Lakpura
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Tales of Ancient Ceylon from Bentota (2 Days)

Operated by Lakpura® 4.7 1,643 reviews Duration 2 days

A private 2-day tour from Bentota visiting Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya Lion Rock, Polonnaruwa, and Minneriya National Park with an English-speaking chauffeur guide.

"Gal Viharaya" Polonnaruwa Kaudulla National park Dambulla Cave Temple Sigiriya Rock Fortress Dambulla Cave Temple Minneriya National Park

About this experience

Board your private vehicle in Bentota and head north into Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle on this two-day tour covering four UNESCO-listed and nationally significant sites. On day one, walk the galleries of Dambulla Golden Cave Temple — a complex of painted rock shrines dating to the 1st Century BC — then climb the sheer granite column of Sigiriya Lion Rock, the 5th-century fortress-palace of King Kasyapa, taking in the frescoes and landscaped water gardens along the way. Your English-speaking chauffeur guide handles all navigation; two 500 ml water bottles per person are provided each day.

Day two brings the ruined medieval city of Polonnaruwa, whose moonstones, colossal Buddha statues, and royal bathing pools illustrate Sri Lanka's 10th-century golden age. A wildlife safari in Minneriya National Park rounds out the itinerary before your return to Bentota. Transport, fuel, parking, highway tolls, taxes, and service charges are all included. Hotel accommodation, meals, and site entrance fees are arranged separately.

Duration2 days
LanguagesEnglish
Group typePrivate — your party only
ReferenceLKMT29E8JN
Mewan
Your tour planner

Mewan Manager

Have questions or want to customise this itinerary? Reach Mewan directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

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What’s included

Included

  • Transport in a Private Vehicle, Fuel, Parking & Highway tolls.
  • Service of English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
  • All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

  • Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
  • Entrance fees to the respective sites.
  • Chauffeur Guide's Accommodation.
  • Expenses of personal nature.
  • Visa and Related Expenses.
  • Tips & Portages.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

1

Day 1 — Bentota > Dambulla > Minneriya > Sigiriya

Start your journey at 0600 hrs from your hotel in Colombo. You will be met by a designated chauffer guide from Lakpura Travels. After the formalities at the hotel, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle and proceed to Dambulla and visit Cave Temple.

Golden Temple of Dambulla

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple o Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.

Lovely jeep safari at Minneriya National Park.

This safari takes you on a ride through the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy the sight of over 150 elephants congregating in one place during the famous Great Elephant Gathering, which happens in the dry season between May to October. In addition to elephants, get a chance to also see many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the scrublands, forests and other areas.

2

Day 2 — Sigiriya > Bentota

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Climb the 5th century AD rock fortress, Sigiriya, where the King Kasyapa ruled. Walkthrough the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ' the Lion Rock'. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns. Walkthrough the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past.

Visit a local village in Sigiriya

Get a chance to go on an oxen cart ride, and experience the world from the view of a village farmer. Have a relaxing catamaran safari through a calm lake. Walkthrough the golden fields are ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your tastebuds with a home-cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.

On completion start your journey back to your hotel in Bentota.

Please note

  • Public transportation nearby
  • Infant seats available
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Comfortable clothes and hats recommended
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Not recommended for people with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for people with heart conditions
  • We pickup from your hotel in Bentota Area

Cancellation policy

  • More than 24 hours notice: full refund
  • Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

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