Kandy day tours with a private driver
The day trips most people take from Kandy are Sigiriya and Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya and the tea country, Pinnawala with Ambuluwawa, a Kandy city tour and the Knuckles range. You pay one fixed price for the whole car or van, from Rs 17,000, and the driver collects you at your Kandy hotel. Entrance tickets are paid separately.
- Price per vehicle, not per person
- Pick-up at your Kandy hotel
- English-speaking driver
- Book online or on WhatsApp
Kandy day tour prices at a glance
Each tour starts and ends at your hotel in Kandy. Prices are for the whole vehicle with driver and fuel. Distances are for the full round trip.
| Tour | How long | Round trip | Sedan, up to 3 | Van, up to 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple | 10 to 11 hours | 180 km | Rs 26,500 | Rs 35,000 |
| Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls and tea country | About 10 hours | 177 km | Rs 25,500 | Rs 34,500 |
| Pinnawala elephants and Ambuluwawa Tower | About 8 hours | 105 km | Rs 21,500 | Rs 29,000 |
| Kandy city tour | 5 to 6 hours | 16 km | Rs 17,000 | Rs 20,000 |
| Knuckles range and Riverston | About 9 hours | 118 km | Rs 26,000 | Rs 38,000 |
Tours and prices
Five day trips from your hotel in Kandy, in a private air-conditioned car or van with an English-speaking driver. Each price is for the whole vehicle, not per person. Press Book to send a booking request.
Sigiriya Rock & Dambulla Cave Temple
Climb the 5th-century Lion Rock fortress and see the painted cave shrines of Dambulla, with a spice garden stop in Matale.
- Matale spice garden
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Sigiriya Rock
- approx. USD 35
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- approx. USD 5
Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls & Tea Country
Drive up through the tea estates to "Little England", with a tea factory visit, Ramboda Falls and time around Gregory Lake.
- Tea factory tour and tasting
- Ramboda Falls
- Gregory Lake and Nuwara Eliya town
- Tea factory visit
- usually free
- Gregory Lake
- small entry fee
Pinnawala Elephants & Ambuluwawa Tower
Watch the Pinnawala elephants bathe in the river, then visit Ambuluwawa, the spiral tower with one of the widest views in the hill country.
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Ambuluwawa Tower (we drive you to the entrance)
- Pinnawala
- approx. USD 15 to 17
- Ambuluwawa entrance
- approx. Rs 2,750
- Tuk-tuk, entrance to tower top
- approx. Rs 2,000 to 2,500 return
Kandy City Tour
The highlights of Kandy without the hassle of one-way streets and parking: the sacred temple, the botanic gardens and the best viewpoints.
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya
- Kandy viewpoint and Bahirawakanda Buddha
- Kandyan cultural dance show (evening, optional)
- Temple of the Tooth
- approx. Rs 2,000
- Peradeniya Gardens
- approx. USD 11
- Cultural dance show
- approx. Rs 2,000
Knuckles Range & Riverston
Cloud forest, the Pitawala Pathana grasslands and the "Mini World's End" cliff in the UNESCO-listed Knuckles range, with short, easy walks.
- Pitawala Pathana and Mini World's End
- Riverston viewpoint
- Waterfalls on the way
- Forest / viewpoint fees
- small fees may apply
Day tour
Transport only: vehicle, driver and fuel. Entrance tickets, lunch and tuk-tuk rides are not included.
Which Kandy day tour should you choose?
It depends on how much driving you want and whether you're up for a climb. This is what we tell guests who ask.
Sigiriya and Dambulla
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites in one day. It's the longest drive of the five, and Sigiriya means about 1,200 steps to the top.
Nuwara Eliya and the tea country
A tea factory, Ramboda Falls and Gregory Lake. Most of the day is a scenic drive with short stops, so it suits older travellers.
Pinnawala and Ambuluwawa
Elephants at the river in the morning and a hilltop tower after lunch. The tower's top stairs are narrow and open to the drop.
Kandy city tour
Five to six hours around the Temple of the Tooth, Peradeniya gardens and the viewpoints. Easy to fit around an arrival or a train.
Knuckles and Riverston
Grassland, cloud forest and the Mini World's End cliff. Quieter than the other tours, with short walks at each stop.
What the tour price includes
Our Kandy day tours are transport only. The price covers the vehicle and driver for the day. Tickets and meals are up to you, so you only pay for the places you actually go into.
Included
- Private air-conditioned sedan or van for the day
- English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Kandy
Not included
- Entrance tickets
- Lunch and drinks
- The tuk-tuk to the top of Ambuluwawa
- Tips for the driver, if you'd like to leave one
Entrance tickets to budget for
| Place | Tour | Foreign adult, approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Sigiriya Rock Fortress | Sigiriya and Dambulla | USD 35 |
| Dambulla Cave Temple | Sigiriya and Dambulla | USD 5 |
| Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage | Pinnawala and Ambuluwawa | USD 15 to 17 |
| Ambuluwawa Tower | Pinnawala and Ambuluwawa | Rs 2,750 |
| Tuk-tuk, Ambuluwawa gate to the top and back | Pinnawala and Ambuluwawa | Rs 2,000 to 2,500 per tuk-tuk |
| Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic | Kandy city tour | Rs 2,000 |
| Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya | Kandy city tour | USD 11 |
| Kandyan cultural dance show | Kandy city tour | Rs 2,000 |
| Tea factory visit | Nuwara Eliya | Usually free |
These are 2026 rates for foreign adults and they change often. Sites that price in US dollars take rupees at the gate rate on the day. Children and SAARC visitors usually pay less.
How to book a Kandy day tour
Pick a tour and vehicle
Press Book on the tour you want. Choose a sedan for up to 3 guests or a van for up to 7.
Send the short form
Add your date, pick-up time and hotel. There's nothing to pay at this point.
We confirm
You get a booking reference straight away, and we confirm the tour by email and WhatsApp.
Your driver collects you
The driver meets you at your hotel at the agreed time. If you chose cash, you pay the driver on the day.
Good to know before a day tour from Kandy
Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off at the entrance. A light scarf or sarong in your bag solves most of it.
The gates open at 7 am and the climb gets hot by late morning. Leaving Kandy at 7 puts you on the rock before the midday sun.
The town sits at about 1,900 m, and it's much cooler than Kandy, especially after it rains.
Leeches come out on wet paths after rain. Mornings are usually clearer before the mist rolls in.
Kandy's big procession usually runs in July or August. Roads close in the evenings and traffic is heavy, so plan longer tours for the daytime.
Every full moon is a public holiday. Temples are busier than usual and shops don't sell alcohol.
Questions about Kandy day tours
How much does a day tour from Kandy cost?
A private day tour from Kandy with Ceylon Taxi costs Rs 17,000 to Rs 26,500 in a sedan for up to 3 people, or Rs 20,000 to Rs 38,000 in a van for up to 7. That covers the vehicle, an English-speaking driver and fuel. Entrance tickets are extra.
Is the price per person?
No, it's for the whole vehicle. Two people sharing a sedan to Sigiriya and Dambulla pay Rs 26,500 between them, about Rs 13,250 each, plus their own tickets.
Are entrance tickets included?
No. The tours are transport only, and you buy tickets at each site. The biggest one is Sigiriya at USD 35 for a foreign adult. The ticket table on this page lists the others.
Can you visit Sigiriya and Dambulla in one day from Kandy?
Yes. The round trip is about 180 km and the whole day takes 10 to 11 hours, including about two and a half hours on Sigiriya Rock. Most guests leave Kandy around 7 am.
What is the best day trip from Kandy?
For a first visit, most people choose Sigiriya and Dambulla because you see two UNESCO sites in one day. If you'd rather skip the climb, Nuwara Eliya and the tea country is the easier day out.
Can I do Ella as a day trip from Kandy?
You can, but it's about 140 km each way on mountain roads, roughly eight hours of driving in total. Most people take the train from Kandy to Ella instead and book a car for their luggage or the next leg of the trip.
What time do the tours start, and can we change the stops?
Full-day tours usually start between 7 and 8 am, and the city tour can start in the afternoon. You choose the pick-up time when you book. If you want to add or swap a stop, write it in the notes and we'll tell you whether it changes the price.
What vehicles do you use?
An air-conditioned sedan for up to 3 guests or a van for up to 7, each with an English-speaking driver. For a bigger group, message us on WhatsApp.
How do I pay?
When you book, choose cash to the driver on the day or card. We confirm the payment details along with your booking.
Plan your day out from Kandy
Tell us the tour and the date, and we'll take care of the car and driver. If you're not sure which tour fits, send us a WhatsApp message and we'll help you choose.
Need a transfer instead of a tour? See our Kandy taxi service or airport transfers.
Page Contents