Overview in Negombo

Negombo, Sri Lanka · Day Trips, Food, History, Beaches, Literature · USD 85

Anuradhapura day trip from Sigiriya: private car to the sacred city, Sri Maha Bodhi, the great stupas and Mihintale, with hotel pickup. From US$85 per car. Our private Anuradhapura day trip from Sigiriya takes you to the first royal capital of Sri Lanka, a sacred city of giant stupas, ancient monasteries and the oldest documented tree in the world. Your English-speaking driver picks you up from your hotel in Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana at 7:30 am, and you are in Anuradhapura by mid-morning. The price covers your private return transport for the day: US$85 for 1 to 3 people in a car, or US$100 for 4 to 7 people in a van. Entrance tickets are extra. The sacred city of Anuradhapura Anuradhapura was the capital of Sri Lanka for more than a thousand years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Sri Maha Bodhi, a fig tree grown from a cutting of the tree under which the Buddha found enlightenment, the white dome of Ruwanwelisaya, the huge brick Jetavanaramaya, the Abhayagiri monastery and the rock temple of Isurumuniya. Read more about Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura and Mihintale In the afternoon, drive 20 minutes east to Mihintale, the hill where the monk Mahinda is said to have brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. Climb the long stone stairway to the stupas and the rock summit for wide views over the plains. More day tours from Sigiriya and Dambulla This is one of our private day tours from Dambulla and Sigiriya. See all day tours from Dambulla and Sigiriya → Highlights - Anuradhapura day trip from Sigiriya with hotel pickup at 7:30 am - See the Sri Maha Bodhi tree and the great stupas of Ruwanwelisaya and Jetavanaramaya - Climb Mihintale, where Buddhism first came to Sri Lanka - Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site at your own pace - Private air-conditioned car (1–3 people) or van (4–7 people) with an English-speaking driver - Transport from US$85 · entrance tickets extra Itinerary Your driver collects you from your hotel in Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana at about 7:30 am. We confirm the exact time after booking. Travel north-west through quiet villages and rice fields to Anuradhapura, arriving at about 9:30 am. Visit the Sri Maha Bodhi tree, Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavanaramaya, the Abhayagiri monastery and Isurumuniya. Your driver moves the car between the sites for you. Lunch at a local restaurant in Anuradhapura (not included). Climb the ancient stone stairway at Mihintale to the stupas, the cave of Mahinda and the rock summit, with views back to the great stupas of Anuradhapura. Drive back to your hotel in Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana. What’s included Included - Private air-conditioned car or van for the day - English-speaking driver - Hotel pickup and drop-off in Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana - Fuel and parking fees Not included - Anuradhapura and Mihintale entrance tickets - Meals and drinks - Tips for your driver (optional) FAQs Anuradhapura is about 75 km from Sigiriya, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road. Yes. Spend the morning in the sacred city of Anuradhapura and the afternoon at Mihintale, about 20 minutes away, and be back at your hotel by about 6:30 pm. Private return transport costs US$85 for 1 to 3 people in a car or US$100 for 4 to 7 people in a van. Entrance tickets are extra. Cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes and hat at the sacred sites. Bring socks, as the stone can be hot in the afternoon. There are about 1,800 steps in total, but they are wide and shallow. Most people take 30 to 45 minutes to reach the top at a gentle pace. Pickup is at 7:30 am from your hotel in Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana.