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Sigiriya rock fortress rising above the forest under a blue sky

Ready-made itinerary · 5 days

Five days of ancient cities and Kandy

A short first visit built around the island's great heritage sites. Climb Sigiriya at dawn, see the cave temples of Dambulla, and end with an evening at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.

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Ready-made itinerary

The trip, day by day

2 adults · Balanced · Mid-range

  1. 1Negombo1n
  2. 2Sigiriya2n
  3. 3Kandy1n
per personLKR 82k–149k
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Your route

3 stops · 351 km · about 10 hr driving

Route map: Negombo, Sigiriya, KandyAdam's Peak (Sri Pada)AhangamaAnuradhapuraArugam BayBentotaColomboDambullaEllaGalleHaputaleHikkaduwaHiriketiyaKalpitiyaKitulgalaKnuckles RangeMirissaNuwara EliyaPasikudahPolonnaruwaRatnapuraSinharajaTangalleThalpeTissamaharamaTrincomaleeUdawalaweWeligamaWilpattuCMB1Negombo2Sigiriya3Kandy
  1. 1NegomboWest coast1 night
  2. 2SigiriyaCultural Triangle2 nights
  3. 3KandyHill country1 night

Lines join overnight stops in order. They are not road paths.

  1. Arrival

    Land and settle in Negombo

    Night in Negombo

    Land

    Fishing boats moored in the Negombo lagoon
    1. Land

      Land at Bandaranaike International Airport, pick up your SIM card and meet your driver.

    2. Drive to Negombo15 minup to 30 min in traffic · 7 km
    3. 15:15

      St Mary's Church

      30 min Free entry
  2. Travel day

    Negombo to Sigiriya

    Night in Sigiriya

    Two early starts in the Cultural Triangle.

    Sigiriya rock fortress rising above the forest under a blue sky
    1. 08:30
      Drive to Sigiriya3 hr 45 minup to 4 hr 30 min in traffic · 147 km
  3. Explore

    Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla cave temple

    Night in Sigiriya

    The path through the Sigiriya water gardens towards the rock
    1. 07:30

      Sigiriya Rock Fortress

      3 hrUS$35 official
    2. 14:30

      Dambulla cave temple

      1 hr 30 minLKR 2,000–3,300 confirm at gate30 min each way from your base
  4. Travel day

    Sigiriya to Kandy

    Night in Kandy

    The last royal capital and the Temple of the Tooth.

    The path across the lawns to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
    1. 08:30
      Drive to Kandy2 hr 30 minup to 3 hr in traffic · 89 km
    2. 18:00

      Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

      1 hr 30 minLKR 3,000 official
  5. Departure

    Kandy to the airport

    Flight home from CMB

    The lake-side buildings of the Temple of the Tooth on Kandy Lake

    1. Check out and drive to the airport. Aim to arrive three hours before your flight.

    2. Drive to the airport3 hrup to 3 hr 30 min in traffic · 108 km

Budget estimate

Mid-range · 2 adults · February

LKR 82,000 – 149,000per person · whole trip LKR 165k–297k for two
  • Places to stay32k–80k
  • Car and driver60k–100k
  • Food30k–60k
  • Tickets and activities33k–37k
  • Everything else10k–20k

Estimated ranges, not quotes. Based on published 2026 prices, reviewed 22 Oct 2026. Excludes flights and visas. Tickets are counted where a price is known.

Good to know

  • Fly out in the afternoon or evening. The drive from Kandy to the airport takes three to four hours.
  • Book a car and driver for the whole trip; there is no easy public transport between these stops.