Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli
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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
4.9/5
Based on 7 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli worth booking?
Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli is a 6-hour experience in Kandy, Sri Lanka, from $46 per person. It scores 65 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 7 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 65 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (7)
- Duration
- 6 hours
- From
- $46 per person
Poḷonnaruwa is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New Town and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of
What you get
About this experience
Poḷonnaruwa is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New Town and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. 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.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Private tour
- Lunch
- Driver/guide
- anding and/or facility fees
- Surcharges on fuel
Not included
- Entrance Fees to the Polonnaruwa Ancient City & MInneriya National Park
- Site Specific Guide
What you'll see and do
Polonnaruwa
Tour will be covering the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. We will be taking the guests to all the important archaeological sites located within Polonnaruwa Are
Pass by without stopping
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
One major site of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa
20 minutes here · Admission not included
Gal Vihara
Main Temple of the Polonnaruwa Archaeological site
45 minutes here · Admission not included
Samudra Parakrama
A beautiful Man Made Lake located in the heart of Polonnaruwa
Pass by without stopping
A man made lake located near the Polonnaruwa ancient city
Pass by without stopping
Minneriya National Park
Ideal place to see wild elephants. It's an optional visit where guests are free to decide and let the chauffer know if interested
180 minutes here · Admission not included
Ranweli Spice Garden
An ideal place to get some idea about the world famous Sri Lankan spices. It's an optional visit
30 minutes here
Matale
Matale Hindu Temple is one of the most colorful Hindu religious places available in Sri Lanka. This is an optional visit.
15 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 20 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Mahaweli Tours and Holidays
Know before you go
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
7 verified traveler reviews for Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Superb day
We had a great day. Our guide listened to what we wanted to do and see.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
Amazing experience!
The excursion was wonderful. A guide tour is necessary for all of the explanation of the temples, it was very interesting. Pradeep (our taxi driver) was very chatty on the journey so we had a good laugh. I enjoy photography so I could be a bit tricky with the way of taking pictures, he was very patient and took amazing pictures of us. He was taking us everywhere and waiting until we finished to then take us to another point, that was very helpful because we are not staying a long time in Sri Lanka so we wanted to see most of it in a short time. The included lunch was very tasty and typical Sri Lankan food, we tried everything in the buffet. Moreover, he bought us some lychees to try, they were brilliant. The day went so quick and at the end it felt like we were doing a trip with a friend instead of an acquaintance.
Response from the operator: Dear Sir/ Madam, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your Polonnaruwa tour.Nice to hear that Pradeep has done a great job..We will pass this message to him.It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :) Thank you..
via Tripadvisor
Absolutely fantastic!
Absolutely fantastic! Our driver, Pradeep, was polite and so very friendly!! We had a lovely conversation on the 2 hour journey which made the time fly by and he still claims that his English isn't very good (I've worked with British people with less vocabulary than him). Pradeep was always willing to take a picture for us and if we wanted a different picture because our feet were cut, he was eager to take it again for us. The tour itself was really interesting and I'm so glad we had someone explaining it all to us in brief. They are quick to respond to questions and their prices feel reasonable. Thank you so much Pradeep and his office for all their assistance. When we come back to Sri Lanka, we will be in touch again.
Response from the operator: Dear Sir/ Madam, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your Polonnaruwa tour.Nice to hear that Pradeep has done a great job..We will pass this message to him.It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :) Thank you..
via Tripadvisor
Excellent tour in Polannaruwa
We really enjoyed this tour (and the one to Ella the day before with the same company and the same driver Nilanka)! It was very well organised but also gave us the freedom to stop whenever we wished. AirCon car, excellent and safe driving, delicious lunch! The tour guide in Polannaruwa was extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommended, will travel with them again next time we’re in Sri Lanka:)
Response from the operator: Dear sir/ madam, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your Polonnaruwa tour in Srilanka. It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :)
via Viator
Our driver was not so...
Our driver was not so good at English, but we managed to communicate anyway. We had a guide in Polonnaruwa who was very good. He was very knowledgeable and was thorough. We could feel that he also was very interested in the place. We saw all the famous buildings/ruins and many more things. The lunch is a bit late, so maybe bring a little snack.
Response from the operator: Dear sir/ madam, Greetings from Sri Lanka. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time to share your amazing review with us.It's very valuable to us :) Hope you enjoyed your Polonnaruwa tour in Srilanka.Nice to hear that your guide has done a great job. We will pass this message to him as well. It was a pleasure to serve you and looking forward to meet you again.We always want to keep our customers happy. Stay blessed :)
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 65
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Kandy.
How much does Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli cost?
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Prices start at $46 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Kandy usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli take?
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Plan for about 6 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 Kandy is not rushed.
Is Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 65 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 7 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Kandy, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli?
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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 Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli?
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Around 2 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 Kandy 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 Kandy and add a light layer if any part of the 6-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Polonnaruwa Day Tour with Lunch by Mahaweli 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 Kandy 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 Kandy?
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On Outty we rank every Kandy experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Explore Kandy City Tour by Tuk Tuk, Tours and Transportation in Sri Lanka, Chauffeur guide and Tour organizer. 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 Kandy?
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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 Kandy?
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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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