Sri Lanka · SIGIRIYA TOURS

Sigiriya & Dambulla: The 15 Best Day Trips

97 tours  ·  ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8 average  ·  from $18

Twelve hundred steps up a granite plug to a fifth-century palace, then five caves full of Buddhas half an hour down the road. These 15 trips run from Colombo, Kandy and Sigiriya itself, and the early ones beat both the heat and the queue.

From Colombo: Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip with Safari - Dambulla Cave Temple: a quiet start to the cultural day
1-Day Tours, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews

From Colombo: Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip with Safari

1.Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip with Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 842 reviews · 14 - 16 hours · from $53Our pick

Review of the Colombo to Sigiriya and Dambulla day trip, with temple visits, Lion Rock, village experiences, safari options, costs, and practical tips.

“Couldn’t be more glad that I booked this trip and highly recommend it to anyone even if it’s a long trip. We had Chathu as our tour guide and driver for the entire day who was very knowledgeable and humorous. There were 5 people in my group including myself - all from different places - and I felt lucky enough that we all looked out for each other and stuck together as a group when our guide left us to immerse in each activity. All activities were great but I loved climbing Lion Rock and doing the Village Tour where the food was great and nature looked after!”

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From Kandy: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure - The 7:45am tuk-tuk ride from Kandy
Kandy Tours, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews

From Kandy: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure

2.Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 785 reviews · 10 hours · from $29

Review of a private Kandy to Sigiriya tuk-tuk tour with Lion Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, temples, crafts, and practical planning tips.

“What a full day. I need to be honest and advice people not to pick a Sunday or Holiday for the Lion Rock cause it would be super crowded (because of locals) or a sunny or rainy day. My advice is pick a cloudy day and go first thing in the morning. If you do other things first you lose energy and you arrive at the Rock at 13:00 which could be easily too hot and too crowded. Finish with the Lions Rock first and then see what energy you have to experience the wonderful and many great things that this tour is offering. Our guide Danuska is such a…”

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Organic cooking class sigiriya (kumara & family) - A garden tour before the first knife is lifted
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Sigiriya, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Organic cooking class sigiriya (kumara & family)

From Sigiriya: Minneriya National Park Private Jeep Safari - Minneriya Tank and the elephant gathering
Jeep Safaris, Jeep Safaris in Sigiriya, Minneriya National Park Safaris, National Parks, Private, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews

From Sigiriya: Minneriya National Park Private Jeep Safari

4.Minneriya National Park Private Jeep Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 415 reviews · 4 hours · from $38

Review of a private Minneriya safari from Sigiriya, with elephant sightings, flexible park choice, guide tips, costs, and practical advice.

“that was very good experience. we were really enjoyed. the driver Sami is a amazing person. Highly recommended. I am really appreciate your service guys.”

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From Sigiriya: Minneriya National Park Elephant Safari - Why Minneriya is famous for elephants
Elephant Tours, Elephant Tours in Sigiriya, Minneriya National Park Safaris, National Parks, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews

From Sigiriya: Minneriya National Park Elephant Safari

5.Minneriya National Park Elephant Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 365 reviews · 4 hours · from $33

Review of Minneriya elephant safari from Sigiriya, with wildlife tips, park changes, costs, guides, timing, and practical booking advice.

“there were a lot of elephants so it was really good. because one park was closed (or the elephants had moved) it was a bit busy. but our guide did a great kob making sure we saw a lot.”

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Private Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park to Visit Elephants - Choosing Minneriya, Kaudulla, or Hurulu
Jeep Safaris, Jeep Safaris in Sigiriya, Minneriya National Park Safaris, National Parks, Private, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews

Private Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park to Visit Elephants

Minneriya National Park halfday Safari - The four-hour jeep ride through Minneriya
Minneriya National Park Safaris, National Parks, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews

Minneriya National Park halfday Safari

7.Minneriya National Park halfday Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 293 reviews · from $38

Review of Minneriya National Park half-day safari near Sigiriya, with elephant sightings, guide tips, extra fees, timing, and honest value advice.

“As a solo traveler and the only person booked on this trip, they expressed they weren’t going to make any money. So It wasn’t a full day, they changed the pickup to 2pm, which wasn’t great for my onward plans, they asked me to cancel the booking and pay cash, the food was minuscule, he was constantly on the phone and not paying attention or being helpful with questions. The vehicle was in tatters, quite a poor experience.”

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Day tour to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy - The long road from Kandy
Kandy Tours, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Day tour to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy

8.Day tour to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 252 reviews · from $25

Review of a private Kandy day trip to Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Matale, with practical advice on cost, climbing, guides, and timing.

“Great trip out. The company allowed us to change pick up times and the day programme to suit ourselves. The temples were lovely and our driver was great too. He explained the culture, religion and foods of Sri Lanka and found us a great local restaurant for lunch . I'd highly recommend this trip although it is a long way from Kandy”

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Sajee’s Place Cooking Class - Learning Sri Lankan spices by smell and taste
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Sigiriya, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Sajee’s Place Cooking Class

9.Sajee’s Place Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 237 reviews · from $35

Cook seven Sri Lankan curries, make coconut milk, learn spice tips, and share a homemade feast with Sajee and Suzy in Sigiriya.

“Super nice and rewarding cooking class. We cooked 7 curries in about 2 1/2 hours. In total we were 4 people + the two operators. All the spices and every step were explained to us in detail. Everything was taken into consideration (meat eater, vegetarian, spiciness of etc.)Auto-translated”

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Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour and Dambulla cave temple with private vehicle - The road from Kandy: comfort comes first
Kandy Tours, Private, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour and Dambulla cave temple with private vehicle

Private Day Trip to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy – Aaliya Tours - Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil and the temple detour
1-Day Tours, Kandy Tours, Private, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Day Trip to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy – Aaliya Tours

11.Private Day Trip to Sigiriya & Dambulla from Kandy – Aaliya Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews · from $52

Review of Aaliya Tours’ private Kandy day trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla, with temple visits, flexible stops, costs, timing, and practical tips.

“Our tour guide and driver, Mr Silmy, is super attentive and helpful. The tour was well arranged. The view at the top of Lion Rock was amazing and the ride to the safari was exciting! We were lucky enough to see many elephant herds in a close distance!! Thank you to Aaliya and Mr Silmy.”

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From Colombo: Sigiriya & Dambulla Day Tour with Safari - Dambulla Cave Temple: A Quiet Start With Plenty of Steps
Colombo Tours, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Colombo: Sigiriya & Dambulla Day Tour with Safari

12.Sigiriya & Dambulla Day Tour with Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 189 reviews · 1 day · from $48

See Dambulla, climb Sigiriya, enjoy a village lunch, and spot elephants on safari during this long but rewarding Colombo day tour.

“This tour is definitely worth the money, you get to do absolutely everything you would need to in Dambulla/Sigiriya. It was just the two of us with Tuan who was absolutely amazing - incredibly kind, courteous, punctual and ready to adjust plans to please us. The tour is a full on day so be prepared for the adventure. I think it’s incredibly good value for money. They seem to work directly with locals so at least there is a good contribution in that way. I recommend opting in to all of the optional activities, you will not regret it. The village tour cooking and lunch were the highlight. It’s a…”

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From Kandy: Sigiriya Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour - Matale Hindu Temple and Sri Lanka’s Tamil traditions
Guided, Kandy Tours, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tuk Tuk Tours, Tuk Tuk Tours in Kandy, Tuk Tuk Tours in Sigiriya

From Kandy: Sigiriya Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

13.Sigiriya Guided Tuk-Tuk Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 166 reviews · 10 hours · from $25

Review of Kandy to Sigiriya by tuk-tuk, with Dambulla, Matale, village life, rock climbs, costs, tips, and honest advice.

“I cannot express how much we loved this trip. We saw things that we will only see once in a lifetime. Even seeing our first elephant. Mangala was the best guide he was the sweetest man. Always wanting to make sure we had the best day. Honestly the tour would not be the same without him. I feel blessed to have met him.”

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Private Dambulla Sigiriya Tour from Kandy with Lunch - Dambulla Cave Temple rewards a slow look
Kandy Tours, Lunch Experiences, Private, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Dambulla Sigiriya Tour from Kandy with Lunch

14.Private Dambulla Sigiriya Tour from Kandy with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 166 reviews · from $59

Review of the private Kandy to Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Minneriya tour, with practical advice on costs, timing, guides, lunch, and safari value.

“I do not write reviews often, but this was one of the best tours I have ever experienced. My guide/driver, Nilanka, was warm, genuine, and friendly. He picked me up from Kandy in the early morning, and safely transferred me from site to site, including Dambulla caves, Sigiriya, a traditional village lunch, and an Elephant Jeep safari. Each experience was magical. Highly recommend!”

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Private Day Trip to Sigiriya, cave and National park Safari Tour - Sigiriya Lion Rock: the day’s big physical challenge
1-Day Tours, Colombo Tours, National Parks, Private, Safari, Sigiriya Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Day Trip to Sigiriya, cave and National park Safari Tour

15.Private Day Trip to Sigiriya, cave and National park Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 143 reviews · from $68

Visit Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Minneriya from Colombo on a private day tour, with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned car, and safari fees extra.

“Fantastic trip taking in three amazing sites, which were all really different experiences. My driver Mohamed was great, lovely to chat to and introduced me to his favourite music. It was a long day from Colombo, 14 hours but so worth it!”

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New in Sigiriya Tours

★ 5.0An ultimate day trip to Sigiriya rock fortressFrom $851 reviews
★ 4.5All-Inclusive Dambulla Village Tour with Traditional LunchFrom $303 reviews
★ 5.0All Inclusive 3 in 1 pass-Day Trip to Sigiriya Galle KandyFrom $1802 reviews
★ 4.5A Hidden Gem in Sigiriya: Magical Boat Journey.From $5012 reviews
★ 5.02 Day Tour From Kandy, Sigiriya & Nuwara EliyaFrom $472 reviews
★ 5.0City Highlights and Ramboda Waterfall TripFrom $254 reviews
★ 5.03 Day Tour From Kandy, Sigiriya , Nuwara Eliya , KandyFrom $591 reviews
★ 5.0Sigiriya Village Tour and Lunch with Hotel Pick up from SigiriyaFrom $3510 reviews
★ 4.5Sigiriya Village Tour and LunchFrom $2514 reviews
★ 4.3Sigiriya Village Tour and LunchFrom $2010 reviews
★ 4.7Unseen Sigiriya: Village & Rock Viewpoints by Tuk TukFrom $1314 reviews
★ 5.0From Sigiriya to Kandy Transfer by Private Comfortable CarFrom $3313 reviews
★ 5.0From Colombo Airport to Sigiriya or Kandy Private TransferFrom $3617 reviews
★ 4.1From Dambulla/ Sigiriya: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa by BikeFrom $953 reviews
★ 5.0Hurulu Eco Park Elephant Jeep SafariFrom $284 reviews

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