• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Embark on a Sigiriya Rock day trip outside of Kandy where many treasures, insights, and stories are waiting. Let a local host show you around and experience this cultural attraction from a local perspective. Give yourself the gift of a Sigiriya Rock day trip with a local - it’s a must-do!

Destination

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Category

Day Trips

Duration

10 hours

Transport mode

Car

Available languages

English, Sinhala, Tamil

Included

• Private Guide
• A/C car
• Guest pick up and drop off
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral
• Pick-up Included

Excluded

• Lunch
• Entrance Tickets

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 3 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   You will be picked up anywhere in Kandy. Your local host will contact you regarding the exact pickup point.

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. The Journey Begins!

   Meet your host and get ready to hit the road. Whether it is by car or public transportation, your host will be there by your side to make the journey a more pleasant and enjoyable experience

4. Sigiriya Rock

   Let your local host show you around and find must-sees, hidden gems, history, cultural treasures, and more! Your host will make sure to provide you with all the answers and insights you might have along the way

5. Like a Local

   The best part about this private day trip is that you get to experience Dambulla cave temple, and, Buddhist statues from a different perspective - away from the big tourist groups, audio guides, and through the knowledge of a local!

6. Ask Away!

   Your day trip is 100% private, meaning that it’s only you and your local host. Take advantage of this opportunity and get all the answers and insights to your questions as you embark on your Sigiriya Rock day trip

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Elizabeth 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dushan )

22 March 2022

We went to Sigiriya with Dushan and had a great day exploring. Dushan got in contact before to arrange pick up and make sure we had everything in place. He also asked us what else we might want to see so we could adapt the day to suit us which we really appreciated (for example, we stopped at a spice garden on the way back) He had good knowledge about the history of Sigriya and the cave temples and looked after us well. There was a lot of driving and he was a great and safe driver so we were more than comfortable the whole trip. It was great to have a personal guide rather than be part of a big group and we would definitely pick Dushan again for any future trips and tours!Great

Iris🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Rohana)

4 January 2022

Rohana ist eine sehr angenehme, ruhige Person, die mir im Laufe des Tages den Buddhismus nahe gebracht hat. Sauberes, desinfiziertes Auto und es ist auch regelmäßig das Fenster geöffnet worden. Rohana geht auch gerne auf Sonderwünsche ein. Fazit: Es war ein toller Tag, viel erlebt, viel gesehen, viel erfahren.Sehr lehrreich

Gabriel🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Ranil)

14 December 2021

We went on a couple of tours during our time in Sri Lanka and we must say that our tour with Ranil was definitely the best one. Ranil was very knowledgable, attentive and super friendly. He knew how to tell good stories and made sure we were always enjoying ourselves. We got a richer understanding of Sri Lanka's culture and religion. We definitely recommend doing this tour with Ranil!Great tour with a wonderful tour guide

Ross

(About local Dushan )

11 March 2020

My wife and I visited Sri Lanka in March 2020. We booked a day trip to Sigiriya and are so happy we selected Dushan as our guide. We asked to be collected earlier than planned and about 30 minutes outside Kandy, but Dushan could not have been more accommodating. He drove us to Sigiriya, which was just over two hours from where we were staying. Afterwards we ate some lunch at the amazing Athula Restaurant in Dambulla, then visited three temples on the way back to hotel. Throughout the journey, Dushan shared the history of our surroundings and Sri Lanka as a whole. He was a really easy guy to talk to and even stopped so we could enjoy a coconut on the way home. We both agree that this day trip was the highlight of our amazing stay in Sri Lanka. Thanks so much Dushan! Sigiriya day trip with Dushan

Ray🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Rohana)

5 February 2020

We had a great day out with Rohana! He was an excellent driver (not too fast!) and was very insightful about all the different places we went to visit, as well as any general questions we had about Sri Lanka, it's history and culture. Would definitely recommend Rohana. Excellent guide - highly recommend

Matthew🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Chandana )

26 January 2020

The trip was great and Chandana was good fun and full of the banter! We enjoyed the tour and were able to stop for water and juice in the hot sun! Safe and cautious driver. Chatty but not at all overbearing and plenty of quiet time when needed. Thumbs up! Very informative, relaxed and friendly

Lesley🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dushan )

11 January 2020

A great trip, Dushan was really nice and friendly. Punctual and gave us a couple of ideas of things to do on drive. Definitely recommend!Excellent trip

Simone🇮🇹 Italy

(About local Ranil)

6 January 2020

I did with Ranjl the Sigiriya and Dumballa tour. He is a very flexible, friendly, qualified guide. He brought me to every place in the exact time, when there is not too much people and the weather is perfect for make photos and see the things! He made me feel always appeased and he gave me good advice also for other activities. Highly recommended Sigiriya and Dambulla tour

Andy🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Chandana )

19 December 2019

I had a really great day with Chandana today despite the rain. We did the day trip to Dambulla and Sigiriya. Chandana is an absolutely attentive and good driver and guide! But that's only a minor matter, because although I'm not an native english speaker, I was able to talk to him very well. Not only did he show and explain the different places to me, but we talked about politics, society, religion and sports during the whole drive. It was very interesting to hear his view of Sri Lanka. Beside the main attractions we tasted some Sri Lankan food and visited two further tempels. I can only recommend him.Very nice Guide!

ESME

(About local Chandana )

2 December 2019

Chandana was a great host and was very knowledgeable about the areas we saw in Dambulla. He knows lots of history about Sigyria Rock and the Dambulla cave temples. He was very patient and didn't rush any part of our tour, and he is very pleasant to deal with. We would recommend Chandana to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, friendly guide! Sri Lanka’s Best Treasures: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Caves

Jan🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Dushan )

21 November 2019

Thank you, Dushan, for a wonderful day discovering Sri Lanka's World heritage. We felt very welcome and thanks to your huge knowledge and helpful background information our trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla won't be forgotten so soon. Special thanks to being so flexible in adapting our trip to our personal interests. We definitely recommend booking this tour.Thank you!

Dominic🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Chandana )

8 November 2019

We had an incredible day with Chandana - we visited Sigiriya, Dambulla Caves & 2 other temples. Chandana is knowledgeable, helpful and a great guide. He drove us to each place & showed us around. We recommend this day - wonderful places & a very good guide. Sri-Lanka's Best Treasures Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Caves

Nathalia🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ranil)

27 September 2019

What an awesome way to see Sigiriya and the temples! Ranil is an awesome man who was kind and caring! After booking with this app, we messaged him asking if he could meet a day early to pick us up from Colombo airport and drive us to our hotel in Kandy. This was absolutely no issue and even on the way we stopped for a local lunch and met his family! On the day of our adventure, he picked us up at 6.30am to avoid the rush and we went straight to Lion Rock where we climbed and he taught us about the history. We then visited quite a few temples and had another local lunch before being dropped back at our hotel. What an amazing experience, and what an amazing tour guide! Something we will never forget! Amazing!

Dominic🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Dushan )

6 September 2019

Dushan is a very good guide. He showed us the Sigiriya Rock, dambulla caves and a Hindu tempel. He is a save driver. The tour looks expensive, but every entree ticket is included (the sigiriya rock is already over 25 euro per person Entrance) I can recommend Dushan for sure!!Very good

Padraig🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Ranil)

16 August 2019

Ranil is a very friendly, helpful and informative guide. He answered any questions that we had and shared his own experiences with us. He is very knowledgeable and we found the tour very educational. Ranil also brought us to a number of temples that were not included on the itinerary. He advised us on Sri lankan food that we must try and even bought us king coconuts. We would highly recommend Ranil as a tour guide in Sri Lanka! Fantastic

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Rohana)

17 April 2019

We had a great day with Ruwan visiting Sigiriya and the cave temples at Dambulla! He picked us up from Kandy and made no fuss when we changed hotel and pickup time. Ruwan was very knowledgable and acted as our guide throughout all parts of the day. We also had a very delicious lunch! He made us feel very at ease all day and even found a pub to drop us off at at the end of the day. Thanks so much!Sigiriya/Dambulla Day Trip from Kandy

Aaron🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Rohana)

17 April 2019

Ruwan took us on a customised day tour to Sigiriya, Pidurangala rock, Dambulla temples and Matale temple. Everything was perfect and Ruwan made it extra special. He is extremely knowledgeable about Sri Lanka and is happy to share his culture, stories and many elements about the Sri Lanka life style. We were so glad to pick him as guide and learned so much about Sri Lanka. Ruwan is a very genuine and nice person who will make your tour memorable.Knowledgable, kind & friendly local guide

Vicky🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dushan )

13 April 2019

Had a really good experience. Dushan was punctual, polite and professional throughout the whole day and I would thoroughly recommend him as a driver and guide.Great day trip

Ahlam🇮🇱 Israel

(About local Dushan )

10 April 2019

We booked him for 2 times in the round he, great comfortable car, he will explain about the stuff that he knows, and he was patient with us especially in the lion rock, it took us and extra hour to be there. Great

Justine🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ranil)

2 April 2019

Ranil communicated well before our trip and arrived right on time for pick up. He was patient and polite throughout the day, offered to take pictures and never rushed us. Relaxed and reliable

Safak🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Ranil)

2 April 2019

Ranil is very helpful, kind, decent person.. i highly suggest him for your adventure tour! In the end of our trip, he made us surprise with a gift 💗 Thank you Ranil !Sri Lanka’s Best Treasures: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Caves

Agnes🇺🇸 United States

(About local Ranil)

28 March 2019

Ranil took us on a tour to Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave Rock Temples, and a couple smaller temples. He was a fantastic guide and gave us great info about the places we visited, especially the temples. It took us about 10 hours in total. I was exhausted in the end, but it was worth it. Ranil contacted me on WhatsApp days before our visit and then the day before to schedule the best pick up time and inform us about the dress code for the temples. He is very helpful if you have any questions for him. He picked us up around 7:30 AM at our hotel and even accommodated a stop in town before our 2 hour drive to Sigiriya. Be ready for the stairs to Sigiriya. Wear good shoes and maybe bring a towel (which we didn’t and regretted) and plenty of water. There are breaks in between before you get to the top. Ranil was very knowledgeable about the fortress and gave us interesting info about their water system. After, we went to the Dambulla Cave Temple. There will be more steps to get to the entrance. Once there, you will be required to remove your footwear. I brought socks, which is convenient because the ground can be hot. Shorts must be past the knees and shoulders covered. Ranil gave us detailed info about the statues and temple overall, which can be thought provoking. After the two main attractions, we stopped by another Buddhist temple, an old deserted temple by the lake (very beautiful and peaceful), and was able to see the outside of a Hindu temple (very elaborate temple). On the way, Ranil again accommodated our request to make a stop. He’s so nice and we had such a wonderful time. This was another highlight in our two week trip. Bottom line: do this tour and do it with Ranil. We had a wonderful experience. Thank you so much, Ranil! Definitely a must do!

Gökalp🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Ranil)

27 March 2019

Ranil was so helpful in anyways, he helped us to get Kandy from Colombo and very flexible about timing and all our needs. We definitely recommend him!Very nice

Christian🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Dushan )

21 March 2019

All fine

Sofia

(About local Ranil)

18 March 2019

Sri Lanka’s Best Treasures: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Caves

Thomas🇸🇪 Sweden

(About local Ranil)

15 March 2019

We had a great day with Ranil going to Sigiriya! Ranil was very friendly and had a lot of knowledge to share with very interesting stories of history and culture! Great day in Sigiriya

Natasha

(About local Buddhima)

4 March 2019

Had a great day with Buddhima. She speaks great English and was very knowledgeable about the sites we were taken to. 5 stars for Buddhima

John 🇭🇰 Hong Kong

(About local Sandun)

27 February 2019

Tour itinerary was great and the sites well worth a visit. What we found disappointing was to receive a text the day before stating that Sandun could not make it due to prior family commitments and therefore replacement guide would be sent. The replacement guide was nice, friendly and very accommodating however a little light on specifics. Not what I booked and paid for and therefore somewhat underwhelming in value. Would strongly suggest that you do not take bookings if you already have commentments. All being said we had a really good day visiting wonderful sites. Great tour but not what I paid for

Celine🇫🇷 France

(About local Buddhima)

26 February 2019

Highly recommended. Last minute booking and she was very accommodating! Great food tour too!Great day with a funny lady!

Karolina

(About local Rohana)

8 February 2019

If you are looking for a trully amazing experience, don't hesitate to contact Ruwan. He is a great guide and story teller. You will definitely enjoy your trip with him. We did Sigirya and Dambula and it was perfect. Ruwan was great!

Sara🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Chandana )

6 February 2019

Very nice tour with experienced guide. He spent more time than planned to allow us to see everything.Sigirya tour

Lisa🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Ranil)

21 January 2019

Ranil was a fantastic tour guide! He was relaxed and fun but also very informative and helpful with information about Sigiriya, Dambulla and other parts of Sri Lanka, plus lots of info about the history, religion and cultures in Sri Lanka. He also gave us lots of good tips for the rest of our trip too! Thanks for the great tour Ranil - we highly recommend you to others! Sigiriya and Dambulla Tour with Ranil

Imy🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Dushan )

3 January 2019

My husband and I booked Dushan for a tour of Sigiriya and Dambulla. From contacting us to confirm details prior to the day, to arriving early, to checking in on exactly what we’d like to do throughout the tour, Dushan couldn’t have been any better. As well as being incredibly friendly, he was also very knowledgable. Dushan happily answered all our questions (which were a lot!) and shared his own experiences. We would recommend Dushan to anyone looking for a tour guide. Brilliant day with Dushan

Sarah🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Rohana)

1 January 2019

We had an awesome afternoon on Christmas Eve with Ruwan who picked us up from our hotel in Kandalama and took us around. He was very kind, considerate and knowledgeable and we felt very safe and comfortable with him! He was very accommodating when I messaged to say 1 member of our group had a bad ankle so could not walk as well - driving around to an easier path up to the cave temples (instead of 1300 steps!) and taking us to 2 amazing vantage points to view Sigiriya rock when we decided it would be too tough for us to climb. He provided umbrellas for us when it rained and overall was very patient and kind when we were slow walkers! We felt very relaxed in his company and learnt a lot! He even gave us a mini food-tour, stopping to let us taste king coconuts and red bananas at the side of the road, which was a fun highlight moment of our trip! We thoroughly recommend you choose Ruwan!Awesome tour with a brilliant guide

Christie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kamal)

18 December 2018

We had a great time our trip with Kamal and his Son. It was a busy day giving us the chance to see lots of The cultural sights. We would definitely recommend this tour! Temple Tour and Sigeria

Rana🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Kamal)

17 December 2018

Our day started early morning, with Kamal picking us up at our hotel. He had brought his son with him to drive us for the tour of the day which we had booked. The main part of the tourwould take us to the Sigriya Rock, whilst on the way to and back we stopped at various temples and also the chance to experience a local interactive lunch. Through out the tour Kamal was great, with sharing information, making us feel welcome and comfortable. It is clear this is Kamal's bread and butter, with all the knowledge he has, and whilst being a bit unwell, he still made sure we took our time and enjoyed the tour fully. Whilst we are not big fan of tours and tour guides usually, this experience was beyond wonderful. Kamal is not your typical tour guide with some information and just want to get through the day, he is truly passionate about his profession. Due to his health issues we were lucky enough to be his last group for the year, and we are lucky to have been. We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery so that he can continue bring joy to people through his fantastic tours.An amazing experience with wonderful kamal

Laurence🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Sandun)

8 December 2018

First, of all the things you expect such as knowledge of the English language, knowledge of all of the key areas and cultural experiences, all the shortcuts when they’re traffic jams, come with this expert guide. Beyond that, is a clean, spacious car and a safe conscientious hard-working family man as your driver and expert tour guide. He is simply a really nice guy. We strongly recommend Sandun, he is worth every rupee paid (and that is not a lot!)Sandun is a great host

Niki🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

(About local Kamal)

29 November 2018

We were a group of 5 visiting on holiday. We booked this tour and chose Kamal as our guide for his knowledge of the history, culture and area. We were picked up from our hotel and had a very informative full 12 hour day where we experienced temples, amazing scenery and helped to make a traditional Sri Lankan lunch in a mud hut surrounded by paddy fields. We learnt a great deal from Kamal during the day and his knowledge made the experience made it a special one. Wishing Kamal all the very best. Regards, Niki, Mark, Heather, Julie and Alan. Great Cultural Experience.

Maximilian🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Kamal)

23 November 2018

We had an awesome day with Kamal and his son! The tour covered every important sight and was very informative. We enjoyed learning more about different temples, Sri Lankan spices, Dambulla Rock Cave Temple and Sigiriya. We highly recommend booking a tour with Kamal!Awesome day with Kamal

Ruta🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Kamal)

14 November 2018

My friend and I were recently fortunate enough to spend an amazing day with Kamal visiting Dambulla Cave Temple, Sigiriya Rock and a couple of other sights along the way. We spent a full day with Kamal and from the moment he collected us from our hotel he made us feel very comfortable. He has a very modern and comfortable car which is a huge benifit for the journey! Kamal’s professionaliam and the way he conducts himself made this an unforgettable trip. Because he is an independant guide he truely cares about his clients and i have recommended to my own friends and family. Sigirya rock is absolutly incredible and a true 8th wonder of the world! Thanks Kamal :) From Ruta and Ben Amazing Day with Kamal! Highly recommended

Jasmin🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Rohana)

13 November 2018

We had a wonderful daytrip to Sigiriya and Dambulla with Ruwan. He was an amazing guide and a careful driver. He explained us everything in detail and it was very intersting. We can highly recommend Ruwan for a trip in Sri Lanka!Wonderful daytrip

Katie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sandun)

13 November 2018

Had great communication throughout the whole process, from the initial stages until the actual day of the tour. Sandun very polite, cheery and attentive to our needs. Also suggested other things we might have wanted to see. Rates very competitive compared to the same tours on TripAdvisor.Sri Lanka’s Best Treasures: Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Caves

Chris🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Ranil)

6 November 2018

Ranil was a great host for our day trip to Damula cave temple and Sigiriya. Was extremely accommodating for food stops and visiting other temples. He has a wealth of local knowledge and I would highly recommend contacting him immediately after booking as he can provide advice for planning to make the most of your Sri Lankan holiday. Fantastic experience

Claire

(About local Ranil)

6 November 2018

We took a day trip to Sigiriya And Dambulla Cave Temple (with some extra temple stops) with Ranil yesterday. He was a great host, informative and great fun. Nothing was too much trouble to organise (food, breaks) and definitely reach out to him before your trip because he can arrange so much more for you. Many thanks for the day! Sigiriya Tip

Kristín🇮🇸 Iceland

(About local Kamal)

1 September 2018

Me and my boyfriend had an amazing day with Kamal. He knew everything we needed to know about the places we went to and we learned alot. We also had alot of fun and the trip was very well organized. We can definetly recommend Kamal, he is a great guide.Amazing day with Kamal

Nathan

(About local Kamal)

29 August 2018

I’ll keep it short, but Kamal went above and beyond to make sure we had the best and most enjoyable day possible. His passion for his country and showing it to new people was evident, from the knowledge on all the historic sites we visited, to the roadside coconuts and lunch, I couldn’t recommend him high enough, thanks for making this the best tour we did in the country. Visit Sri Lanka with Kamal

George🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Sandun)

20 August 2018

We would like to thank Sandun and his partner (sorry we've forgotten his name) for taking us on an exciting and informative day trip to Sigirya rock and some of the surrounding temples. We loved climbing up the rock and seeing the spectacular views and learning about the history of the temples. Also credit to Sandun for taking us to an incredibly cheap but also really tasty spot to enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch. There was one uncomfortable moment in one of the temples where another tour guide tried to rip us off for an impromptu tour and I include it here as a warning to others to ensure you only engage with your local guide. This did not spoil our day and generally we had an excellent time. Thank you.Excellent day tour with Sandun

Cara🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Kamal)

14 August 2018

Had a wonderful tour with Kamal and friend. He made arrangements to collect us from a remote hotel and was in time in a comfortable car with great aircon. Very organised schedule including everything we’d asked for and some extras. The main sites of Dambulla and Sigiriya were impressive but the Hindu temple at Matale was also great. Whole day enhanced by the information our guides shared. Overall a great trip and we would recommend Kamal if you’re visiting Kandy Great day -lots of steps

Stacey🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Kamal)

9 August 2018

My husband and I booked to do a day tour to visit the Dambulla Caves and Sigiriya with Kamal after he was highly recommended after our initial guide cancelled. I am so glad that our first guide cancelled as Kamal was an absolutely incredible guide. Not only did we get to go to Dambulla and Sigiriya- where so much information and knowledge was shared- but we were also taken to another 2 incredible temples (one Hindu and one Buddhist), to a spice and herb garden and to an extra Buddhist statue at the end. Throughout the whole day, we were provided with so much information, Kamal was more than accommodating to our needs, and went above and beyond. During the day we were exposed to and introduced to so much Sri Lankan culture, foods, coconuts on the side of the road, and great company. Could not recommend Kamal more highly! Thanks for the most memorable day of our trip to Sri Lanka! Best day of our trip in Sri Lanka

David🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Sandun)

29 July 2018

We had 2 days with Sandun seeing Polonnaruwa, Dambullah temples and Sigirya. We had a great time and Sandun had good knowledge to share as he showed us around. He was also happy to stop anywhere along the way that interested us, found us delicious friendly places to eat and helped us with practicalities like money changing and train travel tips. We learnt and saw much more than we imagined and had an amazing time Great 2 day tour!