Private Day Trip to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, and Matale Hindu Temple from Kandy - Aaliya Tours
by Travel Sri Lanka
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$65Overview
The tour starts with a pickup from selected hotels within Kandy city limits around 8 AM. The first stop is the Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil in Matale, a Hindu temple completed in 2007, featuring over 1,000 statues of Hindu deities and a large Raja Gopuram tower. Visitors spend about 30 minutes at this temple. Next, the tour continues to the Dambulla Cave Temple, located 72 kilometers north of Kandy. This site is the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, consisting of five caves decorated with murals and more than 150 Buddha statues. Visitors have approximately one hour to explore the caves. After the visit, there is a lunch break at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, the tour proceeds to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 5th-century palace and citadel built by King Kashyapa. The rock rises 200 meters above the plains and includes water gardens, frescoes, and the Mirror Wall with ancient inscriptions. Visitors have about two hours to climb the rock and explore the ruins. The total duration of the tour is between 10 and 12 hours. Bottled water is provided during the trip. Hotel drop-off in Kandy is included for selected hotels. An optional safari to one of three nearby national parks - Minneriya, Kaudulla, or Hurulu Eco Park - can be arranged in advance to see wild Asian elephants. Entrance tickets and safari jeep fees are not included and must be arranged separately. Visitors should note that climbing both Sigiriya Rock and nearby Pidurangala Rock on the same day is not recommended due to time constraints. The driver and guide provide local information throughout the day. A dress code requires knees to be covered when visiting the cave temple and the Hindu temple. This private day trip is operated by Aaliya Tours.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil
This Hindu temple in Matale features 1,008 statues of Hindu deities and was completed in 2007. The large Raja Gopuram tower was created by South Indian sculptor Nagalingam and his son Ramanathan, with support from about 100 designers, painters, and architects from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The construction cost was estimated at Rs. 150 million.
30 min
Sigiriya Lion Rock
Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa, stands 200 meters above the plains. The site includes royal palace ruins, landscaped water gardens, frescoes of celestial maidens, and the Mirror Wall with ancient inscriptions. Visitors typically spend around two hours exploring the fortress and its surroundings.
120 min
Dambulla Cave Temple
The Dambulla Cave Temple, also called the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 148 kilometers east of Colombo and 72 kilometers north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The site includes five caves decorated with murals and more than 150 Buddha statues, reflecting the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
60 min
Minneriya National Park
In the afternoon, guests may add a safari to Minneriya National Park, home to the world's largest gathering of wild Asian elephants. The park is part of a region that includes Kaudulla and Hurulu Eco Park. Elephant herds migrate seasonally between these parks. Safari tickets and jeep fees are not included but can be arranged upon request.
180 min
Pidurangala Rock
Pidurangala Rock is near Sigiriya and involves a 30 to 45-minute hike to the summit. The climb rewards visitors with panoramic views and a close look at Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It also hosts caves used by ancient Buddhist monks. The tour usually does not combine visits to both Sigiriya and Pidurangala on the same day without prior arrangement.
120 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Private Day Trip to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple, and Matale Hindu Temple from Kandy - Aaliya Tours
by Travel Sri Lanka
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$65Overview
The tour starts with a pickup from selected hotels within Kandy city limits around 8 AM. The first stop is the Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil in Matale, a Hindu temple completed in 2007, featuring over 1,000 statues of Hindu deities and a large Raja Gopuram tower. Visitors spend about 30 minutes at this temple. Next, the tour continues to the Dambulla Cave Temple, located 72 kilometers north of Kandy. This site is the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, consisting of five caves decorated with murals and more than 150 Buddha statues. Visitors have approximately one hour to explore the caves. After the visit, there is a lunch break at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, the tour proceeds to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 5th-century palace and citadel built by King Kashyapa. The rock rises 200 meters above the plains and includes water gardens, frescoes, and the Mirror Wall with ancient inscriptions. Visitors have about two hours to climb the rock and explore the ruins. The total duration of the tour is between 10 and 12 hours. Bottled water is provided during the trip. Hotel drop-off in Kandy is included for selected hotels. An optional safari to one of three nearby national parks - Minneriya, Kaudulla, or Hurulu Eco Park - can be arranged in advance to see wild Asian elephants. Entrance tickets and safari jeep fees are not included and must be arranged separately. Visitors should note that climbing both Sigiriya Rock and nearby Pidurangala Rock on the same day is not recommended due to time constraints. The driver and guide provide local information throughout the day. A dress code requires knees to be covered when visiting the cave temple and the Hindu temple. This private day trip is operated by Aaliya Tours.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil
This Hindu temple in Matale features 1,008 statues of Hindu deities and was completed in 2007. The large Raja Gopuram tower was created by South Indian sculptor Nagalingam and his son Ramanathan, with support from about 100 designers, painters, and architects from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The construction cost was estimated at Rs. 150 million.
30 min
Sigiriya Lion Rock
Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa, stands 200 meters above the plains. The site includes royal palace ruins, landscaped water gardens, frescoes of celestial maidens, and the Mirror Wall with ancient inscriptions. Visitors typically spend around two hours exploring the fortress and its surroundings.
120 min
Dambulla Cave Temple
The Dambulla Cave Temple, also called the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 148 kilometers east of Colombo and 72 kilometers north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The site includes five caves decorated with murals and more than 150 Buddha statues, reflecting the country’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
60 min
Minneriya National Park
In the afternoon, guests may add a safari to Minneriya National Park, home to the world's largest gathering of wild Asian elephants. The park is part of a region that includes Kaudulla and Hurulu Eco Park. Elephant herds migrate seasonally between these parks. Safari tickets and jeep fees are not included but can be arranged upon request.
180 min
Pidurangala Rock
Pidurangala Rock is near Sigiriya and involves a 30 to 45-minute hike to the summit. The climb rewards visitors with panoramic views and a close look at Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It also hosts caves used by ancient Buddhist monks. The tour usually does not combine visits to both Sigiriya and Pidurangala on the same day without prior arrangement.
120 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.