Private Tour
Get Your Guide for Anuradhapura with Optional Tour to Mihintale
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Let’s Discover the rich history of ancient Sri Lanka on this immersive tour of Anuradhapura. Begin the journey at the Vessagiriya Forest Monastery, where you’ll delve into the intriguing tales of a civilization unique to this region. Visit iconic sites including the Shri Maha Bodhi Tree, Towering Stupas, and many Grandeur Masterpieces, each offering a glimpse into the grandiloquent history of ancient Sinhalese people. As you explore, gain insights into the cultural significance of these landmarks from your personal guide. This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts and those looking to understand Sri Lanka’s ancient elegance.
- Tour includes visits to key historical sites in Anuradhapura
- Learn about ancient Sri Lankan civilization from an expert guide
- Explore significant landmarks like the Ruwanweliseya Stupa and the Vessagiriya Monastery
- Flexible pick-up options available from bus stations, railway stations, or your hotel
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Vessagiriya Ruins
Welcome to Rajarata ! (The King’s County or The Land of Kings) We will commence our day from Vessagiriya Forest Monastery, which is one of the two oldest Buddhist Monks living dwellings in the island. At Vessagiriya, the guests will start to deep dive into the Ancient Sinhalese Civilization nourished with Buddhism, Agriculture, Fine Arts, Architecture, Trades, International Relations, and Spellbinding Engineering Marvels and there you get an idea of how Anuradhapura looked like in its golden era from its very beginning.
Sakwala Chakraya (Star Gate)
Hidden on the side of a boulder face at the Ran Masu Uyana (The Royal Goldfish Park) sandwiched between the Tissa Wewa and the Isurumuniya Rock Temple at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is a unique artefact of Ancient Sri Lanka which is locally known as “Bawa Chakraya” or the “Sakwala Chakraya.
What‘s Included
King Coconut
Bottled water
Professional & Licensed Tour Guide
Entry Admission to UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Private transportation
Options
Guided Tour without Transport
Bottled Water / Refreshments
Reviews
50 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
An Amazing Day with Lucky
OkieMichael,,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lucky was an amazing guide. He has deep knowledge of Buddhism, history and archaeology and brought the stones and sights to life. His English is excellent and he tells lots of stories. The day started with an overview of the life of Buddha and his teachings- and, importantly, how they relate to Buddhism as practiced today. As we explored the amazing sights, Lucky would point out interesting details and relate them to the bigger picture that he was building. We also visited Mihinthale to finish the day which was a great add on. I highly recommend Lucky as a guide.
Successful day!
Safari55845665939,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour with Lucky was very educational! The basics of Buddhism will be discussed, which you will then recognize immediately at the various sights. All your questions will be answered. Definitely recommend this day trip!
A deep dive into history
Niek v,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great day with Lucky. He speaks really good English and know a lot about the history of buddisme and is happy to share. Nice to see he is really passionate about it. Its definitely not a standard story you get from him. He is an advanced guide (the highest level), which you can clearly notice. At the beginning of the tour, Lucky asks whether you want to learn a lot of a little less about the history. We were very interested, so he shared a great deal of information with us, and we would definitely recommend him. It was almost like a history class. The tour lasted from 8:15 (pickup at our hotel) till 15:00 because we had to travel in the afternoon
A deep dive into history
430niekv,,Feb 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great day with Lucky. He speaks really good English and know a lot about the history of buddisme and is happy to share. Nice to see he is really passionate about itm Its definitly not a standard story you get from him. He is an advanced guide (the highest level), which you can clearly notice. At the beginning of the tour, Lucky asks whether you want to learn a lot of a little less about the history. We were very interested, so he shared a great deal of information with us, and we would definitely recommend him. It was almost like a history class. Our tour lasted from 8:15 till 15:00 because we had to travel in the afternoon.
A very professional guide!
Tineke W,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were so very lucky to have Lucky as our guide when in Anuradhapuna. He picked us up from our guesthouse and right from the start, there was a click. I have never met such a knowledgable guide. His information went far beyond the basics and we could feel his love for history, archaeology and architecture. Lucky told and showed us much more than he was supposed to, but he did not rush. From now on we will look upon “rocks and caves” with totally different eyes. Lucky also gave us a lot to think about, regarding buddishm. It is a big asset too, that he speaks such good English.
A wonderful day without retail distractions.
Aquila2013,,Feb 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful day with Lucky. After a number of disappointing tours, we asked him to avoid the retail experience and concentrate on the genuine historical aspects of the area. We were not disappointed. His knowledge was fantastic and rather than telling us things, we discussed aspects of both the history and the modern interpretation of Buddha. Thank you Lucky for a fabulous day. I would be happy to recommend him.
Great tour in Anuradhapura’s history with Lucky.
Trudy H,,Feb 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful day with Lucky, best tour in Sri Lanka. Lucky knows so much about Buddhist teachings, temples, monasteries and Anuradhapura history that the day was truly memorial and informative. Lucky tailored the day to our requirements which made it extra special. I will definitely use Lucky again and I would highly recommend using Lucky as your tour guide.
Genius
RebelSkeptic,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very thorough, enthusiastic, friendly, compassionate, fun, brilliant, engaging, amusing, and informative. Highly recommended
Brilliant!
Herbert L,,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very detailed, thorough, intelligent, and enthusiastic guide. After the 5 hours, it felt like there was more to do - the ideal result
An unforgettable journey into Sri Lanka’s ancient history
Trek47736199864,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We explored Anuradhapura with Lucky as our guide, and it was truly exceptional. His knowledge spans from the time of the historical Buddha all the way through the origins and expansion of this ancient civilization. But what made it special was how he shared it. Lucky doesn’t just recite facts. He turns history into storytelling. Every detail felt alive, connected, and easy to follow, delivered in perfect English and with great sensitivity to what is fascinating to us. What impressed us most was how clearly he explained the astonishing architectural and engineering skills of the time. Making it tangible just how advanced this civilization already was centuries ago. The tour was informative yet light, deep yet never overwhelming. If you want to truly dive deeper into history while enjoying an engaging, accessible and inspiring experience, Lucky is the guide to choose. A clear recommendation for anyone visiting Anuradhapura and wanting to see more than ruins and understand the story behind them.
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Operated by Lucky Lanka Expedition