Sri Lanka travel facts
Drive times, the best months, trip lengths, what a private trip includes and how paying works. Your written quote always has the details for your own trip.
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Driving times between the main stops
Between the main stops, a private vehicle with a driver typically takes from 20 min (Colombo airport (CMB) to Negombo) to 4 h 15 min (Kandy to Ella), without stops.
| From | To | Distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo airport (CMB) | Negombo | About 10 km | 20 min |
| Colombo airport (CMB) | Sigiriya | About 150 km | 3 h 30 min |
| Colombo airport (CMB) | Kandy | About 100 km | 3 h |
| Sigiriya | Kandy | About 90 km | 2 h 30 min |
| Kandy | Nuwara Eliya | About 77 km | 2 h 45 min |
| Nuwara Eliya | Ella | About 56 km | 2 h 15 min |
| Kandy | Ella | About 140 km | 4 h 15 min |
| Ella | Yala | About 95 km | 2 h 30 min |
| Yala | Mirissa | About 110 km | 2 h 15 min |
| Yala | Galle | About 160 km | 3 h |
| Galle | Colombo airport (CMB) | About 150 km | 2 h 15 min |
Best months by region
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so the best region changes through the year: South Coast, West Coast, Hill Country, Cultural Triangle in December – March; East Coast, North, Cultural Triangle in May – September; Cultural Triangle, Hill Country in April, October & November.
| Part of the year | Months | Best regions |
|---|---|---|
| South & West high season | December – March | South Coast, West Coast, Hill Country, Cultural Triangle |
| East coast season | May – September | East Coast, North, Cultural Triangle |
| Inter-monsoon shoulders | April, October & November | Cultural Triangle, Hill Country |
| Region | Great | Good | Mixed | Off-season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | Apr, Nov | Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | May, Jun |
| South Coast | Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec | Apr, Nov | Sep, Oct | May, Jun, Jul, Aug |
| Hill Country | Feb, Aug | Jan, Mar, Apr, Jun, Jul, Sep, Dec | May, Oct, Nov | None |
| Cultural Triangle | Sep | Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec | Oct, Nov | None |
| East Coast | Jun, Jul, Aug | Apr, May, Sep | Mar, Oct | Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec |
| North | May, Jun, Jul, Aug | Mar, Apr, Sep | Feb, Oct | Jan, Nov, Dec |
The full month-by-month guide is on When to go.
Trip lengths we offer
Our published tours run from 6 to 28 days.
| Tour | Length |
|---|---|
| The Wild South | 6 days |
| Hills, Temples & Colombo | 7 days |
| The Classic Ceylon | 7 days |
| Hill Country & The Blue Train | 8 days |
| Surf, Safari & South | 12 days |
| The Island Uncovered | 12 days |
| Winter Sun Flagship | 14 days |
| Sixteen Days for Two | 16 days |
| The Summer East, Family | 19 days |
| The Summer East, for Two | 20 days |
| The Winter Grand Circle | 20 days |
| Three Weeks of Ceylon | 21 days |
| Slow Ceylon | 28 days |
What a private trip includes
Our trips are everything but the flights: stays, a private air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide, the experiences we arrange and airport transfers.
| Included | What it means |
|---|---|
| Hand-picked stays | Places we have chosen ourselves — for character, not just a star rating. |
| Private air-conditioned vehicle & driver-guide | Your own car and local companion for the whole route, on your schedule. |
| Entrances & experiences we arrange | The temples, trains, cooks and guides built into your days, sorted in advance. |
| Airport transfers | Met on arrival and seen off on departure — no scramble at either end. |
| A real person while you travel | Someone from our team reachable throughout, if plans need a gentle nudge. |
Not included:
- International flights — you book those to suit your home airport
- Travel insurance — we always recommend arranging your own
- Your visa (ETA) — a simple online form, not an embassy visit
Booking terms
The deposit is 25% of the tour price, due within 7 days of booking; the balance is due 30 days before you arrive.
| Payment | What applies |
|---|---|
| Deposit | 25% of the tour price, due within 7 days of booking. We send the deposit invoice once we have checked that your hotels are free on your dates. |
| Balance | Due 30 days before you arrive. |
| Booking close to arrival | If you book less than 45 days before you arrive, we ask for the full amount at once. |
Cancellation charges and how to pay are on the booking terms page. Questions? Use the enquiry form or read the frequently asked questions.