The 6 Best Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Visits in Kandy

1.Pinnawala Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 331 reviews · 8 hours · from $15Our pick

Travel from Kandy to Pinnawala by tuk-tuk or air-conditioned minivan with a flexible English-speaking guide such as Danushka, Saman, Terence, or Channa. See elephants, temples, tea country, gardens, viewpoints, and local workshops, then tailor the stops to your interests.

“We had an awesome trip with Terence. He is so kind, helpful, extremely caring and knows so much about his country and culture. We started the day with the temples in Kandy and then went to the elephant’s orphanage, also having interesting and informative workshops along the way. He takes care of everything and makes sure the guests feel comfortable and happy. We fell in love with Sri Lanka thanks to his trip!”

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2.Kandy to Pinnawala Orphanage and Ambuluwawa Guided Day Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 144 reviews · 1 day · from $16

Set out from Kandy with an English-speaking guide such as Ramzan, Dhanu, Akila, or Sanath. Visit Ambuluwawa Tower, Pinnawala, a tea factory, botanical gardens, temples, and craft workshops in one long private day. You can adjust the pace, but several entrance fees cost extra.

“I had a great day with Sanath Samarakoon, he is a fantastic driver with a fun sense of humour. He was flexible with what sights I wanted to see, or miss. And even stopped to buy me some Sri Lankan snacks to try throughout the day. I thoroughly recommend booking him through his facebook page. Only downer was the Pinnawala Orphanage which felt a bit rushed and expensive for the amount of time I was there.”

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3.From Colombo or Negombo: Pinnawala, Kandy & Tea Factory Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 15 reviews · 8 hours · from $46

Travel with an English-speaking driver, often Janaka, from Colombo or Negombo to Pinnawala, Kandy, and the hill-country tea area. Expect elephants by the river, the Sacred Tooth Relic, Kandy views, tea tasting, spice and craft stops, and a long day on the road.

“The trip was great! Janaka our driver was very helpfull, saw as all the places and explained everything in detail. Great experience, definitely recommended”

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4.Kandy & Pinnawala & Tea Factory Full Day Tour From Negombo

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 11 reviews · 14 hours · from $49

Leave your Negombo hotel in a private air-conditioned vehicle for a packed 14-hour trip to Pinnawala and Kandy. You can visit an elephant foundation, tea factory, botanical garden, Temple of the Tooth, museums, craft workshops, and Kandy viewpoints with an English-speaking guide such as Tharak.

“We had a very good experience and enjoyed our trip very much. Our driver-tour guide was very helpful and knowledgeable which made our experience unforgettable. We visited Pinnawala which also includes a zoo. This let us see other animals from Sri Lanka besides the elephants. In addition, we visited an interesting tea factory and Kandy downtown. A great tour and a nice way to spend a different day in Sri Lanka.”

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5.Ambuluwawa Tower & Pinnawala & Kandy Day Tour From Colombo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 15 hours · from $80Top rated

Travel by private air-conditioned vehicle from Colombo with an English-speaking guide such as Ranganath. Visit Ambuluwawa Tower, a tea factory, Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, Pinnawala, and optional gardens, crafts, and dance, with the freedom to skip stops that do not interest you.

“Sites visited was good, was able to skip activities that I was not interested in and the guide Ranganath was very accommodating.”

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6.Ambuluwawa Tower & Pinnawala & Kandy Day Tour From Negombo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 15 hours · from $69

Leave Negombo early in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide such as Tharaka or Thanaka. Climb Ambuluwawa Tower, visit Pinnawala, tour a tea factory, see Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth, and fit in gardens, crafts, and dance.

“I had an amazing experience on the Ambuluwawa Tower & Pinnawala & Kandy Day Tour from Negombo, and a big part of that was due to our driver, Tharaka. He was an incredibly smooth and skilled driver, making the journey not only comfortable but efficient. With so many activities packed into the day, Tharaka expertly navigated the routes, ensuring that I arrived at each stop on time. The tour itself was wonderful, with highlights including the heartwarming visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the stunning views from the Ambuluwawa Tower, and the serene beauty of Kandy's Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. I also enjoyed the peaceful stroll through the…”

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