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The path across the lawns to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy

Ready-made itinerary · 3 days

Three days: Colombo and Kandy

A short taste of the island: the city and its temples on the first day, then the hills and the Temple of the Tooth.

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Ready-made itinerary

The trip, day by day

2 adults · Balanced · Mid-range

  1. 1Colombo1n
  2. 2Kandy1n
per personLKR 41k–77k
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Your route

2 stops · 261 km · about 7 hr driving

Route map: Colombo, KandyAhangamaAnuradhapuraArugam BayBadullaBentotaDambullaEllaGalleHaputaleHikkaduwaHiriketiyaKalpitiyaKitulgalaKnuckles RangeKurunegalaMahiyanganaMirissaNegomboNuwara EliyaPasikudahPolonnaruwaRatnapuraSigiriyaSinharajaTangalleThalpeTissamaharamaTrincomaleeUdawalaweWeligamaWilpattuCMB1Colombo2Kandy
  1. 1ColomboWest coast1 night
  2. 2KandyHill country1 night

Lines join overnight stops in order. They are not road paths.

  1. Arrival

    Land and settle in Colombo

    Night in Colombo

    Gangaramaya, Pettah markets and Galle Face Green. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara is a short drive out.

    The Galle Face promenade and the Colombo skyline beside the Indian Ocean
    1. Land

      Land at Bandaranaike International Airport, pick up your SIM card and meet your driver.

    2. Drive to Colombo1 hrup to 1 hr 15 min in traffic · 39 km
    3. 18:00

      Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

      1 hr Free entry20 min each way from your base
  2. Travel day

    Colombo to Kandy

    Night in Kandy

    The Temple of the Tooth, the lake and an evening of Kandyan dance.

    The path across the lawns to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy
    1. 08:30
      Drive to Kandy3 hrup to 3 hr 30 min in traffic · 114 km
    2. 18:00

      Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

      1 hr 30 minLKR 3,000 official
  3. Departure

    Kandy to the airport

    Flight home from CMB

    The lake-side buildings of the Temple of the Tooth on Kandy Lake

    1. Check out and drive to the airport. Aim to arrive three hours before your flight.

    2. Drive to the airport3 hrup to 3 hr 30 min in traffic · 108 km

Budget estimate

Mid-range · 2 adults · January

LKR 41,000 – 77,000per person · whole trip LKR 82k–154k for two
  • Places to stay16k–40k
  • Car and driver36k–60k
  • Food18k–36k
  • Tickets and activities6k–6k
  • Everything else6k–12k

Estimated ranges, not quotes. Based on published 2026 prices, reviewed 22 Oct 2026. Excludes flights and visas. Tickets are counted where a price is known.

Good to know

  • Cover shoulders and knees at temples, take off shoes and hats before going in, and never pose with your back to a Buddha statue.
  • The drive from Kandy back to the airport takes about three hours. Plan an early start on the last day.