Colombo Airport to Kandy Transfer

Kandy sits at 500 metres elevation in Sri Lanka's central highlands, making it noticeably cooler than the coastal lowlands. The 115 km drive from Colombo Airport winds through rubber and coconut plantations before climbing into the hill country via Kegalle. Traffic can be heavy on the Colombo-Kandy highway (A1), especially near Kadugannawa, so our drivers typically depart early morning or use alternative routes through Kadawatha to avoid congestion.

The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is Kandy's crown jewel, housing what is believed to be a tooth of the Buddha. The temple hosts daily ceremonies called pujas at dawn, midday, and evening. Kandy Lake, built in 1807 by the last king of Sri Lanka, offers a peaceful walking path around its perimeter and is especially beautiful at dusk.

For travellers planning to continue into the hill country, Kandy serves as an ideal base. From here, you can book onward transfers to Nuwara Eliya (2.5 hours), Ella (4 hours), or Sigiriya (2.5 hours). Our guests frequently book multi-day itineraries combining these destinations, and we offer discounted multi-route packages.

The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, just 6 km from Kandy city centre, is well worth a visit. Spanning 60 hectares, it features an orchid house, a giant Javan fig tree, and an avenue of royal palms planted in 1905. We can include a stop here on your arrival transfer at no extra charge if time permits.