Day 1: Airport to Sigiriya
Met at the airport and driven north through coconut country and the Kurunegala hills to Sigiriya village, about four hours. Settle in, and climb nothing today.
Short trip · 4 days
Cultural Triangle Express
Four days, three ancient capitals, one very large rock
At a glance
- 4 days · Short trip
- Cultural Triangle
- Jan–Mar & May–Sep
- About 10h 55m
- Good value per person
The highest-value short trip in Sri Lanka for anyone whose interest is history. Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa sit within an hour of each other, so you see three World Heritage Sites without ever facing a long drive. Built for stopovers and business extensions.
Day by day
Driving times are door-to-door estimates for typical road conditions, not routing output. Days over five hours on the road are flagged.
Day 2: Pidurangala at dawn, Sigiriya at opening time
Up at 5am for the scramble onto Pidurangala and the first light on Sigiriya, back for breakfast, then the 1,200 steps to Kassapa's summit palace before the heat. The afternoon is yours.
On this day
- Pidurangala rock at sunrise
- Sigiriya rock at opening time
Day 3: Polonnaruwa by bicycle
An early run east to the twelfth-century capital, then three hours on a bicycle under the trees between the Quadrangle, the great stupas and the Gal Vihara Buddhas. Back to Sigiriya for the evening.
On this day
- Polonnaruwa by bicycle
Day 4: Dambulla caves and the road home
The five painted cave shrines at Dambulla on the way south, lunch in town, and back to the airport in the afternoon. Allow four hours for the drive.
On this day
- Dambulla cave temple
Transfers & vehicle
Tell us if you want to be met at the airport or dropped back, and which vehicle suits your group.
What’s included
Included
- Included: Private vehicle and English-speaking driver throughout
- Included: Three nights' accommodation in Sigiriya
- Included: Daily breakfast
- Included: Licensed site guides at Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla
- Included: Bicycle hire at Polonnaruwa
Not included
- Not included: International flights and visa
- Not included: Site entrance fees, which are significant at Sigiriya
- Not included: Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Not included: Travel insurance
- Not included: Tips
Where this trip goes
3 destinations, in route order.
Enquire about Cultural Triangle Express
Send us your dates and party size and we will come back with availability, a firm price and anything we would change about the route for your month. It is an enquiry, not a booking — nothing is charged and nothing is committed.