Kandy Day Tour: Temple of the Tooth and Tea Plantations

Stroll around Kandy Lake, explore sacred temples, and taste fresh tea in mountain air.

A 12-hour day tour of Kandy covering the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, tea plantation, Herbal Spice Garden, gem factory and Royal Botanic Gardens, with hotel pickup, lunch and an English-speaking driver-guide. Minimum two people per booking. Children welcome from age 5. Wear long sleeves and pants to enter the temple.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kandy and surrounding attractions

• Visit Herbal Spice Garden
• Visit tea factory and plantation
• See gem finding and jewelry making
• Explore Botanic Gardens
• Visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive to the Herbal Spice Garden, where you walk through plants that have drawn merchant traders to Sri Lanka for over 2,000 years: pepper, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom all grow here. From there you move to a tea plantation and factory on the way up to Kandy, where you see how the leaves are processed and taste the finished tea. A stop at a gem workshop shows how Sri Lanka's stones are cut and set into jewelry.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya hold over 4,000 plant species across orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palms. The grounds date back to 1371 and sit near the Mahaweli river. After lunch at a buffet, you reach the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in the heart of Kandy's royal palace complex. This is the working Buddhist temple that houses the relic of the Buddha's tooth and remains the center of Kandy's spiritual life. The tour wraps with a return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Entrance tickets to all five attractions.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• transport by luxury vehicle.
• buffet lunch.
• English-speaking driver-guide.
• all government taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00 and 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sri Lanka Vacation Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary without translation. This works for anyone traveling solo or in a group where English is the shared language.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

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 exactly is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy?

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is a Buddhist temple built within Kandy's former royal palace complex. It houses the relic of the Buddha's tooth and is one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism, drawing pilgrims and visitors from around the world.

How long does the full Kandy day tour take?

The tour runs 12 hours from pickup to drop-off, covering five stops: the Herbal Spice Garden, tea plantation and factory, gem workshop, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, with lunch included midway.

What should I wear to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic?

Wear long-sleeved tops and long pants to enter the temple. This dress code is required out of respect for the sacred site.

Does the tour include meals?

Yes, a buffet lunch is included. The tour also includes all entrance tickets to the attractions, hotel pickup and drop-off, and transport in a luxury vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide.