7-days / 6-nights - Sri Lanka Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour

Kandy - Aluvihara - Ridigama - Sigiriya - Dambulla - Aukana - Anuradhapura - Mihintale - Colombo

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Kandy

Sigiriya

Anuradhapura

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Major Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage
plus Audiences with monks & sightseeing

This tour includes all the visits of the 6days/5nights variant of our Buddhist pilgrimage group tour in Sri Lanka, but adds one night in Kandy allowing you to visit the highly revered Asgiriya Temple and so-called Devales which, besides the Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic, belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site called Sacred City of Kandy. There will also be time for enjoying the Upper Lake View and for shopping opportunities.

Like the shorter variant, this tour is especially designed for pilgrims who wish to combine visits to Buddhist sanctuaries — including Sri Lanka’s two most important pilgrimage sites, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Bodhi Tree of Anuradhapura — with the exploration of UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Sigiriya and Dambulla.  

In contrast to conventional Buddhist tours along this route, we also include other significant religious landmarks, such as Aluvihara, the site of the Fourth Theravāda Buddhist Council and the Silver Temple which is held in high esteem by Sri Lankan Buddhists. The program features a special audience with a monk and offers participants a brief, beginner-friendly meditation session under monastic guidance. Also a short detour to admire the colossal rock-cut Buddha of Aukana is well worth our time.

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Day 1: Transfer from the Airport to Kandy

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be warmly greeted by our representative, who will serve as your pilgrimage guide. After a short introduction, begin your not too long transfer into the heart of the island as you directly travel toward Kandy, the sacred city nestled in the hills. The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Once in Kandy, check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax and settle in or to go to town on your own. In case of morning or early afternoon arrival in Kandy, you have the option to go to town on your own. Our guide will support you.

First Overnight stay in Radisson, Kandy

Day 2: Full Day in the Sacred City of Kandy

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Second Overnight stay in Radisson, Kandy

Day 3: Tooth Temple visit, audience in Aluvihara, Ridigama

Travel to the Aluvihara, known for its historical significance as the place where the oral teachings of the Buddha were first written down. Explore the palm leaf manuscript museum in a building donated by the former Cambodian king Sihanouk. Aluvihara also houses a cave that served as the abode of **Buddhaghosa**, the most significant Theravada Buddhist scholar. An audience with a monk is included in the visit of this place of extraordinary significance in the Theravada tradition.

After the lunchbreak in the area of several Spice and Herbal Gardens continue your journey to the renowned Silver Temple in a serene ambiance ideal for contemplation. Spend half an hour meditating with a Buddhist monk, focusing on mindfulness and inner peace in the quiet garden amidst a forest section of the temple to connect deeply with the spiritual energy of this place much revered by Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

After a spiritually enriching day, a drive of only an hour will transerfer you to your hotel near Sigiriya, where you can unwind.

First Overnight stay in Fresco Water Villa, Freco Garden, Pelwehera Village Resort, Sigiriya and surroundings

Day 4: Visits to Sigiriya and Dambulla, safari opportunity

As this Buddhist itinerary is designed to provide a balance of both spiritual reflection and sightseeing, the full day in the area of Sigiriya includes visits of two of Sri Lanka's most famous World Heritage Sites and offers an opportunity to engage in a safari in a region extraordinarily rich in wild elephants.

Begin the day with an early morning climb of Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the ancient royal citadel of King Kassapa. Visit the 1500 years old water and rock garden, Sigiriya frescoes, Mirror Wall, lion staircase, and summit palace ruins, enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding plains.  

After an early lunch break, continue to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a major pilgrimage site and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore its richly decorated cave shrines, housing over 150 Buddha statues and vibrant murals depicting key moments from the Buddha's lifetime and the island's Buddhist history.  

The late afternoon will be free in the hotel. It also offers you join an optional afternoon safari to Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park, depending on seasonal elephant movements, for a chance to witness herds of wild Asian elephants in their natural habitat, sometimes in large numbers.

Second Overnight stay in Fresco Water Villa, Freco Garden, Pelwehera Village Resort, Sigiriya and surroundings

Day 5: Aukana statue, visits in the Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Depart in the morning to visit the impressive rock-cut Buddha statue of Aukana, a 12-meter-tall standing figure carved from a single granite rock, admired for its fine detail and serene expression. From there, continue to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s ancient royal capital and one of the most sacred cities in the Buddhist world.  

Begin the city tour with Isurumuniya, a charming rock temple known for its ancient carvings, including the famous “Lovers” sculpture.

After a lunch break, continue to the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Sacred Bo Tree grown from a cutting of the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Nearby are the 400 columns of the remaining ground floor of the Lohapasada, which was once a multi-storey building, serving as model for the Loha Prasat in the center of Bangkok.

Next, visit the great white Ruwanweliseya stupa, one of the holiest stupas in the Buddhist world, then the **Thuparama**, considered the first stupa built after the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Proceed to Jetavanarama, by far the largest brick stupa in bubble shape surviving from the ancient world, and end the day with a quiet moment at the **Samadhi Buddha statue**, revered for its perfect depiction of meditation posture and spiritual calm.

Overnight stay in Rajarata Hotel, Anuradhapura

Day 6: Visit to Mihintale Hills, transfer to Colombo, Kelaniya Temple

Depart in the morning for Mihintale, the cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism, where the missionary Mahinda is said to have first met King Devanampiya Tissa. Climb the ancient stairway to the Ambatthala Dagoba, marking the site of their historic dialogue under a mango tree. Visit the ancient refectory and view the Mihintale stone inscriptions, some of the longest medieval epigraphs in the country. Proceed to the nearby Kantaka Chetiya, one of the oldest stupas in Asia that still retains its original form, adorned with beautiful carvings.

In the afternoon, continue the journey to Colombo. Visit the Buddhist and Hindu pilgrimage site of Kelaniya, the most revered temple in the western plains of Sri Lanka, situated in a suburb of Colombo.

Upon arrival at your hotel in Colombo, the evening is free for independent exploration of the city’s cultural and commercial sights.

Overnight stay in Radisson Hotel, Colombo

Day 7: Transfer to the Airport

An expressway transfer will take you to the airport for your departure.

As your journey through Sri Lanka’s sacred sites and cultural landmarks draws to a close, we thank you for being part of this pilgrimage and hope to welcome you back again soon. Safe travels and warm wishes until we meet again.
      
End of Tour

Tour-Code SL-BP-07

Per-Person Prices:

in a group sized 36
is § 945.- USD

in a group sized 30
is $ 960.- USD

in a group sized 16
is $ 1,020.- USD

in a group sized 10
is $ 1,110.- USD

in a group sized 8
is $ 1,120.- USD

in a group sized 4
is $ 1,220.- USD

of a couple:
is $ 1,510.- USD

Single Room Surcharge:
$ 305.- USD

price for single traveler:
$ 2,690.- USD

incl. 6 overnight stays in shared Double or Triple rooms
on full board basis
(incl. all government taxes and hotel service charges)

validity of this seasonal rate:
21 April - 15 July 2025
15 August - 31 October 2025

prices for other seasons
and for other group sizes
on request

Price includes:

+ total transport from the airport via Kandy and Anuradhapura
+ entry fees of visiting sites
+ 5 overnight stays in 4-star hotels
+ full board basis for 5 nights
+ A/C bus with driver and English speaking national guide lecturer (resp. for groups below 9 persons English speaking chauffeur guide)
+ Driver room for 5 nights
+ Passenger's Insurance cover of 500,000 LKR
+ Replacement vehicle in case of bad or unlucky events
+ all government taxes and hotel service charges

Price does NOT include:

- air tickets
- any extra person in the bus
- any extra excursions
- driver, guide, conductor service charges
- tips and personal expenses

Payment Method:

* Total amount is required within 2 weeks after confirmation of your booking of this trip and prior to arrival.

Cancellation Policy:

# in case of cancellation within less than 32 days prior to arrival: 100% will be charged - then non-refundable

Special Notes:

Validity of seasonal rate:
21 April - 15 July 2025
15 August - 31 October 2025

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This pilgrimage tour is NOT available between mid Juli and end of August.

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Holders of SAARC passports please contact us for ticket price reduction option

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For groups below 9 we provice chauffeur guides. On request, we can upgrade to national guide lecturer service for small groups, too, for a surcharge

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Day 3: Dambulla

 Day 3: Sigiriya

Day 3: Sigiriya

Day 3: Dambulla

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For Inquiries:

Any questions?
Don't hesitate to contact us

For Bookings:

Unless stated otherwise above,
​our general terms and conditions apply:
Terms & Conditions of
Lanka Excursions Holidays

255/24, "Green Park" Dawatagahawatta, Thimbirigaskatuwa,
Mahahunupitiya East,
Negombo,
Sri Lanka
SLDA - TA - 02179
Office Phone: 0094 31 223 991  
Mobile: 0094 71 6097795
[email protected]​