Sri Lanka · private driver · Colombo airport transfers
Private driver in Sri Lanka, from $79 a day
One car and one driver for your whole trip — or just the airport transfer. Prices are per car, not per person, with fuel, tolls and the driver's room and meals already in. You pick the hotels; we take care of the road.
- Price per car, shown instantly
- Driver's room and meals included
- Pay the driver — no prepayment for transfers
- Free cancellation up to 24 h
Ready routes with your own driver
Sold per car and per day — not as a package. You book the hotels you like (or ask us to suggest some), we provide the car and the driver.
Transfers and day trips
Every route has its own page with the road, the timing, the season and the full price table.
Colombo Airport (CMB) transfers
Between towns
Cars
Sedan
Toyota Axio / Prius / Premio
3 seats · 3 bags
$79/day
Minivan (KDH)
Toyota HiAce KDH, high roof
6 seats · 6 bags
$99/day
SUV
Prado / Montero class, leather, more legroom
4 seats · 4 bags
$145/day
Coach
Toyota Coaster, up to 20 seats
20 seats · 20 bags
$230/day
Why book with RideLKA
The price is on the page
Pick the trip and the car and you see what it costs — per car, not per person, with tolls, parking and the driver's lodging already in.
Honest about what's changed
The Kandy–Ella train is still only partly running after Cyclone Ditwah; Yala closes for a month every dry season. We tell you before you plan, not after.
Licensed local drivers
Every trip is driven by a vetted Sri Lankan partner. Your confirmation names the driver and the car; ask for an SLTDA-licensed chauffeur-guide if you want commentary on the way.
One chat, three languages
One WhatsApp thread in English, Russian or German, 8:00–22:00 Sri Lanka time — and the driver's name and plate the evening before.
When to go where
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so there is always a dry coast. The south and west coasts (Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Mirissa) and the hill country are at their best from December to April. From May to September the south-west monsoon brings rain there, while the east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay) is in season. October–November is the wettest inter-monsoon period across much of the island.
Train status (checked 18 October 2026): after Cyclone Ditwah the hill-country railway is reopening in stages. Nanu Oya – Ella – Badulla has run since 20 June 2026 and Colombo – Peradeniya/Gampola since 2 October 2026, but trains still do not reach Kandy (Peradeniya bridge rebuild) and nothing runs between Gampola and Nanu Oya. So the classic Kandy–Ella train is not possible yet — the driver takes you to Nanu Oya, you ride the most scenic part to Ella, and the car meets you there with the luggage.
Questions
Are your prices per person or per car?
Per car. A sedan takes up to 3 people with luggage, a KDH minivan 6, an SUV 4, a Coaster up to 20 — the price is the same however many seats you fill.
Do I have to pay for the driver's hotel and food?
No. On multi-day trips the daily price includes the driver's room and meals. Many hotels have driver quarters; where they do not, the driver stays nearby at our cost.
Are hotels included in the 7–14 day routes?
No. We sell the car with driver by the day. You book hotels yourself (or we suggest options and you book them directly with the hotel). This keeps prices transparent and you free to choose.
How do I pay?
For transfers you pay the driver at the end in cash (rupees or US dollars). For multi-day hire we ask a 20% deposit by payment link after we confirm the car; the rest is paid to the driver.
Do the drivers speak English? Russian? German?
Drivers working with tourists speak English. Russian- or German-speaking drivers exist but are few — choose them in the calculator and we confirm availability before you pay anything. Our dispatcher answers in English, Russian and German.
Do I need a visa?
Yes, an ETA approved online before arrival. From 25 May 2026 the tourist ETA is free for 30 days for citizens of 40 countries, including the UK, Germany, Russia and the USA (Department of Immigration list).