Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya
A fifth-century palace on top of a granite rock, with frescoes, water gardens and a view across the forest.
Tailor-made
Private Tours in Sri Lanka
A private tour is the most flexible way to see Sri Lanka. You travel in your own vehicle with a local driver, stop where you like and set the pace. We plan the route with you, then look after the logistics while you are on the road.
- Any length
- Private vehicle & driver
- Tailor-made
Tour at a glance
- Length
- Any length
- Type
- Tailor-made holiday style
- Starts from
- The airport or your hotel
- Places
- Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Galle Fort, Yala National Park, Nuwara Eliya
- Transport
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Price
- Personal quote based on dates, group size and hotels
Who it suits
- Couples and families who want flexibility
- First-time visitors who want local knowledge on hand
- Travellers combining culture, hill country, wildlife and beaches
Highlights
- Start from the airport, Colombo, Negombo or your hotel
- Change the pace day by day
- Add safaris, train rides, cooking classes or hikes
- Stay where you prefer, from guesthouses to boutique hotels
Why travel Sri Lanka with a private driver?
Sri Lanka's main sights are spread across the island, and journeys between them often take several hours on winding roads. Public transport is cheap but slow, crowded and hard with luggage, and the hill-country railway is still partly closed after Cyclone Ditwah. A private vehicle turns travel days into part of the holiday, with stops at viewpoints, tea factories, temples and roadside fruit stalls.
It also makes the trip easier to adapt. If it rains in the hills, you can switch plans; if you love a place, you can stay longer.
How private touring with us works
You travel in our own air-conditioned vehicle with one driver for the whole trip, so there is no sharing with strangers and no fixed schedule. Your driver collects you from the airport or your hotel, takes you between places, waits while you visit and helps with local advice along the way.
Before you travel, we agree the route and the hotels with you, and confirm what is included in writing. During the trip, small changes such as an extra stop, a slower morning or a different restaurant are easy to make.
How we build your route
We start with the month you are travelling, because the monsoons decide which coast is best. Then we look at what you enjoy most, such as culture, wildlife, hiking, beaches or food, and how fast you like to travel. Most first trips combine the Cultural Triangle, Kandy and the hill country with a safari and one coast.
We avoid days with too much driving and suggest staying two nights in most places, so you are not packing every morning.
What's usually included
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver
- Route planning around your dates and interests
- Fuel, parking and highway tolls
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
Not included
- International flights and Sri Lanka ETA / visa
- Entrance fees and safari jeep hire (paid locally or quoted separately)
- Accommodation and meals, unless agreed in your quote
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
Final inclusions are confirmed in writing with your quote.
Getting there
Travel times and transport options for this trip:
Places on this route
Hill Country
Kandy
The last royal capital, home to the Temple of the Tooth and a lakeside town ringed by hills.
Hill Country
Ella
A small hill-country town of tea slopes, short hikes and the famous Nine Arch Bridge.
South Coast
Galle Fort
Walled colonial streets, a white lighthouse and ocean-facing ramparts made for sunset walks.
South East
Yala National Park
Sri Lanka's best-known safari park, with leopards, elephants, sloth bears and coastal lagoons.
Hill Country
Nuwara Eliya
Cool highland air, emerald tea estates and colonial-era bungalows high in the hills.
Frequently asked questions
How does a private tour work?
You tell us your dates, interests and budget. We suggest a route, refine it with you and confirm the details. On the trip, your driver handles the driving and logistics.
Can the route change during the trip?
Small changes are usually possible on the road. Larger changes may affect hotel bookings, so discuss them with us as early as possible.
Is the driver also a guide?
Your driver knows the routes and the country well. For detailed explanations at major heritage sites, licensed site guides can be arranged.
What is included?
Usually: private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver; route planning around your dates and interests; fuel, parking and highway tolls; airport pick-up and drop-off. Not included: international flights and Sri Lanka ETA / visa; entrance fees and safari jeep hire (paid locally or quoted separately); accommodation and meals, unless agreed in your quote; travel insurance and personal expenses. Final inclusions are confirmed in writing with your quote.
How much does this tour cost?
It depends on your dates, group size, vehicle and the hotels you choose. Send us an enquiry and we'll reply with a written quote.
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Let's Plan Your Sri Lanka Journey
Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you love, and we'll suggest a route that fits. There's no obligation.