Sri Lanka Tour Operator · Licensed since 2023

The island, at your own pace.

We are a Sri Lanka tour company based in Dambulla, not a reseller. Private guided journeys designed one at a time for travellers from the Europe, USA and Australia.

Why travel with us

A Sri Lanka tour company you can phone at 2am

Most Sri Lanka holidays sold in Europe are handed to a ground operator you never meet. We are that operator. You deal with the people who own the vehicles, employ the guides and answer the phone when a flight is delayed.

Licensed and bonded

Registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and a member of Tourist Driver.

Local experts, not resellers

We are based in Dambulla, not in a European call centre. The person who plans your trip has driven the route.

Private tours only

No coach groups, no strangers, no fixed departure dates. Your vehicle, your guide, your pace, from day one.

24/7 support in country

A real phone number answered by a real person for the entire time you are in Sri Lanka, not a ticketing system.

Best price guarantee

Find the same itinerary and hotel standard cheaper with a licensed Sri Lankan operator and we will match it and add a free airport transfer.

Four years, 65+ trips

Founded in 2023. More than nine in ten of our bookings now come from a past guest or their recommendation.

Sri Lanka tour packages

Popular itineraries

Every one of these is private, guided and yours to change. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, and include your vehicle, driver-guide and hotels.

Most booked

8 days

Private guided

8 Days Sri Lanka Tour

One week, the whole island. Ancient rock fortresses, a temple that holds a relic of the Buddha, tea country by rail, leopards at dawn and a Dutch fort at sunset.

Dambulla · Ella · Galle · Kandy · Negombo · Nuwara Eliya · Sigiriya · Yala

£845

Two person

Signature

10 days

Private luxury

10 Days Sri Lanka Luxury Tour

Ten days across the island staying only in houses with a story: Bawa-designed villas, a tea planter’s bungalow above the clouds, a merchant house inside Galle Fort.

Bentota · Ella · Galle · Kandy · Negombo · Nuwara Eliya · Sigiriya · Yala

£2,390

Two person

Pilgrimage

9 days

Pilgrimage, guided

Sri Lanka Ramayana Tour

The full Ramayana trail across Sri Lanka: Ashok Vatika, Seetha Amman, Ravana’s caves, Divurumpola and the Munneswaram temples, guided by someone who knows the verses.

Anuradhapura · Colombo · Ella · Kandy · Negombo · Nuwara Eliya · Sigiriya · Yala

£920

Two person

Stopover favourite

4 days

Private guided

Sri Lanka 4 Day Tour

Four days built around the Cultural Triangle and Kandy: the highest concentration of UNESCO sites on the island, with an elephant safari in the middle.

Dambulla · Kandy · Minneriya · Negombo · Sigiriya

£395

Two person

Weekend break

3 days

Private guided

03 Days in Amazing Sri Lanka

Two nights, three days, and the essential island: a rock fortress, a cave temple, an elephant herd and a hill capital that has held its relic for four centuries.

Dambulla · Kandy · Minneriya · Negombo · Sigiriya

£285

Two person

Grand tour

14 days

Private guided

Two Weeks Tour

Fourteen days is the length at which Sri Lanka stops being a checklist. Ancient cities, tea country, the east coast reef, leopards, whales, and a week’s worth of beach.

Anuradhapura · Ella · Galle · Kandy · Mirissa · Negombo · Nuwara Eliya · Sigiriya · Trincomalee · Yala

£1,590

Two person

Tailor made tour

Or start with a blank page

Two-thirds of our guests end up on a custom Sri Lanka tour. You tell us how long you have, roughly what you want to spend and what you cannot miss. We send a day-by-day itinerary with named hotels within 48 hours, then rewrite it until it is right. No charge until you are happy.

Consultation

A call or WhatsApp thread with a named consultant

Design

A full itinerary with named hotels and a fixed price

Review

Unlimited revisions until every day works

Travel

Your driver-guide meets you in arrivals

Explore by interest

What kind of trip is this?

Tell us the shape of the holiday and we will build the route around it.

Wildlife

Leopards, elephants, blue whales

Beaches

South, east and west coasts

Honeymoon

Private villas and quiet bays

Adventure

Trekking, rafting, surfing

Culture

Eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Ayurveda

Doctor-led wellness programmes

Family

Shorter drives, pools, safaris

Luxury

Bawa villas and tea bungalows

Sri Lanka travel destinations

Where you will go

Nowhere on the island is more than a day’s drive from anywhere else. That is what makes a two-week Sri Lanka tour feel like four holidays.

6.8667 N, 81.0466 E

Ella

A gap in the escarpment where the hills fall away to the southern plains, with a railway bridge that has become the island’s most photographed structure.

Hill Country

6.0535 N, 80.2210 E

Galle

A Dutch fort that has been continuously inhabited for 400 years: ramparts, coral-stone churches, and a lighthouse over the water.

South Coast

7.2906 N, 80.6337 E

Kandy

The last royal capital, wrapped around a lake, holding a tooth of the Buddha and a hill full of Kandyan drummers.

Hill Country

5.9483 N, 80.4589 E

Mirissa

A crescent of sand with a headland at one end and the best blue whale watching in the Indian Ocean from a harbour ten minutes away.

South Coast

6.9497 N, 80.7891 E

Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lanka at 1,900 metres: tea estates, a racecourse, mock-Tudor bungalows and cold nights the British never stopped trying to recreate.

Hill Country

7.9570 N, 80.7603 E

Sigiriya

A 200-metre granite plug crowned by a fifth-century royal citadel, with frescoes halfway up and a lion’s paws at the gate.

Cultural Triangle

8.5874 N, 81.2152 E

Trincomalee

The clearest water in Sri Lanka, one of the world’s finest natural harbours, and a reef island you can snorkel from the shore.

East Coast

6.3735 N, 81.5089 E

Yala

The highest density of leopards of any protected area on earth, plus sloth bear, elephant and a coastline of lagoons and dunes.

South Coast

Things to do in Sri Lanka

Experiences worth the detour

Safari at first light, a train through tea country, a whale the length of a bus. Add any of these to any itinerary.

Transport

Chauffeur and vehicle hire

Need a driver rather than a tour? We rent the same fleet and the same guides by the day, with fixed airport transfer rates.

Sedan

1-2 guests · 2 large cases

Toyota Prius, Axio or equivalent hybrid. Efficient, quiet and comfortable for couples on long transfers.

from USD 55 / day

SUV

1-4 guests · 3 large cases

Toyota Rush, Mitsubishi Montero or Land Cruiser Prado. Higher clearance for estate roads and safari boundaries.

from USD 85 / day

Van

4-7 guests · 6 large cases

Toyota KDH or Nissan Caravan high-roof, with reclining captain seats and a luggage bay behind the last row.

from USD 75 / day

Reviews

What our guests say

Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 612 Google and TripAdvisor reviews. These are unedited.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 30 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Paule L 
 
 
 
 Verified Alex Best person We meet in Sri Lanka , thanks a Lot:))
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Neža T 
 
 
 
 Verified Good choice Our host in Sigiriya recommended our driver to us, and we couldn’t have made a better choice. He drove us throughout our entire 10-day trip around Sri Lanka. He showed us hidden gems, took us to places off the beaten path, and was always happy to stop whenever we wanted. He is discreet, communicative, friendly, and never intrusive. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable and pleasant driver in Sri Lanka. He made our trip even more enjoyable!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Laurette H. 
 
 
 
 Verified “An unforgettable road trip through Sri Lanka with the best driver/guide!” Our road trip through Sri Lanka with Aleksander was truly an unforgettable experience. We first met Aleksander last year during our first trip to Sri Lanka, when he was our driver. That journey was already amazing. We were so impressed by his knowledge, kindness and enthusiasm that we decided to return this year for a longer road trip – of course with Aleksander again. This trip lasted 22 days, and not for a single moment were we bored. Every day brought new surprises. Aleksander took us to the most beautiful places, often real hidden gems that you won’t find in any travel guide. From impressive temples and stunning waterfalls to beautiful beaches, wildlife, culture, tea plantations and rice fields. We went on safaris, explored jungle areas and experienced the incredible diversity that Sri Lanka has to offer. It was simply fantastic. Aleksander is not just a driver or guide to us anymore – he has become a true friend, even more than that, he feels like family. One of the absolute highlights of our trip was that he invited us several times to his home. His family welcomed us with open arms and we enjoyed delicious traditional food together. These are moments we will never forget. For this we would like to sincerely thank Aleksander and his family. If you want to experience an incredible journey through Sri Lanka and discover authentic and hidden places, we can wholeheartedly recommend Aleksander. You will rarely find someone like him. He is a wonderful person to travel with: always smiling, friendly, warm and genuinely caring. He truly makes you feel comfortable and does everything possible to make your trip perfect. Whatever you ask, nothing is ever too much for him. He also always gives you enough time to explore places without any pressure. He is very punctual, an excellent and careful driver, and he knows his country inside and out. We highly recommend Aleksander. Thanks to him, our journey through Sri Lanka became a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will cherish forever.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sre Hari R 
 
 
 
 Verified Exceptional Tour Experience with a Truly Genuine person We had an amazing tour driver during our trip to Sri Lanka. He was honest, polite, and extremely reliable throughout the journey. Not only did he take us to all the places we wanted to visit, but he also suggested wonderful hidden spots we didn’t know about. The highlight was being invited to his home, where his family warmly welcomed us and treated us to a delicious feast. We truly appreciate his kindness and hospitality — he made our trip unforgettable. Highly recommended!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Pierre L 
 
 
 
 Verified Trajet Ella - sigiryia Trajet efficace et rapide avec Alexander, il s’est adapté à nos attentes et conduit très bien. Merci encore Emma et Pierre
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Peter L 
 
 
 
 Verified Best driver and guide you can have! By chance, Alexander became our driver. The plan was for him to take us from Sygiria to Kandy. In the end, he remained our driver for the entire trip, all the way to Colombo! His prices were fair, he was always punctual, and he was completely relaxed. He was always happy to accommodate our extra requests (sightseeing, dining, shopping)! Thank you, Alexander!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sim B 
 
 
 
 Verified A great time with Sampath! Sampath was a very welcoming and personable person, we felt very safe and comfortable with Sampath as our tour guide and driver. The car was lovely and clean with lots of space. Sampath was always on time and ensured we were well looked after. We would 100% recommend booking any tour guides or car journeys with Sampath.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   NorthStar13828067064 
 
 
 
 Verified Beautiful days with perfect guide He is an educated man and knows all the tourist details of country and the right times for the trip and he was very dealt during the trip in fact he was the main role in making it a beautiful vacation Thank you, Alexander.🌹
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   David B 
 
 
 
 Verified Driving Service with local guidance We had a wonderful experience. Alexander was reliable, professional, and very knowledgeable about Sri Lanka. The car was comfortable in good condition, and he drove safely at all times. We truly appreciated his flexibility and punctuality. Thank you for the good trip – we highly recommend him!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sanna 
 
 
 
 Verified Sigiriya-Kandy, Yala-Deniyaya, Deniyaya-Unawatuna drives Very helpful in driving and later organizing a driver for us, very polite and trustworthy. A good car, good people, thank you.

Sri Lanka travel blog

Travel guides worth reading before you book

Written by our own consultants and guides. No affiliate links, no filler.

18 June 2026 · 9 min read

The Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka: A Month-by-Month Guide

Sri Lanka has two monsoons running on opposite schedules, which means there is always a dry coast. Here is how to pick yours.

30 May 2026 · 6 min read

Sri Lanka ETA Visa: What UK, US, EU and Australian Travellers Need

The electronic travel authorisation takes ten minutes online. Here is the current process, the fees, and the mistakes that cause refusals.

12 May 2026 · 8 min read

What to Eat in Sri Lanka: Beyond Rice and Curry

Hoppers, kottu, ambul thiyal and the pol sambol that will ruin coconut for you elsewhere. A field guide to eating well.

FAQ

Before you book

Do I book directly with you or through an agent?

Directly. Ceylon Lanka Trails is the ground operator – we own the vehicles, employ the guides and contract the hotels ourselves. There is no middleman margin, which is why our quotes usually come in below UK and Dutch tour operators for the same hotels.

How much does a Sri Lanka tour cost?

Our private tours run from around £285 per person for three days to £2,390 for ten days of luxury, based on two people sharing. That covers accommodation, a private vehicle with a chauffeur-guide, safaris where listed and all transfers. Flights, visa and site entrance fees are separate.

Is Sri Lanka safe for tourists in 2026?

Yes. The country is stable, the economic crisis of 2022 has eased, and tourism is running above pre-pandemic levels. Normal travel precautions apply. We monitor UK FCDO, US State Department and Dutch government advisories and will tell you plainly if anything changes.

What is included in a private tour?

Accommodation with breakfast, a private air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking chauffeur-guide, all fuel, tolls, parking and the driver’s own meals and lodging, airport transfers, bottled water and a 24/7 support line. Each tour page lists exactly what is and is not included.

Can you customise a published itinerary?

Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. Most guests change something – an extra beach night, a different hotel standard, a slower pace. There is no charge for redesigning, only for what the changes cost.

How do I pay, and is my money protected?

A 20% deposit confirms your booking; the balance is due 21 days before arrival or in cash on arrival. We accept bank transfer, Wise and card payments in GBP, USD, EUR and AUD. We are an SLTDA-licensed operator, and full terms including our cancellation ladder are sent with every quotation.

Start planning

Ready to plan your Sri Lanka holiday?

Send us a rough idea – three lines is enough. You will get a real itinerary with named hotels and a fixed price, written by a person, at no cost and with no obligation.

Name

WhatsApp / Phone

Country

Travel dates

Travellers

Interested in

What would make this trip right for you?

A real consultant replies within 12 hours, usually sooner. No deposit needed to get a full itinerary and quote.

Tailor Made Tour

The best time to visit Sri Lanka

The island, at your own pace.

A Sri Lanka tour company you can phone at 2am

Licensed and bonded

Local experts, not resellers

Private tours only

24/7 support in country

Best price guarantee

Four years, 65+ trips

Popular itineraries

Or start with a blank page

Consultation

Design

Review

Travel

What kind of trip is this?

Wildlife

Beaches

Honeymoon

Adventure

Culture

Ayurveda

Family

Luxury

Where you will go

Experiences worth the detour

Chauffeur and vehicle hire

Sedan

SUV

Van

What our guests say

Travel guides worth reading before you book

Before you book

Ready to plan your Sri Lanka holiday?

Tell us roughly what you want