What the climb is actually like
The route to the summit is around 1,200 steps, and they are not all the same. The first stretch is gentle and flat, winding through the beautiful water gardens and boulder gardens at the base — a pleasure in itself, with shade and plenty to look at. The effort begins once you reach the rock itself.
From there you climb a series of steep stone and metal staircases bolted to the cliff face. A tight spiral metal stairway takes you up to see the famous frescoes — the painted 'cloud maidens' — and this section is enclosed and can feel a little airless. You then arrive at the Lion's Paw terrace, a wide ledge where two enormous carved stone paws mark the final ascent. The last stretch climbs open metal steps with handrails up the exposed upper face to the summit.
There are handrails on the steep sections and places to pause, but parts of the climb are exposed, with open views down, and the metal can grow hot in the sun. Taken at a steady pace with rests, most people allow around three hours for the whole visit up and down, including time at the top to take in the panorama.
Is it suitable for the over-70s?
Plenty of fit, active travellers in their seventies climb Sigiriya and treasure the memory. If you walk regularly at home, your knees and hips are reasonably comfortable on stairs, and you have a good head for heights, there is every chance you will manage it well by taking your time.
It is equally honest to say it does not suit everyone. If you have a heart condition, significant breathlessness, troublesome knees or hips, problems with balance, or you find heights and open metal staircases distressing, this is a climb to think carefully about — the steep, exposed upper sections are where people most often feel they have taken on more than they bargained for.
There is absolutely no shame in deciding not to climb. Choosing to admire Sigiriya from below, or from a gentler viewpoint, is a perfectly good decision and a very common one. Your guide will never pressure you, and the day is built so that everyone enjoys it whether or not they go to the top.
How to make the climb easier
The single best thing you can do is go early. We aim to be at the entrance at opening, around dawn, while the air is cool and the staircases are quiet — far more pleasant than the heat and crowds of mid-morning. The light at that hour is lovely too.
Beyond that, the rules are simple: take it slowly, rest whenever you wish, and treat it as a series of short stages rather than one long push. Carry water and sip often, wear a sun hat and sun cream, and put on sturdy shoes with good grip for the metal steps. A walking pole can help if you use one at home.
On our tours your private guide sets the pace to suit you, not the other way round, and will happily stop as often as you need. If at any point you decide you have gone far enough, that is completely fine — you can wait comfortably or turn back, and no one will think the less of it.
The gentler alternatives
You do not have to reach the summit to feel the wonder of Sigiriya. The water gardens at the base are themselves a highlight — ancient pools, fountains and lawns laid out beneath the towering rock — and you can wander them on the flat, with the great citadel rising dramatically above you.
For the classic photograph of Sigiriya itself, the answer is neighbouring Pidurangala. The full climb has a rocky scramble near the top that we would not recommend, but you can go part-way up to a fine viewpoint that looks straight across at the Lion Rock standing proud of the jungle — arguably the better view, because Sigiriya is in it.
And it is entirely reasonable to skip the summit altogether. You lose nothing essential by doing so: the setting, the gardens, the history and the sheer presence of the rock are all there to be enjoyed from the ground. Many of our happiest travellers never set foot on the upper staircases at all.
When to go and how we arrange it
For the most comfortable visit, aim for the dry season from December to March, and start early in the day while it is cool and the rock is quiet. Sri Lanka is warm and humid year-round, so an early morning at Sigiriya makes a real difference to how the climb feels.
Sigiriya is included on our private escorted Sri Lanka tours, with UK flights now included, from under £2,300 and fully ATOL protected. You travel with a private driver-guide who shapes the day around you — an early start, an unhurried pace, and the freedom to climb as far as you like or to enjoy it from below.
You can also tell us your preferred pace when you book. We offer three simple options — Easy, Steady or Active — so the whole holiday, not just Sigiriya, is matched to how much walking and climbing you are happy with.
Nearby: the Dambulla cave temples
A short drive from Sigiriya, the Dambulla cave temples make a wonderful companion visit and a far gentler one. Five linked caves shelter hundreds of Buddha statues and ceilings painted with glowing murals — a genuine highlight of any Sri Lanka tour.
There is a flight of steps up to the cave entrance, but it is a much shorter and less exposed climb than Sigiriya, and the reward is immediate and indoors. For anyone giving the Lion Rock a miss, Dambulla is a lovely way to feel you have seen the very best of this part of the island.
