Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa worth booking?
Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa is a 12-hour experience in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from $103 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
- Duration
- 12 hours
- From
- $103 per person
By early morning, you will be driven by an air-conditioned vehicle, Historic city of Polonnaruwa, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover why Polonnaruwa is one of the most stunning old cities
What you get
About this experience
By early morning, you will be driven by an air-conditioned vehicle, Historic city of Polonnaruwa, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will discover why Polonnaruwa is one of the most stunning old cities and why it has so much to offer archaeologists, history buffs, and people who just want to learn more about Sri Lanka. Discover more about Sri Lankan culture and local’s life style. While on tour, make sure to Taste some of the delicious Sri Lankan cuisine; As we have a unique Taste of plates. Take a break, enjoy some seasonal fruits, and revitalize yourself. Rest as much as you need to, and our experts will take you directly where you need to go. After a memorable day, you'll return to your lodging. After a memorable day, you'll return to your accommodations.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Complimentary WiFi Excess During the Travel (Subjected To Availability)
- Seasonal Fruits
- Transport by private vehicle
- Professional & Expert Driver ( ENGLISH )
Not included
- Food and drinks, unless specified
- Gratuities
- Local Srilankan Guide
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Gal Vihara
The Gal Vihara, also known as Gal Viharaya and originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was fashioned in the 12th century by Parakramabahu
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre
Located in the Dambulla Secretariat Division of Matale District, in the center of Dambulla town started in 1999 to establish a wholesale market for vegetables and fruits. One important feature of the DDEC is thus a more direct participation of the farmers is selling farm produce.
Pass by without stopping
Dagoba of Thuparama
Thuparamaya is an ancient Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Located in the sacred area of Mahamewna park, the Thuparamaya Stupa is the earliest Dagoba to be constructed in the island, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa
15 minutes here · Admission not included
Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs
Ibbankatuwa Ancient burial ground lies five kilometres before the Dambulla town on the Kurunegala-Dambulla Road. An archaeological Department board will indicate the turn off from the main road. The site is reached by traveling about 500m in to this road. The site was developed in to a tourist attraction in 2017 and was formally open to the public.
Pass by without stopping
Golden Temple of Dambulla
The Rock Temple of Dambulla, called Jumbukola Vihara (Dambulla Cave Temple) in the (Mahavamsa)-the principal Pali Chronicle of Sri Lanka, is situated about forty seven miles north west of Kandy, the last capital of the Sinhalese kings, on the main road to Anuradhapura. Dambulla is a scent of unique interest. Its rock temples are the most extensive in the Island, and one of the most ancient, and in the highest state of preservation and order.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- ar, de, en, it, fr, ta, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Apple Vacations Pvt Ltd
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended for this tour.
- All visitors to Buddhist and Hindu temples are expected to remove footwear and hats. Also shoulders and knees should be covered
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date
- What to Bring - Caps or hats, camera, And Sunscreen
- Deposit trash in designated receptacles
- Please respect and leave the plants and native wildlife untouched
- Pickup will be commenced prior to start the tour time; you must contact us to verify your exact pickup time.
- We request all customers carry the Vaccination card while traveling (Digitally or Physically)
- This activity is not recommended for anyone with impaired physical mobility, certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, epilepsy, etc.
Photos
Traveler reviews
1 verified traveler reviews for Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
A pleasant break from Colombo
It's a long way to Pollonaruwa so better to be prepared for a long ride. Mr. Aaron ( my driver) is well experienced and knows the streets. He is very helpful asking if everything is ok and making sure to have enough stops all the way. About the excursion itself whatever I say it's not going to be enough. The museum even though it's very small has really well maintained artifacts ( especially bronze made Gods figures). The site is a little away from the museum but the mini bus will take you directly there. There is one complex divided into 3 areas, the Palace, the temples and the monastic community. My tour guide, Mr. Gamini, added so much value to the trip. He was explaining everything in great details and replied my questions making the day a really unique experience. In conclusion, it's really a worthy tour. The team has created a very beautiful package and is really recommended. PS. Make sure to have water with you and as the site has many temples, modest clothing is required (otherwise the entrance to the temples may be denied)
Response from the operator: Dear Customer ! Greetings Behalf of Apple Vacations, First of all, thank you for taking the time to write to us. We’re always delighted to hear from a happy customer! Thanks so much for the positive feedback. It’s always good to know that our customers are out there, enjoying our service and finding it memorable. Its always a pleasure serving you and certainly look forward to doing that in your future trips too. Once again thanks a bunch for selecting us as your traveling partner and for giving us this opportunity, we couldn’t have done it without you! which will help him to improve his skills. We really appreciate your kind words about Apple vacations service on your review, it always makes our entire team super excited when our valuable customers are happy that they tell the world. We hope to keep up our performance and wish that you will remain confident in us for your future trips. CHEERS! With Love, Apple Vacations
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $103 to $206
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Colombo.
How much does Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa cost?
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Prices start at $103 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Colombo usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa take?
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Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Colombo is not rushed.
Is Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Colombo, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 12-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Colombo can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Colombo and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Day Excursion To Ancient City Polonnaruwa start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Colombo within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Colombo?
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On Outty we rank every Colombo experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Flexi dates on all 5 to 7 days packages for car and English speaking driver, Sri Lanka Personal Tour Driver in private vehicle, 08 Nights in Magical Sri Lanka. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Colombo?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Colombo?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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