Nuwara Eliya Day Trip from Kandy

Overview

Our private Nuwara Eliya day trip from Kandy takes you up into Sri Lanka’s cool hill country and back in a single day. We pick you up from your hotel in Kandy and drive you through misty tea estates to Ambuluwawa Tower, Ramboda Falls, a working tea factory and the colonial town of Nuwara Eliya, before bringing you back to Kandy in the evening.

This Nuwara Eliya day tour is completely private: just your group, your own air-conditioned car or van and an experienced English-speaking driver. Choose a 7:00 am or 8:00 am start, stop wherever you like for photos, and add optional visits to the Hanuman temple at Ramboda and the Seetha Amman Temple near Nuwara Eliya.

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya: how far is it?

Nuwara Eliya is about 77 km south of Kandy, roughly 3 hours by road through Gampola and the Ramboda Pass. A day trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya usually takes 11 to 12 hours door to door, including Ambuluwawa, the waterfalls, the tea factory, lunch and the city tour.

Want to stay in the hills?

See our 3 day highlights of Sri Lanka in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, with a night in each and a tea factory visit with tea plucking.

More day trips from Kandy

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Highlights

Climb the spiral Ambuluwawa Tower for 360-degree views over the hills
See Ramboda Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Sri Lanka
Visit a working tea factory and taste fresh Ceylon tea for free
Explore “Little England”: Gregory Lake and the historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office
Private air-conditioned car or van with an experienced English-speaking driver
Hotel pickup in Kandy at 7:00 or 8:00 am
Optional visits to the Hanuman temple and Seetha Amman Temple

Pickup · 7:00 or 8:00 am :

Hotel pickup in Kandy

Your driver meets you at your hotel, guesthouse or homestay anywhere in Kandy, and you head south into the hills towards Gampola.

Morning · about 1 hour from Kandy :

Ambuluwawa Tower

Drive up Ambuluwawa mountain to the white spiral tower at the top of this multi-religious complex, with a Buddhist stupa, a Hindu kovil, a church and a mosque side by side. Climb the narrow spiral steps for a 360-degree view over the central hills. The highest section is very narrow and exposed, so you can stop at any level you are comfortable with.

Late morning :

Ramboda Falls and Hanuman temple

Wind up the hairpin bends of the Ramboda Pass to Ramboda Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, tumbling down the hillside beside the road. You can also stop at the hilltop Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple nearby, linked to the Ramayana legend, with wide views over the Kotmale valley (optional).

Ramboda Falls on the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

Around midday :

Damro tea factory visit

Visit the Damro Labookellie tea factory, surrounded by bright green tea estates. Walk through the factory to see how Ceylon tea is withered, rolled, dried and sorted, then enjoy a cup of fresh tea with a view over the plantation. The factory visit is free.

Tea plantation and factory near Nuwara Eliya

Tea estates in the Sri Lankan hill country

Around 1:30 pm :

Lunch break

Stop for lunch in Nuwara Eliya at a local restaurant of your choice (at your own cost). Your driver can suggest places for every budget, from Sri Lankan rice and curry to colonial-style hotels.

Afternoon :

Nuwara Eliya city tour

Explore the town known as “Little England”, at about 1,900 m above sea level. See the red-brick, Tudor-style Nuwara Eliya Post Office, one of the oldest in the country, walk around Gregory Lake with its boat rides and pony rides, and pass Victoria Park and the colonial bungalows and hotels of the town centre.

Hills and tea country around Nuwara Eliya

Optional · afternoon :

Seetha Amman Temple (optional)

Drive about 15 minutes past Nuwara Eliya to the colourful Seetha Amman Temple at Sita Eliya, said to be where Sita was held in the Ramayana story, beside a clear mountain stream. Let your driver know in the morning if you would like to include it.

Around 6:30 to 7:30 pm :

Back to your hotel in Kandy

Relax on the drive back down through the tea country, and be dropped off at your hotel in Kandy in the evening.

FAQs

Expand all

How far is Nuwara Eliya from Kandy?

Nuwara Eliya is about 77 km from Kandy, which takes around 3 hours by car through Gampola and the Ramboda Pass, without stops.

Can I do a day trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya?

Yes. A day trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya takes about 11 to 12 hours, including Ambuluwawa Tower, Ramboda Falls, a tea factory visit, lunch and a Nuwara Eliya city tour, and you are back at your hotel in the evening.

What time does the tour start?

You can choose a 7:00 am or 8:00 am pickup from your hotel in Kandy. We recommend 7:00 am so you have more time at each stop and reach Ambuluwawa before the clouds roll in.

Is Ambuluwawa Tower difficult to climb?

The lower levels are easy, but the spiral steps near the top become very narrow and exposed. It is not recommended if you are afraid of heights, and you can stop at any level and still enjoy the view.

Is the tea factory visit free?

Yes. The Damro tea factory visit and a cup of tea are free. You can buy fresh Ceylon tea at the factory shop if you wish.

Can we visit the Seetha Amman Temple and the Hanuman temple?

Yes. Both temples are optional stops on this tour at no extra cost. Just let your driver know in the morning, as the Seetha Amman Temple adds about 30 minutes to the day.

Is it cold in Nuwara Eliya?

Nuwara Eliya is about 1,900 m above sea level, so it is much cooler than Kandy, often 12 to 20 °C during the day. Bring a light jacket or sweater, and a rain jacket in the wet months.

How many people can join this private tour?

The tour is private for 1 to 7 people, with one price for 1 to 3 people in a car and another for 4 to 7 people in a larger van.

Overview

Kandy to Nuwara Eliya: how far is it?

Want to stay in the hills?

More day trips from Kandy

Highlights

Itinerary

What’s included

Included

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FAQs

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