Your Travel Agency in Colombo

This page explains who we are, what we offer from Colombo, how we plan your trip, and how to choose the right travel agency in Colombo, whether that turns out to be us or someone else.

Who we are

We are a family-run Sri Lanka travel agency based in Colombo, with more than 15 years of experience planning trips for international travellers.

Our team includes trip planners who answer your messages, and licensed chauffeur-guides who drive you around the island and explain what you are seeing. Because we are local, we know which roads close in the rains, which hotels have changed hands, and which sights are best visited at 7am rather than midday.

More than 2,000 travellers have toured Sri Lanka with us. You can read their experiences on our success stories page and meet the people behind the company on our team page.

Why book with a Colombo-based agency

Most international flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, so a Colombo-based agency is perfectly placed to start and finish your holiday.

• Airport meet and greet. Your driver is waiting in arrivals with a name board, whatever time your flight lands.
• Local knowledge. We live here. We plan routes around real driving times, festival dates, weather and school holidays.
• Support during your trip. If a flight is delayed, a hotel disappoints or plans change, you call one local number and we fix it.
• Fair local prices. Booking directly with a local company usually costs less than booking the same trip through an overseas operator, because there is no middle layer.
• One point of contact. One planner handles your whole trip, from the first message to your departure flight.

Our services

Private tours of Sri Lanka. Tailor-made itineraries from 3 days to 3 weeks, with your own car and chauffeur-guide. See our private tours.

Private driver hire. A car and English-speaking driver for as many days as you need, with flexible stops. Read about private driver hire.

Colombo airport transfers. Fixed-price transfers from the airport to Colombo, Negombo, the south coast, Kandy or anywhere else. See Colombo airport transfer prices.

Day tours. Guided day trips from Colombo to Galle, Bentota, Kandy, Kitulgala and more.

Hotel booking. We suggest and book hotels that match your budget and style, from boutique villas to family-friendly beach resorts.

Special trips. Honeymoons, family holidays, wildlife safaris, train journeys and wellness retreats, each planned around what you enjoy.

Popular tours starting in Colombo

Every itinerary can be changed, but these are the trips our Colombo team plans most often:

• 7-day tour: Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy, the hill country and the south coast in one week.
• 10-day tour: the classic route with more time in tea country and a wildlife safari.
• 14-day tour: a slower trip including the Cultural Triangle, Ella, Yala and several beach days.
• Honeymoon tours: private villas, sunset dinners and quiet beaches.
• Family tours: shorter driving days, elephant parks and child-friendly hotels.

Colombo city tour and day trips

Many travellers spend a night in Colombo at the start or end of their trip. Our Colombo city tour covers the Gangaramaya Temple, the busy bazaars of Pettah, Independence Square, the National Museum and a sunset walk on Galle Face Green. For a self-guided plan, see our guide to things to do in Colombo and one day in Colombo.

If you have more time, Colombo is an easy base for day trips:

• Galle Fort: about 1.5 to 2 hours by expressway
• Bentota: river safaris and beaches, about 1.5 hours
• Kitulgala: white-water rafting, about 2.5 hours
• Kandy: the Temple of the Tooth, about 3 hours
• Negombo: lagoon and fish market, about 1 hour

See all our ideas for day trips from Colombo.

How we plan your trip

1. Send an enquiry. Tell us your dates, number of travellers, budget and interests through our contact page or WhatsApp.
2. Talk to a planner. We ask a few questions to understand what you enjoy, and answer yours.
3. Receive a draft itinerary. You receive a day-by-day plan with hotels and a clear price.
4. Make changes. Add a beach day, swap a hotel or slow the pace. We revise until it feels right.
5. Confirm and relax. Pay a deposit, and we book everything. You receive your driver’s details before you fly.

Prices and how quotes work

Every trip is priced individually, because it depends on several things:

• the number of days and travellers
• your hotel level, from comfortable mid-range to luxury
• the vehicle size
• entrance fees and activities such as safaris or whale watching
• the season (December to March is busiest)

Send us your dates and we will give you a clear written price for your exact plan. Your quote lists exactly what is included, with no hidden extras.

Meet the team

Our trip planners and chauffeur-guides are introduced on our team page, and past guests describe their trips in their own words on our success stories page.

How to choose a travel agency in Colombo

There are many travel agencies in Colombo. Whoever you book with, check the following:

• SLTDA registration. Ask for the licence number and check it.
• Real reviews. Look for recent reviews on independent sites such as Tripadvisor and Google.
• A written quote. It should list hotels, vehicle, what is included and what is not.
• Clear payment terms. Know the deposit, balance date and cancellation policy before you pay.
• Licensed guides. Your driver should hold a chauffeur-guide licence.
• Quick, honest replies. How a company answers your first questions shows how it will treat you on the road.

For more tips, read our list of questions to ask a travel agent.

Contact our Colombo team

WhatsApp: +94 72 222 3333
Email: tours@vacationceylon.com

Send us an enquiry and a planner will reply personally.

Frequently asked questions