Private Driver Hire in Sri Lanka
Your own car and chauffeur for the whole trip - no kilometre limit
Hiring a car with a driver is how most visitors see Sri Lanka, and for good reason. Distances look small and take far longer than they should; road signage is inconsistent; and driving yourself means missing the thing you drove past. A daily rate covers the vehicle, the fuel, the driver and unlimited kilometres, and the itinerary stays yours to change.
Prices
| Vehicle | Suitable for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan with driver (Toyota Axio or similar) | 3 passengers, 2 large cases | USD 55 |
| Mini van with driver (Toyota KDH or similar) | 6 passengers, 6 large cases | USD 70 |
| High-roof van with driver | 9 passengers, 9 large cases | USD 90 |
Prices are per vehicle, not per person, and are confirmed in writing before you travel. Fuel, expressway tolls and government taxes are included.
What a day rate includes
The vehicle, fuel, expressway tolls, government taxes, the driver, and his accommodation and meals - you never pay for those separately, and you should be suspicious of any quote where you do. There is no kilometre cap: drive 40 km or 400, the rate is the same.
Hotels, your own meals and site entrance fees are not included, and we do not add a markup when we book things on your behalf. If we arrange a safari jeep or train tickets, you pay what they cost.
What the driver actually does
All our drivers are authorised chauffeur guides with fluent English. They know which entrance at Sigiriya has the shorter queue, which day Pettah is impossible, and where to eat that is not aimed at tourists. They are not licensed national guides and will not lecture you inside a temple - for that we arrange a site guide, which is usually the better arrangement anyway.
Nazar founded the company in 2010 as a one-man operation and it has grown to a small team of drivers he has personally trained. The 4.9-star rating across 68 TripAdvisor reviews is overwhelmingly about the drivers rather than the vehicles.
Changing your mind mid-trip
This is the real advantage over a fixed coach tour. Guests routinely decide on day four that they want an extra night in Ella, or to swap Yala for Udawalawe, or to skip a temple and go to a beach. As long as hotels can be moved, we simply drive the new plan.
Private Driver Hire in Sri Lanka - frequently asked questions
From USD 55 per day for a sedan, USD 70 for a mini van and USD 90 for a high-roof van. The rate covers the vehicle, fuel, tolls, taxes, unlimited kilometres and the driver's own accommodation and meals.
No. That is included in our daily rate. Some operators quote a low headline price and add it later - always ask before you compare quotes.
No. Many operators cap the daily distance and charge for excess. We do not - drive as far as the day allows for the same rate.
Yes, and most guests do. Extra nights, swapped parks, skipped stops - as long as hotel bookings can be adjusted, we simply drive the revised plan.
It is legal with an International Driving Permit endorsed locally, but road conditions, signage and driving style make it demanding for visitors. Given that a driver costs from USD 55 a day including fuel, very few travellers conclude self-driving is worth it.
