Build Your Own Local Adventure: Sri Lanka Private Tours with Driver Are a Must for Independent Travelers

Sri Lanka is a country with a wide variety of attractions, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ayurveda, safaris, beach resorts, and scenic tea-country train journeys.

Sri Lanka welcomes many visitors from Europe, and one of its major appeals is that English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

Although the number of travelers temporarily declined during the pandemic, tourism is now on a recovery trend, moving back toward 2018 levels.

Now, when it comes to Sri Lanka, 70%–80% of travelers choose independent travel. And when traveling independently in Sri Lanka, a taxi charter service becomes essential.

Many independent travelers use a car hire service with a driver. Older travelers can also make independent travel possible by using a driver-inclusive car hire.

Today, I’ll explain why independent travel is recommended in Sri Lanka and why using a car hire service with a driver is essential.

Why Sri Lanka Is a Great Choice for Independent Travel

First, I’ll explain why Sri Lanka is recommended for independent travel.

The combinations are infinite

Sri Lanka is a country packed with a wide variety of attractions within about 80% of the UK’s land area.

There are countless combinations of activities to choose from. By crafting your own unique trip, you can fully savour the charm of Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, package tours are designed with older travellers in mind, so the itineraries are planned with ample time. Consequently, it is not possible to see the maximum number of attractions within the limited time available.

For independent travellers, five days would allow for a rather ambitious itinerary: exploring Sigiriya Rock, visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, taking the tea train to Ella, sightseeing in Galle, whale watching in Mirissa, and then returning to the airport.

We have also provided model courses for your reference.

Choose Your Own Hotels and Restaurants

The restaurants primarily used on the tour will be buffet-style establishments catering to tourists.

However, one cannot expect the same high quality as in the West. I did visit a buffet restaurant frequently used by tour groups, but to be honest, I found it rather unappetising.

If you’re going to make the effort, I think it would be best to make this a trip where you can savour Sri Lanka’s fine cuisine. While it’s generally advisable to dine at your hotel in the evenings, do also pop into local eateries during the day to add colour to your travels.

Moreover, hotels included in package tours are not necessarily of a high standard. Sri Lanka boasts well-preserved Bawa-style hotels. You can select a uniquely Sri Lankan hotel while appreciating its design.

Additionally, some hotels offer Ayurvedic treatments, allowing you to soothe the fatigue of travel.

When you enquire, we will also send you links to recommended restaurants and hotels for your reference.

Why hiring a car with driver is essential for private tour in Sri Lanka

Now, as mentioned at the outset, most travellers visiting Sri Lanka independently opt for car hire with driver. I shall explain the reasons for this.

Public transport is not as well developed as in developed countries

Those who have backpacked in Europe will likely have felt that the public transport system is so well developed that you can go anywhere.

However, Sri Lanka is among those emerging nations where public transport is relatively underdeveloped. Consequently, even to reach a major tourist destination like Sigiriya Rock, one must change buses.

To begin with, boarding buses in unfamiliar emerging countries presents a significant hurdle, and the difficulty of transferring to a local bus at the final stage is extremely high.

Moreover, it will naturally take longer than going direct, and you’ll also need to consider how to get to your hotel after sightseeing.

In that respect, hiring a car with driver allows door-to-door travel to tourist destinations, and you can entrust them with transfers to your hotel or restaurant.

Moreover, one should not underestimate Sri Lanka, which is twenty per cent the size of UK.

Sri Lanka lacks developed infrastructure and does not have a network of motorways like Europe.

In particular, the regions containing the major tourist destinations of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya Rock lack motorway connections.

Therefore, it becomes necessary to travel efficiently with a professional driver licensed by the Sri Lankan government as a tourist driver.At LankaMe, we arrange drivers licensed by the Sri Lankan government, so you can rest assured when using our services.

Essential for safety as well.

For European travelers, and particularly those from the UK, Sri Lanka is an enticing destination; however, gaining a proper understanding of the local “safety” landscape is essential. As the data indicates, Sri Lanka is by no means a dangerous “Red Zone.”

However, it is also difficult to claim that it offers the environment of guaranteed “Established Security” found in the UK. With petty crimes such as pickpocketing occurring frequently, the country exists in a state of what could be called “Developing Security.”

While the risk of violent crime is relatively controlled, the physical risk that Europeans must be most vigilant about is “Road Safety.”

Unlike the orderly traffic rules of London or continental Europe, Sri Lankan roads are a chaotic mix where buses, tuk-tuks, pedestrians, and animals all intermingle.

Due to differences in infrastructure and the existence of local unwritten rules, attempting to drive yourself with a European mindset is extremely risky and can become a source of stress that could ruin your holiday.

At LankaMe, we carefully vet the drivers we arrange. In addition to ensuring they hold a tourist driver’s license, we also conduct customer surveys and terminate contracts with drivers who receive complaints about poor attitude, continuously improving driver quality day by day.

With a car hire service including a driver, your driver can also serve as a bodyguard, allowing you to travel with greater peace of mind.

Drivers Available Who Can Accompany You to Tourist Sites and Provide Explanations

Even when we speak of government-approved tourist guide drivers, there are two types of licence.

One is a ‘Tourist Driver’, and the other is a ‘Chauffeur Guide Driver’. A Tourist Driver may provide pick-up and drop-off services, but is not permitted to accompany passengers to tourist sites or provide commentary. However, a Chauffeur Guide Driver holds a licence that allows them to accompany passengers to tourist sites and provide commentary.

Our LankaMe Platinum and Royal Plans typically include the provision of a Chauffeur Guide Driver. This enables you to gain a deeper understanding of the tourist sites, rather than merely being transported from place to place.

Other private charter service companies rarely offer plans that include accompanying passengers to such tourist destinations and providing commentary.

For major travel agencies, when a guide accompanies the tour, an additional cost of over £50(€60) per person is added. However, with Rankami’s Platinum Plan, it is possible to upgrade to the Platinum Plan for an additional £15〜£20 (€20〜€25).

We would be delighted if you could make an enquiry and consider the options based on the prices quoted for each plan.

Safari jeep tours, Ayurveda treatments and Tea traincan also be arranged through the driver

Popular activities in Sri Lanka include safaris and Ayurveda.

These require advance booking, but with the LankaMe Platinum Plan, the following can be arranged via your driver:

For Ayurveda, we can arrange an Ayurveda treatment near Sigiriya—an excellent way to relax and recover after climbing Sigiriya Rock.

As for safaris, the best area can vary depending on local conditions, as wildlife visibility differs by region. For example, around Sigiriya there are three main options: Minneriya National Park, Kaudulla National Park, and Hurulu Eco Park. However, where the elephants gather changes depending on the season and even the day.

Regarding the “tea train,” we can arrange tickets if you’re unable to book online. Please note that because we use a special booking route, the price will be slightly higher. Even if you don’t need tickets, we can still suggest a short section of the journey that’s enjoyable—even if you end up standing.

LankaMe drivers can check the latest local conditions and arrange the most suitable tour for you. We can also arrange other safari options, so please feel free to ask your driver anytime. If you share your requests when you contact us, our Japanese staff can also relay your preferences to our local team in advance.

Summary

Sri Lanka is an attractive country boasting World Heritage sites and a wealth of activities across an area equivalent to 20% of UK’s landmass.

For those wishing to travel efficiently on their preferred itinerary, independent travel is the recommended option.

Furthermore, when travelling independently, utilising taxi charter services becomes essential from the perspectives of infrastructure, safety, and convenience.

Make the most of Sri Lanka by arranging your own bespoke local tour using a chartered taxi!