Kandy Day Tour From Colombo

Recommended by 90% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Great choice

10+ bookings last month.

10 to 12 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Overview

Visit Sri Lanka's old hill capital on this day tour from Colombo. No need to rent a car, as all transportation is included; you can enjoy the scenery on the way there and back. Your tour guide will tailor the tour and their commentary to your interests and you'll have plenty of time to ask questions. Highlights include the Kandy Market, the Temple of the Tooth, and the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens.

All round-trip transportation included
Learn about both sites through guided commentary
Bottled water and WiFi available during the journey

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off by Air conditioned vehicle ( share in Tour)
Multi Language Specialist guide at Temple of Tooth
Professional & Expert English Speaking driver
Bottled water
King Coconut
Free Wifi onboard upon request

Food and drinks
Gratuities
Lunch
Entrance tickets to sights

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

* Operator Will reconfirm the pick time in advance * Arrive at the lobby 10 minutes before pick up time * Pick up is available in Colombo only - if the designated pick-up location is located outside the city limits pick up can be made with additional charge * Operator for further Assistance-Additional charges may Apply * If the drop off location different from pick up location, please contact the operator additional charges may apply * Kindly provide the WhatsApp contact details - for Better and fast communication

Operating hours
.6:00 am

Itinerary

Colombo (Pass By)

Royal Botanical Gardens

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Kandy View Point

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Kandy Lake (Pass By)

Kandy

4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Geragama Tea Factory

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Comfortable walking shoes recommended for this tour.
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Kindly wear clothings that covers the shoulders and knees when entering in the temples
The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.7

based on 50 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Don’t try to do this tour in 1 day!

Ielyzaveta_V, Jan 2026

The drive was the worst experience ever with tons of traffic and very reckless driving all around. I don’t recommend trying to do this tour in one day.

An Excellent Tour

Col_G, Jan 2026

We were taken on the tour by Kaveesha Gimhan and Pasindu. Pasindu was our driver. He drove extremely nicely and safely on this long tour. Kaveesha is a very knowledgeable guide and he explained everything in detail on this trip which took @ 13 hours. They were absolutely punctual and picked us up from our hotel, Taj Samudra Colombo so that we left at 6 am sharp. Lots to see on this tour and thanks to our guide, Kaveesha and our driver, Pasindu, we thoroughly enjoyed it. We would definitely recommend hiring their services.

One Day Road Trip Colombo to Kandy & back.

Mohandas_W, Jan 2026

We had a most amazing trip from Colombo to Kandy & back. We had very enlightening simple, end-to-end walk-through visits of a tea factory, a batik painting shop, and a wood carving products shop, with excellent products buying opportunities. Our driver, Krish, was just go-to-expert on the roads, handling the topsy-turby ride, with ease and elan, the car being very comfortable. We were a small, cosmo group brought together for a time by chance - an Aussie, two American Indians, and one Norwegian. I and my wife - both of us, absolutely relished this trip end-to-end.

A Nice Experience

Konstantina_d, Oct 2025

Really good experience! It ended up being a private tour and the driver was very nice and adjusted the trip to my preferences. We even stopped to see the elephants, which was not in the original plan. Overall was a good tour and we did quite a few stops.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Dear Konstantina_d, Thank you so much for sharing your lovely feedback on the Kandy Day Tour from Colombo. We’re delighted to hear that you had such a pleasant and flexible experience, with your driver tailoring the tour to your preferences. It’s wonderful that you got the chance to make an extra stop to see the elephants — a truly special moment! We’re glad you enjoyed the variety of stops and the overall experience. Thank you once again for choosing Apple Vacations Sri Lanka, and we hope to welcome you back soon for more adventures across our beautiful island! 🇱🇰

A Tour Around Beautiful Kandy

Joshua_L, Aug 2025

The tour around Kandy and each stop was simply unforgettable. What made it even more special was our guide and driver, Rangan, he did a stellar job showing us around and going above and beyond. Truly a memorable tour.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that your tour around Kandy was unforgettable and that Ranga made the experience so special for you. He will be delighted to know his efforts went above and beyond your expectations. We’re so happy this tour created lasting memories, and we’d love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!

Inconsistent

Ronald_F, Mar 2025

It’s a 2 1/2 hour drive from Colombo which contributes to a very long day. Breakfast stop good value and good choices. Lunch in the botanical gardens few desirable choices and over priced. Elephant museum option very overpriced. Tooth relic temple and tour impressive

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Dear Ronald, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on the Kandy Day Tour from Colombo. We truly appreciate your honest review, as it helps us continue to improve and refine our guest experience. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the breakfast stop and found the Temple of the Tooth Relic tour impressive—it's one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and spiritually significant sites, and we’re pleased it left a strong impression. We also acknowledge your concerns regarding the long drive from Colombo, and you’re absolutely right—Kandy is a few hours away, and the full-day itinerary can indeed be a long one. For future travelers, we often suggest early starts and possibly overnight stays for a more relaxed pace, depending on travel preferences. Regarding the lunch options at the botanical gardens and the elephant museum visit, we’re sorry to hear these aspects didn’t meet expectations. We’ll certainly review these stops and work with our partners to ensure better value and variety moving forward. Thank you again for traveling with Apple Vacations Sri Lanka. We hope to welcome you back in the future with an experience that better aligns with your preferences. Warm regards, Jeev

Substituted Galle for Kandy and loved it!

Joseph_B, Feb 2025

Our guide recommended to change the tour to Galle, because of time restrictions returning to our cruise ship. We are so glad we did. We enjoyed the turtle conservation center and really loved the Magu River trip. Our guide, Ranga, was so thoughtful and kind, adding extra stops to sample fresh coconut water on a beautiful beach and treating us to ice cream on another. I highly recommend this trip!

Response from Host, Mar 2025

Dear Joseph, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your customized Galle Day Tour and that it turned out to be a great alternative to Kandy, given your time constraints. It’s fantastic that you loved the turtle conservation center and the Madu River safari—both are truly special experiences! We’re also happy to hear that Ranga made your trip even more memorable with his thoughtful gestures and extra stops. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure in Sri Lanka in the future! Best regards, Apple Vacations Sri Lanka Team

Must visit!

Mohit_L, Nov 2024

Fantastic trip, temples, good food. Although day long but worth it. Do carry a cloth covering your knees if you plan to visit temples.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you, Mohit, for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Kandy day tour, from visiting the temples to savoring delicious food. While it’s indeed a long day, we’re glad you found it worthwhile. Thank you for the helpful tip about carrying a cloth to cover your knees for temple visits—it’s great advice for future travelers! We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another journey in Sri Lanka soon. Safe travels!

Great Day trip to Kandy

Richard_G, Jun 2024

This was a great day trip to Kandy for people with limited time. I enjoyed the temple with the history about the tooth and the botanical gardens.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Richard_G, Thank you for sharing your feedback on the Kandy Day Tour from Colombo. We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience and found the trip perfect for those with limited time. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed the visit to the temple and its rich history, as well as the beauty of the botanical gardens. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We look forward to welcoming you on another tour soon! Best regards, Jeev

Wonderful - must do trip if you can!

Libs_D, May 2024

This trip was fantastic. It’s quite a long day but worth it. Krish was lovely and very helpful. Very informative and gave me lots of really interesting information, not just about Kandy but life in Sri Lanka as well. It was a very relaxed, enjoyable day. Kandy is beautiful and I’m very glad that I booked this particular tour with Apple Vacations as they definitely made the experience what it was. A must do if you have time. Also really good value. Thanks Apple Vacations for a memorable day! 🤩

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Dear Customer, Thank you so much for your wonderful review of our Kandy Day Tour from Colombo! We are delighted to hear that you had a fantastic experience and found the trip worth it, even with the long day. We are thrilled that Krish could make your day so enjoyable with his helpfulness and informative insights about Kandy and life in Sri Lanka. Your kind words about the relaxed and enjoyable nature of the day mean a lot to us. We’re glad you found Kandy beautiful and that booking with Apple Vacations enhanced your experience. It’s fantastic to hear that you found the tour to be great value as well. Thank you for recommending us and for choosing Apple Vacations. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you on another memorable journey soon! Best regards, Apple Vacations Team

Fab, fun and informative day trip

ConstanseMjeldheim_B, Apr 2024

Fab, fun and informative day trip seeing the tooth temple, elephant sanctuary, tea factory and stunning Kandy. Excellent guiding and highly recommended trip!

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for sharing your feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fabulous, fun, and informative day trip exploring Kandy and its surrounding attractions. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed visiting the Tooth Temple, the elephant sanctuary, the tea factory, and experiencing the beauty of Kandy. We're delighted that our guiding team provided you with an excellent experience, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for more adventures in the future!

The Kandy Man can - if he's our driver

Andrew_D, Mar 2024

Overall we had a pleasurable time, and Indika (?) was excellent as our driver/guide. However, it takes three hours to get to Kandy from Colombo, and four hours to get back (with the ride not being scenic) so we can't recommend it unless you enjoy a lot of time in the minibus.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're glad to hear that you had a pleasurable time overall during your Kandy day tour with Indika as your driver/guide. We understand that the travel time from Colombo to Kandy and back can be lengthy, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we'll take it into consideration as we strive to enhance the overall experience for our guests. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a more scenic and enjoyable journey in the future.

Excellent experience with Rukshan

Sujit_G, Mar 2024

Rukshan was the one who took us to Kandy. He was on time when he arrived to pick us. He is an excellent driver /guide & took us all around the places. We had a good time on our tour. We really liked him & requested his company to send him the next day too for our next tour. He is a great person & I would definitely recommend him.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

"Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure to be your guide and driver during your Kandy day tour. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed the experience and that you requested my company again for your next tour. Looking forward to creating more wonderful memories together!"

I had a half day at...

binitha_s, Jan 2024

I had a half day at Colombo and wanted to cover some of the scenic spots here. This tour was perfect for that. Raja personalised the experience for me by taking in my preferences for the places I wanted to visit. Overall, had a good time!

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Dear binitha_s, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Kandy Day Tour from Colombo! We are delighted to hear that you had a great time exploring the scenic spots with Raja. It's wonderful to know that Raja could personalize the experience based on your preferences, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable half day in Colombo. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service, and your positive feedback serves as a great encouragement. We appreciate your trust in us to create a tailored and enjoyable tour for you. If you ever plan to explore more destinations or have any specific preferences for future tours, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you again in the future. Safe travels! Best regards, Jeev

Not bad but not grea

Josh_M, Dec 2023

Tour driver was amazing, very professional great work driver! The tour itself was a little 'sales' heavy with the medicinal garden, tea factory etc, there was a feeling of obligation to buy products and tip local guides during the tour which was not enjoyable. There was not enough freedom to enjoh the locations without the local sales pitches and guides, they needed to give a little space. I think a review of which destinations are decided to visit during the tour could help this outcome. However our driver was very kind and offered great advice.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Joshua Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We appreciate your positive feedback about the professionalism of our tour driver and are glad to hear that they provided excellent service. Your feedback regarding the tour's sales-heavy approach at certain locations is valuable to us. We will certainly review the destinations visited during the tour to ensure a more enjoyable and balanced experience for our guests, allowing for more freedom and minimizing the feeling of obligation. We're delighted that your driver offered helpful advice and kindness throughout the tour. Your input helps us improve our services for future guests. Regards Jeev

The gem factory, temple...

susan_b, Nov 2023

The gem factory, temple of the lost tooth and scenery en route. Driver cum guide was most helpful and attentive.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

It sounds like your day tour from Colombo to Kandy was quite enriching! Visiting a gem factory is a unique experience, especially in a country known for its precious stones. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is another highlight, being a significant site in Sri Lanka with rich cultural and historical importance. The scenic journey itself adds to the charm of such tours. It's great to hear that your driver cum guide was helpful and attentive, which always makes a big difference in the quality of the tour. Thank you for sharing your experience; it seems like a worthwhile trip for anyone interested in exploring the cultural and natural beauty of Sri Lanka!

A fantastic experience!

Daniel_R, Sep 2023

I had such an absolutely fantastic time with Chathu - the elephant orphanage and temple temple tour were both fantastic! Also, I really loved the tea tasting - YUM! I would 100% recommend this to anyone considering a day tour to Kandy!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Daniel_R, Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with us after your Kandy Day Tour from Colombo. We're delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic time, and we truly appreciate your enthusiastic feedback! Chathu is indeed a fantastic guide, and we're glad to hear that you enjoyed the elephant orphanage and temple tour with her. The cultural and natural beauty of Kandy is truly captivating, and it's fantastic that you found the experience to be memorable. The tea tasting experience is always a highlight for many, and we're thrilled that you enjoyed it. Sri Lanka is renowned for its tea, and we're glad that you had the chance to savor the flavors during your tour. Thank you for your 100% recommendation to fellow travelers considering a day tour to Kandy. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope that many more travelers will have the opportunity to enjoy the same enriching experience you did. We look forward to welcoming you back on more adventures with us in the future. If you ever decide to explore other destinations or embark on new experiences, Apple Vacations will be here to make it just as fantastic as your Kandy tour. Once again, thank you for choosing Apple Vacations, and we're delighted to have been a part of your memorable journey to Kandy. Warm regards, Customer Relations Team Apple Vacations

Nice and good

Labnan_A, Sep 2023

Very nice trip and the guide was very nice and kind and was very helpful his name Keerthe Although it was very long but we liked it so much

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Labnan, Thank you for your wonderful review of our Kandy Day Tour from Colombo! We're delighted to hear that you had a very nice trip and that Keerthe, your guide, was both kind and helpful throughout the journey. We understand that it can be a long day, but we're thrilled that you enjoyed it so much. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure with Apple Vacations in the future! Regards Jeev

Amazing day out with something for everyone

Lee_B, Aug 2023

What a fantastic day, Krish was a great guide and really went the extra mile to make sure I did all the things I wanted to do. We even made it in time to see the elephants bathing which really made the day special. It was really great to find out about the sites and history of Sri Lanka and Krish had everything arranged from the pick-up a local guide to walk around the temple of the tooth with. Bothe the restaurant for lunch and visiting the restaurant where I could try the locally prepared food really topped of the day. It’s a long day from Columbo but worth it. Highly recommended trip whil visiting Sri Lanka.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dear Sir Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience on the Viator review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing day on the Kandy Day Tour from Colombo. Our team at Apple Vacations is dedicated to providing unforgettable experiences, and it's fantastic to know that Krish, your guide, went above and beyond to ensure you had a memorable time. From the elephants bathing to exploring the sites and history of Sri Lanka, it sounds like you had an enriching and enjoyable adventure. We're delighted that the restaurant choices and locally prepared food added to the overall experience. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back on another adventure with us soon! Regards Jeev

Money well spent

Sana_D, Aug 2023

This tour was everything that has been promised on the description. We started with visiting an elephant farm. You can ride an elephant if you want to! Second, we visited the temple of tooth relic. This was a very enriching cultural experience to have. Since I'm from a SAARC country, I got a discount on the entry :) Next we went to a herb garden where we got to explore quite a lot about the unique spices in SriLanka. Fourth on the list was a jewel factory that was educational in the right quantity. We saw a video on how Jem stones are extracted. It was something that I enjoyed learning. We ended the day with a trip to the tes factory where we learnt how tea is made. We also tried king coconut, durian and rambhutan on our visit. The guide was well mannered and went out of his way to make our journey comfortable

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dear Customer Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience on the Viator review for the Kandy Day Tour From Colombo. It sounds like you had an amazing time and got to explore a variety of interesting places and activities. From visiting the elephant farm to experiencing the cultural significance of the temple of tooth relic, exploring the herb garden, and learning about gemstone extraction at the jewel factory, your day seemed quite enriching. The trip to the tea factory and getting insights into tea production must have been fascinating as well. It's great to hear that you also got to try different local fruits like king coconut, durian, and rambutan during your visit. The fact that the guide was well-mannered and attentive to ensuring your comfort certainly adds to the overall positive impression of the tour. Your review showcases that the tour delivered on its promises and provided you with memorable experiences. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and it's wonderful to know that you felt your money was well spent on this tour. Regards Jeev

Kandy Tour

Malinee_B, Apr 2023

Kandy is a good 2 to 3 hours drive, and my driver took very good care of me at each location. My favorite part of Kandy was the Royal Botanical gardens.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Customer ! Greetings Behalf of Apple Vacations, First of all, thank you for taking the time to write to us. We’re always delighted to hear from a happy customer! Thanks so much for the positive feedback. It’s always good to know that our customers are out there, enjoying our service and finding it memorable. Its always a pleasure serving you and certainly look forward to doing that in your future trips too. Once again thanks a bunch for selecting us as your traveling partner and for giving us this opportunity, we couldn’t have done it without you! which will help him to improve his skills. We really appreciate your kind words about Apple vacations service on your review, it always makes our entire team super excited when our valuable customers are happy that they tell the world. We hope to keep up our performance and wish that you will remain confident in us for your future trips. CHEERS! With Love, Apple Vacations

Perfect Day Trip & Knowledgeable Guide

Mary_F, Mar 2023

Our driver & guide, Kalika, was a perfect fit for our trip. Very knowledgeable & helpful throughout the entire day and at each & every stop. Willing to work with our agenda requests. The entire day was enjoyable, from our breakfast stop along the way to the bats & monkeys on our way up to Kandy. Then the New Girigama Tea factory tour; palace & Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic; walk in the Udawattakele / Royal Forest of Kandy with monkey & deer sightings; the Buddha on the hill - Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya; The Island Spice Grove tour & free 5-minute neck massage.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Great experience

Mariam_E, Mar 2023

It was a lovely experience. Visiting the viewpoint, Kandy square, the tea plantation, gem factory and the elephant orphanage. The orphanage was a nice experience, you have to pay for entrance tickets which are 15 dollars and then you have to pay an additional amount to feed them. I love elephants so it was definitely a highlight for me. I went alone and felt very safe throughout. My guide was very friendly, informative and kind.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Day tour from Colombo to Kandy

EricMatteson_M, Feb 2023

We took a private driver/guide to go to Kandy. It was an excellent decision, because we could determine the pace and places visited. It was very important to us because we were quite jetlagged. We also learned a lot about current life in Sri Lanka. Kandy is quite the tourist town. Despite this you never are accosted by vendors to the degree as in India.

Response from Host, Feb 2023

The places are ok but the tour takes many hours

Angela_M, Apr 2024

A informação disponibilizada pela operadora não corresponde à realidade. Não havia Wi-Fi na carrinha e o preço dos bilhetes para ver os elefantes está desatualizado. O tour demorou 13 horas no total, mais do que anunciado. Não há Wi-Fi em nenhum dos lugares que paramos nem é possível pagar com cartão.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the Wi-Fi not working perfectly in some rural areas during your tour. While we strive to provide Wi-Fi connectivity throughout our tours, we understand that there may be limitations in remote locations. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations. Your feedback helps us improve our services, and we will continue to work on enhancing the Wi-Fi experience for our guests in all areas. Thank you for choosing our tour, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for a smoother and more enjoyable experience in the future.