Quick answer
Before booking a 2-week Sri Lanka tour, ask what the price includes, especially entrance fees, safari jeeps, train tickets and the driver's accommodation; who the driver is and whether he holds a guide licence; exactly which hotels are booked and how far they are from each sight; how many hours are driven each day; what the payment and cancellation terms are; and how the company handles animal welfare and shopping stops. Get the answers in writing.
Key takeaways
- Entrance fees, safari jeeps and train tickets are the items most often left out of a Sri Lanka tour quote, and together they are a significant cost over two weeks.
- A chauffeur-guide holds a guiding licence; a driver does not, and the two are priced differently.
- The driver's meals and accommodation should be included in the tour price, not left for the traveller to arrange.
- A hotel described as being in Yala or Sigiriya may be 30 to 60 minutes from the park gate or the rock.
- Tour operators in Sri Lanka should be registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
What exactly does the price include
The first question to ask before booking a 2-week Sri Lanka tour is what the number covers. A fortnight involves a dozen ticketed sites, two or three jeep safaris, a whale-watching boat and one or two train journeys. Whether those are in the price or paid for on the day changes the total considerably.
- →Are entrance fees to Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Horton Plains included?
- →Are safari jeeps, park fees and tracker charges included, and is the jeep private?
- →Are train tickets included, and in which class?
- →Which meals are included: breakfast only, or half board?
- →Are fuel, tolls, parking and the driver's meals and accommodation all covered?
- →Is the whale-watching boat included, and with which kind of operator?
Who is driving, and in what
The driver is with you for fourteen days, so questions about him matter as much as questions about hotels. Ask whether he is a licensed chauffeur-guide or a driver only, how well he speaks your language, and whether the same person stays for the whole trip.
Ask about the vehicle too: its type and age, whether it has working seat belts in the back and air conditioning, and what happens if it breaks down. A company with its own fleet can send a replacement within hours. An individual may not be able to.
- →Is the driver a licensed chauffeur-guide?
- →Is it the same driver throughout?
- →What is the vehicle, and is there a back-up?
- →Where does the driver sleep, and who pays?
- →How many hours a day is he expected to work?
Which hotels, and where are they really
Hotel questions separate a careful itinerary from a careless one. Ask for the name of every hotel, not a category, and look each one up on a map. The phrase or similar in a quote allows the operator to substitute, so ask what the alternatives would be.
Location is the hidden variable. A hotel near Yala that is an hour from the gate means leaving at 4.30am for a dawn safari. A hotel in Kandy that is 40 minutes above the city makes the evening puja awkward. Ask how long it takes from each hotel to the thing you are there to see.
How many hours are we driving
Pace is rarely stated in a quote and easily checked. Ask for the driving time on each day, and compare the answers with realistic figures: roughly four to five hours from the airport to Sigiriya, two and a half to three from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, two to two and a half from Ella to Yala.
Be wary of itineraries that add Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Jaffna to the classic loop in fourteen days, or that list four sights for one day. Sri Lankan roads average roughly 30 to 40 km/h outside the expressways, and an honest operator will say when a plan is too full.
Animals, shopping stops and commissions
A tour's ethics show in what it leaves out. Ask whether the itinerary includes elephant riding, or venues where elephants are chained and bathed for visitors, and whether turtle hatchery visits involve handling. A responsible operator will have removed these, and will explain why.
Ask about shopping stops as well. Spice gardens, gem showrooms and batik factories commonly pay commission to drivers and guides, and an itinerary can fill with them. It is reasonable to say you want none, or one of your own choosing, and to ask that the driver respects that.
- →Are any elephant rides or captive-animal attractions included?
- →Which safari operators are used, and how do they behave at sightings?
- →Are shopping stops optional, and can they be removed entirely?
- →Is the suggested tip for the driver stated, so there are no surprises?
Payment, cancellation and who to call
The last set of questions concerns money and support. Ask how much deposit is required, when the balance is due, how payment is made and what is refunded if you cancel at 60, 30 or 7 days before travel. Peak-season supplements for Christmas, New Year and the Perahera should be itemised.
Ask who you contact during the trip and at what hours, and whether the company is registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Lankan Stays & Trails is glad to answer every one of these in writing before a booking is made. Choose the operator whose answers are specific, not the one whose price is lowest.
Frequently asked questions
What should a Sri Lanka tour price include?
A complete price includes a private vehicle with driver, fuel, tolls and parking, the driver's meals and accommodation, hotels with breakfast, and ideally entrance fees, safari jeeps and train tickets. Many quotes leave the last three out, so always ask for a written list.
Are entrance fees included in Sri Lanka tours?
Often they are not. Entrance fees to sites such as Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, and national park fees, are frequently excluded from tour quotes and paid on the day. Over two weeks they add up, so check whether a quote includes them before comparing prices.
Who pays for the driver's accommodation in Sri Lanka?
On an organised tour, the operator should include the driver's meals and accommodation in the price. Many hotels provide drivers' quarters. If you hire a driver directly, agree in advance whether his daily rate covers his own food and lodging.
What is the difference between a driver and a chauffeur-guide?
A chauffeur-guide holds a guiding licence and can explain sites, history and culture as well as drive. A driver provides transport only, and separate site guides can be hired where wanted. Chauffeur-guides cost more per day. Ask which one a quote includes.
How do I compare two Sri Lanka tour quotes?
Put them side by side on five points: named hotels and their locations, what is included, the driver's qualifications, daily driving hours, and payment and cancellation terms. A cheaper quote often excludes entrance fees and jeeps or uses hotels further from the sights.
How much deposit do Sri Lanka tour operators ask for?
Deposits vary by company and season, and are usually a share of the total with the balance due before or on arrival. Peak periods often require more, earlier. Ask for the schedule and the refund terms in writing before paying anything.