Rock Up to the Lion Fortress

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Sigiriya
Duration:
3 days / 2 nights (flexible)
Price:
From £ 165.- per adult (excluding flights)
From £ 99, - per child (up to 11 years)

Climbing up to the top of Lion Rock will require quite a bit of effort, but it's a fun walk up as you'll pass cheeky monkeys, countless frescoes, and Buddha images. Once you've made it to the top, you'll be glad you put in the graft, as the panoramic view of the emerald green jungle below is truly remarkable! You'll then head to your family hotel, where you can while away the rest of the day, lazing around the pool.

Day 1 – Arrival at Dambulla caves and Sigiriya

First stop today: the golden cave temples of Dambulla. These five caves are full of gold-clad Buddha statues (157 in total) and some of the murals here are more than 2,000 years old. Whilst you’re likely to find it quite impressive, the kids will probably be more impressed by all the monkeys that you’ll encounter on the way up!

Your hotel with a swimming pool is only half an hour away, so once you’ve had your fill of culture, your driver will take you there. There aren’t many places to eat nearby, so we recommend grabbing dinner at your hotel, and luckily they have quite a lot of choice.

Day 2 – Climbing Lion Rock

Sri Lanka doesn’t have lions, but it does have Lion Rock. It owes its name to the two huge stone claws at the foot of the rock. Your driver will get you and your family there for the end of the afternoon which we think is the best time to climb it. By this point, the sun won’t be as bright, and most of the hoards of tourists will have gone home. There’s sure to be a bit of huffing and puffing from the kids, but once you’ve made it up, you’ll be glad you put in the effort as the view that greets you is truly incredible! Once you’ve enjoyed the view and taken some great family snaps, it’s time to head back to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax and take it easy.

Day 3 – Departure from Sigiriya

From Sigiriya you can follow the pilgrim route and visit the Temple of the Tooth and whip up a storm in the kitchen in Kandy. Otherwise, if you haven’t yet had your fill of culture, then head on to Polonnaruwa, where you can hop on a bike and explore the temple ruins.

If you want to take it easy for a couple of days, then we suggest travelling to the white sandy beaches of the East Coast. Here, you and your family can go on a snorkelling trip around Pigeon Island National Park, and just spend some quality family time together.