But these adventurers have to drive their own tuk-tuks, the Lanka Business Online reported.

"We practiced yesterday and we drove for about ten minutes and we are going to learn on the job," Marc Flinders, a British participant said.

"We have to cover the distance and do the challenges but we don’t know what the challenges are yet."

The adventurers are setting off from Tamarind Tree a hotel at Katunayake.

The Lanka Challenge 2011 will take participants to nearby Negombo, Sigiriya, Nilaveli and Pakikudah.

The challenge will also take to Arugam Bay, a surfing hotspot, Yala, where a national is perhaps the world's easiest place to see leopard, and Nuwara Eliya and Kandy in the hill country.

Tourists are pouring into the island after a 30-year conflict ended in 2009. So far this year arrivals are up 36 percent in the wake of a 40 percent rise in 2010.

Participants from Britain, Austria, Germany, France, South Africa and Australia are taking the 12-day 1,500 kilometre trip.

"The main challenge for participants is to drive the three-wheeler themselves on a leg route," says Julian Carnall from Large Minority, an adventure travel specialist group.

"There are nine leg routes on this trip each consisting between 100 to150 kilometres.

"In-between they have to stop and do different challenges such as climb the Sigiriya rock fortress."

Large Minority says tuk tuks are increasingly becoming popular among travelers to explore countries, its people and culture.

"It’s only after they get here that they realize that the three-wheeler is used very often as a mode of transport," Carnall said

"The adventure itself is quite attractive and they see the three-wheeler as an exciting way to see and discover the country."
The challenge which will be an annual event, is backed by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, SriLankan Airlines, TVS Motor Company and Sri Lanka's Connaissance leisure group.

"We picked Sri Lanka because of its amazing diversity and the opportunity to show different places in relative short distance," Carnall said.

"The potential for this kind of events in Sri Lanka is endless."

The participants will face the challenge of driving their three-wheelers in extreme weather conditions, to remote locations while wearing the most unusual - but fun - outfits.

The entire British team is dressed like Lasith Malinga, a popular Sri Lankan cricketer, complete with his trade-mark hair-style.
Among the adventurers are two women's teams. .

The Austrian contingent is in colourful peasant-type dress.
"It was the urge to drive a tuk tuk and to explore Sri Lanka that brought me on this tour," says Diana Molnar from Austria.

"I drive motorbike at home so that helps a little bit. I guess we will have to learn by doing it."

Armed with maps and water, the tuk-tuk adventurers have to go boldly where they have not gone before.