Car with driver · 10 days · ~878 km
Sri Lanka with kids: 10 days in a private minivan with child seats
Built around children: a rest day after the flight, no drive longer than four hours, elephants twice, the toy-train ride through the tea hills and a beach at the end. The high-roof KDH minivan fits six with luggage and a pushchair; child seats are free — tell us the ages.
| Sedan up to 3 | $765 | ≈ $77/day |
| Minivan (KDH) up to 6 | $960 | ≈ $96/day |
| SUV up to 4 | $1,405 | ≈ $141/day |
$99/day × 10 days − 3% for 10+ days = $960 · per car, all days
December to April. With babies, ask for the infant seat when you book; with teenagers, the sedan is enough for three.
Day by day
- Day 1Airport → Negombo10 km · ~30 min
Twenty minutes to a beach hotel and a day to get over the flight.
- Day 2Negombo → Sigiriya150 km · ~4 h
Two breaks on the way; pool time in the afternoon.
- Day 3Sigiriya & Minneriya elephants60 km · ~2 h
Pidurangala or Sigiriya early for older kids; afternoon jeep to see the elephant herds (jeep extra).
- Day 4Sigiriya → Kandy95 km · ~3 h
Spice garden at Matale, the lake and the Temple of the Tooth.
- Day 5Kandy30 km · ~1 h
Peradeniya botanical gardens — giant bamboo and fruit bats; a cultural dance show.
- Day 6Kandy → Nuwara Eliya78 km · ~3 h
Waterfalls and a tea factory; pony rides and pedal boats at Gregory Lake.
- Day 7Train to Ella60 km · ~2 h 30 min
The 3-hour Nanu Oya → Ella train is the highlight for kids; the van meets you in Ella with the bags.
- Day 8Ella → Udawalawe95 km · ~2 h 30 min
Feeding time at the Elephant Transit Home, then a jeep safari (tickets and jeep extra).
- Day 9Udawalawe → Weligama / Mirissa115 km · ~2 h 30 min
Beach with a gentle bay for children at Weligama.
- Day 10Beach → Airport185 km · ~3 h
Expressway to CMB. Staying longer at the beach? Release the van and book just the airport transfer later.
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.
Included
- Private car and English-speaking driver for all 10 days
- Driver's room and meals every night
- Fuel, expressway tolls and parking
- 1,500 km included (this route is about 878 km)
- Airport pickup on day 1 with a name sign; drop-off on the last day
- Child seats (infant, toddler, booster) — free, tell us the ages
- Changes to the route on the way
Not included
- Hotels — you book them (we can suggest options along the route)
- Entrance tickets: e.g. Sigiriya about $35, Temple of the Tooth about Rs 2,000, Yala about $45 per adult with taxes
- Safari jeeps (about $40–60 per jeep for a half day)
- Your meals and tips
Price per car
| Car | Per car 10 days, all-in except hotels | Per person if you are 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan up to 3 Toyota Axio / Prius / Premio | $765 ≈ $77/day · ≈ Rs 252,500 | $383 | $255 | — | — |
| Minivan (KDH) up to 6 Toyota HiAce KDH, high roof | $960 ≈ $96/day · ≈ Rs 317,000 | $480 | $320 | $240 | $160 |
| SUV up to 4 Prado / Montero class, leather, more legroom | $1,405 ≈ $141/day · ≈ Rs 463,500 | $703 | $468 | $351 | — |
| Coach up to 20 Toyota Coaster, up to 20 seats | $2,230 ≈ $223/day · ≈ Rs 736,000 | $1,115 | $743 | $558 | $372 |
Prices updated 20 October 2026.
Facts checked in October 2026; prices of tickets and parks change — check before you go.
Questions
How much is 10 days in Sri Lanka with a private driver?
$765 for a sedan (up to 3 people), $960 for a KDH minivan (up to 6), $1,405 for an SUV — per car for all 10 days, including the driver's lodging, fuel and tolls. Hotels and tickets are extra.
How is the price calculated?
Our daily rate times the number of days, minus 3% for a hire of this length, rounded to $5. Planning your own route for the same number of days costs the same.
Why are hotels not included?
We sell transport only, so you keep full control of where you stay and pay hotels directly — usually cheaper than a package mark-up. Tell us your budget and we suggest hotels along the route.
Can we change the route?
Yes. This is a suggested route; swap, add or skip places. As long as the total stays within the included kilometres, the price does not change.
Are child seats really free?
Yes. Tell us the children's ages when you book and the partner fits the right seats before pickup — infant carrier, toddler seat or booster.
What about the Kandy–Ella train?
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.