Kandy · NUWARA ELIYA & HILL-COUNTRY TEA ESTATES
22 reviewed
Higher, cooler and green all the way up. These are the best day trips into the tea country around Nuwara Eliya, ranked: the estate and factory tours, the waterfalls, and the ones that carry on to the famous train down to Ella. Prices, durations, and which suit a relaxed day versus a full one are all below.
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya in 10 hours with tea factory views, Ramboda Falls, and Little England stops in cool hill air.
“I had a great trip with Wicky, very friendly and we had a smooth ride! Wicky was very attentive and considered all my wishes on what to visit. Explore the beautiful way to Nuwara Eliya with tuktuk, it's really special!”
Private Kandy to Nuwara Eliya day tour with tea factory, Ramboda viewpoints, waterfall and hotel drop-off, plus craft stops on the way.
“We had a wonderful tuk-tuk tour — a trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya — led by our driver-guide, Danushka. He was extremely friendly and sociable, and it was genuinely enjoyable to spend time with him on the road. His English is good, so communication was easy and clear, and we could freely ask any questions. We especially appreciated his careful and safe driving: the ride was comfortable, with no rushing or unnecessary risk. Along the way, Danushka showed us many amazing viewpoints, and we took countless beautiful photos. Every stop was truly interesting and informative — he explained what we were seeing, what to pay attention to, and shared…”
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya by car with waterfalls, tea plantation and factory stops, Gregory Lake, and hotel pickup for $45.
“G is a great guy. Very knowledgable, friendly and good English. Happy to answer any questions. Enjoyed the tea plantation and views along the ride. Gem shop and museum was great too. Not sure about the heath spa massage though as the oil was a bit smelly and took me 3 showers to get rid of the smell and I’ve had much more relaxing massages so don’t feel pressured into having this….”
Private 6.5-hour transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya with Asgiriya Stupa, tea estates, Ramboda Falls, and post office stops.
“Lali our driver and guide took us to a number of different sights on our journey between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. He was very polite, courteous and thoughtful to our needs. We asked if he could tailor our trip slightly as we needed to get to our hotel earlyish. He also kept us informed about pick up and kept checking through the day that we were comfortable and what the next stops would be. Excellent driver and guide, would highly recommend for others doing this tour.”
Kandy to Ella by tuk-tuk with Nuwara Eliya detours: tea stops, Ramboda Falls, Lake Gregory, and a hotel drop in Ella.
“We had an excellent time with our guide Lalith Kumar,he was on time,helpful and took us to the places mentioned on the itinerary giving us ample time to savour everything.The tour itself is well placed to give you the best the area has to offer.The mode of transport was perfect for our group.Thank you to our guide Lalith for making us comfortable and making this trip memorable.”
Private Kandy to Nuwara Eliya day trip with Ramboda waterfall, Bluefield tea country stops, Gregory Lake, Victoria Park, and the racecourse.
“Very enjoyable experience with a visit to tea factory and tea leaves picking! Waterfalls and the rest of the countryside were just amazing! Our driver Mr Shukry was friendly and professional.”
Private day trip from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya with tea factory, Gregory Lake, waterfall stop, Strawberry break, and Ambuluwawa Tower views.
“It was an amazing day filled with various experiences from temples to tea factories. Our driver, Fazeel was so wonderful and accommodating to our needs. Highly recommend.”
Private Kandy to Nuwara Eliya day tour with Ramboda Falls, Little England town stops, Gregory Lake, and a tea plantation visit.
“Great and the person with us is really friendly and gives us a lot of good suggestions about the spots. Great experience and must visit”
Private Kandy to Nuwara Eliya day: Bluefield tea, Ramboda Falls, Little England town, Gregory Lake, door-to-door transport.
“We decided to make this excursion after travelling with Mr. Rizwan the previous day and having a great time. He took us to a tea factory where we experienced all the process, walk around Nuwara Ellya, and took great pictures. Then he left us in the train station. We highly recommend Mr. Ritwan and Aaliya Tours if you need transport or excursions in Sri Lanka!”
Private full day from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya with Ramboda waterfall, tea factories, city sights, and Gregory Lake, plus pickup and samples.
“We had a great expierence, with lots of different activities: we learned a lot about the production of tea, enjoyed great tea, took a little hike at the waterfall, enjoyed the stunning landscape and had a very good lunch at Nuwara Eliya. During Read more”
From Colombo or Negombo: Pinnawala elephants, Kandy’s Tooth Relic, tea factory tasting, gem and batik stops in a small group.
“My driver was friendly, easy to have a conversation with and an excellent safe driver.”
Scenic train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, tea factory stop at Blue Field, Lake Gregory and Ramboda Falls, private air-cond comfort.
“Tolle Fahrt mit dem Zug und zurück mit einem sehr kundigen, netten und guten Fahrer! Thanks Indika!”
A full-day Kandy to Nuwara Eliya train trip with a private guide, plus Gregory Lake, tea factory stops, and Ramboda Falls on the return.
“This is probably the worse tour I have booked via viator. The train ride which was the main highlight of the tour did not happen as there were a strike going on with the Sri Lankan train companies. Our disappointment continues when our suRead more”
Ride Nuwara Eliya to Kandy with Ramboda waterfall and tea stops, then temples and an optional cultural show. Private guide, $28 pp.
“Danushka was amazing and took us to a number of interesting locations - the tea factory and gem museum were particularly good! We stopped for mango and Sri Lankan snacks along the way which made the journey very authentic. Just note, while the sites are free, the owners watch over you to get you to buy their products. There is no obligation to do so, as Danushka highlighted, but we felt a little awkward leaving some of the sites empty handed.”
Kandy and Pinnawala from Negombo in one long day: elephants, tea factory, Temple of the Tooth, gardens, and culture show with A/C comfort.
“It was a substantial and manageable programme. I did not imagine that we would be able to complete the predicted 14 hours. Our guide gave good ideas, which added to the enjoyment. Well structured sequence with the right amount of time. Our guide was prepared and did his best to provide us with cultural and historical information despite the circumstances. He guided us in a kind and calm manner. Considering the Sri Lankan driving we felt safe with him, even though the last 100 km drive home took us nearly 3 hours, we didn't want any more bends and curves!”
