The Kandy to Pinnawala Day Tour starts around 8 a.m. after guests enjoy breakfast at their overnight hotel in Kandy. The tour covers several popular tourist attractions along the way to Pinnawala.
The journey begins in Kandy and heads directly to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Pinnawala is a unique location to observe elephants in Sri Lanka. Established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation, this institute was created to care for orphaned baby elephants found wandering in the wild. These magnificent animals are nurtured and bred in captivity here. Located in the village of Pinnawala, about 13 km northeast of Kegalle town, the orphanage hosts the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. The best time to visit is between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., as this is when baby elephants are fed milk and taken for their daily baths. Visitors have a wonderful opportunity to watch these gentle giants play and bathe in the nearby river.
On the way back to Kandy, the first stop is the Spice Garden. Sri Lanka is globally renowned for its rare spices and herbs. During your stay on the island, visiting a spice and herbal garden is a must to gain a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka’s rich history of herbs and spices. You can see various spices like turmeric, pepper seeds, cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa beans, aloe vera, and more growing in their natural surroundings.
The next destination is the Tea Plantation and Tea Factory. A trip to Sri Lanka is incomplete without visiting a tea plantation. Tea is one of the country's most iconic features, and we’ll take you on a fascinating journey from how the tea leaf is plucked to how it ends up in your cup.
The final stop on this delightful journey is the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, which boasts over 4,000 species of plants, from blooming flowers to towering palm trees. Situated approximately 5.5 kilometers away from Kandy, the gardens are located beside Sri Lanka’s largest river, the Mahaweli. Spread over 147 acres, this botanical paradise is a perfect end to the tour.
Ultimately, the Kandy to Pinnawala Day Tour by Ceylon Waves concludes back at your hotel in Kandy.
