Top Sri Lanka Historical Tours - page 4

Experience the vibrant and authentic side of Colombo! Join us for an exclusive journey off the beaten path, where you'll meet locals, explore bustling neighborhoods, and discover hidden gems. Along the way, enjoy delicious stops that highlight the city's flavors. This is your chance to uncover Colombo’s true spirit through its people and unique places.

The Golden Temple of Dambulla and the Ancient City of Sigiriya are two of Sri Lanka’s most impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites and this private tour from Kandy visits both in one day. Climb the dramatic rock fortress of Sigiriya, tuck into a delicious curry lunch (own expense), then explore the Buddhist cave complex of Dambulla with its gigantic rock-carved Buddha.

Discover sights and tastes of Colombo during this full-day city tour. Cover ground quickly in an air-conditioned vehicle and see city landmarks including Gangaramaya Temple, the National Museum of Colombo, and the Old Parliament Building. Relax over an elegant afternoon tea at the Galle Face Hotel.

Exploring Colombo independently on a cruise port-of-call can mean negotiating with cabs, and the risk of getting lost or delayed. Make things easy with this shore excursion that whisks you around the sights smoothly and comfortably. Travel by an air conditioned vehicle, visit top sights such as the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple; shop for souvenirs at handicrafts emporiums; and hear tales of local life from your driver that you'd miss if alone.

Enjoy personalized attention from your guide on this private tour of Wilpattu National Park from Colombo. With convenient round-trip transportation, there's no need to rent a car and you can relax on the transfers to and from Colombo. Once in the park, take a jeep safari to see the local wildlife and learn about their biology and behavior through guided commentary. A private tour means you can move at your own pace and enjoy a flexible itinerary.

Combine a comprehensive tour of Colombo with a visit to the Kelaniya Temple on this private shore excursion. With the capacity for one to two people, this tour includes round-trip transportation from the cruise port and personalized attention from your guide. Enjoy the ability to move at your own pace and ask plenty of questions.

Visiting Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa in one day can be a challenge if you rely on public transportation. This private tour makes things easy with round-trip transportation from your Colombo hotel so you don't waste any time searching for a meeting point. Start with a visit to see Sigiriya Rock before continuing to the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Cave Temple. Wrap up with a visit to Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second kingdom.

Prepare to ‘get wild’ on this full-day safari in Sri Lanka’s Udawalawe National Park. Scout for elephants, crocodiles, birds, and more, and take an optional side trip to Udawalawe Elephant Orphanage. All national park fees and a safari jeep with a driver-guide are included.

Cut through the confusion of Colombo’s legendary street food by tasting your way through the city on a private food tour. A local host leads you through a popular market and shows you where locals love to eat, drinks, and shop. Eight food tastings and two drink samples are included so you can taste the flavors of the city for yourself and leave with insider tips on where to eat.

See wild elephants and other wildlife of Udawalawe National Park on a private safari with hotel pickup. Located just south of the Central Highlands, the park offers prime opportunities to see herds of wild elephants and other animals like water buffalo, wild boar, and leopards. This private tour provides an intimate experience with informative commentary, making it a must-do while visiting Sri Lanka.

Bring your Sri Lanka vacation to a stress-free finish by reserving this private one-way transfer from your Colombo city hotel to Colombo International Airport. Instead of fretting about cabs, enjoy a punctual and dependable transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver. Meet your driver at your central Colombo hotel, settle into your comfortable vehicle, and relax knowing you’ll arrive at the airport in good time.

Ditch the crowded coach tours and travel like a local on this intimate, half-day sightseeing trip through Colombo in a traditional three-wheeler tuk-tuk. Tick off the capital’s top attractions as you weave your way down winding streets, from bustling Hindu temples to Dutch-built landmarks. You’ll also enjoy a shopping stop in the market-filled district of Pettah.

This Kandy sightseeing tour visits multiple highlights of the UNESCO-listed city with a professional guide. Learn about thousands of rare plants, trees, and orchid varieties at the 147-acre (60-hectare) Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya. In the afternoon, head to Kandy View Point and see the Temple of Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), followed by the Gem Museum, a woodcrafting workshop and Kandyan cultural show. Pickup and drop-off from your Kandy hotel is included.

Combine food tastings with sightseeing on a private 4-hour evening tour of Colombo by tuk-tuk. Climb into a comfortable, customized tuk-tuk with a private driver-guide, and delve into Colombo’s bustling streets to enjoy the sights, culinary delights, and city lights. Ride by famous landmarks, explore the hottest entertainment spots, and make food stops to sample local staples and snacks. Enjoy the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks stowed inside your tuk-tuk cooler as you explore.

Forget hunting for cabs last-minute with this prebookable private 1-way transfer from or to Colombo International Airport. Book an arrival or departure ride to or from your hotel in Colombo, Negombo, Galle, Kandy, or select resorts; and enjoy a worry-free start or end to your Sri Lanka vacation. Your driver will assist with your luggage, provide commentary on local sights, customs, and transport options, and offer hotel pickup for added convenience.

Make the most of your limited time in Colombo with a half-day private shore excursion that includes port pickup. Travel via air-conditioned private transportation and skip the hassle of crowds or multiple pickups and drop-offs. Follow a comprehensive itinerary showcasing top city sights such as the National Museum, Gangaramaya Temple, Beira Lake, and Jamiul Alfar Mosque, with commentary from your English-speaking chauffeur.

Spot elephants at Udawalawe National Park on this full-day tour from Colombo. Depart from your hotel in a private vehicle and make your way to Udawalawe. Accompanied by a guide, ride a jeep through the national park and see the wide variety of wildlife that lives there, possibly including wild buffalo, spotted deer, crocodiles, and butterflies.

Visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Golden Temple of Dambulla, on this private day trip with a personal guide—a must-do activity when visiting Sri Lanka. You’re chauffeured in the comfort of your own vehicle for the drive from Negombo, Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, or Mount Lavinia. Climb the fifth-century fortress on a sightseeing tour and, after lunch, tour the impressive cave temple and marvel at its Buddha statues.

Spend a day seeing ancient sites and learning about village life with this private full-day tour from Kandy. You'll start with a visit to the Sigiriya rock fortress before continuing to the village of Anura, where you'll learn about day-to-day life and have the chance to sample a traditional meal (for a fee). Your final stop will be the Dambulla Cave Temple complex, home to 153 ancient murals and Buddha statues.

Enjoy open-air views of picturesque Kandy during this private tuk-tuk tour of the lakeside city. Travel like a local in a comfortable auto-rickshaw, listening to commentary from your driver and guide along the way. Admire exterior views from Kandy Lake and Kandy viewpoint, with optional get-down stops at Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Ceylon Tea Museum, and more.

Discover Sri Lanka’s alluring southwest coast and Galle on a private day trip from Colombo. Drive along the coastal expressway and enjoy a boat ride around the wildlife-rich mangroves of the River Madhu. Later, choose to take a glass-bottom boat ride or snorkel, dive or surf at coral-ringed Hikkaduwa beach before a visit to historical Galle. Visit the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort, built by the Dutch in the 1600s, and explore its cobbled lanes filled with shops and colonial buildings.

Without driving yourself—something not recommended to visitors to Sri Lanka—visiting Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Minneriya National Park in a day from Kandy is impossible. This private tour makes it easy: with a personal driver-guide to explain the sights and scenery, and comfortable private minivan transport. Explore Dambulla’s icon-filled caves, view Sigiriya rocktop ruins, and enjoy a 4x4 safari to see Minneriya’s elephants or a local village tour.

Rounding up inland Sri Lanka’s sights from Colombo by yourself means self-driving or hopping between trains, buses, and cabs. This private 3-day tour takes away the transport hassles: providing a private chauffeured vehicle to ferry you from sight to sight. Discover Kandy’s must-sees, and explore a tea plantation, Nuwara Eliya, and Sigiriya, all in one tour, with two nights' 3-star accommodation and breakfasts and dinners included.

Discover a few of Sri Lanka’s most important sights on this full-day tour to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a safari in Minneriya National Park, and a village tour. With a private guide, take guided tours of the sights and learn about their importance to Sri Lankan culture, plus enjoy a local lunch. Your guide provides context about the history of the sights and points out the unique architecture.