Sri Lanka private driver 2026 - honest review after 10 days on the road (Colombo, Galle, Ella, Sigiriya and more)

I don't usually post these but I've had two friends ask me who our driver was since we got back so figured I'd write it up properly.

His name is Ranjith and he runs Ceylon Star Tours. WhatsApp +94761983650, website ceylonstartours.com.

My sister used him. Her friend had used him the trip before that. I still got a few other quotes because I wanted to compare properly. His came in the cheapest which I'll admit made me slightly nervous. That feeling didn't last long.

We did 10 days, 9 nights. Colombo, Galle, Weligama, Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Sigiriya.

He was on time every day. That sounds like a low bar but anyone who's travelled in that part of the world knows it isn't always.

When we changed our plans mid trip he just adapted. No drama about it.

He knew the country properly. Not in a rehearsed tour guide way, just genuinely knew where to go and when. A couple of the places he took us weren't anywhere I'd read about beforehand.

Pricing was straightforward. What he quoted was what we paid. Fuel, tolls, his accommodation, all included. Nothing came up at the end that hadn't been mentioned.

He got a new SUV in January 2026. Relevant because the hill country roads are long and the difference between a decent car and a bad one matters by hour three.

Anything bad

Not really. The distances in Sri Lanka are what they are regardless of who's driving you.

Happy to answer anything in the comments.