50/Adults (12+)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Bikes
21X Bikes with front suspension and Helmets
Support Vehicle
Back up vehicle for support
Return Transfer
Return transfer to Negombo
Snacks
Local snacks and refreshment
Water
Bottled Water
What's Included
Bikes
21X Bikes with front suspension and Helmets
Support Vehicle
Back up vehicle for support
Return Transfer
Return transfer to Negombo
Snacks
Local snacks and refreshment
Water
Bottled Water
ITINERARY
Negombo
Situated in the west coast and at the mouth of a picturesque lagoon, Negombo is one of the most popular coastal stopovers in Sri Lanka. The glistening sea, a range of coral reefs swarming with colourful fish and an old shipwreck are the conventional and exhausted attractions of this beautiful city.
An old-world fishing town Negombo is home to a majority of Sri Lanka’s Catholic community. Shaped by the Portuguese and the Dutch settlers the city contains mesmerising old churches, cathedrals, crumbling forts, ramparts and olden monuments revealing fragments of colonial architecture and thus earning the moniker ‘Little Rome’.
Negombo is the hub of the country’s fishing industry. Consequently the cockcrow horizon is eternally obscured by hundreds of fishing boats named catamarans as local fisherfolk sail in with the day’s catch.
Cycling is the best way to explore Negombo. Riding along the coastal roads flanked with gigantic coconut trees will give you plenty of time to submerge in the ways of city life. Busy and buzzling the urban roads will host an array of small shops selling everything from big fish to candles and needles.
Albeit the morning rush, a pleasant transformation is warranted, as the mangroves on the right side of the road and the coconut trees on the left fight for your attention. You are now heading inland on quieter back roads through large coconut cultivations and rice fields. The boutiques are replaced by manicured home gardens bearing a variety of fruit. You might encounter small canals that connects the lagoon and the marshlands that are home to several species of birds and leisurely submerse in the quietude these bypasses provide.
Toddy tapping and coir making would be sporadic, picture worthy livelihoods that are a stark contrast to the fish and the concentrated sea draft you experienced in the morning. Carpentry is another method of income. Some of these are ornate pieces inspired by the Colonial British, Dutch and the Portuguese having an antiquated bearing.
Negombo surprises you as it changes from urban to rustic in a manner of minutes. Equally rare and remarkable, where else can you experience the best of both worlds?