This full-day tour explores Sri Lanka’s ancient capitals, tracing over a thousand years of Buddhist history through stupas, monasteries and royal ruins. At Anuradhapura, visit the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree and towering dagobas; at Mihintale, climb the steps where Buddhism is said to have first arrived on the island. Polonnaruwa’s compact, well-preserved ruins are best explored by bicycle for a relaxed pace.