Most visitors to Sri Lanka do not rent a car and drive themselves. They hire a car with a driver: a professional who collects them at the airport, takes them from town to town for the length of the trip, and waits while they explore. It is the most common way to tour the island, and for good reason. Distances look short on the map but take longer than expected on winding two-lane roads, traffic rules are applied loosely, and a local driver knows which route, which time of day and which petrol station make the difference.
What Does a Driver Do?
A driver's job is the journey. He (most drivers in Sri Lanka are men) plans the route each day, handles the vehicle, fuel, parking and road tolls, keeps the car clean and air-conditioned, and gets you to each place safely and on time. A good driver also helps with the small things that make a trip easier: suggesting a clean place for lunch, stopping for a fruit stall or a viewpoint, helping with luggage at hotels, and translating a few words when needed.
What a driver does not do is guide you inside a site. At places such as Sigiriya, the Dambulla cave temple or the Temple of the Tooth, a driver drops you at the entrance and waits at the car park. If you want someone to explain the history and walk you round, you need a licensed guide, either a local site guide hired at the gate or a chauffeur guide who both drives and guides.
Driver, Chauffeur Guide or National Guide?
| Driver | Chauffeur guide | National guide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drives the vehicle | Yes | Yes | No, travels with you and a separate driver |
| Guides at sites | No | Yes | Yes, in depth |
| Tourist guide licence | Not required | Chauffeur Tourist Guide Lecturer licence | National Tourist Guide Lecturer licence |
| Best for | Independent travellers, transfers, families who read up themselves | Couples and small groups who want driving and commentary in one person | Groups, special-interest tours, travellers who want expert explanation |
Read more on chauffeur guides and national guides.
Vehicles
Drivers come with their vehicle, so the choice of car decides the choice of driver. Lakpura's fleet runs from small cars for one to three passengers, through vans for families and small groups, to coaches for larger groups, with SUVs for rougher roads near the national parks. See the full range, with passenger and luggage capacities, on the transport fleet page. All vehicles are air-conditioned and insured for tourist transport, and fuel, the driver's meals and his accommodation are normally included in a driver's daily rate.
A Typical Day With a Driver
- Early start. Most days begin between 7 and 8 in the morning, so you reach busy sites before the heat and the crowds.
- Realistic distances. Plan on an average of 30 to 40 km an hour on most routes outside the expressways. Colombo to Kandy is around three to four hours, Kandy to Ella about five, and Ella to Yala around three.
- Breaks on the way. Your driver will stop for toilets, tea, fruit and photographs. Tell him what you are interested in, whether that is a spice garden, a tea factory or a roadside curd stall.
- Evenings off. Hotels across Sri Lanka keep rooms for drivers, so your driver stays where you stay and is ready the next morning. Avoid long drives after dark, when visibility is poor and animals and unlit bicycles share the road.
Popular Routes
A driver can be booked for a single airport transfer or for a full round tour. Common itineraries start at Bandaranaike International Airport and loop through the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura), climb into the hill country through Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ella, drop to a safari at Yala, and finish on the south coast around Galle Fort.
Tips for Travelling With a Driver
- Agree the plan. Share your itinerary before you start, and confirm each evening what time you leave the next day.
- Language. Most drivers speak working English; ask in advance if you need another language. Lakpura can arrange a Spanish-speaking guide and other languages on request.
- Entrance fees. Tickets to sites and national parks, and safari jeeps, are paid by the traveller, not the driver.
- Shopping stops. If you do not want to visit gem shops or spice gardens, say so at the start. A good driver will respect it.
- Tipping. A tip at the end of the trip is customary in Sri Lanka and much appreciated, in proportion to the length of the trip and the service you received.
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