Car Hire with Driver in Sri Lanka: A Must for Independent Travel! Create Your Own Custom Local Tour

Sri Lanka is a country brimming with attractions, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ayurveda, safaris, beach resorts and the Tea Train. Although visitor numbers dipped temporarily due to the pandemic, the country welcomed a record 2.36 million tourists in 2025.

Now, whilst this is the case in Sri Lanka, over 60% of travellers opt for independent travel. And when travelling independently in Sri Lanka, a private charter service is absolutely essential.

Although most independent travellers are young people in their 20s to 40s, many of them make use of car hire with driver. Older travellers can also enjoy independent travel by using private charter services.

Today, I’ll be explaining why independent travel is recommended in Sri Lanka and why using a private charter service is essential.

Why independent travel is recommended in Sri Lanka

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

The possibilities are endless

As I mentioned at the start, it is a country packed with all sorts of attractions within an area covering just 30% of the UK.

There are countless ways to combine your favourite activities from this selection. By creating your own bespoke trip, you’ll be able to fully savour all that Sri Lanka has to offer.

Furthermore, as package tours are designed to accommodate older travellers, the itineraries are structured to allow plenty of time. Consequently, it is not possible to visit as many attractions as possible within a limited timeframe.

If you’re travelling independently, a five-day itinerary would allow you to visit Sigiriya Rock, explore the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, take the Tea Train to Ella, visit Galle, go whale watching in Mirissa, and then return to the airport – a rather ambitious plan, but certainly achievable.

You Can Choose Your Own Hotels and Restaurants

The restaurants we mainly eat at on the tour are buffet-style restaurants catering to tourists.

However, you certainly can’t expect the same high standards as in Japan or the West. I stopped by a buffet restaurant that’s often used by tour groups, but to be honest, I couldn’t really bring myself to eat much.

Since you’re going to the trouble, I think it would be best to make this a trip where you can sample Sri Lanka’s culinary delights. Whilst I’d generally recommend dining at your hotel in the evenings, why not pop into some of the local renowned restaurants at lunchtime to add a little extra flavour to your trip?

Furthermore, the hotels included in package tours are not necessarily of a high standard. There are still many hotels in Sri Lanka featuring Bawa architecture. You can choose a hotel that is unique to Sri Lanka whilst enjoying its design.

There are also hotels where you can enjoy Ayurvedic treatments, so you can soothe the fatigue of your travels.

When you contact us, we will send you links to recommended restaurants and hotels, which we hope you will find useful.

Why Hiring a Private Car Is Essential for Independent Travel in Sri Lanka

As I mentioned at the start, most people travelling independently in Sri Lanka use a taxi charter service. I’ll explain why.

Public transport is not as well developed as in developed countries

If you’ve ever been backpacking in Europe, you’ve probably felt that the public transport network is so well-developed that you can get anywhere.

However, Sri Lanka is one of the emerging economies where public transport is relatively underdeveloped. Consequently, if you wish to travel to Sigiriya Rock, a major tourist attraction, by bus, you will need to change buses.

To begin with, getting on a bus in an unfamiliar developing country is a bit of a challenge, and having to change to a local bus at the end is particularly difficult.

What’s more, it will naturally take longer than going directly, and you’ll also need to think about how to get to your hotel after sightseeing.

In that respect, if you hire a private taxi, you can be taken directly to tourist attractions, and you can leave the transfers to and from your hotel and restaurants entirely to them.

Furthermore, one should not underestimate Sri Lanka simply because it is only 30% the size of the UK. Sri Lanka lacks a well-developed infrastructure and is not criss-crossed by a network of motorways like developed nations.

In particular, the areas containing the major tourist destinations of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya Rock are not served by motorways. Consequently, it is essential to hire a professional driver licensed by the Sri Lankan government to ensure an efficient tour.

LankaRide, a platform that connects travellers with private hire drivers in Sri Lanka, allows you to select the ideal driver based on price, vehicle type and the driver’s experience, making it an invaluable ally for your trip to Sri Lanka.

You can feel safe in terms of public safety

Please check the latest travel advice from the UK government regarding safety in Sri Lanka. Below is a text of approximately 500 characters in line with your request.

Sri Lanka is a tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world with its beautiful beaches, rich cultural heritage and vast tea plantations. Violent crime targeting foreign tourists is extremely rare; in 2025, the country welcomed approximately 1.2 million visitors, more than half of whom were from Europe. For travellers from Europe and other regions, Sri Lanka is by no means a ‘dangerous country’.

Meanwhile, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reports that petty crime is on the rise in Sri Lanka and advises travellers to be vigilant against theft in hotels and other accommodation. In addition to frequent incidents of bank card fraud, there have also been reports of people falling victim to drugs being slipped into their drinks. The US Department of State has also classified the safety level in Sri Lanka as ‘Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution’. In short, the reality is that there may be situations where the security risks are slightly higher than in one’s home country.

Against this backdrop, to enjoy Sri Lanka with greater peace of mind, a travel style that involves arranging a private charter with a reliable local driver to accompany you is highly effective.

The roads in Sri Lanka are congested, and many travellers tend to avoid self-drive holidays. Having an experienced driver who knows the area well not only ensures safe travel but also helps to avoid scams targeting tourists and enables a swift response in emergencies.

To ensure you enjoy your trip safely and comfortably, we encourage you to consider travelling with a trusted partner.

Charter a Driver Who Can Also Guide You at Tourist Sites

Although they are all referred to as government-certified tourist guide drivers, there are actually two types of licence.

One is a ‘Tourist Driver’ and the other is a ‘Chauffeur Guide Driver’. Tourist Drivers are permitted to provide transport services, but they are not authorised to accompany passengers to tourist attractions or provide commentary.

However, the Chauffeur Guide Driver licence allows the holder to accompany visitors to tourist attractions and provide commentary.

With LankaRide, you can choose your driver based on their licence type. You can decide whether to keep costs down and focus on getting around, or opt for a driver who also acts as a guide.

Book Safari Jeep Tours and Ayurveda Treatments Through Your Driver

Popular activities in Sri Lanka include safaris and Ayurveda.

Although these require advance booking, in Sri Lanka it is generally possible to arrange the following through your driver.

As for Ayurveda, almost all drivers can arrange for you to experience Ayurvedic treatments in the Sigiriya area. I think this would be a lovely way to unwind after visiting Sigiriya Rock.

Furthermore, when it comes to safaris, there are some areas where the best spots for spotting animals vary depending on local conditions.

For example, there are three safari parks in the Sigiriya area: Minneriya National Park, Kadulla National Park and Huru Eco Park. However, the location where the elephants gather within these three national parks varies depending on the season and the day.

Another appealing aspect of a private charter is that the driver can check the local conditions on the ground and arrange the most suitable tour.

Summary

Sri Lanka is a fascinating country, boasting a wealth of World Heritage sites and activities across a land area just 30% the size of the UK.

If you want to explore efficiently on your own terms, independent travel is the best option. Furthermore, when travelling independently, it is essential to make use of a taxi charter service for reasons of infrastructure, safety and convenience.

Make the most of a private charter to create your very own bespoke local tour and enjoy Sri Lanka to the full!