4-Day Sri Lanka Cultural Tour with Sigiriya and Minneriya Safari

Meet your tour guide in Colombo or Negombo.

Travel to Kandy early in the morning at 7:30 am. The name Kandy means "Great City" or "Capital" in Sinhalese.

Visit the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, located 5.5 km west of the city of Kandy. It is famous for its orchid collection and is situated near the Mahaweli River.

Explore Sri Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a prominent Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy.

Proceed to Bahirewonkanda Temple and the giant Buddha statue of Bahirawa Kanda, one of the tallest Buddha statues, standing at a height of 88.0 ft.

After lunch, take a stroll by Kandy Lake, an artificial lake located in the heart of Kandy.

End your day with the vibrant Kandy Cultural Dance Show, where as many as 12 different folk and traditional dances are performed within one hour.

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, proceed towards Dambulla.

Make your way to Dambulla Caves, the most impressive cave temple in Asia. It has five caves beneath a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. The cave ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images of Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses.

Continue to Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress that is also referred to by the locals as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

After returning from the fortress, stay overnight at a hotel in Sigiriya.

Drive to Polonnaruwa after breakfast. It is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms and a well-preserved city of ancient dagobas, moonstones, beautiful parks, massive buildings, and stunning statues. Some memorable sights include the majestic King's Council Chamber, the Lotus Bath, the Lanka Thilaka Viharaya, the Gal Viharaya (rock temple), and the statue of one of Polonnaruwa's great kings.

Your next destination is Minneriya. Indulge in a wildlife safari in Minneriya National Park, with the opportunity to see herds of elephants throughout the year.

Proceed back to a hotel in the area.

Make your way to Anuradhapura after breakfast. Anuradhapura is famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization and is considered sacred to the Buddhist world. It is surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).

Explore these hidden treasures during your visit to Anuradhapura:

• Sri Maha Bodhi, an offshoot of the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened, was planted in Anuradhapura in 288 BC.

• Abhayagiri Dagaba is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage towns and among the most extensive ruins in the world.

• Ruwanwelisaya Stupa is considered a marvel for its architectural qualities.

• At Thuparamaya, the collarbone of Buddha is enshrined in the chaitya. It is the first dagaba built in Sri Lanka.

• Lovamahapaya, also known as Brazen Palace, is a complex that was once a structure of its own class.

• Jetavanaramaya is the largest stupa in Sri Lanka and was the third-largest structure in the ancient world.

• Mirisaveti Stupa was built by King Dutugamunu after defeating King Elara. A legend associates it with the relics of Lord Buddha.

• Lankarama Stupa was constructed by King Valagamba in an ancient place.

Finish your visit to the ancient city of Anuradhapura and head back to your hotel in Negombo or Colombo.