The 6 Best Temple Tours in Anuradhapura

1.Private City Day Tour in Anuradhapura

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 383 reviews · from $30Our pick

Spend four to five hours touring Anuradhapura’s key Buddhist and ancient sites with Navin Lanka Tours. Your private guide and driver handle the transport, often by tuk-tuk, while you visit 12 major stops including Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Abhayagiriya, and Isurumuniya. Hotel pickup, bottled water, and a private experience are included.

“Navin was an amazing guide for our tour through Anuradhapura! He had so much knowledge to share and as a bonus he was fun to hang out with and we chatted about so many topics. He goes the extra mile to ensure a great Sri Lanka experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Explore & Ride the history of anuradhapura with Vogel Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews

Guide Ajee Vogel leads a private Anuradhapura tour through sacred sites, ancient monasteries, carved moonstones, bathing ponds, and museums. The route includes Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Abhayagiri, and Jetavanaramaya, with snacks, tea or coffee, and private transport available for up to three people.

“We visited both the new and the old parts of Anuradhapura, and it was truly impressive. If you want a guide who can tell you everything about Buddhism, this is the tour you should take. It was absolutely amazing, highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Anuradhapura Private Ancient City Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 5 hours · from $30

Spend five hours exploring Anuradhapura by private tuk tuk with English-speaking guide Navin. Visit Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Jethawanaramaya, Abhayagiri, Kuttam Pokuna, Thuparama, and other major sites. Hotel pickup, transport, water, snacks, and a tuk tuk lesson are included, but entrance tickets cost extra.

“The tour was incredible and I learned so much about ancient Sinhala culture and Buddhism. I would recommend to anyone travelling to Anuradhapura”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Anuradhapura Heritage Mountain bike / bicycle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $25Best value

Ride a 10-kilometer loop through Anuradhapura with English-speaking guide Saranga. You’ll visit major stupas, ancient ponds, Buddhist sites, rice fields, and quieter routes by quality mountain bike. The tour includes water, a vegetarian meal, parking, and cycling equipment, but the UNESCO entrance fee costs extra.

“This was a truly magical tour. The slow pace let's you indulge into the history and the beautiful nature of Anuradhapura's ancient city. The guide was a big plus with a great knowledge about the culture and religion. I can highly recommend this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Full-Day Wilpattu All Inclusive Private Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · 10 - 12 hours · from $90

You’ll leave Anuradhapura, Mihintale, or Nochchiyagama in an air-conditioned vehicle, then spend the day in a private safari jeep with an English-speaking guide such as Hasun. Wilpattu’s forest trails, open plains, and natural lakes offer strong leopard-spotting chances, plus a picnic lunch, breakfast, snacks, water, park entry, and hotel transfers.

“Nice driver. lots of focus on looking for leopards meaning we mostly drive around the same area most of the time. we were lucky to see a bear at the end of the day”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Day Tour from dambulla to Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews

Leave around 4:30 am from Dambulla for a private nine-hour outing to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. Samar hosts the day, taking up to three people in a personal vehicle, with early access for a possible sunrise at Sigiriya and a chance to spot wild elephants between the two ancient cities. You will not need to rent a bicycle.

“Watching the morning sunrise from the top of Sigiriya was breathtaking. The day tour through Polonnaruwa was amazing and Samar was a great host.”

Check availability →Read our full review