Kandy Day Tour from Negombo: Temple of the Tooth & Gardens

A full day in Kandy's temples, gardens and tea plantations, without arranging transport

A private full-day tour from Negombo to Kandy visits the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, and Bahirawakanda Big Buddha, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking driver-guide. The itinerary includes a scenic drive through countryside, a stroll around Kandy Lake with breakfast at a lakeside café, a tea plantation tour with tasting, and viewpoints overlooking the city. Optional stops are a cultural show or local market exploration.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kandy's cultural highlights

• Pick-up from hotel in Colombo or Negombo
• Drive through countryside to Kandy
• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
• Stroll around Kandy Lake and breakfast
• Explore Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens
• Tour tea plantation and factory with tasting
• Climb to Bahirawakanda Big Buddha statue
• Visit scenic viewpoints overlooking Kandy
• Enjoy Kandyan cultural show or local market
• Return to Colombo or Negombo and drop-off

What’s included

• Bottled water during the journey.
• hotel pick-up and drop-off in Negombo or Colombo.
• private air-conditioned car with professional driver-guide.
• all parking and highway charges.
• tea plantation and factory tour with tasting session.

Times

• Every day 07:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English

Audio guide English

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 4h before

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Infant seats available Not recommended during pregnancy Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Horizon Pearl Tours

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Need assistance?Message us on WhatsApp or by email›

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

The experience

If you're staying in Negombo and want to see Kandy's cultural core without renting a car or navigating unfamiliar roads, this tour handles the logistics. A driver-guide picks you up from your hotel, drives you through Sri Lanka's lush countryside toward Kandy, and provides bottled water along the way. The route itself is part of the experience: the landscape shifts from coastal flatness to rolling hills as you move inland.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the centerpiece: the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, housing a tooth relic of the Buddha. From there, the day moves through contrasting spaces: a peaceful walk around Kandy Lake with a breakfast stop at a lakeside café, then the 147-acre Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, where you'll see exotic orchids, giant bamboo, and centuries-old trees. A tea plantation and factory tour follows, with a tasting session included so you understand how Ceylon tea is made. The Bahirawakanda Big Buddha (a towering statue with panoramic city views) comes next, along with scenic viewpoints like Arthur's Seat overlooking Kandy.

The itinerary builds in flexibility: you can choose between a colorful cultural show (traditional dances, drumming, fire-walking) or exploring a local market instead. The private car means you move at your own pace and can linger where you want. The full day runs 15 to 16 hours door-to-door, ending with drop-off back at your Negombo hotel or airport.

Top questions

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?

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, revered for housing a tooth relic of the Buddha. It is a major pilgrimage site and a centerpiece of Kandy's spiritual and cultural identity.

What will I see at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens?

Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens spans 147 acres and features exotic orchids, giant bamboo, and centuries-old trees. It is a peaceful setting for walking and photography.

Is lunch or tea included in the tour?

Breakfast is included at a lakeside café around Kandy Lake. A tea tasting is included at the tea plantation and factory tour. Lunch and dinner are not included, so you'll need to arrange those separately or ask your guide for recommendations.

Can I choose what to do at the end of the day instead of the cultural show?

Yes. You can either attend a colorful cultural show featuring traditional dances, drumming, and fire-walking, or explore a local market instead, depending on your preference.

How long is the drive from Negombo to Kandy?

The drive is through scenic countryside and takes place as part of the full-day itinerary. The entire tour, including all stops and the return journey, runs 15 to 16 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off.