Visit ancient cities that make up the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka reflecting upon an epic period when kings ruled and left behind traces of magnificent art, architecture, irrigation, engineering and agriculture. Sri Lanka’s rich heritage has evolved through 2500 years of rich history; Anuradhapura with its mammoth dagobas and monasteries, Polonnaruwa and its magnificent stone carvings, the fascinating Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the timeless Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla and the unique art and architecture of the Kandyan era.
| Day | Place | Highlights |
| 1 | Colombo | Arrival, Free Time |
| 2 | Negombo– Anuradhapura | Negombo Beach Fish Market / Muthurajawela Marsh / Negombo Dutch FortSt. Mary’s Church / Negombo Lagoon / Munneshwaram Kovil |
| 3 | Anuradhapura – Sigiriya | Historical Places in Anuradhapura / Mihinthale / Nachchaduuwa Tank |
| 4 | Sigiriya | Lion Rock Hiriwaduna village |
| 5 | Sigiriya – Kandy | Dambulla Cave temple / Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic / Traditional cultural dance / Kandy city tour |
| 6 | Kandy – Colombo | Botanical Garden / Pinnawala elephant orphanage / Colombo City tour |
| 7 | Colombo | Departure |
Itinerary
Arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport to be escorted to your vehicle that will take you to your hotel on Negombo beach to rest and relax from your flight.
After breakfast, drive to Anuradhapura, and visit the Anuradhapura historical places. It was the first ancient capital and sacred city where you can see largest number of ancient monuments of the great Sinhala civilization such as the well-preserved ruins, stupas, dagobas, and ancient ponds. The city`s most prized treasure is the sacred Bo Tree which was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest documented historic tree in the world.
After breakfast drive to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, one of the country’s main attractions, a 200-meter-high granite rock that houses ruins of an ancient palace carved out of bedrock at its summit. The complex also showcases traced of a giant lion carved in to the rock, beautiful frescos and ancient rock scriptures. Later, take a fascinating tour of local village life, try a catamaran ride on the village lake and observe farmers at work. Try a typical Sri Lankan village lunch in a mud-hut.
After breakfast, drive to Polonnaruwa and start a city tour in Sri Lanka’s medieval capital Polonnaruwa, home to well-preserved ruins of Royal palaces, rock statues, stunning stone architectural marvels such as the Polonnaruwa Vatadage, carvings, sculptures at Gal Vihara and ancient man-made rainwater reservoir of Parakrama Samudraya that amaze historians today. End the day in Sigiriya.
Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, Sri Lanka’s best-preserved cave temple complex. Drive and take a kilometre’s trek up to Nalanda Gedige an ancient monastery hidden in forestland, a little off the beaten track. Thereafter head to the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy, nestled in the central hills, en route visiting the Spice gardens of Matale.
Tour some iconic landmarks that would give you an understanding of the Kandyan era; its heritage, art, architecture and culture. Visit the Kandy Temple of the tooth relic, the royal palace and Embekke Devalaya that represent different periods and styles. Kandyan dancing is a unique form of dance. Watch a cultural show and take a brief Kandyan dance class. Later there will be time for a relaxing stroll around the Kandy Lake.
Your tour ends when we drive you back to the airport or a location in Colombo or Negombo as you wish. If your flight is at night, we will include a free 2-hour Colombo city tour for you and give you free time in Colombo for shopping until departure.
