Kandy, Bentota & Colombo – Sri Lanka in 6 Days

A full day of Sri Lanka's heritage. The morning starts at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, followed by the royal palm avenues and orchids of Peradeniya. After lunch you drive north to Dambulla, a UNESCO site where five caves in a granite rock are filled with more than 150 Buddha statues and painted ceilings.

At a glance: Time needed: ~5–6 hrs sightseeing · Travel: ~4 hrs driving (return) · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Morning (8:30–10:00 AM): Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, allow 1–1.5 hrs, with a short walk by Kandy Lake.

• Late morning: Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, allow 1.5–2 hrs.

• Noon: Lunch on the way (own cost).

• Afternoon (2:30–4:30 PM): Dambulla Cave Temples, allow 1.5–2 hrs (entry ticket included).

• Night: Drive back to Kandy for dinner and overnight.

Travel for the day

• Kandy → Dambulla ~2 hrs each way by private car.

Tips & what to carry

• Dambulla involves a steady climb of a few hundred steps in the open. Carry water and a cap.

• Both temples need shoulders and knees covered, and shoes are left outside.

• Watch out for monkeys on the Dambulla steps. Keep food out of sight.

Overnight: Kandy

An early start for sunrise at the Kandy View Point, when mist sits over the lake and the temple roofs. Back for breakfast, then the drive to Bentota on the west coast. The afternoon is free for the beach, the pool or a water sport, and the day ends with a walk along the shore at sunset.

At a glance: Time needed: ~1 hr sightseeing, rest of the day at leisure · Travel: ~4.5 hrs driving · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning (around 6:00 AM): Sunrise at Kandy View Point, about 45 min. Breakfast and check-out.

• Noon: Drive to Bentota.

• Afternoon: Check in and relax. Optional: water sports at Bentota beach.

• Evening: Sunset walk along the beach. Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Kandy → Bentota ~4.5 hrs by private car.

Tips & what to carry

• Sunrise is optional. If you would rather sleep in, the view point is just as good at 8 AM.

• Water sports are paid locally per ride.

Overnight: Bentota

Two of the gentlest experiences on the coast. At the Kosgoda hatchery you see turtle eggs, hatchlings and older rescued turtles, and depending on the time, you may be able to release a baby turtle into the sea. Then a boat safari on the Madu River takes you through mangroves where you can spot monitor lizards, kingfishers and small islets, before an easy evening on the beach.

At a glance: Time needed: ~3–4 hrs activities · Travel: ~1 hr driving · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning (9:00–10:00 AM): Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, about 45 min (entry ticket included).

• Late morning: Madu River boat safari, about 1.5–2 hrs.

• Afternoon: Free at the beach or pool.

• Night: Dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Short drives by private car: Bentota → Kosgoda ~20 min, Kosgoda → Madu River ~30 min.

Tips & what to carry

• Turtle releases happen only when hatchlings are ready, usually in the evening, so it is never guaranteed.

• Carry a cap and sunscreen for the boat. There is little shade on the river.

Overnight: Bentota

A short coastal drive brings you to Colombo for a city tour: the Old Parliament building, Independence Square and the Gangaramaya Temple. The afternoon is for shopping, from the crowded lanes of Pettah Market to Odel and the colonial-era Arcade Independence Square.

At a glance: Time needed: ~5 hrs sightseeing and shopping · Travel: ~2 hrs driving · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast, check-out and drive to Colombo.

• Noon: Colombo city tour: Old Parliament building, Independence Square and Gangaramaya Temple, about 2.5 hrs.

• Afternoon: Shopping at Pettah Market, Odel and Arcade Independence Square.

• Night: Check in and dinner at the hotel.

Travel for the day

• Bentota → Colombo ~2 hrs by private car. City tour by the same car.

Tips & what to carry

• Pettah Market is busy and noisy. Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket.

• Odel is the best single stop for good-quality, fixed-price souvenirs and clothes.

Overnight: Colombo

A last breakfast in Colombo and an easy drive to the airport, with a final look at the seafront on the way out.

At a glance: Time needed: — · Travel: ~1 hr driving · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast and check-out.

• Noon: Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport, reaching at least 3 hrs before your flight.

Travel for the day

• Colombo → Airport ~1 hr by private car, more during weekday rush hours.

Tips & what to carry

• Leave extra time if your flight is between 8–10 AM or 5–8 PM, when Colombo traffic is heaviest.