Rising dramatically from the central plains, the giant monolith of Sigiriya is one of the country’s most recognisable sights. Ascend the rock to explore the ruins of an ancient civilisation and, perhaps best of all, drink in the spellbinding vistas across the countryside. Our consultants say...

"Stepping off the final few steps, carved into the rock, we walked past the royal bathing pools. Numerous small terraces bordered with rounded, age-worn bricks then led up to the summit. Slowly I turned three hundred and sixty degrees, to take in the spectacular view bathed in the setting sun. The wind whipped around and the sweet, tropical smell so abundant all over Sri Lanka swept past. Sri Lanka is bursting with colours, flavours, smells and sights – Sigiriya just tops it all off" 

Dating back to the first Century BC, Dambulla is the site of the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Explore the vast labyrinth, home to over 150 statues set amongst ornate Buddhist murals that adorn the walls and ceilings. Our consultants say...

"The temples are a must see excursion. It’s a short climb to the caves at which point we were wowed by the intricate carvings, paintings and statues. Our guide made the place come alive and explained the importance of Buddhism in the everyday lives of Sri Lankans. In addition to 5 caves chock-full of beautiful statuary and reclining Buddhas we were treated to an army of adorable monkeys scampering all over the place."  

Sri Lanka’s capital for over a thousand years, is excelled in scale only by the pyramids of Egypt. Wander the sprawling complex amongst enormous dagobas, brick towers and temples and see one of the world’s oldest trees, the Sri Maha Bodhi. Our consultants say...

"Deeply spiritual and often overlooked, Anuradhapura was definitely a highlight of the trip. The history here is tangible!"

Following the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993, Polonnaruwa became the country’s second capital, evidence of which can be found in the assortment of royal buildings, ruined palaces and Buddhist shrines. Our consultants say...

"Three species of monkey reside in Pollonuwara and our guide, who had dedicated 50 years of his life to learning about these creatures, explained the interactions of the monkeys in the park. The trip was fascinating with the young engaging in playful antics and the full “circle of life” on show. With playtime over, we made the short hop to see the Buddhist archaeological sites forming the main focus of what people come to see in Polonnaruwa. We wandered through the sites learning about the fascinating history of each and appreciating the architectural beauty they represented" 

Perched in the cool, misty mountains of Sri Lanka’s tea country, Kandy is a medley of bustling local markets, colonial buildings, botanical gardens, with a beautiful lake as the centrepiece. Be sure to visit The Temple of the Tooth in the royal palace complex – a sacred Buddhist site which houses a tooth relic of the Buddha. Our consultants say...

"We were lucky to arrive on a national holiday so the city was buzzing with music with every building covered in fairy lights and colouful lanterns. We began with a visit to the famed Temple of the Sacred Tooth, this highly ornate structure is an unmissable experience even if you are not that into temples. Hundreds of locals flock here three times a day for blessings and offerings to the sounds of drums and chanting making it a memorable day."

Offering a refreshing contrast to the historical sights, the forests and wetlands of Minneriya provide a sanctuary for a huge variety of wildlife. Deer, monkeys, sloth bears and even leopards call the park home, although the star attraction is the elephant herds, which can be spotted throughout the year, but gather in great numbers between July and October. Our consultants say...

 "This highly anticipated trip did not disappoint as we arrived at the meeting point and jump into our 4WD jeeps. Off we go bumping along the path as we pass monkeys, ant hills, a huge bee hive and the odd squirrel here and there too. As we approached a huge lake, passed a heard of local buffalo, we could see the elephants in the distance. Playful, graceful, mischievous but always welcoming these wonderful creatures invited us in as we pulled up right next to them all. We passed hundreds of elephants in such a relatively small area but the baby elephants were the stars of the show every time." 

The Cultural Triangle can be incorporated into any of our private tours of Sri Lanka. Take a look at our Sri Lanka holidays pages for more inspiration.