Kandy Tour
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Royal Botanical Gardens and a Kandyan dance show in the hill capital.
One day. Unforgettable.
Overview
Sri Lanka's last royal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city: the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, hilltop views and a Kandyan dance show to end the day.
Tour highlights
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic during the morning puja
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya: orchids, spices and giant bamboo
- Bahirawakanda Buddha statue and city viewpoint
- Walk around Kandy Lake
- Kandy Municipal Market: spices, fruit and local life
- Kandyan dance and fire-walking performance
- Optional evening puja with drummers
- Total tour time
- ~10.5 hrs (08:30–19:00)
- Driving
- ~1.25 hrs
- Sightseeing
- ~7 hrs
- Meals & breaks
- ~1 hr
Timed around the best light and the smallest crowds
How your day unfolds
-
08:30
-
09:00
Experience
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
Attend the morning puja with drummers and offerings.
~1.5 hrs -
10:45
ExperienceKandy Lake walk
Stroll around the lake built by the last king of Kandy.
~45 min -
11:30
ExperienceKandy Municipal Market
Spices, fruit and everyday local life.
~30 min -
12:15
Lunch
Kandyan rice & curry.
~1 hr -
13:15
Drive to Peradeniya
~20 min -
13:45
ExperienceRoyal Botanical Gardens
Orchid house, spice garden, giant bamboo and the royal palm avenue.
~2 hrs -
15:45
Drive to Bahirawakanda
~20 min -
16:05
ExperienceBahirawakanda viewpoint
Giant white Buddha and views over the city.
~30 min -
16:45
ExperienceKandyan cultural dance show
Drummers, dancers and fire-walking (around 5 PM).
~1 hr -
18:00
OptionalOptional evening puja
Return to the temple for the evening ceremony, or head back to the hotel.
~45 min -
18:45
Return to your hotel
~15 min
We'll collect you from your hotel
Pick-up points & travel time
| Starting from | One-way travel | Pick-up | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kandy | ~15 min | 08:30 | As shown |
| Sigiriya | ~2.5–3 hrs | 06:00 | Long day |
| Nuwara Eliya | ~2.5–3 hrs | 06:00 | Long day |
| Colombo | ~3–3.5 hrs | 05:30 | Very long (~14 hrs) |
Before you go
What to bring
- White or light clothing covering shoulders and knees (a sarong works)
- Socks for the temple floors
- Umbrella or light rain jacket
Good to know
- Daily pujas at the Temple of the Tooth are held around 5:30 AM, 9:30 AM and 6:30 PM.
- There's a security check at the temple entrance; shoes are left outside.
- During the Esala Perahera (Jul/Aug) the city fills up, so book hotels early.
- Times are a guide and may shift with traffic, weather and the group's pace.
Optional add-ons
- Ceylon Tea Museum, Hantane
- Embekke Devalaya wood carvings
- Udawattakele forest walk
- Matale spice garden
Part of these round tours
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