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Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour

Activity provider: Green Journey with thara
Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour
Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour 2
Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour 3
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2-day trip from Kandy visiting Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale, Nalanda Gedige is an ancient complete stone temple and Dambulla cave temple/ Golden Temple. Operated by Green Journey with thara.

Highlights

  • Climb Sigiriya Lion Rock or Pidurangala Rock

Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour: Key Facts

PriceFrom $212 per person
Duration2 days
Group sizeUp to 3 people
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Choose from 1 available option

Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour

2-day trip from Kandy visiting Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale, Nalanda Gedige is an ancient complete stone temple and...
2 days
English
$212
Free cancellation

Full description

A 2-day trip out of Kandy taking in Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale, Nalanda Gedige is an ancient complete stone temple, Dambulla cave temple/ Golden Temple and Kandalama Lake View point. There are 11 stops in all.

The running order is Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale, then Nalanda Gedige is an ancient complete stone temple, then Dambulla cave temple/ Golden Temple, then Kandalama Lake View point, then Ancient City of Sigiriya/ Sigiriya Rock, and on from there.

The price covers private Transport: Round-trip and point-to-point transfers in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle, Professional Driver-Guide: Service of an English-speaking private driver who handles all navigation and commentary, Hotel Pickups: Convenient pickup from your hotel in Kandy on Day 1 and Day 2 and All Vehicle Fees: Includes all fuel costs, highway tolls, parking fees, and driver accommodation/meals. It does not cover meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (except where specified), Gratuities: Tips for the driver-guide and local site guides (optional but appreciated) and Train Tickets: Onward train 1st class tickets from Ambewella or Nanuoya Station to Ella (must be booked in advance), so budget for those separately. Two travellers pay $212 together rather than $212 each, because this is priced per party and not per head.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

Sri Muthumariamman Temple, Matale

When visiting the Sri Muthumariamman Temple (also known as Arulmigu Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil) in Matale, you will see a breathtaking display of traditional Dravidian architecture, over a thousand highly detailed religious sculptures, and vibrant cultural elements shared by both Hindu and Buddhist devotees

Nalanda Gedige is an ancient complete stone temple

Nalanda Gedige is an ancient stone temple near Matale, Sri Lanka, famously known as the exact geographical center of Sri Lanka. Constructed between the 8th and 10th centuries, this unique monument stands out as the island's only surviving all-stone structure that seamlessly fuses South Indian Dravidian (Pallava style) and traditional Sinhalese architecture

Dambulla cave temple/ Golden Temple

A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 m2 ) are of particular importance, as are the 157 statues.

Kandalama Lake View point

At the Kandalama Lake viewpoint, you can see the calm, wide waters of the Kandalama Reservoir surrounded by green forests and rolling hills

Ancient City of Sigiriya/ Sigiriya Rock

The UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a 5th-century ancient city built atop a 200-meter granite rock. At the base, you’ll walk through pristine Royal Water Gardens, Boulder Gardens, and Terraced Gardens. Midway up, a spiral staircase leads to the iconic Sigiriya Frescoes vibrant 1,500-year-old murals and the polished Mirror Wall. Further up sits the grand Lion's Paw Terrace. Ascend 1,200 steps to the flat summit to explore palace ruins a royal bathing pool and spectacular 360° jungle views

PIDURANGALA HIKE - Best View of Sigiriya

At the top of Pidurangala Rock, you can see a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding valleys, forests, and a majestic, direct look at the Sigiriya Rock Fortress sitting right across the valley

Back To Kandy

1 day tour from Kandy to Sigiriya and then drop you back to the place you picked up from Kandy. I can customize the tour as per your wish.

Ramboda View Point

At the Ramboda viewpoints, you can see the majestic, multi-tiered Ramboda Falls, sweeping panoramic views of the lush Kotmale Valley, and endless green tea plantations

Ramboda Waterfall

At Ramboda Waterfall, you can see a spectacular 109-meter-tall, three-tiered cascading waterfall split into distinct upper, middle, and lower sections

kingswood tea factory

Kingswood Tea Factory is a scenic working tea factory, tea lounge, and boutique hotel located along the Nuwara Eliya Road in Ramboda, Sri Lanka

Quick Visit Nuwara Ealiya City

Providing a short tour of Nuwara Eliya city, 1. Old Red Post Office 2.Singal Tree Hill View Ponit 3. Lake View 4. Tea Planation Photo Shoot

Includes

  • Private Transport: Round-trip and point-to-point transfers in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle
  • Professional Driver-Guide: Service of an English-speaking private driver who handles all navigation and commentary
  • Hotel Pickups: Convenient pickup from your hotel in Kandy on Day 1 and Day 2.
  • All Vehicle Fees: Includes all fuel costs, highway tolls, parking fees, and driver accommodation/meals.
  • Station Drop-off: Direct drop-off at Ambewella Railway Station on Day 2.
  • Complimentary Tea Tasting: A fresh cup of authentic Ceylon tea during the factory tour.

Excludes

  • Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (except where specified).
  • Gratuities: Tips for the driver-guide and local site guides (optional but appreciated).
  • Train Tickets: Onward train 1st class tickets from Ambewella or Nanuoya Station to Ella (must be booked in advance).

Important information

Meeting point

The operator confirms the exact meeting point and time once your booking is confirmed, and you will have it well before the day. If you would rather know before you book, message us on WhatsApp and we will ask them for you.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 2 days
Check availability to see starting times
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $212
$212
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Private Transport: Round-trip and point-to-point transfers in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle, Professional Driver-Guide: Service of an English-speaking private driver who handles all navigation and commentary, Hotel Pickups: Convenient pickup from your hotel in Kandy on Day 1 and Day 2., All Vehicle Fees: Includes all fuel costs, highway tolls, parking fees, and driver accommodation/meals., Station Drop-off: Direct drop-off at Ambewella Railway Station on Day 2., Complimentary Tea Tasting: A fresh cup of authentic Ceylon tea during the factory tour.
The duration of the Kandy: 2-Day Sigiriya & Ambewella/Nanuoya Station drop Tour is typically 2 days. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
A 20-25 minute walk downhill from Ella town through tea and jungle — uphill on the way back. A tuk-tuk to the Demodara side is quieter and saves the climb. It is free, with no ticket and no official viewing area. See our Nine Arch Bridge guide.
Roughly every two hours, but Sri Lanka Railways runs 30-90 minutes late routinely, so any blog quoting exact times is quoting a timetable rather than reality. Ask at Ella station on the morning — staff will tell you what is expected and how late it is running.
Little Adam's Peak for almost everyone — 45 minutes up a stepped path for arguably the better view, out through the Ella Gap. Ella Rock is three hours return, largely unsigned, and people get lost on it regularly; take a guide or an offline map. Compared in full here.
Reserved seats open 30 days ahead and sell out within hours from December to March. Unreserved 2nd/3rd class is sold on the day and always available — you will stand, which is where the open doorways are. Send your luggage ahead by road if you have a driver. See getting to Ella.
January to March for the clearest Ella Gap views. June to September is dry but hazy from the Uva wind; October to December is wet. The real risk is cloud, not rain — at 1,000 m the view can be inside a cloud on a dry day, and mornings are clearer than afternoons in every month. See best time to visit Ella.
Two nights, which gives you two dawns — Little Adam's Peak on one, Ella Rock or a tea morning on the other, with the bridge mid-morning on day one. Our Ella 2-day itinerary sets out the order.
Do everything before nine in the morning. The Gap view is clearer in the morning in every month, Little Adam's Peak has a queue by nine, and the Nine Arch Bridge has hundreds of people on it by ten.
Roughly 1,200 steps, about 180 m above the plain, with handrails the whole way. Entry is around USD 30-35 for foreign adults — one of South Asia's priciest tickets — paid in cash. Climb at the 7am opening: there is no shade above the frescoes. Full detail in our Sigiriya rock guide.
It is cheaper and has the better view — of Sigiriya. What it does not have is the water gardens, frescoes, mirror wall, lion's paws or summit palace. For the photograph, take Pidurangala. For the site, take Sigiriya. Compared properly in our Sigiriya rock guide.
Roughly June to September, peaking in August, when the shrinking reservoir exposes fresh grass and several hundred elephants converge. Outside those months the herds disperse and you get a normal safari. Operators switch between Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu depending on where the herds are — that is them doing their job. See our Minneriya gathering guide.
Five caves under one granite overhang, in continuous use since the 1st century BC, holding around 150 Buddha images and 2,100 m² of painting. The approach is a steep 15-minute climb; shoes come off at the top terrace, so bring socks. See the Dambulla cave temple guide.
Polonnaruwa if you have one morning — compact, cyclable in three hours, and the Gal Vihara is the finest sculpture in the country. Anuradhapura if you have a full day and an interest in living Buddhism; it is a thousand years older and still an active pilgrimage city. See Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.
Sigiriya is in the dry zone and follows the *northeast* monsoon — its wet season is October to January, the opposite of Colombo. Best months are May to September, which is also the elephant Gathering. See best time to visit Sigiriya.
Two nights in Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana. Day 1: the rock at 7am, Dambulla late morning, a 3pm safari. Day 2: Polonnaruwa by bicycle or Pidurangala at sunrise. Our Sigiriya 2-day itinerary sets out the order and why it matters.
Time it for a puja — 5.30am, 9.30am or 6.30pm. Those are the only windows when the upper relic chamber opens and the hevisi drummers play; outside them you are visiting a beautiful building rather than a ceremony. Take socks: shoes come off at the gate and the stone courtyard gets painfully hot. Full detail in our Temple of the Tooth guide.
February for the clearest weather, or July-August, which is drier here than most people expect and covers the Esala Perahera. Kandy sits between Sri Lanka's *two* monsoons and catches some of both, so it has no long dry season — but it also never has a season that is a write-off. See best time to visit Kandy.
Reserved seats open 30 days ahead and sell out within hours from December to March. Unreserved 2nd/3rd class is sold on the day and always available — you will stand, which is where the open doorways and the famous photographs are. Sit on the right-hand side going south. Note there is no Nuwara Eliya station; the stop is Nanu Oya, 10 km away. See our Kandy to Ella train guide.
July or August — but the dates move every year with the lunar calendar, so any guide naming a fixed week is guessing. It runs ten nights and ends on the Nikini poya. Book accommodation on the route six to twelve months ahead. Details in our Esala Perahera guide.
Sigiriya and Dambulla (2.5 hrs each way) is the best of them. Kitulgala rafting is 2 hrs, the Knuckles range and Pekoe Trail stages are day hikes from here. Ella, Galle and Yala are *too far* — 4-6 hours each way. See day trips from Kandy.
Two nights. One full day for the town — Bahirawakanda, Peradeniya gardens, the lake and the evening puja — and a second for a hike, a village day or the cultural triangle. Our Kandy 2-day itinerary lays it out hour by hour.
The centre and the lake circuit are walkable. For anything up a hill or out of town, take a tuk-tuk — roughly LKR 100-150/km on the meter, and ride-hailing apps price it automatically with no negotiation. See getting around Kandy.
Starting from$212