Sigiriya and Dambulla

One day tour to Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple

During the tour we will be able to see the legendary "Lion Rock" Sigiriya, go on Safari on Jeeps, where we can see a lot of wild elephants, join in village tour...

Organized by:

Luong  · online
Travel consultant of
Aurora Holidays

23 reviews

"It is my pleasure to help people around the world to get better understanding about Sri-Lanka and Vietnam"

Contacts us:
+84901401648

Highlights:

  • Sigiriya - a fortress on a cliff, once belonged to the king of demons Ravana (from the epic of Ramayana)
  • Dambulla Golden and Cave Temples

Other attractions and activies:

  • Jeep Safari in a national park
  • Elephant Riding
  • Ornithological Tour: Bird Watching
  • Village tour, immersion in authentic village life and cooking class 
  • Try authentic herbal Ayurveda Massage. Shirodara - meditative oil massage

Detailed excursion program:

Sigiriya

Sigiriya (which means “lion rock”) is a rocky plateau rising 370 meters above sea level and about 170 meters above the surrounding plain in the very center of Sri Lanka. Since 1982, Sigiriya has been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.


 
King Kashyap, in the last quarter of the 5th century AD, built an impregnable fortress on the rock and his palace, in which he lived with 400 concubines. The rock was surrounded by a moat with water, which was filled with crocodiles. 



The monumental Lion Gate
 led to the top of the plateau. And in the pool for the Kashyap concubines, at a height of 87 meters, water flowed through a complex system of powerful pumps. Before and after the reign of Kasapa, a cave Buddhist monastery existed on a rock.

 

Golden Temple in Dambulla

The  Golden Temple in Dambulla is a Buddhist cave temple of the 1st century BC, carved into the rock, with numerous statues of Buddha. The Sleeping Buddha Stone Temple is the largest cave temple in South Asia.


The temple complex consists of several caves located at an altitude of 350 meters, and numerous niches, the surface of which is painted with Buddhist wall paintings.

 

Jeep Safari

Have an oppotunity to spot hundreds of wild elephants in their natural habitat. 

Optional activities:

Elephant Riding

Next we will have the opportunity to ride elephants, go around the local village and cross the river on horseback of these amazing animals.


Village tour and traditional lunch

Also in Sigiriya you can go to the so-called  Village Tour, where you can get acquainted with the life of the Sri Lankan village.

Bird Watching Tour

Here, in the national reserve, is an ideal place for bird watching (as well as butterflies, lizards and other animals and insects). Optionally, you can go on an hour-long excursion with a professional naturalist and ornithologist.

 

Excursion features

Private tour
For ready-made groups of 1-8 people

Can start any day
This tour is not tied to specific dates, you can start on any convenient day

Variable program
The program can be changed and customized for you

Possible with children
The tour is recommended for travelers with children

Start from anywhere
We pick up from any hotel

Comfortable car
Transport: air-conditioned car or minivan

Tour cost: 

For a group of 1-3 people . 4-seater car

! The price is indicated for the car (not per person), regardless of the number of people

From Colombo and Negombo - 150 usd
From Bentota and Kalutara - 170 usd
From Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna - 230 usd
From Mirissa, Weligama - 250 usd
From Trincomalee - 150 usd
From Tangalle - 290 usd

For a group of 4-8 people . Minibus.

From Colombo and Negombo - 200 usd
From Bentota and Kalutara - 250 usd
From Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna - 280 usd
From Mirissa, Weligama - 300 usd
From Trincomalee - 200 usd

* To clarify the cost from other locations or more people write or call us.

What is included. Entrance tickets

Included in the price:
comfortable car (or minivan) with air conditioning
gasoline, parking, toll roads
English-speaking driver

Not included:
entrance fees (since you have an individual tour you can choose what you want to visit and what to skip):
 Sigiriya - $30
 Jeep safari - $80
 Village Tour - $35
 Cave Temple in Dambulla - $10
 Elephant Riding - $15
 Air-balloon Flying- $190
 Ayurveda Massage - $35

 * all prices are in dollars per person;
meals (lunch and dinner in a European restaurant are possible as a buffet - $ 10 per person)
personal expenses and tips

Reviews about the organizer

John
15.03.2023


 

Michael
14.07.2022


I, as a professional wildlife photographer, traveled to Sri Lanka with some unusual requests. Igor helped not only to plan the route through the national parks and provided a very good driver, but also helped to find professional ornithologists in all the necessary locations.
We traveled to almost all national parks - Udawalawe, Minneriya, Yalu. We went to Sinharaja. There are many elephants and birds everywhere. Yala confirmed its reputation - here we managed to see leopards, however, unfortunately - very far away. I really liked Khabarana - the best place for shooting birds that you can find. We took a half-day ride to Wilpattu - a little-known park among tourists, which Igor recommended to me. The park itself is beautiful, comfortable, good paths, it is clear that they are taking care of it. You can definitely put it on a par with Yala. Unlucky to see leopards, but lucky to see Himalayan bears and giant squirrels. Of the minuses in Wilpattu - the complete absence of normal hotels near the park. I would not advise anyone to stay here overnight.
The rain spoiled the experience a bit. Complicated filming in Sinharaja. It is a pity that because of the rains it was not possible to shoot in the forests in the Kandy region. If you go to Sri Lanka for the sake of animals and national parks, you still need to take into account the season. But anyway, a huge thank you guys for organizing! With all the difficulties, it was thanks to them that we managed to squeeze the maximum out of this trip. Organization at the highest level - the guys will solve any problems, always in touch, find hotels in the right places at any time, organize transport, professional guides and ornithologists will prompt. Definitely 5+

 


 

 Mark
25.04.2019


Good afternoon, the tour went great. Very good guide, we will recommend you to all our friends. THANK YOU!