Explore the best of Sri Lanka on a 3-day tour from Colombo. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temples, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Polonnaruwa Monuments, Tooth Relic temple and the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy a cooking class in Habarana and visit a spice garden in Matale.

Day 1: Colombo-Dambulla-Sigiriya
Early morning drive to hotel in Sigiriya, en-route stop at Dambulla golden temple. In the afternoon, explore the rural village and engage in the cooking class.

Morning: Dambulla Cave Temples
Visit the Dambulla Cave Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the 5 cave temples, Buddha statues, and ancient murals, and learn about their historical significance.

Later Morning: Cooking Class in Habarana
Visit a local market and learn about traditional recipes and local cooking techniques. Enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to your hotel.

Day 2: Sigiriya-Polonnaruwa-Minneriya
Early in the morning, explore the Sigiriya rock fortress, make the sunrise hike and enjoy the breath-taking scenery from top of the rock. Later, drive to Polonnaruwa ancient city and explore the temples, stupas, palaces, gardens and other ancient monuments. In the afternoon, go on a Minneriya National Park safari.

Sigirira rock Early start (5:30 AM recommended)
1,200 steps climb
Key attractions:

Ancient frescoes
Mirror wall
Lion's paw entrance
Palace ruins
Panoramic views
Duration: 3-4 hours

Polonnaruwa UNESCO World Heritage site
Royal Palace complex
Quadrangle
Gal Vihara
Vatadage
Duration: 4-5 hours

Afternoon: Minneriya Wildlife Safari
Start time: 2:30 PM
Wildlife spotting:

Wild elephants
Endemic birds
Reptiles
Deer species
Duration: 3-4 hours

Day 3: Sigiriya-Kandy
Early morning drive to Kandy, en-route stop at spice/herbal garden in Matale. In the afternoon, a visit to the temple of the tooth relic follows a brief Kandy city tour.

Afternoon: Kandy Exploration
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and explore the city highlights.