Buddhist PIlgrimage Tour (12 Days)

About this experience

This twelve-day tour follows Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage and ancient kingdoms, from the sacred city of Anuradhapura through Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy and the hill country, before descending to the south coast at Hikkaduwa. It mixes temple visits and pilgrimage sites with wildlife safaris at Minneriya and Udawalawa, a tour of a tea estate near Nuwara Eliya, and time in the old colonial port of Galle.

Travellers move between regions in a private vehicle with a chauffeur guide, visiting the ruined cities of the Cultural Triangle, climbing Sigiriya rock fortress, and taking part in a chanting and pooja ceremony at Anuradhapura's Sri Maha Bodhiya. In Kandy the Temple of the Tooth Relic and a traditional dance show sit alongside a walk through the old town and the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, while the final days bring tea country scenery, two national park safaris, and a stretch of coast at Hikkaduwa before departure.

The pace is steady rather than rushed, with each day built around one or two main sites and a return to the same hotel each night where the itinerary calls for it.

Your service advisor

Chathum Executive

Have questions about this service or want it arranged around your dates? Reach Chathum directly — replies usually within a few hours during Sri Lanka business hours.

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What’s included

Included

All prevailing taxes and service charges.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffer Guide throughout the tour.
Transport in a Private Vehicle

Not included

Hotel Accommodation.
International / Domestic Airfare.
Any expenses of personal nature.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.

Tour route

Day-by-day waypoints across Sri Lanka. Each marker is where you spend the night; lines trace the daily drive.

Day-by-day itinerary

Download itinerary (PDF)

1 Colombo

Day 1 — Airport → Colombo

Arrival at Colombo International Airport, where a chauffeur guide meets you and transfers you by private vehicle to your hotel in Colombo.

Colombo

Arrive and check in to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Gihanud2001 · CC0

2 Anuradhapura

Day 2 — Colombo → Anuradhapura

After breakfast, travel to Anuradhapura and check in to the hotel, then take part in an evening ceremony at the city's most sacred sites.

Sri Maha Bodhiya & Ruwanweliseya

Join a chanting and pooja ceremony at these sites in the evening before returning to the hotel.

3 Anuradhapura

Day 3 — Anuradhapura

A full day exploring the ancient ruined capital of Anuradhapura, which served as the seat of government for over a thousand years until the 10th century AD, followed by a visit to the nearby pilgrimage site of Mihintale.

Anuradhapura city tour

Walk through the ancient city viewing pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds, including the Jetavanarama stupa, once among the tallest structures in the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi, and the ruins of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

Thisaru Tharuka · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mihintale

Visit this mountain peak near Anuradhapura, believed to be the site where the monk Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa, marking the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, and now a pilgrimage site with several religious monuments.

Dennis Sylvester Hurd · CC0

4 Dambulla

Day 4 — Anuradhapura → Polonnaruwa → Dambulla

Check out and travel to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa before continuing on to Dambulla, with an elephant safari at Minneriya National Park along the way.

Polonnaruwa

Walk through the ruins of Sri Lanka's second major capital, which flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries AD, taking in the Gal Vihara, the Vatadage, the lotus bath, the Lankathilaka Temple and the statue associated with King Parakramabahu.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

Minneriya National Park

Take a safari through the park, known for the Great Elephant Gathering of over 150 elephants in the dry season between May and October, as well as other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Stuart Pinkney · CC BY 2.0

5 Dambulla

Day 5 — Dambulla → Sigiriya → Dambulla

A day trip from Dambulla to climb the Sigiriya rock fortress and spend time in a nearby village experiencing rural life.

Sigiriya Rock

Climb the 5th-century rock fortress built by King Kasyapa, entering through the lion's paw staircase, viewing the famous frescoes, and walking through the terraced gardens, cisterns and palace ruins at the summit.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Hiriwaduna village tour

Visit a village that retains its traditional culture, with an oxen cart ride, a catamaran ride on a calm lake, a walk through paddy fields, a traditional cooking demonstration, and a home-cooked lunch served on lotus leaves.

6 Kandy

Day 6 — Kandy

Visit Kandy's most sacred site and in the evening watch a performance of traditional Kandyan dance and music.

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 16th century to house and venerate the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, with its painted halls and carved pillars.

A.Savin · FAL

Kandyan Cultural Show

Watch an hour-long performance of traditional Kandyan dance and music, including fire dancers, sword dancers and drummers.

Arian Zwegers · CC BY 2.0

7 Kandy

Day 7 — Kandy

Spend the day walking through Kandy town and visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens at nearby Peradeniya.

Kandy town walk

Walk through the streets of the last kingdom of Sri Lanka, trying street food, watching garland makers at work, visiting a Hindu temple, and taking a short three-wheeler ride.

A.Savin · FAL

Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

Explore these gardens, established in the early 19th century, home to over 4,000 species of plants including orchids and spices, along with the cannonball tree and a suspension bridge.

Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0

8 Nuwara Eliya

Day 8 — Kandy → Nuwara Eliya

Check out and travel to Nuwara Eliya, stopping en route at a waterfall and a tea estate.

Ramboda Falls

Stop to see this waterfall on the way to Nuwara Eliya.

A.Savin · FAL

Tea Estate and Factory

Take a guided tour through a tea estate and factory to learn about the varieties, processing methods and history of Ceylon tea, introduced to the island by James Taylor in the 19th century.

9 Udawalawa

Day 9 — Nuwara Eliya → Udawalawa

Check out and travel to Udawalawa, where the evening brings a jeep safari through the national park.

Udawalawa National Park

Take a three-hour jeep safari through the marshes, forests and grasslands of this park, created as a wildlife sanctuary in the 1970s, known for its water birds and Sri Lankan elephants.

AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

10 Hikkaduwa

Day 10 — Udawalawa → Hikkaduwa

Check out and travel toward the south coast, stopping at a natural blowhole before visiting the old colonial city of Galle.

Hummanaya Blowhole

Visit this blowhole near the village of Kudawella, said to be among the largest in the world, and listen to the humming noise that gives it its name.

Dan arndt · CC BY-SA 4.0

Galle Fort

Explore the old colonial city of Galle, once a headquarters for the Portuguese and Dutch, including the fort, the Maritime Museum, the Galle National Museum, the lighthouse and the cobblestoned streets.

Rovin Shanila · CC BY-SA 4.0

11 Hikkaduwa

Day 11 — Hikkaduwa

A free day to relax along the coast at Hikkaduwa.

Hikkaduwa beach

Spend the day on one of Sri Lanka's well-known beaches, with time to relax, watch turtles come ashore to nest, or try water sports such as jet-skiing and windsurfing.

12 Airport

Day 12 — Hikkaduwa → Airport

Check out after breakfast and transfer to the airport for departure, marking the end of the tour.

Please note

Infant seats available
Public transportation nearby

Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with back problems
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not suitable for pets
Not stroller accessible
Not wheelchair accessible
A maximum of 6 people per booking
If you require shopping free tour please advise at time of booking.

Cancellation policy

More than 24 hours notice: full refund
Less than 24 hours notice: no refund

To cancel, reply to your booking confirmation email or message us on WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is private to your group: your own air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking chauffeur guide for all 12 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 12 ends at Colombo airport (CMB). Every stop in between is reached by road in the same vehicle, so there is no other transport to arrange.

Are hotels included?

The base price covers the vehicle and chauffeur guide. In the booking box you can add hotels for all 11 nights at Budget (3★), Standard (4★) or Luxury (5★ and boutique) level, on half board. Hotels we hold contracts with for your dates are named in the price; for any other night our team books a hotel of the same class after you pay.

What vehicle will we travel in?

It depends on your group: a car for 1–2 guests, a van for 3–5, a large van for 6–8 and a bus for 9–15. Choose the number of guests in the booking box and the price updates to match.

Are entrance fees included?

Not in the base price. Set Tickets to Included in the booking box to add the entrance fees and safari jeeps for the sights on this itinerary; the booking box lists exactly which ones are covered.

Can we have a national guide?

Yes. A chauffeur guide is always included, and you can add a government-licensed national guide who travels with you for the whole tour. Choose it under Guide in the booking box; the vehicle is sized for the extra seat.

Can we change the itinerary or the dates?

Yes. Every tour is private, so it can start on any date you choose. To change stops, add nights or combine it with another tour, write to us in the booking notes or plan your own trip at lakpura.com/plan-your-trip.