STEAL MY 10-DAY SRI LANKA TUKTUK ITINERARY 🇱🇰✨
We did Sri Lanka by self-driving a tuktuk for 10 days — mountains, safari, surf coast, colonial towns, arrack tastings.
Here’s the full route and everything I’d change.
🛺 Renting a Tuktuk in Sri Lanka (What You Need to Know)
We rented from TukTuk Rental.
Cost: ~5-6k LKR per day
License requirements:
• You need an IDP
• They convert it into a local Sri Lankan tuktuk license for you (~USD $50)
Things to know:
• Max speed = 40km/h
• You cannot go on expressways
• Colombo traffic is CHAOTIC
• Long distances take way longer than Google Maps says
Our Colombo → Sigiriya ride took 6 hours 🥲
That said… driving through tea plantations, coastal roads, local villages was a really nice way to experience Sri Lanka.
If you’re not confident driving, I’d suggest mixing private transfers and tuktuk for shorter legs.
✈️ Day 0 – Arrive in Colombo
Late night flight from SG → landed 11pm
Checked into Granbell Hotel Colombo – lovely stay, great sunset views. Will do a separate review of all the hotels we stayed at.
🛺 Day 1 – Colombo → Sigiriya
Tuktuk journey that took 6 hours (would NOT recommend in one shot).
Rain ruined our sunset hike at Pidurangala Rock.
Missed our loris tour because we were late and the jeep left without us (departure point was deep in the jungle).
Day 1 was chaotic and not ideal to say the least. Would recommend getting a car transfer for this route or maybe not drive a tuktuk for 6 hours on your first full day.
🌧 Day 2 – Sigiriya → Nuwara Eliya
Supposed to hike Sigiriya Rock Fortress at sunrise.
It poured again. So we had hoppers and tea at our Airbnb instead.
Long scenic drive via Kandy toward Nuwara Eliya.
Passed tea plantations and Ramboda Falls.
If I could redo:
✔ Split this drive into 2 days
✔ Stay a night in Kandy
✔ Buffer time for tea estate stops
🍃 Day 3 – Nuwara Eliya (Tea Country)
Visited Pedro Tea Estate (factory tour and tea plucking).
Nice experience but felt the tour was lacking (was quite basic and could have been more informational); heard Labookellie Tea Centre is better.
Quick stop at Lover’s Leap Waterfall.
High tea at The Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya – colonial hotel which the late Queen Elizabeth visited, very Raffles hotel vibes.
🚂 Day 4 – Train to Ella
Train from Ambewela → Ella. SO scenic despite the rain. Would recommend getting the second class tickets instead so you can open the windows.
Walked to Nine Arches Bridge.
Stayed at Elevate Ella (incredible views).
Dinner and drinks in town.
⛰ Day 5 – Ella Adventures
Sunrise hike at Little Adam’s Peak – 360° mountain views.
Cooking class at White Elephant Restaurant (5,000 LKR, so worth it).
Drove to Tissamaharama for safari the next morning.
🐆 Day 6 – Safari → Hiriketiya
7-hour morning safari at Yala National Park.
We saw a leopard (!!), elephants, crocs, peacocks, buffalo, deer.
Stopped at Silent Beach.
Sunset drinks at Smoke & Bitters.
🌊 Day 7 – Hiriketiya → Ahangama
Brunch by Dickwella beach.
Lunch and toddy tapping experience at Raa (MUST GO).
Stopped at Coconut Tree Hill.
Stayed in Ahangama.
🏄🏻♀️ Day 8 – Surf Day
Surf lesson at Kabalana Beach
Beach lunch, café hopping, sunset at Dalawella Beach.
Dinner at Uncle’s Cool Spot – newly opened, cute garden vibes.
Walked around Unawatuna – small chill town, lots of Russian signage everywhere (very unexpected).
🏛 Day 9 – Galle → Colombo
Morning surf again (stronger waves this time).
Explored Galle Fort – colonial charm, boutique shops, very aesthetic.
Arrack tasting and drinks at Tightrope.
Rice & curry here was toned down — better at local spots.
3-hour drive back to Colombo. Stayed at Granbell Hotel Colombo again.
🥃 Day 10 – Colombo
Tour at Rockland Distillery (almost 2 hours away, took half the day).
Walked around Old Dutch Hospital — not much going on.
Final dinner at Kampong – hidden speakeasy vibes, amazing small plates.
Airport → flew back to SG.
✨ If I Could Redo This Trip:
• Split long drives (don’t underestimate travel time)
• Buffer more time in tea country
• Stay directly on Hiriketiya beach
• Book popular restaurants in advance
• Expect rain in the mountains
Sri Lanka is chaotic, scenic, delicious, and full of personality.
10/10 would go back. Will do other posts with more details on each town.
#EllaSriLanka
#NuwaraEliya
#Sigiriya
#YalaSafari
#Ahangama
#Colombo
If you are considering a shorter Sri Lanka TukTuk itinerary, here are some tips based on my experience with the 10-day trip: Firstly, a 7-day itinerary can be doable if you prioritize key destinations and prepare for a brisk pace. Focus on the most iconic spots such as Colombo, Sigiriya, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala National Park, and the southern beaches like Hiriketiya and Ahangama. Cutting back on long drives by booking private transfers for some legs can save time and reduce fatigue. Since the maximum speed of a TukTuk is 40km/h and you cannot use expressways, plan for significantly longer travel times than Google Maps estimate. For example, the Colombo to Sigiriya leg took us 6 hours. Splitting longer routes and including overnight stops along the way, such as a night in Kandy before heading to Nuwara Eliya, can make your journey more enjoyable. Weather in the hill country can be unpredictable with rain disrupting plans like a sunrise hike or wildlife tours. Always have a flexible itinerary and backup activities nearby. Experiencing local culture through cooking classes, arrack tastings, and small cafes greatly enriches the trip. Especially in places like Ella, where I attended an affordable local cooking class that gave me insight into authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. If you want to make the most of your visit to tea country, consider visiting multiple tea estates. While Pedro Tea Estate was informative, more engaging tours like Labookellie might enhance your experience. For the safari day at Yala National Park, prepare for a full-day adventure to maximize wildlife sightings, including leopards and elephants. Combine the safari with relaxing coastal stops such as Silent Beach to balance excitement with leisure. During your southern beach days, surf lessons at Kabalana Beach were an enriching highlight, as was exploring the chill vibe towns of Ahangama and Unawatuna with their unique cafes and local eateries. Overall, a condensed 7-day TukTuk itinerary requires careful planning and prioritization but can still deliver an authentic and immersive Sri Lankan adventure. Remember to book popular accommodations and activities ahead of time, and embrace the island's beautiful chaos and warmth along the way.
