Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 15 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa worth booking?
Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa is a 9-hour experience in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, from $90 per person. It scores 66 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 15 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 66 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (15)
- Duration
- 9 hours
- From
- $90 per person
If you get this tour with us no need rent bicycle we have special licence for going to inside city with our personal vehicle. So do you get our best service we are ready to give you unforgettable tour for you. on the way
What you get
About this experience
If you get this tour with us no need rent bicycle we have special licence for going to inside city with our personal vehicle. So do you get our best service we are ready to give you unforgettable tour for you. on the way from Sigiriya to polonnaruwa we can show you maybe wild elephant in jungle and some animals. We have very good knowledge about this area.
What's included
Included
- tuk tuk driving lesson
What you'll see and do
Sigiriya
Referred by locals as the Eighth Wonder of the World this ancient palace and fortress complex has significant archaeological importance and attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is probably the most visited tourist destination of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya Citadel Rock Sigiriya Citadel Rock The palace is located in the heart of the island between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane on a massive rocky plateau 370 meters above the sea level. Sigiriya rock plateau, formed from magma of an extinct volcano, is 200 meters higher than the surrounding jungles. Its view astonishes the visitors with the unique harmony between the nature and human imagination. The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys and fountains. The surrounding territories of Sigiriya were inhibited for several thousand years. Since 3th century BC the rocky plateau of Sigiriya served as a monastery. In the second half of the 5th century king Kasyapa decided to construct a royal residence here.After his death Sigiriya again became a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century, when it was abandoned. Sigiriya Lion Claws Sigiriya Lion Claws The main entrance is located in the northern side of the rock. It was designed in the form of a huge stone lion, whose feet have survived up to today but the upper parts of the body were destroyed. Thanks to this lion the palace was named Sigiriya. The term Sigiriya originates from the word Sihagri, i.e. Lion Rock. Sigiriya Sigiriya Fresco Sweeping Stroke Paintings The western wall of Sigiriya was almost entirely covered by frescoes, created during the reign of Kasyapa. Eighteen frescoes have survived to this day The frescoes are depicting nude females and are considered to be either the portraits of Kasyapa’s wives and concubines or priestess performing religious rituals. Despite the unknown identity of the females depicted in the frescoes, these unique ancient paintings are celebrating female beauty and have incredible historical significance. Sigiriya Mirror Wall Sigiriya Mirror Wall One of the most striking features of Sigiriya is its Mirror wall. In the old days it was polished so thoroughly that the king could see his reflection in it. The Mirror wall is painted with inscriptions and poems written by the visitors of Sigiriya. The most ancient inscriptions are dated from the 8th century. These inscriptions are proving that Sigiriya was a tourist destination more than a thousand years ago. Today, painting on the wall is strictly prohibited.
120 minutes here
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 1993. It comprises, besides the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, the monumental ruins of the fabulous garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Kings ruled the central plains of Sri Lanka from Polonnaruwa 800 years ago, when it was a thriving commercial and religious centre. The glories of that age can be found in the archaeological treasures that still give a pretty good idea of how the city looked in its heyday. You'll find the archaeological park a delight to explore, with hundreds of ancient structures – tombs and temples, statues and stupas – in a compact core. The Quadrangle alone is worth the trip.
180 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Sigiriya
we are pickup from any where in sigiriya
Meeting point
Sigiriya
we are pickup from any where in around habarana
Meeting point
Sigiriya
traveler pickup is offered we are pickup from any where in around dambulla,sigiriya,habrana
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
we are pickup from any where in sigiriya
Ends at
we are pickup from any where in around habarana
Ends at
traveler pickup is offered we are pickup from any where in around dambulla,sigiriya,habrana
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Dambulla Tuk Tuk Saman Travels
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- please wear clothers to cover your knees and shoulders when visitingn temple
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 15 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
5 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
15 verified traveler reviews for Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great day of sightseeing and exploring
We had an amazing day driving around with Saman. He's awesome, took great photos of us, and was really attentive to everything we needed. We definitely couldn't have done all of these sites without him. And, man, he has a good eye for wildlife. Elephants, owls, and monkeys! We saw everything we wanted to and more.
Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your wonderful review! 😊 I’m very happy to hear that you had an amazing day. It was a real pleasure to show you around and help you visit all these beautiful places. I’m also glad we could see so much wildlife – elephants, owls, and monkeys! 🐘🦉🐒 Thank you again for choosing Dambulla Tuk Tuk Saman Travel. I hope to see you again in Sri Lanka one day. Safe travels
via Tripadvisor
Great tour.
Saman was great at showing us around and taking us to spots that were quiet and away from loads of tourists. We saw everything we wanted and he told us information about all the different areas. A great day and such a nice guy. Definitely worth doing.
Response from the operator: Dear jemma and amy madam Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip and hope you will visit this island again and look forward to serving you with the same service and hospitality. Thank you🙏😘
via Tripadvisor
Fun day out! Excellent culture and nature tour with Saman.
We had an exceptional day with Saman! He was very professional, friendly and welcoming! His English is very good and he was very helpful in explaining sites along the journey. The day trip included sight-seeing at both Pidurangala and Sigirya rocks and the Polonaruwa ancient city. He even very kindly dropped us off at the Golden Buddha and Rock Temple at the end of the tour in Dambulla. We hiked to see the sunrise when it is a bit cooler at Pidurangala rock-which was absolutely breathtaking! We hired a tour guide who came in the Tuk Tuk with us all, on recommendation from Saman at the Polonaruwa ancient city. Which was fantastic as well and highly recommended! Saman also went above and beyond to make our trip amazing. We even stopped and got out to see wild elephants and many other beautiful animals! We also arranged for onward transport to Habarana with Saman the next morning. He also took us to a herbal garden along the way which was very interesting. Absolutely wonderful trip and fantastic tuk tuk tour with Saman. Would highly recommend to anyone! Thank you so much! :)
Response from the operator: Dear Sophie and April Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip and hope you will visit this island again and look forward to serving you with the same service and hospitality. Thank you🙏🇱🇰😘
via Tripadvisor
Great way of enjoying the ancient capitals with a local expert.
A unique way of experiencing Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa on a tuk tuk was truly memorable. We had a great guide/driver in Saman who was friendly and helpdul. We even got to spot an elephant, kingfishers, a few exotic wildlife along the way. Totally worth it. Thabks Saman.
Response from the operator: Dear ,Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip and hope you will visit this island again and look forward to serving you with the same service and hospitality. Thank you 🙏😘🇱🇰
via Tripadvisor
A must do tour ! Do not miss
I had a great tour with Saman, he is super friendly, professional, on time - showed me the best sites in the short amount of time I had - really appreciated ! The Pindurangala rock and Sigirya views were amazing. Polonaruwa is also really worth a visit (try as early as possible as it gets quite hot). Dambulla was also an awesome place. Highly recommend Saman & this tour -
Response from the operator: Dear polly maam, Thank you so much for your kind words. Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip and hope you will visit this island again and look forward to serving you with the same service and hospitality. Thank you 🙏😘🇱🇰
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 5
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Dambulla Tuk Tuk Saman Travels, who run 5 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.6.
See everything Dambulla Tuk Tuk Saman Travels runsWhy this scores 66
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Sigiriya.
How much does Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa cost?
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Prices start at $90 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Sigiriya usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa take?
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Plan for about 9 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 Sigiriya is not rushed.
Is Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 66 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 15 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Sigiriya, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & 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 Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa?
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Around 5 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 Sigiriya 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 Sigiriya and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & 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 Sigiriya 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 Sigiriya?
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On Outty we rank every Sigiriya experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Sajee’s Place Cooking Class sigiriya, Private Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park to Visit Elephants, Organic cooking class sigiriya (kumara & family). 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 Sigiriya?
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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 Sigiriya?
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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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