Quick answer
A 5-day Sri Lanka tour usually includes four nights' accommodation, often with breakfast, a private air-conditioned car, a licensed chauffeur guide with their fuel, parking, highway fees and lodging, and government taxes. It often excludes international flights, visa fees, entrance tickets to sites, safari jeeps and park fees, lunches and dinners, tips and travel insurance. Entry tickets and safaris can add a significant amount, so check them first.
Key takeaways
- Accommodation, the car, the chauffeur guide and taxes are usually included.
- Entrance tickets to sites such as Sigiriya are often excluded.
- Safaris may be listed in the plan but exclude jeeps and park fees.
- Lunches and dinners are usually excluded; breakfast usually included.
- Tips, visas, flights and insurance are almost always extra.
Usually included
Almost every five-day tour includes accommodation for four nights, usually with breakfast, at a stated standard such as three-, four- or five-star or boutique. It includes transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle for the whole trip, with fuel, parking and highway fees.
The chauffeur guide's services are included, usually with their own accommodation and meals. Government taxes and service charges are normally included too.
Some tours add bottled water in the car, airport meet and greet, and a local contact for emergencies.
Airport transfers on arrival and departure are almost always part of a five-day tour, because the chauffeur guide begins and ends the trip at the airport. If you arrive at night and need a first night near the airport, check whether that night is included or added.
- →Hotels and breakfast.
- →Car, fuel, parking, highways.
- →Chauffeur guide and taxes.
Often excluded
Entrance tickets to sites are the most commonly excluded item, and the most important. Sigiriya is usually the most expensive single ticket, and foreign visitors pay higher rates than residents. The Temple of the Tooth, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Galle's museums add more.
Safaris are often listed in the plan but exclude the jeep hire and park fees, which are charged per vehicle and per person. Whale-watching trips, boat rides and cooking classes may also be extra.
Lunches and dinners are usually excluded, giving you freedom to eat where you like.
Site guides are another common exclusion. At Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, a local specialist guide can be hired at the entrance or arranged in advance, adding depth beyond what the chauffeur guide offers. Ask whether these are included or optional.
- →Entry tickets.
- →Safari jeeps and park fees.
- →Lunches and dinners.
Almost always extra
International flights, visa or electronic travel authorisation fees, travel insurance, tips, drinks, laundry and personal shopping are almost always extra on any tour.
Tips for the chauffeur guide, hotel staff and safari drivers are customary in Sri Lanka. Your operator can suggest typical amounts.
Optional activities such as water sports, spa treatments and extra excursions are extra unless stated.
Porterage at hotels, laundry and minibar items are usually charged by the hotel at checkout and are not part of the tour price.
- →Flights, visas, insurance.
- →Tips and drinks.
- →Optional activities.
An example
The house five-day tour, Sacred Peaks to Southern Beaches, includes bed and breakfast at star-class hotels, a private air-conditioned car, a tourism-authority-approved English-speaking chauffeur guide with their accommodation, fuel, insurance, parking and highway fees, and government taxes.
It excludes international flights, visa fees, entrance fees to sites, lunches and dinners, tips, porterage, personal expenses and travel insurance. The six-day Sun-Kissed Shores tour, by contrast, includes entry to some named sites and the seasonal whale-watching trip. Comparing the two shows why inclusions matter.
How to compare tours
Put two quotes side by side and list every inclusion and exclusion. Then add the cost of the excluded items you will actually use, such as Sigiriya and a safari, to each. The total is the real comparison.
Check also the hotel standard, the vehicle and whether the guide is licensed. A cheaper quote with a lower hotel standard is not like for like.
Lankan Stays & Trails lists inclusions and exclusions on each tour page and can explain any line before you book.
- →List every line.
- →Add excluded costs you will use.
- →Compare hotel standards.
Budgeting for extras
For a five-day tour, the largest extras are usually entry tickets, a safari and meals. Tips and drinks add a smaller amount. Ask your operator for a realistic estimate for your route, because ticket prices change.
Carry some cash in Sri Lankan rupees for tips, small purchases and places that do not take cards.
Frequently asked questions
Are entry tickets included in Sri Lanka tours?
Entry tickets are often excluded from Sri Lanka tours, especially at lower prices, though some tours include them. Sigiriya is usually the most expensive single ticket. Check the inclusions list, and if tickets are excluded, ask for an estimate of their cost for your route.
Are meals included on a 5-day tour?
Breakfast is usually included at each hotel on a 5-day tour. Lunches and dinners are usually excluded, so you can choose where to eat. Some tours, especially at higher price levels or with remote lodges, include more meals; check each tour.
Is the safari included in a 5-day tour?
It depends on the tour. Some include the jeep and park fees; others list the safari in the day plan but exclude the costs. Safaris are charged per vehicle and per person, so check the inclusions carefully before comparing prices.
Do I pay for the driver's accommodation?
On most Sri Lanka tours, the chauffeur guide's accommodation and meals are included in the tour price and arranged by the operator. Confirm this in your quote. If you plan the trip yourself with a driver, ask how their lodging is handled.
How much should I budget for extras on a 5-day tour?
The main extras are entry tickets, safaris, lunches and dinners, tips and drinks. The total varies with your route and choices, so ask your operator for a realistic estimate. Sigiriya and a Yala safari are usually the largest single items.
Is travel insurance included?
Travel insurance is almost never included in Sri Lanka tours. Buy a policy before you travel that covers medical care, evacuation, cancellation and any activities you plan, such as safaris or water sports.
Are airport transfers included in a 5-day tour?
Airport transfers are almost always included in a 5-day Sri Lanka tour, because the chauffeur guide meets you on arrival and drops you for departure. Check whether an extra airport night, needed for very late or very early flights, is included or charged separately.