Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya
Cultural Triangle in depth, 4 days is a private Sri Lanka tour by Majeste. It costs $402 per person for two at shoulder-season rates (for the hotels on this route, April and 1 November to 20 December), with comfort hotels, entrance tickets and your own car and English-speaking driver included, and temple-run sites paid there. Prices checked 7 Nov 2026. In its best months, Feb to Mar, Jun to Sep, it costs $394 to $429 per person for two, depending on the start date. It stops at Anuradhapura, Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana), in that order. The longest drive is on day 1, from the airport to Anuradhapura, about 4 h 15 min. Nothing to pay now.
Three nights across the Cultural Triangle for people who want the history, not just the rock. Two nights at Anuradhapura give time for the sacred city by bicycle and the Mihintale climb at sunset, then a night at Sigiriya for Polonnaruwa, the rock at opening time and Dambulla on the way out. Day 1 is a long one: about 4 hours 15 minutes to Anuradhapura with a stop at Yapahuwa. The sites are hot and spread out, and shoes come off on hot stone.
A long first day: about 4 hours 15 minutes of driving, broken by the climb up Yapahuwa's ornamental stairway (30 to 45 minutes). You reach Anuradhapura in the late afternoon, in time for the evening lamps at Ruwanwelisaya if you are not too tired.
From 07:00 you cycle the flat sacred city with a guide: the Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiri, the Samadhi Buddha and the Twin Ponds. It is hot by 10:00 and the ground at the dagobas burns bare feet, so carry socks. At 15:30 you drive 25 to 30 minutes to Mihintale and climb its 1,840 steps for sunset.
Drive 1 hour 40 minutes to Sigiriya with a 45-minute detour to the 12-metre Avukana Buddha. After lunch continue to Polonnaruwa, 1 hour 25 minutes each way, for the museum, the Quadrangle and the Gal Vihara Buddhas; allow 3 hours on site. If energy allows, Pidurangala Rock for sunset; many people skip it after this day, and that is fine.
Sigiriya Rock at the 07:00 counter opening, before the heat and the queues: 2 to 3 hours including the frescoes and the water gardens. Then 30 minutes to Dambulla's cave temple and about 3 hours 45 minutes to the airport, so plan on a flight after 18:00.
| Stop | Simple | Comfort (this tour) | Superior | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anuradhapura2 nights |
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| Sigiriya (Dambulla and Habarana)1 night |
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| Per person for two | $353 | $402 | $475 | $696 |
Hotels are named as examples of the standard you will get. If a named hotel is full we book one of the same standard in the same area and tell you which. Bed and breakfast unless the itinerary says otherwise.
| When | Per person | Compared |
|---|---|---|
| June (low season) | $394 | Lowest |
| November (shoulder season) | $402 | $8 more than the lowest |
| February (peak season) | $429 | $35 more than the lowest |
| Christmas and New Year | $453 | Highest, $59 more than the lowest |
Priced for a start date in each period. Your dates may fall across two seasons, so check them in the price box. Some stops here cost more in their own busy weeks, such as mid-July to August. The Christmas and New Year price includes our estimate of any compulsory gala dinner on 24 or 31 December.
| Group | Per person | Total | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $620 | $620 | Car |
| 2 adults | $402 | $803 | Car |
| 3 adults | $402 | $1,203 | Van |
| 4 adults | $347 | $1,386 | Van |
| 6 adults | $326 | $1,952 | Large van |
| 8 adults | $304 | $2,431 | Large van |
Two adults share each room, and an odd adult has a single room at 80% of the double rate. We pick the smallest vehicle that seats the group in comfort. Per-person figures are rounded up to the dollar.
Day 1 is about 4 hours 15 minutes of driving; day 3 includes a 2 hour 50 minute round trip to Polonnaruwa.
Driving north first means the shortest total distance and lets you climb Sigiriya on your last morning at opening time, when it is coolest and quietest.
A lot, on hot stone and in the open. Mihintale is 1,840 steps and Sigiriya about 1,200, Polonnaruwa is 3 to 4 hours on foot or by bicycle. Wear socks for the barefoot zones and a hat.
Yes. Sigiriya to Kandy is about 2 hours 45 minutes, which is shorter than the airport drive. Use Change the route or add days beside the price: the planner prices it before you book.
The week around Poson Poya in June fills Anuradhapura with pilgrims and hotels sell out. Other weeks in June are fine.
Sigiriya is USD 35, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura USD 30, the Temple of the Tooth LKR 3,000; a park ticket for two is USD 71.86. Checked 7 November 2026.
Majeste's Classic Sri Lanka 7-day tour is USD 866 per person for two in 3-star hotels, shoulder season, with car, driver, tickets and safaris. 7 Nov 2026.
January to March is driest on the west and south coasts, in the hills and the Cultural Triangle; May to September suits the east. Checked 7 Nov 2026.
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Fees last checked 7 Nov 2026. Hotel rates last checked 7 Nov 2026. Transport rates last checked 7 Nov 2026. Activity prices last checked 7 Nov 2026. Rupee fees converted at LKR 332.5 to USD 1 (XE mid-market rate, 6 Nov 2026).
Where the figures come from
More about our photos on the credits page.
Example for 2, no date chosen
$402per person, rounded up$803.15 total
for 2 adults, 4 days, comfort hotels, car, shoulder season
Nothing to pay now. You pay your driver in cash when the trip starts. Plans change? Cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup. Replies within 30 minutes, 07:00 to 21:00 Sri Lanka time.
