Kandy to Sigiriya tickets

How To Get From Kandy to Sigiriya

If you’ve never experienced a rock fortress, you’re in for something special when you travel from Kandy to Sigiriya. 

The best part about the trip is how extremely convenient, affordable, and brief it is. 

You’ll go by minivan. It’s the sole option. A driver will pick you up at a specified Kandy hotel and drop you off at your Sigiyira hotel. It doesn't get much easier.

Once you leave Kandy for Sigiyira, you’ll ride through the jungles and mountains. The first thing you’ll see as soon as you enter Sigiyira is a 600-foot (180-meter) rock that towers above the land. Get your camera ready, it’s very cool. 

Overall, the trip takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Because there are a limited number of daily connections, purchase your ticket well in advance.

Things to do in Sigiyira

The rock fortress, also known as Lion Rock, is probably why you're going to Sigiyira in the first place. And certainly, it will fill your Instagram page. 

It’s worth every minute of the trip. 

It takes 1,200 steps to reach the top, where a little village and views for miles await you. 

There’s a museum nearby where you can learn all about the rock’s history, including how a hard magma plate left behind by a volcano helped create it. You should also visit the archaeological site and take pictures of The Lion’s Paw.

Are you interested in seeing elephants? Just 51 km (32 miles) from Sigyira is Minneriya National Park, where a rainwater reservoir holds the largest gathering of elephants in Asia — around 700 of them! 

Not that seeing elephants in the wild isn’t enough, but there is more to spot in the park. Take a Jeep safari and look for leopards, sloth bears, buffalo, monkeys, and wild pigs.

Plus, there are 170 species of birds, including painted storks, paint-billed pelicans, the Sri Lanka jungle fowl, and the brown-capped babbler, to name a few. 

Other places to visit in Sigiyira include:

• Sigiyira Palace

• Pidurangala Rock

• Dambulla Royal Cave and Golden Temple

• Cobra Hood Cave

Fun fact #1: The entrance to the rock fortress is in the form of a colossal lion. After you enter through the heart of the lion, you’ll walk up a huge staircase that takes you to the very top. While the rock is 600 feet tall, the top is actually 1,144 feet (349 meters) above sea level.

Fun fact #2: Sigiriya was abandoned for hundreds of years until 1831, when Major John Forbes, a British Army officer, discovered it while on a horseback ride. This discovery prompted research and investigations to take place.

What is the trip from Kandy to Sigiriya like?

As you drive from Kandy to Sigiyira, you’ll come across a series of small towns and lots of lush trees and forests. 

You’ll pass by jungles and may see some Sri Lankan wildlife, including langurs, peacocks, boars, buffalo, and sambars. 

The most unique part is the elevation changes as you navigate through low-valley countryside and mountainous villages. It’s a good idea to have your camera ready to snap amazing pictures, particularly as you get closer to Sigiriya.

Just like you get excited when you see the Eiffel Tower from miles away, seeing Sigiyira’s rock fortress from a distance makes your heart skip a beat.

Transportation from Kandy to Sigiriya

It is not a long trip from Kandy to Sigiriya, with the two cities separated by just 89 km (55 miles). It can take anywhere from two to three hours to make the connection, depending on traffic. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about using your whole day to travel.

Going by minivan

Currently, the only way to travel from Kandy to Sigiriya is by standard minivan. Given the limited number of departures, it’s best to arrange a reservation well in advance. 

Standard minivan by Magical Sri Lanka:

• Prices start at $14

• Includes A/C

• Food and snacks provided

• Total travel time is 2 hours and 30 minutes

• Pickup at any Kandy hotel

• Dropoff at any Sigiriya hotel

• One luggage up to 20 kg per passenger

• Changes and cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the trip

When is the best time to visit Sigiriya?

Sri Lanka is one of the hottest countries in Asia. 

Given all the outdoor activities in Sigiriya, you want to visit when you can maximize your sunshine and enjoy drier conditions so you’re not constantly sweating. The best months to take advantage of this is between December and April. Average highs fluctuate between 85-94°F (29-34°C) with very little rainfall.

Given the warm nights in the summer, you shouldn’t need a jacket. However, during the winter months, you may get a chill in the air when the sun goes down, so pack accordingly.

The worst months to visit are September to December when it’s extremely tropical, humid, and rainy — not ideal for outdoor conditions.