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Private day tours across Sri LankaSri Lanka day tours with a private driver
See Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Galle and the hill country in a day, in your own air-conditioned car or van. You pay one fixed price per vehicle, not per person, and your driver collects you at your hotel. Day tours start from Rs 15,000.
- Price per vehicle, not per person
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- English-speaking driver
- Book online or on WhatsApp
- One price per carSplit it between 3 guests in a sedan, or more in a van
- Fully privateYour own vehicle and driver, no shared coaches
- Flexible stopsSkip, swap or add a stop and we tell you the price
- Registered companyCeylon Taxi (Pvt) Ltd, based in Katunayake
Choose your starting point
The best day tour depends on where you are staying. Pick your base and we show the trips that work as a single day.
Colombo
Half-day city tours, plus full days to Kandy, Sigiriya and Galle from Rs 35,000.
See Colombo tours →
Negombo
Full-day tours to Kandy, Sigiriya and Galle from Rs 30,000, straight from your hotel.
Show Negombo tours ↓
Kandy
Sigiriya, tea country, elephants and the Knuckles range, from Rs 17,000.
See Kandy tours →Ella
Horton Plains, Diyaluma Falls, Yala and Udawalawe safaris, from Rs 15,000.
See Ella tours →
Sigiriya and Dambulla
The Cultural Triangle in a day: from Kandy Rs 26,500, Negombo Rs 33,000, Colombo Rs 38,000.
Show culture tours ↓Galle and the south coast
Bentota, Hikkaduwa and Galle Fort, from Colombo or Negombo, from Rs 35,000.
Show coast tours ↓Our most booked private day tours
Prices are per vehicle, round trip from your hotel, with driver and fuel. Filter by where you start or by the kind of day you want.
No tour matches both filters. Try “All” for one of them, or ask us on WhatsApp and we will build it for you.
Looking for something not listed? Every tour is private, so we can build a custom day around your hotel and interests.
Day tour prices at a glance
Every private day tour we run, with the price for the whole vehicle. Sedans take up to 3 guests. Vans seat larger groups, and the tour page shows the exact capacity.
| Tour | Starts in | How long | Sedan | Van | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo to Kandy with Pinnawala elephants | Colombo | 12 to 14 hours | Rs 35,000 | Rs 48,000 | View |
| Colombo to Sigiriya and Dambulla | Colombo | 12 to 14 hours | Rs 38,000 | Rs 53,000 | View |
| Colombo to Galle via Bentota and Hikkaduwa | Colombo | Full day | Rs 35,000 | Rs 48,000 | View |
| Negombo to Kandy with Pinnawala | Negombo | About 12 hours | Rs 30,000 | Rs 40,000 | View |
| Negombo to Sigiriya Rock | Negombo | Full day | Rs 33,000 | Rs 43,000 | View |
| Negombo to Galle, Hikkaduwa and Bentota | Negombo | 11 to 13 hours | Rs 35,000 | Rs 45,000 | View |
| Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple | Kandy | 10 to 11 hours | Rs 26,500 | Rs 35,000 | View |
| Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls and tea country | Kandy | About 10 hours | Rs 25,500 | Rs 34,500 | View |
| Pinnawala elephants and Ambuluwawa Tower | Kandy | About 8 hours | Rs 21,500 | Rs 29,000 | View |
| Kandy city tour | Kandy | 5 to 6 hours | Rs 17,000 | Rs 20,000 | View |
| Knuckles range and Riverston | Kandy | About 9 hours | Rs 26,000 | Rs 38,000 | View |
| Horton Plains and World's End | Ella | Early start | Rs 23,500 | Rs 32,000 | View |
| Yala safari day tour | Ella | Full day | Rs 28,000 | Rs 38,000 | View |
| Lipton's Seat, Dambatenne and Diyaluma Falls | Ella | Full day | Rs 22,000 | Rs 30,000 | View |
| Ella sights half day | Ella | Half day | Rs 15,000 | Rs 22,000 | View |
| Nuwara Eliya by car | Ella | Full day | Rs 23,000 | Rs 32,000 | View |
| Train to Nuwara Eliya, car back | Ella | Full day | Rs 25,000 | Rs 34,000 | View |
| Udawalawe safari day tour | Ella | Full day | Rs 28,000 | Rs 38,000 | View |
Prices are in Sri Lankan rupees for the whole vehicle. Entrance tickets and meals are not included.
Which day tour is right for you?
This is what we tell guests who are not sure where to start.
Sigiriya and Dambulla
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites in a single day. Sigiriya means about 1,200 steps to the top, so start early.
Kandy with Pinnawala
The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake and the elephant orphanage. A long day from Colombo or Negombo, an easy one from Kandy.
Nuwara Eliya and tea country
Tea factories, waterfalls and Gregory Lake. Mostly scenery from the car with short stops.
Horton Plains and World's End
An early-morning walk to the cliff edge before the mist comes in, from Ella.
Yala or Udawalawe safari
Leopards and elephants in the jeep safari parks. Our price covers the car and driver to the park gate.
Galle, Bentota and Hikkaduwa
A turtle hatchery, a coral beach and the Dutch fort at Galle, along the Southern Expressway.
What the day tour price includes
The price covers the vehicle and the driver for the day. Tickets and meals are up to you, so you only pay for the places you actually go into.
Included
- Private air-conditioned sedan or van for the day
- English-speaking driver
- Fuel
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel
- On longer tours: highway tolls, parking and bottled water (check the tour page)
Not included
- Entrance tickets, such as Sigiriya Rock and the Temple of the Tooth
- Lunch and drinks
- Safari jeep and park fees on Yala and Udawalawe days
- Tips for the driver, if you would like to leave one
How to book a day tour
Pick a tour
Choose a tour above, or message us if you want something custom.
Choose your vehicle
A sedan for up to 3 guests, or a van for a family or a bigger group.
Send your date and hotel
Use the Book button on the tour page, or WhatsApp us. Nothing to pay at this point.
Meet your driver
You get a booking reference and we confirm by email and WhatsApp. Your driver meets you at the hotel at the agreed time.
Good to know before a day tour in Sri Lanka
Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off at the entrance. A light scarf or sarong in your bag solves most of it.
Sigiriya opens at 7 am and the climb gets hot by late morning. Long tours from Colombo and Negombo usually leave around 6 am.
Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains are much cooler than the coast, especially after rain and early in the morning.
Every full moon is a public holiday. Temples are busier than usual and shops do not sell alcohol.
The busy season usually runs from December to April. For popular dates, ask us a week or more in advance.
We can arrange child seats on request. Mention them in the booking notes.
Questions about private day tours in Sri Lanka
How much does a private day tour in Sri Lanka cost?
With Ceylon Taxi a private day tour costs from Rs 15,000 for a short sightseeing tour up to Rs 38,000 for the longest full day, in a sedan for up to 3 guests. A van costs Rs 20,000 to Rs 53,000. The price covers the whole vehicle with an English-speaking driver, not each person. The price table on this page lists every tour.
Is the day tour price per person?
No, it is per vehicle. Three people sharing a sedan to Sigiriya from Negombo pay Rs 33,000 between them, which is Rs 11,000 each, plus their own entrance tickets.
Are entrance tickets and meals included?
No. Tickets, lunch and drinks are paid separately on every tour, so you only pay for the places you go into. The tour pages list approximate ticket prices. Some tours, such as Colombo to Sigiriya and Dambulla, also include highway tolls, parking and bottled water in the vehicle price.
Which day trip is best for a first visit to Sri Lanka?
Most first-time visitors choose Sigiriya and Dambulla, because you see two UNESCO sites in one day. If you prefer cooler air and less walking, the Nuwara Eliya and tea country day tour from Kandy is an easier day. For beaches and a colonial fort, take the Galle day tour from Colombo or Negombo.
Can I do a day tour from Colombo or Negombo?
Yes. From Colombo and Negombo we run full-day private tours to Kandy with the Pinnawala elephants, to Sigiriya and Dambulla, and to Galle via Bentota and Hikkaduwa. They are long days of 11 to 14 hours, usually leaving around 6 am. If you would rather stay near the sights, base yourself in Kandy or Ella for the day tours from there.
Can I change the stops on a tour?
Yes. Every tour is private, so you can skip a stop, add one or change the pick-up time. Tell us in the notes when you book or message us on WhatsApp, and we will tell you if it changes the price.
What vehicles do you use?
Air-conditioned sedans for up to 3 guests and vans for larger groups, each with an English-speaking driver. For a group bigger than a van seats, message us on WhatsApp and we will arrange a larger vehicle.
How do I book and pay?
Open the tour you want and press Book, or send us a WhatsApp message with the tour, the date and your hotel. You get a booking reference and we confirm by email and WhatsApp. You can pay cash to the driver on the day or choose card when you book.
Do you offer multi-day tours or a driver for several days?
Yes. For trips of two days or more, see our Car and Driver Hire page. You keep the same vehicle and driver for the whole trip and plan the route as you go.
Plan your day out in Sri Lanka
Tell us the tour, the date and your hotel, and we take care of the car and the driver. Not sure which tour fits? Send us a message and we will help you choose.
Need more than a day? See car and driver hire, safari bookings or airport transfers.
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