Tour Date : 6/3 – 20/3/2027 (15 days)
Tour Fee : RM 7,500
Booking deadline : 6/1/2027
Travel style : Self-drive
Group size : min 10 pax, max 13 pax
Age limit: 16 – 60
Tuktuk is a motorized three wheeled rickshaw, a common mode of transport in some Asian countries, including India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka. Tuktuk is compact and light weigh, can maneuver through congested traffic more easily. In comparison to a motorbike, tuktuk is shielded, more stable, and safer.
Sri Lanka, known as Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is the destination of this self-drive tuktuk tour. The small island nation has lots to offer, pristine beaches, rolling hills carpeted by tea estates, ancient ruins and heritage sites, friendly and hospitable people. Self-drive tuktuk tour offers the freedom of movement, journeying through the island on a slower pace, making stopovers and sightseeing along the way. This is a unique way of travel, you are not only a tourist, you are also a tuktuk driver!
*All images for reference only
Flight to Colombo, upon arrival, exchange money and buy local sim card at the airport, later, transfer to Negombo, a beach side town, check in to a guesthouse.
After breakfast, transfer to the tuktuk rental company to take a lesson on how to handle a tuktuk, learn about traffic rules and basic tuktuk maintenance skills. After completing the course and obtaining a local tuktuk driving license, drive rented tuktuk back to the guesthouse. After lunch, briefing on the upcoming self-drive tour arrangements. In the evening, take a stroll along the beach front.
First day of long distance tuktuk drive, adhere to the 40 kmph speed limit, drive slowly and carefully. Lunch enroute, and top-up fuel midway. Admire scenic countryside and making photo stops along the way. Upon arrival in Dambulla, check-in to a guesthouse and freshen up. During dinner, share first day on the road experiences and exchange ideas.
Early morning, drive some 20km through scenic lake view and paddy fields to Sigiriya, where the UNESCO World Heritage site Lion Rock fortress is located. The fortress is perched on a square-shape rock, accessible via staircases over a thousand steps. After lunch, drive back to Dambulla, visit ancient cave temples covered with amazing frescoes.
Drive to Kandy, the last capital of ancient Kings’ era. Enroute visit the geographical center of Sri Lanka – Nalanda Gedige – where an ancient temple that blends Hinduism and Buddhism elements is located. Upon entering Kandy, beware of heavy traffic. After hotel check-in and lunch, stroll the Old Town and Kandy lakeside, optional visit to Temple of the Tooth. Kandyan Dance performance in the evening.
Today take a train to Nuwara Eliya, hired drivers shall collect your tuktuks and transfer them to the destination. The slow train chugs through central highland, offering scenic view of tea plantations. Upon arrival, pick-up your tuktuks at the destination’s train station, then drive to Gregory lakeside for lunch, admire lake view, later, go for strawberry dessert for afternoon tea.
After breakfast, drive tuktuk for tea estate visit, observe workers picking tea leaves, tour tea factory, and sip Ceylon tea while admiring vista view of rolling hills covered by tea trees. After lunch return to town center, visit the century old postal office built during the British colonial era, and explore nearby central market or Bela Market (winter market), feel the local vibes.
Enjoy a slow breakfast before departing to Ella, enroute visit Hindu temple Seetha Amman Kovil and learn more about the mythical stories of Ramayana. Arrive in Ella around lunch, check in to guesthouse, walk over to the main street lined with shops and restaurants for food hunting.
After breakfast, head to the Little Adam’s Peak, short hiking for about an hour to reach hilltop for vista view of tea plantation and terraced crop fields. After lunch at foothill, head over to the Nine Arches Bridge, a viaduct railway bridge set against the backdrop of dense jungle and rolling hills, it is the most popular tourist attraction in Ella, one could walk on the railway track and the tunnel.
On the way to Udawalawe, high chances to spot wild elephants by the roadside, there’re road signs warning elephants crossing too (wire barriers and ditches are installed as preventive measures). Upon arrival at guesthouse, optional safari trip to the Udawalawe National Park for sighting wild animals like elephant, peacock, monkey.
After breakfast, drive to Galle, lunch enroute, before entering the city, detour to Koggala beach to see stilt fishing, whereby fishermen sit on a cross bar tied to a vertical pole driven into the sand a few meters offshore, and fishermen cast fishing line from the high point. Later, head to the Old Town of Galle, which is full of colonial ambiance from Portuguese, Dutch, and British eras.
Morning a walking tour in the Old Town, later free & easy. The Old Town is lined with beautiful aged old colonial architecture, encircled by fortress walls, one can climb up to the ancient walls to admire the Indian Ocean during sunset. There are also lots of quaint cafes and restaurants in town.
Last day of driving tuktuk, head towards capital city Colombo along the seaside national route A2. When nearing the capital, traffic becomes heavier, must drive carefully. Upon arrival in Negombo, return tuktuk at the rental place, after being checked by technician that all tuktuks are in good condition, group shall go to the guesthouse for check in. At night, let’s celebrate mission accomplished!
In the morning, enjoy a ride into the Indian Ocean on an oruwa, the traditional wind-powered prawn fishing boat. Later take a stroll along the beach and observe fishermen at work. After lunch, free & easy. Take a night flight bound for Kuala Lumpur.
Arriva in the morning. End of tour.
A non-refundable deposit (unless tour cancelled by LevArt) of RM 2,000 is payable to secure booking. Balance fee RM 5,500 to be collected upon booking deadline or when the tour is fully booked.
*Security Deposit is refundable subjected to below conditions:
Full terms & conditions (eg: cancellation policy) please click here.
Lam Yuet is an avid traveler, leaving her trails in four continents of the world. She had once spent two years making an Asia-Europe overland journey. Her tales from the road have been published under three titles – The Grand Overland Voyage, A State Called Home, and My Private Map.
She was a feature journalist, specialized in travel writing. As her former job involved lots of oversea assignments, she had experienced luxurious business tour as well as travel on a shoestring. Backpacking is still her preferred choice.
