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:
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"It is my pleasure to help people around the world to get better understanding about Sri-Lanka and Vietnam" |
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.
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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
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Tour cost:
$175 per person. If there are two of you (total $350)
$140 per person. If there are three or more of you
*For departure from Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Tangalle an additional charge of +$50 is required
Included in the price:
Climb to Sigiriya
Dambulla Cave Temple
EthnoTour and Lunch
Private transfer in a comfortable car (or minivan) with air conditioning
English speaking driver
Not included:
Elephant ride - $20
Jeep Safari - $80 per person ($120 if only 1 passenger).
Ayurveda Massage - $45
* all prices are in dollars per person;
meals (lunch and dinner in a European restaurant are possible as a buffet - $15 per person)
personal expenses and tips
Reviews about the organizer
John15.03.2023
Michael14.07.2022
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+
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Mark25.04.2019
Good afternoon, the tour went great. Very good guide, we will recommend you to all our friends. THANK YOU!
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