Lanka’s Trip to Dambulla
Tour Overview
This 6-day Sri Lanka tour takes you through Dambulla, Kandy, and Colombo, combining ancient cave temples, a wildlife safari, hill-country tea estates, and a full city tour. It's a longer, more activity-packed route than the typical 4-night version of this trip.
The journey starts with a transfer from Colombo to Dambulla, stopping immediately at the Dambulla Cave Temple a 22-century-old pilgrimage site holding Sri Lanka's largest collection of Buddha statues across five cave shrines. During the two nights in Dambulla, a half-day safari at Minneriya National Park offers a chance to see large seasonal elephant gatherings, along with deer, wild boar, and a wide range of birdlife. Both morning and evening safari slots are available.
From Dambulla, the route continues to Kandy via Matale, with a stop at a spice garden en route. In Kandy, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic — one of Buddhism's most important pilgrimage sites is the key visit, with an optional evening cultural dance show. The two nights in Kandy include a full-day excursion to Nuwara Eliya, covering the Hakgala Botanical Garden, Gregory Lake, Victoria Park, and a working tea factory.
The trip closes with a transfer to Colombo and a detailed city tour covering Fort, the Pettah goldsmith quarter, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, Dewatagaha Mosque, the Colombo Museum, and the BMICH followed by one night in Colombo before departure.
Accommodation covers three stays: Dambulla (2 nights), Kandy (2 nights), Colombo (1 night). Breakfast is included only in Kandy; Dambulla and Colombo hotels are room-only. Private road transport is included for the full route.
Day Wise Itinerary
We will immediately visit Dambulla Golden Rock Temple, Sri Lanka’s most well-preserved, complex cave temple. The pilgrimage site is over 22 centuries old and dates back to the 1st century BC. While you explore this historical site, observe the colorful frescoes of Buddhist mythologies on the cave ceiling. Take a look at the largest Buddha statues collection in a place. There are five main temples: Dev Raja Viharaya, Maha Raja Viharaya, Maha Alut Viharaya, Paschim Viharaya, and the fifth rock temple.
After exploring the cave temple, we’ll drive to the hotel for check-in. We’ll spend the night in Dambulla.
What's Included
- Small Car from Colombo - Drop at Colombo (Covering Dambulla, Kandy, Colombo as per Itinerary) All taxes, toll and parking charges and driver expenses are included
- Hakagala Botanical Garden in Nuwara Eliya (Entrance Fee) Hakgala Botanical Garden is the second largest garden among the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka and is contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, which is the home to a variety of wild life, including bears, monkeys and birds. Situated some 5 kilometers South of Nuwara Eliya, the road to Hakgala along the Badulla road is a pleasant downhill drive, mostly through pine forests. The comfortable cool weather that prevails throughout the year compliments the exotic flora and fauna, creating a true paradise. It boasts thousands of flora species. . The main sections of the garden are the rock garden, water garden, fern garden, Japanese garden and the seed room. Hakgala is a temperate hill-country garden, where the lovely low-country lotus and water lily mingles in their serene simplicity with sophisticated English roses, pre-historic looking ferns, and endemic orchids. The intimidating Hakgala rock provides an awe inspiring backdrop to the garden, rising 450 meters over it. According to the legends, the history of Hakgala Gardens dates back to the time of Ramayanaya; an epic love story of the east. Queen Sita, captured and brought to Sri Lanka, is said to have been hidden in this vicinity and the Hakgala Gardens is said to be one of the pleasure gardens of King Ravana called Ashok Vatika.
- Passport fees, immunization costs, city taxes at the hotel and local departure taxes (wherever applicable)
- Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, or local camera or video fees
- Additional sightseeing, activities and experiences outside of the itinerary
- Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
- Breakfast, lunches, dinners and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), unless specified in the itinerary
- Any international and/or domestic flights, unless explicitly mentioned as an inclusion
- Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
- Tips for services and experiences
- Any Visa required, unless mentioned as an inclusion
- Read useful information and terms for more on what is included and excluded
Important Information
- • General
- • Please make sure that the passport of all guests travelling is valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
- • We can only facilitate the visa application for the travelling passengers. Granting of visa is solely at the discretion of Embassy. If visa is rejected or delayed by the Embassy for any reason then we are not liable to give any refund and respective cancellation policies will apply.
Airline seats and hotel rooms are subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Seat selection and room allocation (including room number, floor, view, and proximity of rooms) are determined by the airline/hotel and cannot be guaranteed.In case of unavailability in the listed hotels, arrangement for an alternate accommodation will be made in a hotel of similar standard.
The price does not include any personal or incidental expenses, including laundry, room service, minibar charges, beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), tips, portage, and similar services.
If your stay falls on special dates (like 24th December, 31st December, 14th February, etc.) when hotel organize gala dinner, then there may be mandatory Gala Dinner Charges additional that you need to pay at the hotel directly.
Country guidelines may change without notice, hence do check travel rules and your eligibility for travel on the regulatory website of the respective country/state, before booking your travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
This 5 night 6 day Sri Lanka package includes hotel stay at Habarana Village by Cinnamon near Dambulla (2 nights), Radisson Hotel Kandy (2 nights), and Marino Beach Colombo (1 night), plus private car transfers for the whole trip with all toll, parking and driver charges included. Breakfast is included only during the Kandy and last-day Colombo stretch. Flights, most other meals, and entry tickets are not included.
This is a private tour with a dedicated car and driver for the entire 6-day trip, not a shared group vehicle.
Yes. The Dambulla Golden Rock Cave Temple is visited on Day 1, right after arriving from Colombo airport, before checking in to the hotel.
This isn't specified with a fixed amount in the itinerary. Confirm the exact entry cost with your travel advisor before travel.
Yes, as a half-day excursion on Day 2 with a choice of morning safari (6 AM, better for bird sightings) or evening safari (3 PM, better for spotting elephant herds). This park is known for hosting one of the world's largest gatherings of Asian elephants.
Package: Sri Lanka Tour Package
Lanka’s Trip to Dambulla
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