Kandy Day Tour from Colombo: Temple of the Tooth & Tea Factory

Kandy's temples, markets and tea estates in one day from Colombo

A full-day guided tour from Colombo to Kandy, Sri Lanka's UNESCO World Heritage hill capital, with hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the royal palace complex, walk through the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens with its orchids and giant bamboo, explore Kandy's local market, and tour a working tea factory to see how Ceylon tea is made. Return to Colombo in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Kandy sightseeing tour

• Depart Colombo for Peradeniya Gardens
• Explore Royal Botanic Gardens
• Free time for lunch
• Travel to Kandy city
• Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic
• Stroll Kandy local market
• Climb to Kandy viewpoint
• Visit Geragama Tea Factory
• Return to Colombo in evening

The experience

The tour leaves Colombo in the morning and heads toward Kandy, a city ringed by mountains and tea estates in central Sri Lanka. Along the way, you stop at the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, set 5.5 kilometers west of Kandy near the Mahaweli River. The gardens draw 2 million visitors annually and hold one of the world's largest orchid collections, alongside giant bamboo, towering palms, and exotic plant species. You have time to walk the grounds at your own pace before the group moves on.

In Kandy itself, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the centerpiece: a Buddhist temple inside the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, housing the relic of the Buddha's tooth. A multilingual specialist guide meets you there to explain the temple's history and significance. After the temple, you walk through Kandy's local market to experience the city's everyday rhythm, then climb the hill by Kandy Lake for views over the water and the surrounding city. The lake itself, built in 1807 by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, sits directly next to the temple and is known locally as Kiri Muhuda, the Sea of Milk.

The tour includes a stop at the Geragama Tea Factory, built in 1903, where you learn how Ceylon tea is processed and why it remains a cornerstone of Sri Lanka's economy. Lunch is on your own at a restaurant of your choice in Kandy. The driver is an English speaker, and bottled water is provided throughout the day. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Colombo are included, and the return journey arrives after dark. The full outing runs 10 to 12 hours depending on traffic and the time of day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional English-speaking driver with multilingual specialist guide at the temple.
• bottled water and a king coconut.
• free WiFi onboard upon request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Arabic and Tamil

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Apple Vacations Pvt Ltd

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Colombo means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to reach Kandy's temples and gardens. The shared vehicle and fixed itinerary fit the full day into one departure, returning you to your hotel after dark.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Arabic and Tamil.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and why is it important to visit?

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, or Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy's royal palace complex that houses the relic of the Buddha's tooth, one of Buddhism's most sacred objects. A multilingual guide explains its history and significance when you arrive, and the temple sits beside Kandy Lake in the heart of the city.

What will I see at the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens?

The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens hold one of the world's largest orchid collections, along with giant bamboo, towering palms, and exotic plant species from across the tropics. The gardens sit 5.5 kilometers west of Kandy near the Mahaweli River and attract 2 million visitors annually.

How does the tea factory visit work?

The Geragama Tea Factory, built in 1903, is a working facility on the route between Colombo and Kandy where you see how Ceylon tea is processed. The visit shows why tea remains a major economic asset for Sri Lanka and how the production works from leaf to finished product.

What should I wear and bring for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when entering temples. Bring a current valid passport. The tour includes bottled water, and a king coconut is provided. Lunch is at your own expense at a restaurant in Kandy.

How long is the drive from Colombo to Kandy, and what is the total tour length?

The full tour runs 10 to 12 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, with the exact duration depending on traffic and the time of day. The drive between Colombo and Kandy is the longest single leg, but the itinerary includes stops at the gardens, temple, market and tea factory.