Sigiriya Village Tour and Lunch
Description
This 3-hour private village tour gives you a chance to experience traditional Sri Lanka with all its authenticity. Spend time with the villagers and engage in many village activities that form everyday life; such as an oxen cart ride, a catamaran ride, and a walk through the fields. Learn to cook traditional Sri Lankan food. You will finish off with an exceptionally delicious buffet lunch, served in classic Sri Lankan style. This is your truly Sri Lankan holiday experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will be starting your Village Tour at 10:30am. You will be provided with directions to the village, where you will be met by your tour guide at the time of starting. You will have a quick walk around the village while your guide tells you more about village life. You will begin the first of your activities at approximately 10:45am. The oxen cart is commonly used as the primary mode of transport in Sri Lankan villages. You will have a 15-minute oxen cart ride, ending at the banks of an artificial reservoir. From this point, you will continue on to a 15 minute traditional catamaran ride. The area has many types of aquatic and plant life. You may be able to catch sight of an occasional crocodile or water monitor as you glide along. Another possible sighting are cormorants and other waterbirds. After you enjoy your time with nature, you will be deposited on a bank adjoining some paddy fields. These seasonal paddy cultivations, also called ‘Chena’ cultivations, are dependent on the two major monsoon rain periods that take the place of winter in Sri Lanka. The walk through the fields will allow you to see the paddy cultivation first-hand. This quick tour will last 15 minutes and your guide will update you with more information about the local methods of rice cultivation. You will then move back to the village and be introduced to a local, who will give you a half hour cooking demonstration on traditional Sri Lankan cooking. The demonstration will also allow you to make your own attempt at cooking a Sri Lankan dish. You will be having lunch right after at 12:15pm. Lunch will be a buffet of perfectly cooked rice with 6 traditionally cooked Sri Lankan curries and fresh fried fish. You will also have a green salad and crunchy papadum, practically an essential addition for meals in most Sri Lankan and Indian homes. You will be eating on woven trays with clean lotus leaves on top. Your food which will be cooked in the traditional way, in clay pots over wood fires. After the rather relaxing meal, you can spend some time in the village at your ease. Your tour guide will finish off your tour at 1:30pm.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your Hotel in Sigiriya
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 10 years
- Comfortable Walking shoes & hats Recommended
- A maximum of 8 people per booking
Reviews(18)
It was ok overall. We were expecting a guide to tell us about the village life, but that wasn’t included. Just an ox ride, a very slow tractor ride. The catamaran boat ride was lovely. And then a very brief food demonstration, but we mostly just sat around until lunch was ready. We didn’t really get to see “the village”
Absolutely loved my tour, from pick up to the office for quick brief intro then you are on your way. Great communication, plenty of flavour for the home cooking and not to mention the beautiful lake on a catamaran with the tour guide making gorgeous flower arrangements. Totally recommend.
I would avoid booking on this platform altogether, book local or use get your guide. They were 20 minutes late to pick us up, tips were DEMANDED despite the tour price of 25 USD each. We waited another 15 minutes for the tractor to arrive and then after food another 20 minutes for the tuk tuk back to the city. The tour ended an hour and a half early if you count from when food was finished. An hour early from when we were dropped off. So about 45 minutes stood around waiting, and an hour early which means this 3 hour tour is just over 1 hour long. The food was nice, and the lady who cooked it sweet which is why I have given 2 stars not 1
Unfortunately, we didn't like the ox carriage ride so much, the animals are really not doing well there. We wouldn't have needed the tractor ride either. You go through several stations and everyone asks for tips from you, so you end up getting rid of a lot of money. We really liked the boat ride, the man was very friendly and we got beautiful flowers, we also liked the small cooking class very much. You could just shorten the tour a bit and then offer it correspondingly cheaper. Overall nice, but not worth 45 euros.
(J36766U03) Thank you for your honest feedback 😊 We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the boat trip and the cooking class, and that our team made those parts special for you. We’re sorry to hear that some parts of the experience did not meet your expectations, particularly the oxcart and tractor rides, as well as the overall value. Your comments are very important and will be shared with our team to help improve the experience and pricing clarity in the future. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. 🌿
Trip starts with an ox-chart. Then tuk-tuk. When you reach the lake o boat is waiting for a a lake tour. The boatman prepares a hat form the lotus leaves and a necklace from lotus flowers. Then walking to the village where they prepare local food. You can join if you like. After preparing the local food with the help of the local woman you can eat the delicious food. Good experience especially for those who haven’t been to a village.
Very pleasant surprise! Got to ride on the back of a cow driven cart, tuk tuk, and a rowed catamaran - seeing animals and nature. It's a fun little stop along the way, and would definitely recommend.
(J35270U05P1) Thank you for sharing your lovely experience! We’re delighted you enjoyed the cow cart ride, tuk tuk journey, and catamaran trip. A perfect little nature escape—your recommendation means a lot to us!
This was a fabulous unexpected highlight of our time in Sigiriya. The staff were so fun and we had a delicious lunch cooked in a traditional kitchen using intuitive and basic utensils. The staff had pride in their traditional Sri Lankan village culture and were proud to show it. It was very fun.
(J35451U03) Thank you so much for taking the time to review your experience and our service. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback are a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. We hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka.
Right from the hotel pickup to the amazing bullock cart ride through the rustic roads of Sigiriya village , a breathtaking view of the lake and in it a memorable Cataman ride , everything was beyond perfection. Then we arrived in the local villagers house where we were greeted with drum beats and had the experience of cooking and learning what srilankan cuisine is . We were served with love and had the most amazing start and end of our trip! Worth visiting again
(J35451U03) Thank you so much for taking the time to review your experience and our service. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback are a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. We hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka.
It was a nice experience to visit the village of Sigirya. You start with a bull ride (don’t worry, it’s less than 10 minutes, because I too am not a fan of this kind of animal abuse), but then are brought onto the water on a nice boat. It’s very peaceful and calm. You receive a flower from the boat captain before docking. Then you walk though rice fields and are welcomed by ladies who prepare a home cooked, authentic over-the-fire meal. You can also try a few things and they give you a demo on how to make the roof out of rice leaves. You are then taken back by tuktuk to the start of the tour.
J35211U1P1 Thank you so much for taking your time to share an insightful review of your experience and our service. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback is a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. I hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka.
The ox cart ride was fun and the lake safari interesting but the standout was the lunch cooking in the village. The two girls explained everything and involved us in the preparation of a traditional meal over a wood fired oven. The meal was the best we have had in Sri Lanka. Exceptional
(J34226U03) Thank you so much for taking your time to share an insightful review of your experience and our service. We are thrilled to hear the lasting impression the experience has left on you, Your wonderful comments and positive feedback is a great incentive for us to further ensure and enhance our level of service for the future as well. I hope to have you again here in Sri Lanka
