Kandy Day Tour: Explore Sigiriya, Dambulla & Polannaruwa World Heritage Sites

Embark on a unique and specialized day tour in Sri Lanka, exploring the magnificent Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa World Heritage Sites. Discover ancient temples, spice gardens, and climb the iconic Sigiriya Lion Rock. Trustworthy drivers and well-conditioned vehicles ensure a safe and memorable experience.

Duration: 14 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Sri Muthumariamman Temple - The temple with 1008 statues of Hindu deities are the work of South Indian sculptor, Nagalingam and his son Ramanathan, with the help of about 100 designers, painters and architects from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The Raja Koburum was completed in 2007 at the cost of approximately Rs 150M.
  • Dambulla Cave Temple -…
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • All fees and Taxes included except the entrance tickets
  • Bottled water
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Entrance tickets of all attraction and activities
  • Sites guide to the world heritage sites
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Let’s customize your day’s journey uniquely with an eye to safety against hidden hazards. We will assign a seasoned and skilled driver with a vehicle in excellent working condition who understands Sri Lankan roads and has expertise in planned activities, ensuring your day trip is in reliable hands.
We can commence the tour at your earliest convenience,…

Location
Sri Muthumariamman Temple
680 17 Kandy-Jaffna Highway
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(79 Ratings)
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Journey34888156145
Apr 22, 2025
Sri Lanka in a nutshell - If you’re tight on your trip schedule but you don’t want to miss out on the cultural triangle main historical sites, that’s your perfect choice. Every thing ran smoothly, perfect timing for all 3 experiences, with the bonus of your driver coming with you in Polonnaruwa which is very convenient because the archeological site is quite extensive. Mr Shamin was a very attentive driver, made the experience worthwhile and also stopped in a characteristic snack place for a taste of authentic local food!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
862karishmam
Apr 15, 2025
Historic Experience - Our tour guide Irfan was absolutely amazing, informative and super helpful. He communicated clearly and was always there when needed. We had such a wonderful experience overall. Thank you
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Coastal20618273786
Apr 14, 2025
Amazing experience ! - I had an amazing experience! Mr. Sharmin was a really good driver but mostly a good person. Very nice, available and he provided me with a lot of explanations about the different places that I completed with my own guide book. He answered all the questions I had about sri-lankan culture. He also had a really good eye to spot wild animals on the road (I saw a wild elephant). Long but very rich day. I would recommend it !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yogesh
Apr 7, 2025
Experience of life time - This was my solo trip. Amazing experience with Aalia tours through Tripadvisor. The pick drop and overall experience was fantastic. The world heritage sites are wonderful and worth spending time and money. I will treasure the memories of my life. Tour guide Shamin is a gem of a person. Very friendly and always taking care of the tourists.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ben_w
Mar 21, 2025
I had the pleasure of... - I had the pleasure of having Shamin as both my driver and tour guide for an unforgettable 13.5-hour journey through the three UNESCO World Heritage sites. From the very start, Shamin was professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. He made sure we were comfortable throughout the entire tour, offering insightful information about each site we visited. His expertise and enthusiasm brought the history and culture of these incredible locations to life, and he truly went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. I couldn't have asked for a better guide or driver—highly recommended for anyone looking for an exceptional tour experience!
Review provided by Viator
Carama6776dl
Mar 19, 2025
This trip has it all! - This was an incredible day trip to some of the most famous landmarks in Sri Lanka. My guide Irfan made the whole experience so much better than I could ever have expected. He was knowledgeable, considerate and a very safe driver for the lengthy journey. I was so lucky to see lots of nature on the way and Irfan was very kind to stop and let me admire the beautiful Sri Lankan Flora and Fauna. The trip was unforgettable with great local food, incredible sights and most of all, the kindness of Irfan and how willing he was to answer all my questions. I definitely recommend booking this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Odyssey15236080671
Feb 19, 2025
Fantastic Tour - Great tour from Mr. Shaming. He tailored everything to us and got us around Polannaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla. He was extremely professional and showed us all of the key highlights!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K447ugvaleriev
Mar 13, 2025
Tour vs Chauffeur/Driver - We recently booked a day tour from Kandy to explore the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage sites of Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa. While the sites themselves were breathtaking and absolutely worth visiting, the tour experience did not meet our expectations. Admittedly, our tour was cut short due to heavy rain—something entirely out of anyone’s control. Despite this, we thoroughly enjoyed the sites we managed to visit, and our impressions of the tour would remain unchanged even on a clear, sunny day. For the price we paid, we had anticipated a tour that would enhance the experience with historical insights and stories. While we were aware that the “tour” didn’t include on-site guides, we had expected at least some commentary or information during the journey. Unfortunately, it turned out to be more of a chauffeur service with some very limited interventions. Our driver did not accompany us to the sites and his English was limited. This was disappointing, especially considering we could have hired a driver for significantly less—potentially at half the cost, if not more. Especially considering the price of the tickets to access some of these sites (ex.: Sigiriya - 35$US per person, excluding a guide at 25$US). Additionally, we felt like the ride could have been smoother— our driver was braking constantly which became quite uncomfortable after some time. On a positive note, he was kind and thoughtful, even offering us his umbrella during the heavy rain so that we could climb Sigiriya ! While we wholeheartedly recommend visiting these stunning heritage sites, we would advise travelers to avoid this particular tour if you’re looking for something more than a chauffeur service.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Schea_f
Mar 18, 2025
Tour fail - no refund - We accidentally booked the wrong date. We alerted the tour operator just a few minutes inside of the 24 hour deadline and asked to rebook. Viator said they were OK with receiving a refund or rebooking, but the tour operator advised us not to work through Viator. They did not offer a refund but said we could re-book for a small discount. We instead ended up hiring a local person once we were in Sri Lanka that drove us, provided tour-like information, and cost way less.
Review provided by Viator
Jag_k
Mar 1, 2025
Bad Car - We paid for a comfortable car. But, when the driver showed up with the car, it was a very old Suzuki Alto small hatchback. We were bumping our knees every time we got in and out of the car. Also, it was so slow we saw tu-tucks passing yes. But, the driver was nice and polite. This kind of vehicle for 14 hour drive is ridiculous and unacceptable. We felt very unsafe traveling in the small car
Review provided by Viator
From $30
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).