1. Tour Overview
No wonder you miss out on interesting attractions when planning a holiday to Sri Lanka because this island has many things to offer. However, among the must visit attractions, Sigiriya is one of the most popular attractions visited by thousands of tourists annually. Suppose you are already in Sri Lanka, spending your time in Kandy and looking for a day out from Kandy. Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour – carefully curated by Arabiers – is the best way to explore Sigiriya Rock Fortress – an iconic attraction featuring hand painted frescoes, unique hydraulic engineering, water gardens and offering 360 degree panoramic views of the surroundings.
2. Highlights
- Guided tours of key attractions for an in depth exploration of the attractions
- Guided tour of the Museum to make the most of your museum experience
- Explore the local culture in the area while experiencing a ride on the Bullock Cart Ride – traditional mode of transportation in Sri Lanka
- Authentic Sri Lankan experience as you enjoy a delightful local feast
3. Tour inclusions
- Pickup and drop off services from your hotel in Kandy
- Air conditioned vehicle for transportation
- English speaking driver to guide you throughout the journey
- Entrance fees to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Museum
- Hiriwadunna Village Tour
4. Tour Exclusions
- Travel Insurance
- Additional food and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary
- Use of vehicles other than the vehicle provided
- Other services not stated in the itinerary
- Personal expenses and tips
5. Rates
Here are the rates relevant for the Sigiriya Day Tour from Kandy and please be informed that the below - mentioned rates do not include lunch expenses. Contact our Arabiers team for further details.
| NUMBER OF TRAVELLERS | 2 PAX | 4 PAX | 6 PAX | 10 PAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PER PERSON RATE (DBL SHARING) | $ 210 | $ 180 | $ 145 | $ 130 |
Sigiriya–known to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site –is popular for its historical, archeological and religious significance. One day journey to this wonder is worth your time as it clearly portrays the skilled craftmanship and creativity of ancient Sri Lankans.
The journey begins with your driver picking you up from Kandy ( in or around Kandy ) in an air conditioned vehicle. No communication gaps will occur as we promise to provide you with an English speaking driver to assist you throughout the journey.
Approximately after a 2 – 3 hour drive we will reach your destination for the day – Sigiriya. Once we reach there you can start walking towards the Rock Fortress and start the climb. You will encounter many stalls while walking towards the Rock from which you can sit, relax and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with some local delights if you feel like filling your stomach with something tasty before the climb begins.
First you will encounter the water gardens – collection of pools located on the ground level and it is believed that these pools were a former bathing lagoon for ancient kings. You will, undoubtedly, be surprised when you notice how the ancient Sri Lankans have used innovative technology to bring water to these pools.
As you continue ascending to the summit you will then notice the creative frescos – one of the unique features of Sigiriya. Drawings depict a group of women – known as Sigiriya damsels – offering fruits and flowers. It is important to note that taking flashed photographs is completely prohibited for the preservation of these frescos.
Next you will witness the mirror wall – an area filled with ancient graffiti, mostly poems, tributes and impressions, written by visitors who have come to Sigiriya during the ancient days. As you complete 900 steps you will see two huge lion paws – The prime reason for Sigiriya to be popular as the “ Lion Rock “. Incricate architecture visible here will make you wonder about the craftmanship prevailed back in the day.
Once you reach the summit you will understand the worth of climbing all the steps as you will witness stunning 360 degree panoramic views of the surroundings. Also you will find the ruins of King Kashyapa’s Palace on the summit. Not only that, you will be able to see the Pidurangala mountain – popular destination for nature lovers and trek enthusiasts. Once you finish exploring you can start your journey back to the ground level to visit the Sigiriya Museum. Perfect place to educate yourself about the complete history related to Sigiriya, its artifacts, innovative technology and interesting recent discoveries.
Nest it is a break time for lunch. This is optional and the expenses are not included in the itinerary package. Contact Arabiers to get your itineraries customized to match your requirements.
Post lunch, it is the time to visit the Hiriwadunna Village–a place that offers a glimpse into the traditional rural life of Sri Lanka. This tour will let you experience the Sri Lankan rural life prevailed many decades back. Bullock cart ride for around 15 – 20 minutes, boat ride on the nearby Hiriwadunna Lake and the chance to take part in more village activities are the main highlights of this village tour.
You can further customize your journey to Dambulla by contacting Arabiers or by simply visiting our website.
After having a great time at the village we will start our journey back to where we started in Kandy and this winds up our Day Tour to Sigiriya.
7. Travel Tips
Here are some important tips to make your Kandy to Sigiriya Day Tour more fun and a stress free journey.
- Usually it takes 2 hours and 16 minutes to reach Sigiriya from Kandy ( 89.2 km ). So you can freely sit back and relax until you reach the destination
- Make sure to wear comfortable and sturdy footwear with a good grip because you will have to climb about 1200 steps to reach the summit
- Wearing comfortable clothes is equally important to make your tour more interesting. Since you will get a first hand experience on travelling on a bullock cart at the Hiriwadunna Village, wearing something comfortable will make things easy for you
- Remember to carry a water bottle to stay hydrated at all times ( Refillable bottles will be ideal to minimize plastic waste )
- Do not forget to carry your sunscreen and hat because it is most likely that you will be exposed to direct sunlight
- If you are someone with a sensitive stomach make sure to be cautious with street food available
- Be mindful when interacting with locals because Sri Lankans, usually, are friendly people who love to share their culture with foreigners
8. FAQs
Yes. You can go on an one day trip to Sigiriya from Kandy. Contact Arabiers to get the best one day tour itineraries to match your requirements.
It will, usually, take approximately 2 – 3 hours to reach Sigiriya from Kandy. However the time depends on traffic conditions.
Visiting Sigiriya is a year around activity. However it is most preferable to visit Sigiriya from January to April because the climate during these months is suitable for day tours.
Usually it will take around one and a half or two hours to climb to the summit of Sigiriya. However, the time you might spend in Sigiriya entirely depends on the time you will spend exploring the fortress, frescos, water gardens and witnessing the beautiful views of the surroundings.
It is advisable to wear comfortable clothes and footwear when visiting Sigiriya because it requires a lot of walking and climbing steps.