Do I need a private driver for the Cultural Triangle?

Even if it is not strictly mandatory, hiring a private driver for the Cultural Triangle is strongly suggested, mostly because it helps you get better mileage out of your day while staying comfortable, and also offers a bit more protection from the intense regional heat.

The old cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla are spaced out over quite a large stretch. You can use public buses between the towns, but they tend to take longer, and they are frequently crammed with people. With a private car, you get direct air-conditioned transport, you can slip past the tour bus crowds by starting earlier, and you gain real freedom to wander through distant ruins at your own rhythm, not the one on a schedule.