7 Minneriya Safaris in Kandy: What to Book and What It Costs

1.Private Kandy to Sigiriya and Minneriya Safari Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 39 reviews · 1 day · from $40Our pick

Travel privately from Kandy with an English-speaking driver such as Fazli, Nazly, or Prasanna. Visit Matale’s Hindu temple, a spice garden, Dambulla, and Sigiriya, then watch elephants at Minneriya. The day can run 12 hours, so carry cash for tickets, safari costs, and food.

“Very full on day with Sigiriya, Dambulla Cave temple and the elephant safari. It's a long drive to and from these places to Kandy, fortunately we had an amazing driver in Pansilu. He is the safest driver I've come across in my 3 times visiting the country and he was willing to stay late so we'd have time for everything. If you are short on time, I'd recommend skipping the spice garden (it's a bit touristy tbh) or do it on the way back after all main activities. This is a great tour option if you like elephants (the safari is 3hrs of watching elephants) and want to hit some…”

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2.Sigiriya, Dambulla and Minneriya Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 22 reviews · 1 day · from $84

Travel from Kandy in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Climb Sigiriya Rock, visit Dambulla’s painted caves and Golden Temple, then take a 4x4 safari in Minneriya National Park. Guides connected with this tour have included Kenneth, Ruwan, and Diyath. Entry fees, meals, and the safari jeep cost extra.

“The tour specified a english speaking guide however we only got a driver who drove us to the sites and stayed in the car. We had to find a guide and pay extra at the sites. This was unexpected and disappointing. Better description of the tour is needed to avoid confusion”

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3.Kandy To Sigiriya Day Tour With Minneriya Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 12 reviews · 10 hours · from $27

Leave your Kandy hotel with an English-speaking driver such as Dhanushka, Banuka, Wicky, or Lali, then visit Matale Hindu Temple, a traditional craft center, Sigiriya or Pidurangala, Minneriya National Park, and Dambulla Cave Temple. The day is private, flexible, and packed, but entrance fees and lunch are extra.

“recommended good restaurant, good driving, good music, trying to scam us,”

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4.Private Sigiriya & Minneriya Elephant Safari Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $25Best value

Travel privately from Kandy to Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Minneriya National Park in a tuk-tuk or air-conditioned van. Your driver-guide can adjust the route and pace, swap Sigiriya for Pidurangala Rock, or replace the safari with a Sigiriya Craft Village visit. Hotel pickup, drop-off, parking, and bottled water are included.

“This tour is much more exciting than I expected! I asked my guide Tony to climb Pidurangala rock instead of Sigiriya rock and I could see wonderful view!! Tony is a great photographer and showed me many good spots to take pictures. During Read more”

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5.Minneriya National park & Sigiriya Rock by tuk tuk tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $41

Leave Kandy at 7 a.m. in a private tuk tuk with an English-speaking guide such as Dinesh, Pansi, or Lakshan, then visit Matale, an Ayurvedic village, Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Minneriya National Park. Hotel pickup, Wi-Fi, and a safari jeep are included. Bring lunch money and check the separate entrance fees carefully.

“We embarked on a 7-days exploration of Sri Lanka with Lanka Safe Tours, and it was a deeply a breath experience. Lakshan coordinated everything with precision, he keeps us company with engaging and historical stories. One unforgetRead more”

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6.Sigiriya Rock Dambulla & Minneriya Jeep Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 8 reviews · 1 day · from $55

Travel privately from Kandy by air-conditioned car or van to Dambulla Cave Temple, climb Sigiriya Lion Rock, visit a Sri Lankan village and herbal spice garden, then take a four-hour Minneriya-area jeep safari. Driver Gajen has earned praise for his English, music, lunch advice, and friendly help, though the schedule can feel too tight.

“Although the driver was excellent. There is not enough time to complete this schedule and when we arrived at Dambulla caves it was closed. Take it mind that we are relatively fit and completed the hike one hour quicker than the allocated time and yet still didn’t have enough time to do the cave. Disappointing.”

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7.Minneriya National park & Sigiriya Rock Fortress – Private Transport

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $36

Leave Kandy in an air-conditioned car or van with a driver-guide for a full day of temples, village stops, Dambulla Cave Temple, lunch, and a Minneriya Jeep Safari. The route is designed for convenience, with hotel pickup, drop-off, WiFi, and included entry fees. Confirm whether Sigiriya Rock climbing is included, as the published route focuses on Dambulla and the park.

“The tour was super complete and perfect, the attention of the guide Lali was very comfortable and grateful, always super attentive and he was telling us interesting facts and any kind of doubt we had. The truth is that we would not hesitate to recommend this activity to anyone looking for a day of adventure in Sri Lanka.”

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