A private tour of Sri Lanka means one vehicle, one guide and one itinerary built entirely around you. No fixed departure dates, no waiting for other passengers and no compromise on where you go or how long you spend there. Whether you have 10 days or three weeks, we plan every detail from your arrival in Colombo to your final sunset on the south coast.
Discover Sri Lanka at your own pace with a dedicated local driver-guide.
Why choose a private tour over a group tour?
Most visitors to Sri Lanka arrive with a rough list: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, a beach. A group tour can tick those boxes. A private tour can go further.
With your own driver-guide, you stop when something catches your eye, spend an extra hour at a temple without holding anyone up, and skip the attractions that were never really on your list. Your guide knows you by name rather than seat number, which means conversations go deeper and recommendations get personal.
The cost difference is smaller than most people expect, particularly for couples and families travelling together. Splitting a private vehicle between two or three people often works out close to group tour prices, with considerably more flexibility in return.
Sample private tour itineraries
14 days: The full circuit
- Day 1: Arrive Colombo, transfer to Negombo.
- Days 2–3: Sigiriya rock fortress and Dambulla cave temples.
- Day 4: Polonnaruwa, the ancient city.
- Days 5–6: Kandy, Temple of the Tooth and a spice garden visit.
- Day 7: Scenic train ride to Ella (your vehicle meets you there).
- Days 8–9: Ella Rock hike, Nine Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak.
- Days 10–11: Yala National Park, morning and afternoon safari drives.
- Days 12–13: Galle Fort and the southern beaches at Mirissa or Tangalle.
- Day 14: Return to Colombo for departure.
10 days: Highlights only
- Day 1: Arrive Colombo.
- Day 2: Sigiriya and Dambulla.
- Days 3–4: Kandy.
- Days 5–6: Ella.
- Days 7–8: Yala safari.
- Days 9–10: Galle and departure.
Both itineraries are starting points. If you want to add a whale watching excursion from Mirissa, a cooking class in a Kandy home kitchen or two extra nights in the Hill Country, we adjust the route to fit.
Flexible itineraries can include wildlife safaris, cultural landmarks and the coast.
What is included in your private tour?
Every private tour we arrange includes:
Included
- Dedicated English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- Private air-conditioned vehicle, cleaned daily
- Accommodation at your chosen grade
- All internal road transfers and airport transfers
- Entrance fees to all listed sites
- National park conservation fees (Yala, Udawalawe)
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide (discretionary)
- Personal spending
- Activities added during the trip
How it works
Getting started takes three steps.
Tell us about your trip
Fill in the enquiry form with your travel dates, group size and any destinations you have in mind. Still deciding on dates? That's fine too.
We design your itinerary
Within 24 hours we send a draft day-by-day plan with suggested accommodation and a clear price breakdown. No hidden fees, no pressure.
You travel
Once you confirm, we handle everything on the ground. Your guide meets you at the airport and stays with you until your final day.
What our guests say
"The round trip was dreamlike and much better than it could have been with a larger travel group. Ranil made every day feel special."
"Through his friendly, respectful manner and subtle humor, we had many wonderful experiences and felt safe throughout our two-week tour."
"Ranil is a very safe driver who navigated traffic brilliantly. We ate local food we would never have found alone. Unforgettable."
"100% recommendation. We have travelled with Ranil every year — wonderful 14 days every time. Hotels, restaurants and every detail perfectly arranged."
"Meeting you made me realise that distance between people can cross languages and countries. Thank you for your kind smile and wonderful guidance."
"Die Rundreise mit Ranil war einmalig schön. Ranil ist ein Freund geworden, den wir oft vermissen."
Frequently asked questions
Most travellers from the UK choose between 10 and 14 days. Ten days covers the main highlights comfortably. Fourteen days gives you space to slow down, add a safari and spend real time on the coast. If you only have seven days, a focused southern or cultural route is very doable.
Yes, entirely. Every tour starts as a blank page. You tell us your interests, pace and non-negotiables, and we build the route around them. Common additions include whale watching at Mirissa (November to April), a Yala leopard safari, tea estate walks and cooking classes in Kandy.
Sri Lanka works very well for families. Your guide adjusts the pace, avoids long driving days when possible and knows which sites hold a child's attention. Elephant orphanages, train journeys and beach days are particularly popular with younger travellers.
Fill in the enquiry form on this page or send a WhatsApp message to the number below. We respond within 24 hours with a draft itinerary. A 20% deposit confirms your booking, with the balance due 60 days before departure.
Sri Lanka is a safe and welcoming destination for tourists. The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office currently advises normal travel precautions. We monitor the situation continuously and would contact you immediately if anything affected your trip. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons affecting different coasts, so there is rarely a bad time to visit if you plan the route correctly. December to March is ideal for the south and west coasts. April to September suits the east coast and Hill Country. Your itinerary will be routed around the weather for your travel dates.