Ancient rock fortresses, cave temples and wild elephants, all within an easy drive of the resort.
Climb · 7.9 km from the resort
Sigiriya Lion Rock
The fifth-century rock fortress of King Kashyapa rises 180 metres above the forest. Climb past the frescoes, the Mirror Wall and the giant lion paws to the palace ruins on the summit. Go early in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds.
The neighbouring rock is a shorter, wilder climb past a cave temple with a reclining Buddha, ending with the best view of Sigiriya itself. Sunrise and sunset are the times to be up there.
From around June to October, hundreds of wild elephants gather on the grasslands around the Minneriya reservoir, one of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants anywhere. We arrange jeep safaris to Minneriya, Kaudulla or Hurulu Eco Park, depending on where the herds are.
Five caves under a huge rock, filled with Buddha statues and painted ceilings, some more than two thousand years old. An easy half-day trip, often combined with the Dambulla market.
The ruins of Sri Lanka’s medieval capital spread through parkland beside a great reservoir. Hire a bicycle to ride between the palace, the temples and the Gal Vihara, four Buddha figures carved from one granite rock.