Colombo Trip Overview
Visit three must visit and most important destinations in Sri Lanka on this all inclusive private day tour accompanied by an expert guide. Located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is home to one of Asia’s major archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The area comprising of Sigiriya and its neighbouring cities are known as the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, due to their rich history and contribution to the culture of the country. Discover the Dambulla Cave Temple which is the largest cave temple complex in the country; it consists of five caves with around 150 statues and numerous paintings of Lord Buddha. Finally visit the Minneriya National Park to witness the largest ‘Gathering’ of elephants in the whole of Asia amounting to around 200 at a time.
• Full day all inclusive tour itinerary with two way hotel transfers
• Undivided attention to every individual
• Explore 3 most popular and interesting sites of Sri Lanka in a day
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 14 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Visit three must visit and most important destinations in Sri Lanka on this all inclusive private day tour accompanied by an expert guide. Located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is home to one of Asia’s major archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The area comprising of Sigiriya and its neighbouring cities are known as the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, due to their rich history and contribution to the culture of the country. Discover the Dambulla Cave Temple which is the largest cave temple complex in the country; it consists of five caves with around 150 statues and numerous paintings of Lord Buddha. Finally visit the Minneriya National Park to witness the largest ‘Gathering’ of elephants in the whole of Asia amounting to around 200 at a time.
• Full day all inclusive tour itinerary with two way hotel transfers
• Undivided attention to every individual
• Explore 3 most popular and interesting sites of Sri Lanka in a day
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Sigiriya, now a world renowned architectural wonder of the Ancient World and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka! Located along the path from Dambulla to Habarana, is the Lion Rock (locally referred to as Sigiriya), named so for the once-formidable lion that stood sentry at its entrance. Today, only its gigantic paws remain. Formed by a long-extinct volcano, the rock plateau towers over the greenery that envelopes its base and surroundings at 660ft. Atop the rock plateau are the ruins of an ancient rock fortress constructed under the orders of King Kashyapa in the 5th century CE. At its prime, the rock fortress was a reinforced citadel, and certainly an incredible architectural feat for the time.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, Kandy – Jaffna Highway, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
The Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple, is a World Heritage Site located in the town Dambulla in the Matale district. About 17km away from Sigiriya, the Dambulla Cave Temple holds much cultural and historical significance to Sri Lankans. The temple is one of the best-preserved cave temples of many in Sri Lanka, and so, is certainly the place to go for a clear glimpse at Sri Lanka’s ancient Buddhist history. The temple is located about 160m off the ground, and its walls cover an astonishing 23,000 sq.ft of area. To date, nearly 80 caves have been discovered in and around its boundaries, but five in particular are quite significant. These five caves are rather large and serve as the temple’s main pathways, all depicting the temple’s most major attraction: the retelling of the story of Gautama Buddha’s life in various forms, including intricate paintings on the cave walls and the ceilings.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, 50150 Sri Lanka
The Minneriya National Park is mostly famous to witness the ‘The Largest Elephant Gathering’. Spanning a landmass of 8,000 hectares, and a major contributor to the area’s biodiversity due to the presence of the Minneriya Tank, the Minneriya National Park is a treasure trove of endemic flora and fauna. Although known to be a wildlife reserve, the park has quite a rich history that goes back to the 3rd century, during the reign of King Mahasen. This is because of the Minneriya Tank, as it was originally built to irrigate the lands to cultivate paddy, however, it now serves as a major source for the wildlife that dwells in the area. According to the Wildlife Conservation Department, there are 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies that take refuge in the greenery of the reserve.
Duration: 4 hours
