Culture & Heritage
Overview
Explore Sri Lanka ancient cities, temples, traditions, food and living culture.
Day 1 is the arrival day and the final day is the departure day. Depending on international flight times, additional sightseeing can be added on either of these days.
Itinerary
Arrive and ease in with a visit to a working fishing village before the cultural journey begins.
Overnight Stay: NegomboHighlights:
- - Rest
- - Visit a local fishing village
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Dutch canal
- - St. Mary's Church
- - Fish market
Explore Sri Lanka's first great monastic city, its dagobas and sacred bo tree still central to living Buddhist practice.
Overnight Stay: AnuradhapuraHighlights:
- - Sacred city dagobas
- - Isurumuniya temple carvings
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Abhayagiri Dagoba
- - Twin Ponds
- - Mihintale hill
Move to the compact and remarkably well-preserved medieval capital, famed for its rock-cut Buddha images.
Overnight Stay: Polonnaruwa or SigiriyaHighlights:
- - Gal Vihara rock carvings
- - Royal palace ruins
- - Ancient reservoirs
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Rankoth Vehera
- - Lankatilaka image house
- - Parakrama Samudra lake
Climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya, an engineering and artistic marvel, then visit the painted caves at Dambulla.
Overnight Stay: SigiriyaHighlights:
- - Sigiriya Rock Fortress and frescoes
- - Dambulla Cave Temple
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Pidurangala Rock
- - Sigiriya Museum
- - Village tour
Travel to the last royal capital, home to the island's most sacred Buddhist relic and a living tradition of Kandyan dance.
Overnight Stay: KandyHighlights:
- - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- - Evening Kandyan cultural dance show
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Kandy Lake
- - Local market
- - Bahirawakanda viewpoint
A full day around Kandy exploring gardens, spices and food, including a hands-on cooking class.
Overnight Stay: KandyHighlights:
- - Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
- - Spice garden
- - Local market visit
- - Traditional cooking class
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Ceylon Tea Museum
- - Udawattakele forest reserve walk
- - Kandy crafts market
Return to Colombo for a last look at the capital's temples and markets before transferring to the airport.
Highlights:
- - Gangaramaya Temple
- - Pettah bazaar
- - Transfer to airport
Also worth seeing, subject to available time:
- - Red Mosque (Jami-Ul-Alfar)
- - Independence Square
- - National Museum — subject to flight time