Are specialist site guides (e.g., at Sigiriya) included in the cost?

Specialist guides at big sights like Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, or the Temple of the Tooth are seldom included in normal travel agency package costs. In many cases, you have to hire them on your own and pay them separately right at the entrance gates.

Even when your trip comes with a registered chauffeur guide, rules at particular UNESCO World Heritage locations require the use of dedicated, site-specific historians to shepherd visitors through the ruins. So, expect to pay around $10 to $20 for these independent local guides, and always discuss and agree on the fee before you start the tour.