About this experience
Swap the jeep for a bicycle and discover a quieter side of Yala. Without engine noise to scatter the wildlife, you move through the buffer zone — known locally as the Elephant Fence — at a pace that lets animals carry on as normal. Deer, wild boar, wild buffalo, elephants, and possibly a Sri Lankan leopard come into view as you pedal approximately 30 km along the boundary of Yala National Sanctuary. A dedicated cycling guide leads this private, 3.5-hour ride from your hotel at 2:00 pm, while a support crew and back-up vehicle with a cycle carrier follow along. Water, refreshments, fruits, and snacks are provided en route.
En route, you stop at the ruins of Sithulpauwa Temple — once a monastery holding over 10,000 people at its 2nd-century BC peak, with more than 60 inscriptions still visible on site. Open to riders aged 7 and above, this tour is arranged exclusively for your group. Cycles, equipment, and guide are all included; hotel pickup, meals beyond the supplied snacks, and gratuities are not. The tour returns you to your hotel by 5:00 pm.
