cycle sri lanka brochure - thames path · this journey is the perfect balance of exhilarating...

www.actionchallenge.com

actionchallenge in Sri Lanka

trip highlights● Ride as a peloton through rainforests● Climb challenging mountain roads● Enjoy long, adrenaline - fuelled descents● Drink classic Ceylon tea at the Tea Estates● Explore the Dambulla Cave Temple● Visit Kandy● Party in the lively Trincomalee

● Activity: Cycling - Road biking● Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka● Duration: 9 days / 5 days cycling● Difficulty: Tough● Distance: 500 km● Group size: 15 +

at a glance

Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups,charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world’s most exhilarating locations,often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetimeadventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life.

ultracycleSri Lanka

An exciting, challenging cycle that takes us from mountainous rainforests to the glittering Indian Ocean in a week fromwork. This journey is the perfect balance of exhilarating cycling, stunning scenery and the incredible Sri Lankan culture.

We begin our journey, heading deep into the heart of the Central Highlands rainforest where the steep mountain climbsmake fantastic uphill challenges and the exhilarating downhill stretches bring an adrenaline-fuelled rush.Accompanying our rides are stunning views over rolling tea plantations and jungle-clad mountains, bursting withbiodiversity.

Our demanding, rewarding route takes us through pretty highland villages, up a dramatic escarpment at Watagoda andalong mountain roads. As a group, we climb high into the lush rainforest to the Kelani River where David Lean filmed‘Bridge on the River Kwai’, we drink the finest Ceylon Tea at the Thalawakelle Tea Estate and we relax by remote,stunning waterfalls.

After our journey through the mountainous rainforest, we descend to the flat ‘dry zone’ where, as a peloton, we pick upspeed to cover over 100 kilometres along roads shaded by giant fig trees. We experience a taste of Sri Lanka’s cultureand religion with visits to the World Heritage city of Kandy, the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple, the Kantale reservoir,the beautiful Somawathie Chaitiya Sanctuary and the coastal city of Trincomalee.

Together we celebrate the end of our exhilarating journey with a team dinner and a night partying at our beautiful resortin Trincomalee.

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate withdistinct dry and wet seasons. Decemberto March are the ideal months to cycle SriLanka, but be prepared for coolertemperatures throughout the evenings.During this period the average low is 20°C.

This fully-inclusive endurance cycle in Sri Lanka will begin as soon as you register! Youwill receive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all theessentials you may need. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out all theformalities so you can concentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offerpre-challenge briefings to prepare you for this demanding trip. On the day of departureyou will meet your group and Action Challenge leader at the airport in London. Whetheryou’re joining the challenge on your own or with others, you will instantly be made to feelwelcome. As a team we will board our flight to Colombo, ready to take on Sri Lanka andthe challenging bike ride of a lifetime!

introduction

brief itinerary

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5

Depart LondonArrive in Sri LankaCycle to KithulgalaNuwara EliyaVisit Kandy

what’s included

Why not stay on after the challenge andexplore some more of Sri Lanka’shighlights?

Extensions include:● Elephant rides● Explore local beaches● Wildlife parks

Please email us for more information

Please visit our website for more details

All inclusive trip cost from £2,099Initial £399 deposit to sign up

Three payment options available

Please visit our website for more details

· International flights· Action Challenge cycle leader· Full support team, including local guides· UK medic· Support vehicles· All accommodation· All meals, except in free time· Airline Taxes· Treated drinking water· All transfers in local vehicles· National Park entrance fees· Celebration dinner· Invitation to a challenge briefing in London· Discounted training weekends· Fitness and training guide· Discounts from UK retailers· Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health

+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.act ionchal lenge.com events@actionchal lenge.com

This is a tough challenge and part of ourultracycle series. We will be cycling inwarm temperatures for over six hours aday. The route has a number of uphillclimbs and this will therefore require avery good level of endurance andstrength.

Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9

Cycle to HabaranaTrincomaleeColumboArrive in London

ultracycleSri Lanka

• Five nights in comfortable 3* hotelsalong our cycle route. • One night in a lodge

All accommodation is on a twin/triple-share, single-sex basis and we will pairyou with someone of a similar age, wherepossible.

If you wish to share a room with someoneyou are travelling with, please specify thison your registration form.

itinerary

DAY 1 - Depart London

DAY 2 - Arrive in Sri Lanka

Meals: In flight

Upon arrival into Colombo we meet our guides and transfer to our Katunayake hotel.This afternoon we have a bike fitting and briefing with our local team, followed by awelcome dinner.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel

DAY 3 - To Kithulgala

We rise early on the first day of our Sri Lankan adventure for a 35km warm-up beforetackling two steep sections in the foothills of the mountainous highlands. We climbdeep into the the rainforest, stopping for lunch at Ruwanwella, before the final 30kmgentle uphill ride to our accommodation. Tonight we stay on the banks of the KelaniRiver, the filming location for “The Bridge on the River Kwai”.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Lodge Distance: 85 km Total Climb: 929 m

DAY 4 - Kithulgala to Nuwara Eliya

Today is one of our toughest days. We cycle the tough climb through the GinigathenaPass and begin to make our way into the heart of the Central Highlands. Our ride todaybrings us to the Thalawakelle Tea Estate where we stop for a cup of the finest CeylonTea, overlooking the magnificent Devon waterfall. From here our route heads north withtough uphill cycling to end the day rolling easily into our hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 100 km Total Climb: 3050 m

If you decide that you would like to haveyour own room on the challenge, we canaccommodate this in the majority ofplaces.


• Insurance - approximately £60 • Tourist Visa - £15 • Vaccinations - up to date on boosters. • Tips for local staff - recommendedamount £30 • Airline fuel surcharge / supplement asapplied by airlines. Please note that this iscapped at a maximum of £150.

ultracycleSri Lanka

We leave Nuwara Eliya for our longest day of cycling, riding through pretty highlandtowns. We break at the Blue Field Tea Factory before continuing on our way downhillto Delpitiya on almost deserted roads. Lunch is close to the village of Pupuressa, knownfor its wonderful waterfalls and in the afternoon we make our way through Gallaha andonward to the city of Kandy, now a World Heritage site. Arriving in Kandy, we leave ourbikes at our central hotel and use our time free to explore the delights of this picturesquecity.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 107 km Total Descent: 1355 m

DAY 5 - Nuwara Eliya to Kandy


DAY 6 - Kandy to Habarana

DAY 7 - Habarana to Trincomalee

After breakfast we cycle directly from our hotel through the bustling streets of Kandy toWattegama where we descend into the flat ‘dry zone’, with spectacular views of theKnuckles mountain range to the east. From Matale the roads are lined with giant figtrees that provide welcome shelter from the sun. Our last stop today is at the famousDambulla Cave Temple where there will be free time to explore this ancient site. We arelater transferred to our hotel in Habarana for an early night.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 111 km

Our final day is mostly on the flat, with the kilometres passing quickly through an areathat is recovering from the effects of more than 20 years of civil war. We cycle along theKantale reservoir, one of the oldest and biggest in Sri Lanka, and later have lunch onits shores. Today we will also pass Kandurukanda Mountain and the beautifulSomawathie Chaitiya Sanctuary as we cycle into the coastal city of Trincomalee. Thisevening we mark the end of the challenge with a celebratory meal in the grounds of thehotel, close to the golden sandy beaches and turquoise sea.

Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel Distance: 96 km

DAY 8 - Return to Colombo

After breakfast, we make the long transfer back to the west coast where we have afree evening to visit this vibrant capital city.

Meals: B,D

If you are planning on travelling to SriLanka before the challenge or wish toorganise your own flights, we do offer aland only option, with a significantdiscount off the trip price. You will berequired to meet your group at the hotelon day two of the itinerary.


• Road Bike • Alcoholic drinks • Drinks and food outside of meals, otherthan water • Airline fuel surcharge / supplement asapplied by airlines. Please note that this iscapped at a maximum of £150.

DAY 9 - Arrive UK

We arrive back in the UK after a fantastic trip.


ultracycleSri Lanka

Distance

Alti

tude

topography

Breakfasts each morning will be at ouraccommodation. Lunches will be en routein tea houses and evening meals will beat our night’s accommodation.

Most meals will consist of rice and spicedmeats. We may also get the chance totaste some Kiribath (seasoned milkpancake) and Sri Lankan omelette.

We can cater for all dietary requirementsif informed in advance.

A kit list will be sent to you on receipt ofregistration. Many everyday items can beused on this challenge, and we offer a kithire service to keep costs down.

payment optionsATOL is a scheme that protects you fromlosing money or being stranded abroad ifyour travel company collapses. ActionChallenge is 100% ATOL bonded, whichprovides you with full financial protection.On receipt of your registration fee, you willreceive an ATOL certificate explainingyour protection.

A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of £399 (for 2015) is required to secure your place. Weoffer 2 deposit payment options:

OPTION 1: Deposit paid in full, by card at the time of registration.

OPTION 2: Deposit paid in two 50/50 split payments. The first 50% is paid when youregister and the second is charged to your payment card at the end of the followingmonth. For this option, a £10 supplement will be charged with the first instalment.

Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost.Full details are on our website.

1) SELF FUNDED

For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It’s then completely up toyou whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice.

The total all inclusive cost of this trip is £2,099 (for 2015), which, after you pay the £399Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of £1,700. This final balance is due for payment10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline.

2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED

This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising asignificant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least£3,400 (for 2015) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues,and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total.

Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraisinggoes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £3,400 (for 2015), yourcharity will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paidby your charity, is £1,700 (the same as if you were you were ‘Self Funded’) - the charitywill retain at least £1,700 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuelsurcharges 10 weeks prior to departure.

3) MIXED FUNDED

A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and alsofundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal foranyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT ishappy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with yourregistration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights &accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship inrespect to the ‘challenge’ component of their trip.

Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraisinggoes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £2,550 (for 2015), yourcharity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by yourcharity, is £1,025. At the same time, you will be required to pay the remaining balanceyourself, which will be a figure of £675 (These two amounts add up to the same as the‘Self Funded’ final balance) - the charity will retain at least £1,525 to help fund theirwork. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure.

@actionchallenge

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Action Challenge UK LtdUnited HouseNorth RoadLondonN7 9DPUnited Kingdom

how to book

To book on to this challenge, please visitour website; www.actionchallenge.comfor a full list of prices and all availabledates.


If you are a charity, business, school orprivate group with a minimum of 10people and fancy your own bespoke trip,please call us on +44(0 )207 609 6695or you can send us an email toevents@actionchal lenge.comfor more information.

private groups

ultracycleSri Lanka

cycle sri lanka brochure - thames path · this journey is the perfect balance of exhilarating...

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