Galle day trip from Colombo
A full day from a Colombo hotel to Galle Fort and back: about 125 km each way on the Southern Expressway, 2 hours each way, and 5–6 hours on the coast. The driver waits the whole day.
- Distance250 km
- Duration~10 h
- Pricefrom $95
Every trip is driven by a vetted local partner in Sri Lanka. Your confirmation names the driver, the car and its plate; on chauffeur-guide bookings also the SLTDA licence number.
Galle day trip from Colombo: price per car
| Car | Per car return trip, driver waits | Per person if you are 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan up to 3 Toyota Axio / Prius / Premio | $95 ≈ Rs 31,500 | $48 | $32 | — | — |
| Minivan (KDH) up to 6 Toyota HiAce KDH, high roof | $120 ≈ Rs 39,500 | $60 | $40 | $30 | $20 |
| SUV up to 4 Prado / Montero class, leather, more legroom | $170 ≈ Rs 56,000 | $85 | $57 | $43 | — |
| Coach up to 20 Toyota Coaster, up to 20 seats | $280 ≈ Rs 92,500 | $140 | $93 | $70 | $47 |
Prices updated 20 October 2026.
The road
Outer Circular Highway and Southern Expressway (E01) to Galle; back the same way. Tolls and parking included.
Worth stopping
- Galle Fort: ramparts, lighthouse, Dutch Reformed Church, Pedlar Street cafés — 2–3 hours on foot.
- Unawatuna beach or the Japanese Peace Pagoda (10 minutes past Galle).
- On the way back, the coastal road via Bentota with a river or turtle-hatchery stop (adds about 1 hour).
Good to know
- Up to 10 hours and the route above are included; each extra hour is $10.
- From Negombo hotels add about 45 minutes each way — the price is +$20.
Included
- Private air-conditioned car and an English-speaking driver
- Fuel, expressway tolls and parking
- Short stops on the way (up to 30 min in total)
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before; pay the driver at the end — no prepayment for transfers
Questions
How long is a Galle day trip from Colombo?
About 10 hours door to door: 08:00–18:00 is typical.
Is it better by train?
The coastal train Colombo–Galle is cheap and scenic but slow (2.5–3.5 h) and crowded; by car it is 2 hours and you can stop anywhere.