Anuradhapura 2 nights
Hotel to confirm
Hotel to confirm
Our partner rate, on request
Ask which hotel
10 nights · Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Kandy
Sri Lanka ancient cities itinerary: Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Kandy
The Cultural Triangle done properly, starting where most itineraries skip: two nights at Anuradhapura, the oldest of the capitals, before Sigiriya and Kandy.
Still being finalised. We are finalising the hotels and the last three nights of this route. Everything marked “to confirm” below is being settled with the hotels now — ask us and we will tell you exactly where it stands for your dates.
What this trip includes
10 nights in hand-picked hotelsfrom US$45 a night
Full board, every nightIncluded
Every drive between your hotelsOn us
Deposit or card details onlineNone
Get my quote for this route
Real prices for your dates, usually within the hour.
Map: the Ancient cities and Kandy route with drive times marked
Where you sleep
Sights along the way
Day by day
A pace that leaves room to sit still. Every day can be changed, and anything you add goes on the same quote.
1day
Anuradhapura
Hotel to confirmAnuradhapura Ancient City (UNESCO)
2day
Anuradhapura
Hotel to confirmMihintale Temple
3day
Sigiriya
Hotel to confirmSigiriya RockDambulla (UNESCO)
4day
Sigiriya
Hotel to confirmDambulla Caves Temple (UNESCO)
5day
Sigiriya
Hotel to confirmMinneriya National Park safari
6day
Kandy
Hotel to confirmTemple of the Tooth Relic
7day
Kandy
8day
Still to confirm
Hotel to confirmWe are finalising this day with the hotels
9day
Still to confirm
Hotel to confirmWe are finalising this day with the hotels
10day
Still to confirm
Hotel to confirmWe are finalising this day with the hotels
Where you'll stay
One hotel at each stop, two nights each, so you are not packing every morning. Swap any of them and the quote updates.
Sigiriya & Dambulla 3 nights
Hotel to confirm
Hotel to confirm
Our partner rate, on request
Ask which hotel
Hero photo needed: Kandy lake with the Temple of the Tooth behind it, wide
What's included, and what isn't
No surprises when you land. If something isn't on the left, it's either on the right or it's an add-on we'll quote separately.
Included
- Ten nights in our partner hotels, at our partner rates
- Full board throughout: breakfast, lunch and dinner at your hotel
- A private driver for every drive between your hotels
- One planner on WhatsApp, from your first message to the airport
- Changes to the route before you travel
Not included
- Flights
- Entrance fees at temples, parks and national parks — ask us what is covered on your route
- Meals away from your hotel
- Anything you add to the trip that is not listed above
Where this route stops
Honest guides to every area on this trip: what each one is good for, and what it is not.
Add these along the way
Private experiences run by our own team, added to the same quote as your hotels.
Sunrise at Sigiriya rock
- Duration
- Half day
- When
- All year
- Run by
- Genuine Sri Lankans
Pidurangala at sunrise
- Duration
- 3 hours
- When
- All year
- Run by
- Genuine Sri Lankans
Photo needed: the painted ceilings inside the Dambulla cave temple
Dambulla cave temple
- Duration
- 2 hours
- When
- All year
- Run by
- Genuine Sri Lankans
Elephant safari, Minneriya
- Duration
- Half day
- When
- Best July to October
- Run by
- Genuine Sri Lankans
Questions people ask about this route
If yours isn't here, ask it on WhatsApp. It's the same people either way.
Which hotels are on this route?
We are finalising them with our partner hotels in each area now. Message us with your dates and we will confirm exactly which hotels we can hold for you, at our partner rates.
Is Anuradhapura worth two nights?
Yes, if ancient sites are why you came. The city is spread over a wide area of tanks and stupas and takes most of a day by car; two nights means you see it at first light rather than in the midday heat.
How is this different from the whole-island route?
This one stays inland and goes further north, to Anuradhapura and Mihintale. The whole-island route skips those and adds the hill country, two safaris and the south coast instead.
What does full board mean here?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner at your hotel are included on every night of this route. Meals you eat out on the road are not.
Every drive on this route is covered by our own driver. How a private driver works in Sri Lanka.
Other routes
Same driver, same planner, a different shape of trip.
Suggested route 10 nights
Sri Lankan Essential
Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Yala and the south coast
Everything, without rushing. Two nights at every stop, so you unpack once and stay put for a day.
Price based on
- 10 nights in partner hotels, 2 adults
- Hotels from US$45 a night
- Full board, and every drive between hotels included
Suggested route 10 nights
Hills and the south coast
Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Haputale and the south coast
For people who would rather go high and then go flat than tick off ancient cities. Four nights in the hills, four on the coast.
Price based on
- 10 nights in partner hotels, 2 adults
- Hotels from US$45 a night
- Full board, and every drive between hotels included
Want this route? Tell us your dates.
We'll match hotels to your budget and send one quote for the whole trip. Change any stop, add nights, or swap a hotel you've already got your eye on.
WhatsApp us
Send your dates and who's travelling. We'll reply with a plan and real prices.
Start a chatUsually within the hour, 7am to 10pm
Email us
Prefer email? Tell us what you have in mind and we'll write back with a full plan.
travel@genuinesrilankans.comReplied to the same day
Book a video call
Plan it face to face with a planner, and see the hotels and routes on screen together.
Choose a timeNext-day slots usually available
The planning team at Genuine Sri Lankans, answering from Sri Lanka