Meet & greet by your local representative on arrival; assistance with luggage and boarding your private transfer to Kandy. Plan to allow 30–60 minutes for immigration and baggage collection.
Scenic private drive to Kandy (approx. 3.5 hours) with comfort stops; route heads inland along the A1/A6 corridors so you gradually gain altitude into the central hills.
Visit the famous Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to watch elephants being fed and bathed at the river — a popular, family-friendly stop (open roughly 08:00–17:30/18:00; confirm on the day).
Visit the Temple of the Tooth in the evening to experience the temple atmosphere and (if timed with puja) a short ritual — the temple is typically open 5:30am–8:30pm (do confirm local puja times beforehand).
Dinner at your hotel restaurant or try a central restaurant such as The Empire Café (open roughly 6:30am–10:00pm) for a relaxed meal with local and international dishes; hotels typically serve dinner from 7:00pm. Enjoy Sri Lankan rice & curry or international choices.
Explore the world-famous Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, noted for its giant orchid house, avenue of palms and spice trees; gardens open approx. 08:00–17:00 and are best visited in the morning.
Visit a local gem museum and lapidary to see Sri Lanka’s renowned sapphires and gems, watch a short gem-cutting demonstration and learn about gem grading (most open 09:00–17:00).
Lunch at a local favourite such as Theva Cuisine (if open midday) or a traditional rice & curry restaurant near Kandy Lake to taste authentic flavours; many eateries serve 11:30–15:00.
Walk around scenic Kandy Lake then browse the nearby bazaar for tea, spices, handicrafts and souvenirs — shops generally trade until early evening (approx. 09:00–19:30).
Short tuk-tuk tour of the city streets for local colour; a fun way to cover more ground quickly — tuk drivers are available throughout the day (negotiate a short fare).
If you prefer, visit a nearby tea factory to see processing and enjoy a tasting — many factories operate 09:00–16:00, so afternoon visits may be limited; confirm opening times in advance.
Dinner at your hotel or try a popular spot like The Empire Café or a rooftop restaurant for views — most restaurants open for dinner from 18:00–22:00 and serve local and international dishes.
Drive towards Colombo with an en route stop at Maranello (a spice garden near Matale) to learn about Sri Lankan spices and sample local herbal teas – most spice gardens are open 09:00–17:00.
Stroll Galle Face Green (seaside promenade) then visit Independence Square — both are public spaces open throughout the day and great for photography and local life.
Drive through the Fort district to view colonial architecture, then visit Gangaramaya Temple (open approx. 6:00–21:00) to see an eclectic collection of religious artefacts.
Dinner at a recommended restaurant such as Ministry of Crab (book ahead) or The Gallery Café for a memorable meal — most popular restaurants open 12:00–22:00 and reservations are advised.
Option A: Stay in Colombo for shopping, spa or museum visits. Option B (recommended early departure): Full-day Bentota trip for a Madu River boat safari and beach water sports — the boat safari and water-sport operators generally run 09:00–16:00; allow 1.5–2 hours each way by road.
Arrive back at your Colombo hotel in the early evening, relax and prepare for the gala dinner; timing depends on whether you used the optional excursion.
Enjoy a gala dinner at a local venue or hotel ballroom with live music and cultural entertainment (dinner typically runs 19:00–22:00; check start time for the event).
Private transfer to the airport; allow 2–3 hours travel time including traffic buffer for international departures and recommended early arrival (aim to reach airport 2–3 hours before flight).