{"id":117,"date":"2014-09-26T13:00:13","date_gmt":"2014-09-26T05:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/?p=117"},"modified":"2020-05-21T13:26:35","modified_gmt":"2020-05-21T05:26:35","slug":"getting-around-transport-in-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/getting-around-transport-in-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting around: Transport in Sri Lanka"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Sri Lanka cannot exactly be considered an expansive stretch of land, but neither is it a tiny island. Getting around will take some considerable effort, and we&#8217;re here to tell you how.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3989\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3989\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/2700278275_beee540099_o-150x150.jpg\" src-medium=\"https:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/2700278275_beee540099_o-451x300.jpg\" src-large=\"https:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/2700278275_beee540099_o-630x419.jpg\" src-full=\"https:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/2700278275_beee540099_o-e1589953228397.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"https:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/2700278275_beee540099_o-e1589953228397.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" height=\"399\" width=\"600\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3989\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3989\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Juavenita via Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/getting-around-transport-in-sri-lanka\/#1_By_Car\" >1. By Car\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/getting-around-transport-in-sri-lanka\/#2_By_Bus\" >2. By Bus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/getting-around-transport-in-sri-lanka\/#3_By_Train\" >3. By Train<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_By_Car\"><\/span>1. By Car\u00a0<strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/srilankadrivingtours.com.gridhosted.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/SarathVan3.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"218\" width=\"311\" class=\"alignright\" \/><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In Sri Lanka, there is a local saying that to get around by car, you&#8217;ll need<em> <strong>&#8216;good horns, good brakes, and good luck&#8217;<\/strong><\/em>. Have fun navigating around frenzied buses, errant cyclists, road hoggers, and \u00a0a a variety of animals and people trying to cross the streets at any given time.<\/p>\n<p>To <strong>self-drive<\/strong> in Sri Lanka, you&#8217;ll need an international driving license, as well as an additional permit, which you can apply for from the<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aaceylon.lk\/services.html\"> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Automobile Association of Ceylon\u00a0in Colombo<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0The permits are issued on the spot and are valid for a year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If the idea of trying to navigate the roads on your own sounds as dangerous to you as it does to me, perhaps hiring a<strong> car and driver<\/strong> might be a good alternative. Hire your driver\u00a0from a reputable company which hires only Sri Lanka Tourist Board accredited\u00a0guides. Do not be afraid to put your foot down if you feel like you&#8217;re being bullied, remember that you are the boss here! Whilst drivers can of course help to make suggestions, they should never be forcing you to go anywhere you do not want to go. If you decide to hire a driver to follow you for the course of your tour, you could get a better price, bu you&#8217;ll be expected to include an allowance for accommodation, food and a small tip as well. Make sure that you discuss the cost of this with your driver beforehand. Alternatively, hire a driver just for the day.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_By_Bus\"><\/span>2. By Bus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Buses are the main mode of travel for locals, and bus networks cover a good 80% of Sri Lankan roads. There are two main types of buses in Sri Lanka, the <strong>Sri Lanka Transport Buses<\/strong> (SLTB) and the <strong>private buses<\/strong>. SLTB buses are often painted red, and can be described as a roller coaster ride alternating between a burst of speed (usually when you&#8217;re trying to get on) and a slow creep (whenever you&#8217;re in a rush).<\/p>\n<p>Private buses might operate &#8216;express&#8217; services, which simply mean that they zip past some stops, racing towards some others. This might mean a quicker journey for long distance travel, but as some operators might feel the need to pack more people into one bus,\u00a0this can also mean a more uncomfortable journey, as many private buses are also smaller in size.<\/p>\n<p>The good news, however, is that fares are extremely cheap, and for visitors of the young and fit variety who can bear with a little discomfort, and are on a shoe string budget, the bus can be one cheap way to get around.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_By_Train\"><\/span>3.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.railway.gov.lk\/web\/index.php?lang=en\"> By Train<\/a><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/www.reddottours.com\/images\/headers\/sri-lanka-travel-trains-h1.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"173\" width=\"565\" class=\"aligncenter\" \/><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Sri Lankan train network was built by the British in the 19th century, and can offer a glimpse back in time. They are sometimes slower than travel by bus, but can prove to be a scenic ride, especially in the hill country of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<p>There are 3 main lines, the <strong>Coast Line<\/strong>, the <strong>Hill Country Line<\/strong>, and the <strong>Northern Line<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Coast line<\/strong> runs along the west coast and heads South from <strong>Colombo<\/strong>, towards the hip and trendy <strong>Hikkaduwa<\/strong>, <strong>Galle<\/strong> and fishing village of <strong>Weligama<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Hill Country Line<\/strong> runs from <strong>Colombo<\/strong> towards <strong>Kandy<\/strong>, <strong>Adam&#8217;s Peak<\/strong>, <strong>Nuwara Eliya<\/strong> and <strong>Badulla<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>Northern Line<\/strong> runs from <strong>Colombo<\/strong> to <strong>Anuradhapura<\/strong>, <strong>Vavuniya<\/strong> and then<strong> Omantai<\/strong>. The Northern line also branches off towards <strong>Polonnaruwa<\/strong> and <strong>Trincomalee<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are three different classes available on the trains, although most only offer 2nd and 3rd class tickets, and it remains a cheap and picturesque way to see Sri Lanka, although time-consuming.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.srilanka.travel\/air_taxi\">Air Taxi<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you somehow feel the need to jet about in a hurry, or simply want to see Sri Lanka is utmost style and luxury, you can consider taking an air taxi. Twin-Otter water plans are used, and these are able to land in water which make it easy for the planes to land anywhere. These air taxis take 15 passengers at one time and run between a number of popular tourist destinations\u00a0in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sri Lanka cannot exactly be considered an expansive stretch of land, but neither is it a tiny island. Getting around will take some considerable effort, &hellip; <\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_excerpt -->","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[83,84,86,85,131],"class_list":["post-117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-guide","tag-air-taxi","tag-bus","tag-car","tag-train","tag-transport","latest_post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}