Sri Lanka · UNESCO Heritage Sites

3-Day Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Minneriya Safari from Colombo

3 Days Round trip from Colombo Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the stunning Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 5th-century World Heritage Site
02 Marvel at the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the exquisite carvings of Polonnaruwa Vatadage
03 Enjoy a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park, known for its elephant population
04 Experience the serenity of the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex and its preserved Buddhist art

Marvel at the astounding ancient rock fortress of Sinhagiri, explore the UNESCO-listed wonders of Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, and Dambulla, and discover Sri Lanka's vibrant history over three days. Walk through the ruined walls of Galvihara, seek the blessings of the resting Buddha, and admire the regal Nissankamalla Council Chamber. The journey also includes a jeep safari in Minneriya National Park, where you can try to spot elephants, deer, and abundant birdlife.

The Sigiriya fort is a marvel of ancient Sri Lankan engineering and is considered one of the finest examples of Sri Lankan art.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Colombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Colombo and Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Meet your Sri Lankan tour guide at Bandaranaike International Airport and travel to your hotel, Fresco Water Villa, in Sigiriya.
Spend the day at 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 see the famous Sigiriya Mirror Wall, known for its ancient Sinhala graffiti.
Return to your hotel for dinner and rest for the day.

Day 02

Ancient Polonnaruwa and Minneriya Safari

After breakfast at your hotel, make the 1.5-hour journey to Polonnaruwa for the next part of your trip.
Walk through the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa and see the stupa, resting Buddha statues, many irrigation canals, and finely carved Hindu sculptures. Witness the exquisite stone carvings of Polonnaruwa Vatadage, a 12th-century 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 Minneriya National Park on a three-hour jeep safari. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and abundant birdlife, but the highlight here is undoubtedly its elephant population.
Return to your hotel for dinner and stay overnight in Sigiriya.

Day 03

Dambulla Cave Temples and Return to Colombo

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 more than 153 statues depicting the life of Gautama Buddha.
Travel back to Colombo.