Bike Rides near Galle.

I went on a fantastic bike ride last week – organised by Idle Tours in conjunction with Kahanda Kanda, the boutique hotel overlooking Koggala Lake near Galle.  We met at KK at noon and had a swim in the beautiful infinity pool before sitting down for a sumptuous three course lunch and coffee.  After 3pm when the heat of the day had dissipated we saddled up on the mountain bikes ready for our 18km guided ride to the beach. The 2 hour ride was a gentle cruise on paths and tracks through breathtaking scenery.  We took in Koggala Lake, miles of verdant paddy fields, lush tea hills, eagles and wildlife, eluvila bird sanctuary, spice gardens, smiling villagers and reached beautiful Wijaya Beach in time for a celebratory sunset cocktail or two!

There are different rides to cater to different tastes – all around the Galle area.  The biggest tour is a 40km ride starting at Samakanda, high in the hills, and finishing about 4 hours later, again at the beach. The bikes are lightweight aluminum framed mountain bikes with 24 gears – tours are led by guides and are supported by a tuk tuk with cool box, tool box, fruits and refreshments. It really is one of the best ways to see the real Sri Lanka.