Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour (6 Days)

About this experience

This six-day tour follows the Buddhist pilgrimage route across Sri Lanka, from Colombo's city temples to the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and the cave temples of Dambulla, before ending in Kandy at the Temple of the Tooth Relic. It traces sites connected to the arrival and establishment of Theravada Buddhism on the island, from the third century BCE onward.

Travellers move between sacred sites at a measured pace, with time allowed for chanting and pooja ceremonies as well as guided visits to ruined monasteries, rock fortresses and painted cave temples. The route combines living places of worship with archaeological sites that illustrate over two thousand years of Buddhist history and royal patronage.

The tour runs as a private itinerary with a chauffeur guide collecting travellers from the airport and accompanying them throughout, in an air-conditioned vehicle, finishing with a return transfer to the airport on the final day.

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

Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all chauffeur accommodation.
Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide throughout the tour.
All prevailing taxes and service charges.

Not included

Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
Entrance fees to the respective sites.
Expenses of personal nature.
Visa and Related Expenses.

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 Lakpura chauffeur guide meets travellers before the drive to Kandy and hotel check-in. The day includes visits to Buddhist temples in and around Colombo and an evening ceremony at Kelaniya.

Gangaramaya, Bellanwila Viharaya, Manelwatta Raja Maha Vihara

Several well-known Buddhist temples in and around Colombo can be visited, including Gangaramaya, Bellanwila Viharaya and Manelwatta Raja Maha Vihara.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

In the evening, travellers can take part in a pooja ceremony at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara before returning to the hotel.

AtulaSiriwardane at English Wikipedia · Public domain

2 Anuradhapura

Day 2 — Colombo → Anuradhapura

After breakfast, the drive continues to Anuradhapura and hotel check-in, followed by an evening ceremony at the city's most sacred sites.

Sri Maha Bodhiya & Ruwanweliseya

In the evening, travellers can take part in a chanting and pooja ceremony at Sri Maha Bodhiya and Ruwanweliseya before returning to the hotel.

3 Anuradhapura

Day 3 — Anuradhapura

A day exploring the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, capital of Sri Lanka for over a millennium until the 10th century AD, followed by a visit to the nearby pilgrimage site of Mihintale.

Anuradhapura city tour

A walk through the ancient ruined city reveals pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds scattered across a vast area, including the Jetavanarama, once one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi, and the ruins of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

Thisaru Tharuka · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mihintale

Mihintale, a mountain peak near Anuradhapura, is held to be the site where the monk Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa, marking the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, and is now a pilgrimage site with several religious monuments and abandoned structures.

Dennis Sylvester Hurd · CC0

4 Dambulla

Day 4 — Anuradhapura → Dambulla

After checking out, the journey continues to Dambulla to visit its historic cave temples.

Golden Temple of Dambulla

The caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla date back to the 1st century BC and contain ancient murals depicting the life of Lord Gautama Buddha along with hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities across five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King, the Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery.

Lankapic · CC BY 2.5

Golden Buddha Statue

A giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the cave complex.

5 Kandy

Day 5 — Dambulla → Sigiriya → Kandy

After breakfast, the day combines a climb of the Sigiriya rock fortress with a visit to Kandy's Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Sigiriya

The 5th century AD rock fortress of Sigiriya, once ruled from by King Kasyapa, is entered through an entrance framed by a lion's paws, with unfading murals, a steep staircase to terraced gardens and still-working cisterns, and tunnels leading to the former palace.

Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0

Temple of the Tooth Relic

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 16th century to house and protect Lord Buddha's sacred tooth relic, with painted passageways in red, cream and black, carved pillars and golden statues.

A.Savin · FAL

6 Airport

Day 6 — Kandy → Airport

After a relaxed morning and breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

Please note

Public transportation nearby
Infant seats available

Not wheelchair accessible
Not stroller accessible
Not suitable for pets
Infants must not sit on laps
Not recommended for people with heart conditions
The entrance tickets are not included in the price.

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 6 days, with no other travellers joining.

Where does the tour start and end?

Day 1 starts at Colombo airport (CMB) and day 6 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 5 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.