Most Inspirational Moment
It's hard to pick just one. The completion of the long ascent into Nuwara Eliya stands out. The view from Little Adam's Peak in Ella is another. Also, the final ride through lush tropical vegetation around Koggala Lake, with a stop to see how cinnamon is made and a tea stop at a beautiful family home is a third.
Thoughts on Group Leader
In my opinion, the excellent quality of this holiday was substantially due to the expertise and local knowledge of our group leader, Suresh.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Positives (in no particular order):
A beautiful country with stunning tropical scenery.
Welcoming and warm people who are quick to smile. We were regularly greeted by friendly and curious people along our rides, especially children.
Delicious food. The local curries were very flavorful, with fresh and healthy ingredients, including fresh spices.
The long ascent to Nuwara Eliya was the most difficult ride, but I felt a great sense of accomplishment at the top.
There were eleven of us on this particular holiday, and we bonded quickly. I can not think of a better group of people to spend two weeks with.
Our guide, Suresh, is the absolute best. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the country. He has curated much of what is included on this holiday. He knows the best riding routes, tea shops, restaurants, lodging, as well as places to stop for animals or scenery.
Negatives (In no particular order):
Don’t expect to lose weight (see comment about food, above).
On the rides to Nuwara Eliya and Ella we experienced considerable traffic, with accompanying noise and pollution. The lorries and buses were the worst, belching out thick clouds of diesel exhaust.
The weather was humid and mostly warm/hot, making riding at times uncomfortable.
The bikes were equipped with road style tires. There was gravel and loose dirt on the first couple of days, and these tires made riding more difficult.
