This cycle is not designed for Olympic athletes – it is designed for people looking for an amazing goal to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part in this challenge will have a low level of fitness when they sign up.

We send you a realistic training plan as soon as you sign up, which builds up over time. We strongly recommend that you train as much as you can as the better prepared you are, the more you'll enjoy the adventure. We'll be tackling long distances and some tough terrains and the humidity will add to the challenge, although we will be avoiding cycling in the hottest part of the day. 

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the amazing camaraderie and lifelong friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.

Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Cycle Sri Lanka 2023. Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising.

You may also want to reach out to the other participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

One of the amazing things about the challenge is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special. Everyone who is at least 18 years old by the challenge date is more than welcome to join our awesome cycle in Sri Lanka.

16 and 17-year olds may participate if given permission by Dream Challenges. Please get in touch with us to discuss this. Simply email events@dream-challenges.com and we'll be happy to help.

There will be around 40 participants in our group for Cycle Sri Lanka 2023. You'll no doubt make a bunch of awesome new friends!

Your non-refundable registration fee of £349 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.

Your challenge costs of £1,995 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose the sponsorship option) cover:

• Your flights (not including airport taxes and the fuel surcharge, approx. £350).
• Meals throughout the challenge (except for your lunch and dinner on Day 8 and lunch on Day 9).
• Accommodation.
• Bike hire.
• All transfers and luggage transportation in Sri Lanka.
• Entry fees where applicable.
• A team of awesome, outdoor remote first-aid trained local guides and Dream Challenges staff.
• Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead-up to and during your challenge.
• Medical support, including a UK doctor with expedition medicine training, who will accompany us throughout the challenge.
• Mechanical support.
• Your Cycle Sri Lanka 2023 medal and t-shirt.

In addition to paying your registration fee and either fundraising or self funding your challenge costs, you will need to budget for:

• Your airport taxes and the fuel surcharge (currently £350 but subject to change – up or down).
• Your lunch and dinner on Day 8 and your lunch on Day 9.
• Your personal travel insurance.
• Your visa for Sri Lanka. (You will need to arrange this yourself. We'll send you details of this in the lead-up to the challenge.)
• Gratuities.
• Optional tours.
• Personal expenses.

A cycle helmet is essential and must be worn at all times. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a camel back-type hydration system.

Apart from that, no specialist equipment is required. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go.

Cyclists will have the use of 18 or 21-gear bikes and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.

We stay in comfortable hotels throughout this challenge on a twin-sharing basis.

If you would like to pay for a single supplement and have a room to yourself wherever possible, please get in touch at least 17 weeks before the challenge and we can arrange this for you at an additional price. Simply email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).

Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay in Sri Lanka, please let us know at least 17 weeks before the challenge start date and we can arrange this for you.

The best way to get in touch is by emailing bookings@dream-challenges.com or you can call us on 01590 646410 during office hours (9am - 5pm Monday - Friday).

Travel Insurance

You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance upon registering for this challenge, covering health, accident, loss, and repatriation. We advise that you arrange personal travel insurance as soon as you can after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the challenge itself.

Dream Challenges has details of an example policy that provides appropriate cover for this type of activity and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. We will send you the details once you have registered. You can also call us for details on 01590 646410 during our office hours (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).

You can, however, take out your own insurance, providing it covers you for a charity cycle in Sri Lanka.

Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate coverage for your challenge.

Visa
It is your responsibility to obtain a visa for Sri Lanka if you need one. Ensure that you apply and obtain your visa in plenty of time. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka

The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your cycling challenge for charity and we will support you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the challenge itself.

Once you have registered, we will send you regular email updates with everything you need to know about your challenge, including the itinerary, an example insurance policy, the structure of an average cycling day, a full kit list, and a realistic training plan to help you get fit for the challenge. The training programme builds up gradually as the event gets closer.

We'll also send you important details and seasonal fundraising ideas. During the cycle, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times, along with a team of outdoor remote first-aid trained challenge guides.

Yes, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training, a Challenge Leader, and a team of outdoor remote first aid trained challenge guides.

As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.

We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.

NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home