One of the ancient world’s great capitals explored by bicycle with a specialist guide whose depth of historical and devotional knowledge makes the site feel genuinely inhabited rather than merely archaeological. The tour covers the Sri Maha Bodhi tree, the great stupas, the ancient monastic complexes, and extends to Mihintale where Buddhism was formally introduced to Sri Lanka in 247 BCE.
Day Tours
Anuradhapura Ancient City Tour
Key Highlights
- Sri Maha Bodhi Tree Grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree in 288 BCE: the oldest documented human-planted tree on earth, still tended by pilgrims who have been arriving here for 23 consecutive centuries.
- Ruwanwelisaya Stupa The great white dome built in the 2nd century BCE, one of the most important stupas in the Buddhist world, rebuilt and resurfaced across 2,000 years of continuous reverence.
- Jetavanaramaya Once the tallest brick structure in the ancient world, still provoking the same response it must have produced when it was first built: genuine awe at the ambition and the achievement.
- Mihintale The hilltop where Buddhism was formally introduced to Sri Lanka, reached by 1,840 stone steps with the ancient city visible across the plain below.
Inclusions
- Private vehicle and driver throughout
- Specialist archaeological guide
- Bicycle hire within the sacred city
- All entrance fees including Mihintale
- Bottled water
Exclusions
- Meals and refreshments
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Start Your Journey