Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave All Inclusive Private Day Trip
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Colombo, Sri Lanka
- 14 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Visit the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Golden Temple of Dambulla
- Hear personalized commentary from a knowledgeable guide
- Includes lunch at a local restaurant with refreshments
- Hotel pickup and drop-off by private vehicle from Negombo, Colombo, Kandy, Kalutar, or Mt Lavinia
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off by an Air-conditioned vehicle in Negombo, Colombo, Mount Lavinia, Kalutara or Kandy.
- Sightseeing tours with service of an English Speaking chauffeur guide
- Lunch at a local restaurant, Refreshments and water bottles
- Entry fee to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple
- Professional Site Guide for Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temple
- Water Bottles during the tour
- Any others expenses which are not mentioned on Price Includes section
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Itinerary
1
Sigiriya
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Dambulla Cave Temple
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Group discount is available when group size is 7 people or more
- Please wear clothes to cover your knees and shoulders when visiting temples
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Ashley_C
I would highly recommend this tour! The tour guide and driver, Dhamita, was very personable and attentive to my needs. He arrived at my hotel early to ensure that we had an early start to my day. He checked in with me periodically to make sure I was okay. While hiking to the cave temples, he was patient while I took my time to get there. And he was extremely accommodating with helping me to get to the airport.
On another note, I would highly recommend everyone to engage in this day trip. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress is simply breathtaking. While it's a slight workout to climb the stairs, it's still quite manageable. My tour guide was also very patient with me every step of the way. We also stopped by several stores to go shopping and engaged in local activities that was quite fun. I also enjoyed the cave temples, which are tucked away in the hills/mountains. It was a pleasant surprise to see these exquisite temples. The weather wasn't too bad, but make sure you drink a ton of water.
I wouldn't travel to Sri Lanka without visiting these two places -- they were the highlight of my entire trip!
Reviews
4.5
based on 80 reviews
Daniel_N, Jan 2019
This tour started off great. The driver pulled over for us to buy some fresh fruit and we thought this was going to be great. But then another stop and another stop. Pretty much the driver was stopping to visit friends, shop and get us to buy things from them. Anyways, we were almost at Sigiriya, when you guessed it. Another stop. This time a tour of a garden which ended with us in a hut. My partner and I were offered tea and massages, we politely declined but they insisted. We were then asked for a "donation". When we finally got to Sigiriya our driver told us we could only climb half way. Keeping in mind this is the guy that made is late by visiting friends and shopping. We were late for lunch, the staff was actually eating from the buffet when we arrived. Because of all the stops on the way. I paid over $400 (aus) for this and can say I regret my choice.
Katie_M, Dec 2018
Danitha was a fantastic guide who picked us up on time in a lovely private air conditioned car. A great day trip and he stopped off at various interesting places en route to the rock which was a great insight into Sri Lankan culture. He organised a guide for us at the rock and showed us around Dambulla temple himself. A long and tiring day but a great experience made better by a lovely driver and guide! Lunch is included and was lovely. Thank you Danitha. Would highly recommend this tour.
Ashley_C, Aug 2018
I would highly recommend this tour! The tour guide and driver, Dhamita, was very personable and attentive to my needs. He arrived at my hotel early to ensure that we had an early start to my day. He checked in with me periodically to make sure I was okay. While hiking to the cave temples, he was patient while I took my time to get there. And he was extremely accommodating with helping me to get to the airport.
On another note, I would highly recommend everyone to engage in this day trip. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress is simply breathtaking. While it's a slight workout to climb the stairs, it's still quite manageable. My tour guide was also very patient with me every step of the way. We also stopped by several stores to go shopping and engaged in local activities that was quite fun. I also enjoyed the cave temples, which are tucked away in the hills/mountains. It was a pleasant surprise to see these exquisite temples. The weather wasn't too bad, but make sure you drink a ton of water.
I wouldn't travel to Sri Lanka without visiting these two places -- they were the highlight of my entire trip!
Jonathan C, Mar 2018
Really enjoyed the tour although it was tough trekking up Sigiriya rock in the blistering heat but well worth it. Our driver Dhamitha was such a nice guy and made our trip highly enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it
Anne_L, Mar 2018
An early start for this trip but it was worth it as it is quite a long drive. Demitha our drive was very good an he looked after us very well. Unfortunately the weather was very bad and we got soaked walking up Sigiriya but you can't di anything about the weather! We had a lovely lunch at the wood carving workshop and we had time to dry off before getting wet again at Dambulla but walking barefoot through the warm puddles was very spiritual
Chloe B, Mar 2018
Climbing sigiriya rock itself and the cave temples were amazing. However the service we received from our driver wasn't great. We weren't given any bottled water, pretty much had to beg for it. We also weren't given a guide for the cave temples. Expensive tour yet poor service.
agostina m, Mar 2018
The guide was a very good person, as a very good driver. The roads was so slowly but we known. The sites we've seen was simply amazing!
Rodney L, Jan 2018
Great chance to see the interior of the country. The nearly four hour drive to get there is a test of patience due to the vehicle and lot traffic that is constant all along the roads. The cave temple tour is interesting, make sure you dress appropriately i.e. long shorts and be prepared to take off your footwear prior to walking around the site. The climb up to the top of Sigirya Rock is not difficult and there are many opportunities to stop and rest and enjoy the view.
Supriya L, Jan 2018
We booked a tour from Colombo to Sigiriya/Dambulla Cave Temples with you. We regret to inform you that we were disappointed in both our driver and the tour company. While they were flexible with our schedule, the driver was not a tour guide and simply took us from place to place. It was frustrating that the price not only didn't cover entrance fees, the guide was completely unaware of the price or cash only rule.
Most upsetting of all was that he was inappropriate in his attitude and conversation. He asked a series of personal questions about my relationship status and what kind of men I like. As you can imagine, this was unnerving for two women traveling alone in remote areas.
We hope Viator vets tour companies with whom it chooses to partner more carefully in the future. We would like to be able to rely on this service for accurate information and safe experiences.
Han Wah Ivan N, Dec 2017
pick-up was prompt and our driver cum guide was alright though we were expecting a lot of sharing from him - he was a relatively safe driver, stopping the vehicle on 3 occasions to answer his mobile phones but I do find it puzzling that when we reached both Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Cave Temple, he would only purchase, pass us the tickets and thereafter, waited for us at the exit instead of walking through the attractions with us. It was disappointing as we were expecting a guide to take us through the rich history of the place.
Geeta M, Sep 2017
Definitely a work out! I nearly collapsed from the hike while my husband wanted more of a challenge. Not recommended for the elderly in my opinion. It was an extremely long drive and we both felt nauseous on the way especially after sweating out all of our water. There was a provided tour guide only for Sigiriya and not for Dambulla which is also another hike. Our driver did not stop for lunch and we had to buy our own snacks before heading back to the hotel despite its supposed inclusion in the tour. In retrospect, I would have probably skipped this tour. The experience is the hike and the views of Sri Lanka if you are able to catch your breath enough at the summit to enjoy it. The tour guide at Sigiriya seemed to memorize enough English to give the tour but wasn't able to answer some of our more nuanced questions. Otherwise, as far as architectural beauty, there are more beautiful sights in other parts of the subcontinent so I wasn't really that impressed. The driver was a driver and not a tour guide at all. I wouldn't recommend this tour.
Evette S, Sep 2017
Chatura was our driver and he was fantastic! We only had a short time to see things and we crammed so much more than expected into our day! He made our trip truly unforgettable! Highly recommend you ask for Chatura!
James Murphy Jr, Aug 2017
The tour took forever to get there. I would suggest staying in Sigirya for an overnight stay so you don't have to get up at 6am and get back by 7:30pm.
If you could't like our situation then it is still worth it. Unique place but expect a lot of traffic in general in the car.
David, Jul 2017
Well worth the long drive - be prepared to walk and hike the mountain... there's no easy way to the top! The museum is also worth a visit - so don't be tempted to skip and spend your entire day outside.
jgard06, May 2017
Our driver was very friendly and accommodating there is no tour guide on this trip. Bring something to cover your knees, if you're a guy, or bring a pair of pants for the cave temples. The buffet meal was okay we suggested to our driver that a different restaurant be considered in the future. Definitely recommend this tour, the sites were great, but be prepared to spend a lot of time on the road.
Ross B, May 2017
Less of a guided tour as the driver took me in a modern air conditioned car to Sigiriya and left me to climb myself.
The climb is hard in the heat so bring water. There are places to rest en route. Views from the top are unbelievable.
Dumbulla Cave Temple is unique and good to see before returning
EMILY_A, Apr 2017
This was a really fun day. It rained for basically the entire trip, and when we got on top of the rock it was a complete downpour. Would totally do this trip again.
Melania A, Jan 2017
This was a fantastic day with a lovely driver. We thoroughly enjoyed this day because the driver was trustworthy.
DiegoF_J, Jan 2017
lovely tour.. long way from colombo to sigiriya.... but once you get there you realise it is worth the long way.....
DiegoF_J, Jan 2017
long way from colombo... but once u get there u realise that it is worth it
Daniel F, Sep 2016
We had a lovely day with a fantastic tourist guide/driver. Sigiriya and the cave temples were amazing and our guide provided us wide knowledge about Sri Lanka overall and about the visited places. I would highly recommend this trip for any traveller. Everything was great and well organized.
Tessa A, Jun 2016
we were picked up at 6am at mount lavinia hotel. we took a 5hr journey to the rock fortress. we were allowed 2-3 hours there. however we did not go to the top and only was there for 1hr. it is a very steep climb to the top and not for people who are not keen or is unable to climb. then we drove 5min to the lunch place. the tour was supposed to include lunch but we had to pay for our own lunch. then we drove 15min to a temple. another steep climb up to the top.
we then drove for 6hours back to our hotel as there was a jam at night and reached our hotel at about 7-8pm
our driver was more just a driver and not a tour guide.
i personally dont recommend this tour unless you are up for climbing and driving alot. the drive was quite painful. in that day, we were in the car for 11 hours in total and we didnt stop at all. driving in sri lanka is quite bad as there is usually only 1 lane. expressways dont reach there so we take the routes through the towns. the tuk tuks drive recklessly so the car starts and stops alot and there is A LOT of honking. at the end, you will get a headache and feel claustrophobic.
tracy, Mar 2016
This day tour was brilliant our guide Priyanka was fantastic very informative and knowledgable it's a fair old claim to the top and the castle ruins but it's more than worth it lunch was lovely the wood carving factory was amazing and the cave temples were out of this world worth every penny
Julia B, Aug 2015
the trip was long 10 hrs drive total but in worth ot go! gorgeous!!!
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