Meet your Sri Lankan tour guide at the Bandaranaike International Airport and make your way to your hotel, Fresco Water Villa, in Sigiriya. 

Spend the day at the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 5th-century rock citadel and a World Heritage Site. The Sigiriya fort is a marvel of ancient Sri Lankan engineering and is considered one of the finest examples of Sri Lankan art. You will also get to see the famous Sigirya mirror wall, known for its ancient Sinhala graffiti.

Return to your hotel for dinner and rest for the day. 

After breakfast at your hotel, make the 1.5-hour journey to Polonnaruwa for the next part of your trip. 

Walk across the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, and see the stupa of resting Buddha statues, many irrigation canals, and finely carved Hindu sculptures. Witness the exquisite stone carvings of Polonnaruwa Vatadage, a 12th C structure built to house relics of Buddha. The Nissankamalla Council Chamber, with its many rows of stone pillars, is another regal structure in the complex.

Make your way to Minneriya from Polonnaruwa. 

Explore the Minneriya National Park with a three-hour jeep safari. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, but the highlight here undoubtedly its elephant population.

Return to your hotel for dinner and stay overnight in Sigiriya.

After breakfast at your hotel, proceed to Dambulla and visit the famous Dambulla Cave Temple Complex. The Dambulla Complex houses five excellently preserved cave temples where you will see many paintings and over 153 statues on the life of Gautama Buddha.

Travel back to Colombo.