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Kandy & Nuwara Eliya holidays

Experience all Sri Lanka has to offer with Kuoni

Kandy, home to ancient treasures, lush flora and fauna and people who envelope you with their warmth and culture. Nuwara Eliya, ‘Little England’, exuding peace and tranquillity with rolling hills covered in tea.

The renowned Temple of the Tooth, which is said to house a relic of Buddha himself
Enjoy a Kandyan arts and dance show to learn all about this beautiful region
Gaze out over misty plantations, pick your own tea and enjoy the beautiful colonial style of Nuwara Eliya

Top hotels in Kandy & Nuwara Eliya

Ceylon Tea Trails, Hatton

Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy

from £2,463

Heritance Tea Factory, Nuwara Eliya District

from £2,463

Earl's Regency, Kandy

Show all 9 hotels

Best time to visit Kandy & Nuwara Eliya

• The dry periods in Sri Lanka are split by area with December to March being the best period for the west and south coast and the Hill Country

• The southwest monsoon affects the south and west coasts as well as the hill country between April and September

• Temperatures are relatively consistent year round (26-32°C) all around the island, especially around the coast. The hill country is one of the coolest spots in Sri Lanka with temperatures ranging from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius
• Sri Lanka is busiest from December to March, however travelling during the low and shoulder seasons can be great as prices are lower and the are fewer people.

Kandy & Nuwara Eliya holiday highlights

Sri Lanka’s second largest city, Kandy, is famed for not only its history, artefacts and temples, but also for its tea, its stunning scenery and lush botanical gardens. The most visited site within bustling Kandy is the famed Buddhist Temple of the Tooth, home to the tooth relic, said to be a piece of Buddha himself. There are also a number of temples including the Lankatilaka Temple and the Gadaladeniya Temple as well as some beautiful gardens such as the Royal Botanical Gardens. Surrounding Kandy are rolling tea plantations and mountainous thickly forested hills that offer fantastic walking and hiking opportunities.

For a quieter pace of life, Nuwara Eliya offers that same tea plantation setting, but away from bustling city life. Here everything is picturesque and quiet and perfect for relaxing. Founded by Samuel Baker who also discovered Lake Albert and explored the Nile, it was nicknamed Little England due to its capacity for hosting English pastimes including hunting, fishing, boating golf and of course, tea drinking. Nuwara Eliya is also the gateway to the Horton Plains National Park famed for its stunning flora and fauna as well as the sheer precipice of World’s End and the Baker’s Falls among other physical landmarks.

Yala National Park is not only the second largest national park in Sri Lanka but also the most visited. Made up of five blocks, of which two are open to the public, as well as a collection of smaller adjoining parks, Yala is a major tourist destination within Sri Lanka. Not only is it home to a plethora of flora and fauna species, it is also blessed with an array of ecosystems, two pilgrim sites and the highest density of leopards in the world. Explore the park on a guided safari and track herds of Sambar deer, watch elephants frolic in the watering holes and if you’re lucky spot an elusive leopard. We recommend combining your stay in Yala with a spot of sunbathing one of our beach hotels, the ideal way to unwind after a few days on safari.

Weddings

National Museum
This fascinating museum once housed the Kandyan royal concubines, but now displays royal regalia and images showing life before Europeans arrived on the island.

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