Colombo Airport → Trincomalee private transfer
Trincomalee and the beaches of Uppuveli and Nilaveli are on the east coast, about 250 km from CMB — 5.5 to 6 hours across the island. The east coast is in season from May to September, when the south-west is rainy.
- Distance250 km
- Drive time5 h 30 min
- Pricefrom $190
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.
Colombo Airport → Trincomalee: price per car
| Car | Per car one way | Per person if you are 2 · 3 · 4 · 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan up to 3 Toyota Axio / Prius / Premio | $190 ≈ Rs 62,500 | $95 | $63 | — | — |
| Minivan (KDH) up to 6 Toyota HiAce KDH, high roof | $240 ≈ Rs 79,000 | $120 | $80 | $60 | $40 |
| SUV up to 4 Prado / Montero class, leather, more legroom | $310 ≈ Rs 102,500 | $155 | $103 | $78 | — |
| Coach up to 20 Toyota Coaster, up to 20 seats | $460 ≈ Rs 152,000 | $230 | $153 | $115 | $77 |
Prices updated 20 October 2026.
The road
North-east via Kurunegala, Dambulla and Habarana (A6), then the A6/A12 to Trincomalee. Part of the first section can use the Central Expressway; tolls are included.
Worth stopping
- Dambulla cave temple (about 1 hour for a visit).
- Minneriya or Kaudulla for an elephant safari — in August and September hundreds of elephants gather at the Minneriya reservoir.
Good to know
- Pigeon Island (snorkelling) leaves from Nilaveli; Fort Frederick and Koneswaram temple are in town.
- From October to January the north-east monsoon brings heavy rain to the east coast.
Included
- Private air-conditioned car and an English-speaking driver
- Fuel, expressway tolls and parking
- Free meet & greet with a name sign at CMB arrivals, flight tracking, 60 min free waiting after landing
- No night surcharge for airport pickups
- 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 from Colombo airport to Trincomalee?
5.5 to 6 hours without long stops.
How much is a taxi from Colombo airport to Trincomalee?
$190 for a sedan and $240 for a KDH minivan, fixed per car, including tolls and a free name sign at arrivals.
Can we combine it with Sigiriya?
Yes. Sigiriya is about 2 hours from Trincomalee — a car with driver by the day is usually the better deal for a loop.