Quick answer
Day 7 of the 14-day culture, wildlife and beach route is the drive from Kandy to Udawalawe, roughly five to six hours via Kegalle, Ratnapura and Embilipitiya. Leave Kandy by about 7.30am, stop for lunch around Ratnapura and arrive by mid-afternoon. If feeding times allow, visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned calves are fed and later released. The route skirts the hills rather than crossing them, and the next morning starts with a dawn safari.
Key takeaways
- Kandy to Udawalawe takes roughly five to six hours, the longest drive on the route.
- The road goes round the southern foothills through Ratnapura, avoiding the high hill-country passes.
- Ratnapura, the centre of Sri Lanka's gem trade, is a natural lunch stop roughly halfway.
- The Elephant Transit Home cares for orphaned calves and releases them into the wild; visitors watch feedings from a platform.
- A dawn safari in Udawalawe follows on day 8, so day 7 ends with an early night.
Why the route takes this road
Most itineraries leave Kandy for Nuwara Eliya and Ella, a slow, winding climb through the tea estates. This route has left the hill country out to give more time to culture, wildlife and beaches, so it needs another way south. The road through Kegalle and Ratnapura runs along the foothills, with some bends but none of the long hairpin climbs above Kandy.
The trade-off is distance. Day 7 is roughly five to six hours on the road, against two to three hours on most other moves. Doing it in one go is what frees up the extra night at Tissamaharama and the second safari park, so it is a price worth paying, especially with a good driver and a comfortable car.
- →Roughly five to six hours, with stops.
- →Some bends near Ratnapura, but no high passes.
- →One long day saves two shorter moves later.
The route and timings
Leave Kandy by about 7.30am. The first stretch heads west on the Colombo road towards Kegalle, roughly an hour and a half, then turns south through rubber estates and green valleys to Avissawella and Ratnapura. From Ratnapura the road drops through Pelmadulla and Embilipitiya to the dry, open country around Udawalawe.
Traffic is heaviest leaving Kandy and around the towns, so an early start makes a real difference. Your driver will know the best road on the day; some prefer to join the Southern Expressway further west, which adds distance but is faster in places. Either way, plan for arrival in the early to mid-afternoon.
Travellers prone to motion sickness should sit in the front seat and take a remedy before the Ratnapura section, which has the most curves.
- →7.30am: leave Kandy.
- →9am: Kegalle; a short break.
- →11.30am to 12.30pm: Ratnapura; lunch.
- →2pm to 3pm: arrive near Udawalawe.
Stops along the way
The drive passes interesting country, and a couple of stops make it far easier. Pinnawala, near Kegalle, is best avoided: its elephant orphanage has long raised welfare concerns, and the Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe is a better alternative. Rubber and pepper smallholdings, roadside fruit stalls and Avissawella's markets are pleasant short breaks.
Ratnapura is the gem capital of Sri Lanka, and its name means city of gems. Sapphires, rubies and other stones are mined in the surrounding hills, sometimes by hand in pits along the road. A short visit to a gem museum or a mine can be arranged, but be very cautious about buying, and never buy from street sellers.
- →Ratnapura: lunch and a gem museum.
- →Roadside fruit: rambutan, mangosteen and pineapple in season.
- →Avoid Pinnawala; see the Elephant Transit Home instead.
The Elephant Transit Home
The Elephant Transit Home, on the edge of Udawalawe National Park, is run by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. Orphaned elephant calves are raised there and released into the park when they are old enough. Visitors watch from a viewing platform as the calves come in for their feeds, a short but memorable sight, and there is no contact with the animals.
Feeding takes place at set times during the day, which should be checked locally, as they can change. If you arrive in time for a late-afternoon feed, it makes an ideal first wildlife stop in the south. If not, it can be fitted in after the dawn safari on day 8.
The evening at Udawalawe
Hotels around Udawalawe range from simple guesthouses to safari camps and lodges near the reservoir. Check in, rest and have an early dinner. The dawn safari leaves at around 6am, so lay out clothes the night before.
Lankan Stays & Trails books the Udawalawe jeep in advance and briefs the driver on the route, so the long day ends without any arrangements left to make. Bring binoculars and a light jacket for the open jeep in the early morning.
If the long drive has been tiring, the morning safari can be shortened, though Udawalawe is at its best in the first hours of daylight.
- →Early dinner and bed.
- →Safari departure around 6am.
- →Binoculars, a hat and a light layer.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Kandy to Udawalawe?
Roughly five to six hours via Kegalle, Ratnapura and Embilipitiya, including a lunch stop. Leaving Kandy by about 7.30am usually means arriving near Udawalawe in the early to mid-afternoon. Traffic around Kandy and the towns makes the biggest difference to the time.
Does this road go through the hill country?
It runs along the southern foothills rather than over the high hills. There are bends around Ratnapura and Pelmadulla, but none of the long hairpin climbs between Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella. Travellers prone to car sickness usually find it manageable.
Is Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage worth a stop?
We do not recommend it. Pinnawala has long faced welfare concerns about chaining, bathing displays and close contact. The Elephant Transit Home at Udawalawe is run differently: orphans are raised for release, and visitors watch from a platform without contact.
What are the feeding times at the Elephant Transit Home?
Feedings happen at set times through the day, but schedules can change, so check locally or ask your driver before you arrive. If a feed falls in the late afternoon of day 7, go then; otherwise fit it in after the dawn safari on day 8.
Can I break the drive with a night in Ratnapura?
You can, but it costs a night elsewhere on the route. Ratnapura has a few simple hotels and the gem trade to see. Most travellers prefer one long day and keep the extra night for Tissamaharama, where it gives Yala a full day.
Is it worth buying gems in Ratnapura?
Only if you know what you are buying. Ratnapura has genuine gem dealers, but inflated prices and fake or treated stones are common. Buy from a licensed dealer, ask for a certificate from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and never buy from street sellers.