From Colombo: Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip and Safari
Description
Climbing a rock - if you’re in good shape and don’t stop to look at things, it’ll take you less than 30 minutes to climb all the way to the top of the rock. If you need a few breaks along the way or simply want to stop often to take photos and admire the view, it’ll take an hour and a half to two hours to climb up and go back down again. and then Visit The beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160m above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. Buddha images were first created here over 2000 years ago, and over the centuries subsequent kings added to and embellished the cave art.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our Driver will meet your at the lobby from your pickup location choose we recommended to be at lobby 10 mins before activity. if you able to get the Packed breakfast from hotel
Get Refresh your self with some coffees can assure you that this is the best coffee and cafe you’d find Such great service and it’s a very clean set up
Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 kilometres east of Colombo and 72 kilometres north of Kandy. Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka
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 Anuradhupura. 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.(photo Stop only)
Located in the Dambulla SecretariatDivision 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 more direct participation of the farmers is selling farm produce.
The Sigiriya Museum known to be the most beautiful museums in all of South Asia is managed by the central Cultural Fund. This museum represents the cultural, technological and archeological value of Sigiriya. The Sigiriya Museum allows its visitors to explore three decades of archeological research on Sigiriya. The design of the Sigiriya museum was inspired by the complex design systems evident in Sigiriya itself. Most importantly the cleaver use of water, where it both enhances the beauty and quality of the environment as well as the conservation of it for the purpose of irrigation is been replicated here at the Sigiriya Museum. (combine with Sigiriya rock fortress )
Sigiriya is the most exquisite example of ancient Sri Lankan art, architecture and landscaping. Built over 1,600 years ago, the now sinister-looking 600 ft high black rock once appeared like a massive dazzling white cloud floating above the surrounding forests. Its sides were painted with beautiful frescoes of semi-naked nymphs. A large gatehouse in the form of a lion guarded the entrance to the innermost sanctum of the city – the Sky Palace on top of the rock. Sigiriya burst briefly into pre-eminence and was then abandoned and lay hidden in the forests for nearly 1,500 years. The climb to the top is strenuous but it is worth it. Definitely a must visit site!
From typical wooden elephant ornaments to the more intricately carved wooden traditional masks, Oak Ray Wood Carving boasts of one of the more comprehensive wood carving collections in Sri Lanka. The ‘Oak Ray’ brand, primarily catering to the hospitality needs of tourists has diversified its name into the niche of handicrafts and has quickly become a go-to establishment to find that perfect memento of your journey around the Paradise Island of Sri Lanka.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
* Pick up offered for Colombo city only, if you need pick other than Colombo city, Please contact the operator. pick up can be made with additional charge * Operator for further Assistance-Additional charges may Apply * If the drop off location different from pick up location, please contact the operator additional charges may apply * Kindly provide the WhatsApp contact details - for Better and fast communication * Arrive at the hotel lobby 10 minutes before your selected pick up time * Operator will reconfirm your pick-up time in advance * This is a shared transfer and early or late pick-up is not possible
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- 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
- Entrance need to pay directly and please bring cash to avoid the delay
- If you need to withdraw cash by ATM please advice to Driver or Guide about that earlier
- Cave temple - 2000 must pay by local rupees / card payment and USD cash not accepted
- Sigiriya 11,000 rupees (around 35 USD) in payment can be done by card and USD cash
Reviews(136)
The trip was absolutely fantastic! Baby elephants were the highlight of our trip! Now, climbing Sigiriya rock was a little difficult due to humidity and heat. I recommend doing this tour in December - January, when Sigiriya region is more cool. I also wish lunch was a little better, had buffet option. Overall, the trip was fantastic. Highly recommend!
A great trip. Krish and the team were awesome. Everything was super organized and the sights were well worth the drive! Would def recommend for solos.
The highlight of the trip was Rukshan, our driver and guide. He was respectful, courteous, and eager to please. Rukshan's driving was perfect and he abided by the allocated time for each attraction. The choice of attractions was well-chosen as there is so much to see and do in the area.
Our nine-member group adventure tour with Apple Vacations was exceptionally well organised from arrival to departure, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout. The itinerary provided an ideal balance of adventure, cultural immersion, and authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, catering effectively to the varied ages and interests within our group. The tour's smooth execution was particularly impressive, as each day was thoughtfully planned to explore Sri Lanka at a comfortable pace without any sense of rush. We appreciated the blend of renowned attractions and less-visited sites, which offered a deeper and more genuine understanding of the country. A notable highlight was the professionalism of our guide, Rukshan, and our driver, Indika. Rukshan demonstrated outstanding knowledge of Sri Lankan culture, history, and cuisine, complemented by his patience, professionalism, and genuine care for every member of the group. Indika ensured safe travel on challenging roads, further enhancing our comfort. The curated local food experiences distinguished the tour, with Apple Vacations selecting quality restaurants and authentic dining opportunities that reflected the region’s culinary diversity. Memorable moments included our stay at the Hotel Blackpool in Kandy & Nuwara Eliya, which featured picturesque surroundings reminiscent of Switzerland, and a warm welcome from the owner of Leaf Monkey, who accommodated all our requests. The traditional Sri Lankan dishes served—such as fish curry, moringa leaf, and drumstick curry—were exceptional. Apple Vacations also managed our niece’s wedding with professionalism and attention to detail. Dev and Suren coordinated flawlessly, maintaining calm and clear communication with over 180 guests through WhatsApp, promptly addressing concerns and ensuring smooth logistics. The wedding events, including Haldi, Mehndi night, and the beachside ceremony, were beautifully organised and enhanced by creative touches such as drone photography. Throughout both the tour and wedding, transport arrangements were reliable, drivers were courteous, luggage handling was efficient, and guest guidance was well managed. Special recognition goes to Suren for his effective coordination of airport pickups. In summary, Apple Vacations delivered a meticulously structured and warmly managed group adventure, as well as an unforgettable destination wedding. Their commitment to excellence and personalised service makes them highly recommended for culturally rich group tours or weddings in Sri Lanka. We would gladly choose their services again for future travel.
What a mind-blowing tour! From visiting caves, to climbing Sigiriya and seeing baby elephants during the safari tour - I had such a great time exploring Sri Lanka with this company.
Long journey more than 17 hours and picked up at 6.30 am. it was not worth as it’s a group tour and we pay same amount for each. The end of the tour we have select either safari or village and it was not mentioned before. The cost for safari is expensive and there shopping places also. It was not fit for you.
Do not go on this tour. The internet was supposed to be about 14hrs, but the actual duration was over 17hrs, I was late to the airport and almot missed boarding my plane. Also, the internet was way more different that the listing, like they took me to some random and unknown place where they forced me to purchase stuff that I did not even want. My driver, he was the worst part. I will never do this tour again. And to all of you reading this, never even think of going of this tour.
It was a pretty nice trip; the tour guide introduced us to some Sri Lankan culture and things to do in Sri Lanka. Something that bothered me was the time management; it says the duration for the whole trip is 12-14 hours, but it ended up taking 16.5 hours. I headed out at 6:00 and returned to the accommodation at 22:30. Also, the description should specify that after Sigiriya, customers get to pick between doing a village tour or the safari. It did not go like what the itinerary show.
The so called professional tour was absolute trash. ABSOLUTELY NOT RECOMMENDED. The tour was scheduled for 7:30 am and the driver came to pick us up 9:45 am. The driver was also very bad at English and he knew nothing he could barely speak any English and knew only to speak yes and no. The amount you are spending for this and the experience you are getting is absolutely -999 NEGATIVE. Absolute garbage, they are scammers and should avoid them. They made us spend money for absolute nothing. Ruined our whole holiday that we planed. WORST COMPANY EVER. THEY ARE SCAMMERS.
Dear Customer, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We take all reviews seriously and have carefully checked our operational records in response to your comments. After a thorough review, we can confirm that there was no tour scheduled at 7:30 AM under our system for the date mentioned. Our tours generally begin at 6:00 AM or at a clearly pre-confirmed pickup time, which is always communicated to guests in advance via written confirmation. We do not operate tours without prior confirmation or clarity on pickup times. At present, your review does not include a booking reference, guest name, or date, which prevents us from accurately identifying the service in question. We kindly request that you contact us directly with these details so we may properly investigate and address your concerns. Without such information, it is not possible for us to verify whether this experience relates to our company. We would also like to clarify that we strongly reject the allegation of scamming. We do not engage in misleading practices, and our chauffeurs are trained professionals, selected based on experience, safety standards, and service quality. While English proficiency may vary depending on the service booked (chauffeur-only service vs. chauffeur-guide service), all our staff are briefed to ensure guests are transported safely and professionally according to the confirmed itinerary. Delays of the nature described are not consistent with our operating standards, and if such an incident had occurred, it would have been recorded and escalated internally. We are always open to reviewing genuine service lapses and offering appropriate resolutions when supported by verifiable booking details. If this review was posted in error or refers to another operator, we respectfully request that it be reviewed accordingly. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and delivering quality travel experiences to our guests. We encourage you to reach out to us directly so we can clarify this matter properly. Kind regards, Apple Vacations Sri Lanka
The day is really cool, but also really, really long. We started at 545am with a 3 hour drive to the cave temples, which require walking up 249 steps. This isn’t bad, but some of the steps on the way down are just a rocky slope. There is a railing but an older lady in our group did have some difficulty. Then, we went on to climb the mountain. We were told it’s about 1250 steps, but this is inaccurate bc once you get up there you’re climbing up and down other stairs. To do this climb, they transferred us to a different guide who only let us stop twice, long enough to grab a photo of each person at the viewpoint. I am prone to heat exhaustion in humid weather like this and could feel myself starting to get affected so I took it upon myself to go much slower. The lunch afterwards was pretty good. Lastly, there’s the option of doing either a village tour or safari. Most of our group chose the safari. You’re transferred to a jeep and are basically off-roading for over two hours on unpaved dirt roads in a park. It was def cool to see elephants and buffalo, but the constant jolting gave me a headache. You’re able to stand up in the jeep to see through the roof, but they put 3 of us in the back and there wasn’t enough room for 3 ppl to comfortably stand. We arrived home at 10:45 — so an incredibly long day. Props to our main guide for driving. He was knowledgeable about the sights and areas, and also really funny. All in all, I’d recommend the tour but def be prepared.
