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Private Tour · 4★ hotels 5 Days Sri Lanka Tour: Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Waskaduwa – 4-Star Hotels4-star hotel version: Five days from elephants and temples in Kandy, up through tea country to Nuwara Eliya, then waterfalls, a Madu River cruise and a night by the sea. Private Tour · 4★ hotelsEasy intensityEnglish-speaking guide Tour priceFromUSD 523per person A 5 day Kandy and Nuwara Eliya tour is the quickest way to put the island's hills, temples and coast into one short trip, and this version is built for travellers who have only a working week to spare. You collect your car at the airport, meet elephants on the road to Kandy, spend an evening at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, climb through tea country to the cool town of Nuwara Eliya, then descend past waterfalls to a beach and finish with a river cruise and a city tour in Colombo. It suits couples, families with children and first-time visitors who want a sample of Sri Lanka without an exhausting schedule. Stay in 4-star hotelsThis version of the tour is booked in 4-star hotels for all 4 nights: Mahaweli Reach Hotel in Kandy, Araliya Green Hills in Nuwara Eliya, Turyaa Kalutara in Waskaduwa and Fairway Colombo in Colombo, or similar hotels of the same standard. Rooms are double or twin, or single if you travel alone, with breakfast included each morning. The route, the sightseeing and your private driver-guide are the same as on the 3-star and 2-star version of this tour, so the difference is a more comfortable room, a better restaurant and pool, and in most places a quieter setting. Lunch, dinner, entrance fees, activity fees and train tickets are not included in the price. Who the 5 day Kandy and Nuwara Eliya tour suitsThe pace is brisk but friendly, and the effort level is easy. There are no long climbs or hikes, only short walks to viewpoints, temples and a tea factory. You change hotel every night, so you pack and unpack four times, but the trade is that each day brings a different landscape. If you would rather stay put, ask us to stretch the plan to six or seven days with an extra night in Kandy or in the hills. Many guests also use this itinerary as a gentle add-on to a beach holiday or a trip to the Maldives. Your route, one night at a timeDay one runs from the airport through Pinnawala and a spice garden to Kandy, where you sleep. Day two follows the road up through tea estates to Nuwara Eliya, with a tea factory, a Hanuman temple and a waterfall on the way. Day three is a long scenic descent from the hills to the west coast, with two famous waterfalls and a beach night at Waskaduwa. Day four takes you through Bentota for a boat trip on the Madu River, then north to Colombo for sightseeing. Day five is a calm morning and the transfer to the airport. If you search for a Kandy Nuwara Eliya and beach tour, this is the most compact version of it. Highlights along the wayThe first is Pinnawala, where a herd of orphaned and injured elephants walks to the Maha Oya river to bathe. It is one of the few places where you can stand close to large elephants and watch them play in the water, and the young calves are especially popular with children. The second is Kandy at night. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic holds what is believed to be a tooth of the Buddha, and an evening visit is accompanied by drums and the scent of temple flowers. A cultural dance show follows, with fire and acrobatics. The third is the hill-country drive. You walk through a tea estate, see how leaves become the cup of Ceylon tea you taste at the end, and stop at Ramboda Falls and a colourful temple dedicated to Hanuman. The fourth is the descent past St Clair's Falls, known as the Little Niagara of Sri Lanka, and Devon Falls. The fifth is the Madu River, a maze of mangrove channels with a cinnamon demonstration, a fish spa and a turtle hatchery nearby. Comfort, meals and your driver-guideA private air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking driver-guide stay with you from the airport to the last day. Hotels are comfortable and chosen for their location, and the plan is bed-and-breakfast, so breakfast is included each morning while lunch and dinner are left open for you to pick a local restaurant on the road or near your hotel. Entrance fees are paid separately, and your driver explains each one on the spot. Pack warm clothes for Nuwara Eliya, where nights are cold, and modest clothes for temples. Best time for the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya routeThe hills and the south-west coast are driest from roughly December to March, with April often fine, so this route is at its best in the cooler, drier months. Rain can arrive at other times, mostly as afternoon showers, which make the waterfalls fuller and the tea hills greener. Nuwara Eliya is chilly in the evenings all year, so a jumper is always useful. The sea at Waskaduwa and Bentota is calmest in the drier months, and swimming should be cautious when the surf is high. Make the five days your ownAll Volata Travels itineraries can be reshaped. You might add the scenic train for the section between Kandy and Nanu Oya, swap Colombo for another night on the beach, or include the botanical gardens at Peradeniya. Tell us your flight times, who is travelling and what you enjoy most, and we will send a plan that fits. Tour highlights
Day-by-day itinerary Your driver-guide meets you in the arrivals hall at the airport, ready to start the tour straight away. The route heads inland towards Kandy, a journey of about three hours without stops, but with two good reasons to pause on the way. The first is Pinnawala, roughly an hour and a half from Colombo along the Kandy road. This is the elephant orphanage on the bank of the Maha Oya river, home to orphaned and injured animals. The best time to visit is when the herd walks down the road to the water, which happens twice a day. You can watch them splash, spray and roll in the shallows, and feeding time for the youngest calves is a favourite with children. Give yourself about two hours. The second stop is a spice garden, where guides introduce the plants behind the island's cooking and its Ayurvedic medicine. You smell fresh cinnamon bark, crush a cardamom pod and learn what each herb is used for. Stalls sell small packs if you want something to take home, but nobody pushes. After checking in at your hotel in Kandy, you visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in the evening. The relic is said to have reached Sri Lanka in the 4th century, concealed in a princess's hair, and it remains the most revered object on the island. Take off your shoes and cover your shoulders and knees. Drums and flowers fill the shrine during the ritual. The day ends with a Kandyan cultural show of dance, drumming and fire. Dinner is your choice, either at the hotel or at a restaurant your driver-guide recommends. Accommodation Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast you leave Kandy and drive up into the highlands. The whole journey to Nuwara Eliya takes about three to four hours, but you break it into stops that are worth the time. The first is a tea estate and factory. The central hills became tea country in the colonial era, and the first plant is said to have been grown at the botanical gardens near Kandy. You walk through the bushes, see the pickers at work if the season allows, and then follow the leaf inside the factory through withering, rolling, drying and grading. The visit ends with a cup of freshly made Ceylon tea. It takes only one day for the leaf to turn into a drink, which surprises many guests. Higher up, the road passes Ramboda, where a colourful Hindu temple dedicated to Hanuman stands on a hillside, and a waterfall falls in several tiers beside the road. The temple has a tall statue of the monkey god, and it is a quiet, friendly place to stretch your legs. Remove shoes before entering. You arrive in Nuwara Eliya in the afternoon. At about 1,900 metres, this hill station is nicknamed Little England, thanks to its colonial bungalows, trimmed lawns and flower beds. Your driver-guide takes you around the town and the market, and you may visit the Hakgala Botanical Gardens and the nearby Seetha Amman Temple if time allows. Pack a jumper, because the evening is cold. Dinner is your choice, at the hotel or a nearby restaurant, and a fire or a hot drink is welcome afterwards. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Araliya Green Hills or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 Today the scenery changes completely. After breakfast you leave the cool hills and begin the long drive down to the south-west coast, with views of tea terraces that fall away on both sides. It is the longest day of the tour on the road, so keep snacks and water handy, and let your driver know if you want extra stops. The first waterfall is St Clair's, beside the road between Hatton and Talawakele. Nicknamed the Little Niagara of Sri Lanka, it is one of the island's widest falls, and it spills across the rocks through green tea estates. Its name comes from the estate that surrounds it. A viewpoint by the road gives a clear look with no walking, though the spray can make the path slippery. A little further on, the second is Devon Falls, known as the Veil of the Valley. It drops from the rocks into a forested gorge on a stream that feeds the Kotmale river and is named after a pioneering coffee planter. The view from the platform is good in any weather, and the water is strongest after rain. After these stops the road descends, the air becomes warmer and the landscape turns to palms and paddy fields. You reach the beach resort of Waskaduwa in the evening. It is a peaceful suburb north of Kalutara, with a long strip of sand and a handful of seafront hotels. Check in, stretch your legs on the beach and enjoy dinner beside the sea, at the hotel or a nearby restaurant as you prefer. The sound of the surf is a lovely contrast to the cool, quiet hills you left this morning. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Turyaa Kalutara or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After a relaxed breakfast by the sea you drive a short way south to the Bentota area, the heart of the west coast. The morning is built around the Madu River, a wetland of mangrove islands and narrow channels. A boat takes you slowly through the green tunnels of roots, and you may spot kingfishers, herons and monitor lizards in the branches. There are 64 islands in the estuary, some of them inhabited. The boat stops at a small cinnamon-peeling demonstration, at a temple island and at a fish-spa platform, where tiny fish nibble gently at your feet. The ride lasts about an hour. Close by you visit a turtle hatchery, where five species of sea turtle come ashore to nest. Staff protect the eggs, look after injured turtles and release the hatchlings into the sea. The visit takes about half an hour and gives children a close look at tiny turtles. In the afternoon you drive on to Colombo, roughly one and a half hours from Bentota, and check in. Then you set out on a city tour with your driver-guide. The route typically includes the Galle Face Green seafront, the Viharamahadevi Park, the museum, the old parliament building, the Fort district and Independence Hall, as well as temples, a mosque and a church that show the city's mix of faiths. There is also time for shopping if you want souvenirs. Eat in the hotel restaurant or at a restaurant of your choice, and then rest before the flight home. Meals Breakfast Accommodation Fairway Colombo or similar Included Activities
Landmarks
 After breakfast your driver-guide collects you from the hotel and takes you to the airport, a drive of about an hour. We plan the departure time around your flight, with a comfortable margin for traffic and check-in. If your flight is in the evening and you would like a few last hours in Colombo, tell us in advance and we can arrange it. Please keep your passport within easy reach, and let the driver know if you need a stop for last-minute gifts on the way. Meals Breakfast Included Activities
Landmarks
Route mapWhere you'll stayThese are the hotels we plan to use. If one of them is full on your dates, we book another hotel of the same standard (“or similar”) and tell you its name before you travel. Mahaweli Reach Hotel or similarKandy 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Araliya Green Hills or similarNuwara Eliya 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Turyaa Kalutara or similarWaskaduwa 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel Fairway Colombo or similarColombo 1 night · Bed and breakfast · or a similar 4-star hotel What's included
What's not included
Pickup & drop-offPickup: Your Volata Travels driver-guide meets you in the arrivals hall at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Katunayake, with a name board. Pick-up from a hotel in Colombo or Negombo can also be arranged. Drop-off: Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) for your departure flight, with the timing planned around your flight. Important informationItinerary order and overnight stops can be adjusted to fit your dates and pace — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed departure. Cancellation policyAll cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. 19.1 Unless otherwise specified in your quotation, the following cancellation terms will apply to your booking: 19.1.1 Cancellations received between the date of booking and 61 days prior to departure will result in the loss of the deposit. 19.1.2 Cancellations received 60 – 46 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 25% of the tour price. 19.1.3 Cancellations received 45 – 29 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 50% of the tour price. 19.1.4 Cancellations received 28 – 15 days prior to departure will be subject to a cancellation charge of 75% of the tour price. 19.1.5 Cancellations received 14 days or less prior to departure will be subject to a forfeiture of the entire tour price. 19.2 Cancellation of airline tickets will be subject to the refund policy of each individual airline and may be greater than the percentages above particularly when low cost/net-based fares are used. 19.3 The purchase of special event tickets is subject to the refund policy of each individual event. Please refer to the specific event policy for details. 19.4 Volata reserve the right to charge for financial penalties, fees and losses incurred in excess of your cancellation fee as a result of cancellation.... What travellers say4.6 average from 7 customer reviews CD Cian Doyle, Ireland Interesting, comfortable, and well organized. A great way to experience Kandy. AS Ananya Shah, India A lovely experience with thoughtful planning. We enjoyed learning about the city and its traditions. AH Anna Huber, Austria Comfortable and Well OrganizedVery happy with the service. The team was responsive and the itinerary was flexible. The accommodation was suitable for our itinerary and the breakfasts were convenient before sightseeing. The driver also helped us understand the timing for each day's activities. SM Sofia Martin, Spain A busy but rewarding couple of days. The scenery was beautiful, and visiting Kandy gave us a memorable look at local culture. RC Rafael Costa, Brazil A great way to explore the area in a short time. The guide’s explanations made the cultural visits especially interesting. CG Carlos García, Spain This was an excellent way to explore Sri Lanka. The itinerary connected the destinations smoothly, and the stops were well planned. We also appreciated the comfortable transport, especially during the longer drives across the country. SH Sofía Herrera, Mexico Friendly service and plenty of interesting things to see. We enjoyed the tour. You might also like       Ready to plan your Sri Lanka trip?Tell us your dates and interests — we'll put together a private itinerary within a day. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is five days enough to see Kandy and Nuwara Eliya?
It is enough for a good taste of both. You get an evening in Kandy, a full day in the hills and two days on the way down to the coast. The trade-off is pace, because you change hotels every night. If you want time to walk in the tea country or visit the gardens, we recommend adding one or two nights.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
The hills and the south-west coast are driest from about December to March, and April is often fine as well. At other times you may have afternoon showers, but the waterfalls are at their fullest and the hills are greener. Nuwara Eliya is cold in the evenings throughout the year.
How long are the drives each day?
Day one is about three hours of driving plus stops at Pinnawala and a spice garden. Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is three to four hours. The descent to the coast on day three is the longest, with two waterfall stops. Day four is roughly an hour to Bentota and one and a half hours on to Colombo.
What will we see at the Madu River?
You take a boat through mangrove islands and narrow channels. Stops include a cinnamon-peeling demonstration, a small temple island and a fish-spa platform. Birds such as kingfishers and herons are common. The ride lasts about an hour, and a turtle hatchery nearby can be added to the same morning, so the whole outing makes an easy half day.
Do we need warm clothes?
Yes, for Nuwara Eliya. It is at about 1,900 metres, and evenings are cold at any time of year. Pack a fleece or jumper, a light rain jacket and closed shoes. Gloves and a hat are not needed in the daytime, but a warm layer helps after dark. Elsewhere on the tour, light cotton clothing is best, with covered shoulders and knees for temples.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes. The walking is easy, the distances are manageable and many highlights suit children, including the elephants at Pinnawala, the waterfalls, the boat ride and the beach. The long drive on day three is the tiring part, so bring snacks and books. Tell us the ages of your children, and we adjust the stops.
Where do we spend each night?
Night one is in Kandy, night two in Nuwara Eliya, night three at the beach resort of Waskaduwa and night four in Colombo. Hotels are comfortable, and breakfast is included every day, while lunch, dinner and drinks are paid by you. We confirm the exact hotels when you book, and we can suggest alternatives if you prefer a different style or location for any of the nights.
Can we add the scenic train?
Yes. The famous hill-country railway runs from Kandy to Nanu Oya, the station for Nuwara Eliya, and takes about four to five hours. Your driver can send the luggage ahead by car and meet you at the station. Seats need to be reserved in advance, so tell us early, and we will arrange the tickets for you.
What's included in the 5-day tour price?
Meet and greet at Bandaranaike International Airport; 4 nights in 4-star hotels (or similar), double or twin room sharing; a single room if you travel alone; Daily breakfast at your hotels (bed and breakfast); All transfers and sightseeing in a private air-conditioned vehicle; English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour; Fuel, parking, driver accommodation and highway fees. The tour costs USD 523 per person when two adults share a room, or USD 979 for one traveller in a single room, for 4 nights / 5 days. These prices are valid for travel from 8 October 2026 to 30 November 2027.
What's not included?
International flights and the Sri Lanka ETA visa fee; Lunches, dinners and drinks (breakfast is included); Entrance fees and activity fees (Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and cultural show, Madu River boat ride, turtle hatchery); Optional tours and optional activities; Train tickets (if you choose the scenic train); Hotel supplements when you travel on 24 December and 31 December (New Year), and the Christmas supplement on 24 December; Tips, porterage and personal expenses; Early check-in and late check-out at hotels; Travel insurance and bank charges.
Is the price the same on 24 and 31 December?
Not quite. Hotels charge a compulsory supplement for the nights of 24 December (Christmas Eve) and 31 December (New Year's Eve), and these supplements are not included in the tour price. If your dates include either night, tell us when you enquire and we will confirm the supplement for the hotels on your route before you book.
Can I customize this tour?
Yes. The order of stops, the number of nights in each place, the hotels and the activities can all be adjusted to your dates, pace and budget — this is a private tour built around you, not a fixed group departure. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised quote.
What is the cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be received in writing by your Volata Tour Consultant. Cancellations received up to 61 days before departure result in the loss of the deposit. Between 60 and 46 days before departure a charge of 25% of the tour price applies; between 45 and 29 days, 50%; between 28 and 15 days, 75%; and 14 days or less before departure the entire tour price is forfeited. Airline tickets follow the refund policy of each airline, and special event tickets follow the policy of each event. The full Terms & Conditions are at www.volatatravels.com/terms-and-conditions.