8 Tickets & Entry Passes in Sri Lanka to Build a Day Around

1.Kandy to Ella Train Tickets – Reserved Seats

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 523 reviews · from $26Our pick

Ride Sri Lanka’s famous blue train from Peradeniya near Kandy toward Nanu Oya or Ella. Your 2nd or 3rd-class reserved seat is arranged in advance, with hotel delivery often available and WhatsApp support from the ticket coordinator. Expect tea country, waterfalls, long hours, and a steep markup over railway fares.

“Wow! I’m so pleased with this experience. I booked within a few days (for a Wednesday) because I wasn’t able to get any online and wasn’t sure what to expect but the coordination was very smooth. Ticket coordinator was friendly and tickets were delivered the evening before. As a solo traveler they even gave me an extra seat and I was super grateful for that! I got reserved second class seats and they were the best!! Train was not very full either so was able to move around to both sides. Although I think my side had the best views :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Private Tuk-Tuk City Tour with Guide & All Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 471 reviews · 4 hours · from $22

In four hours, your private tuk-tuk and English-speaking guide take you from Gangaramaya Temple and Pettah Market to Galle Face Green, Colombo Fort, the Red Mosque, Lotus Tower, and more. Guides such as Bobby, Faizar, Fasmin, and Niroshan are praised for clear stories, safe driving, and helpful photos.

“The City Tour was excellent thank you!! Boby was a great guide and there is soooo much to see in Colombo! Great Tour 😁”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Colombo City Tour By Tuk Tuk Sightseeing -Entry Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 202 reviews · from $28Top rated

See Colombo’s temples, colonial buildings, markets, parks, coast, and Lotus Tower area in a private tuk tuk. Hotel pickup, bottled water, king coconut water, tea tasting, and several entry fees are included. Guides such as Starlin, Niloshan, Nushan, and Sariq tailor the route when time allows.

“What a lovely guy Showed us all around Colombo and took lots of photos for us Would not hesitate to book again”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Udawalawe National Park Entrance Ticket with Private Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 115 reviews · from $27

Book park entry alone or pair it with a 3-hour 4x4 safari at Udawalawe. A driver-tracker such as Asunka, Shameera, Max, or Lahiru handles the route and wildlife spotting. Expect open plains, forests, marshes, elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, and many birds.

“Not many elephants in Sept and August they are up north in Aug and Sept. Better other times of year. Enjoyed our time with two very friendly baby elephants.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Train Tickets From Kandy to Ella

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 57 reviews · from $20Best value

Reserve a seat on Sri Lanka’s famous Kandy to Ella railway, with tickets sent by email and WhatsApp or collected at the station. The roughly seven-hour ride passes tea plantations, hill towns, and the Nine Arches Bridge. Book at least 32 days ahead for the best chance of getting your preferred train and class.

“Hold your nerve, tickets didn't come through until 4.00am on the day of travel. We had ordered 3rd class reserved seats and got two seats together in a block of 6(no window seat) HOWEVER.... No one else had seats in the block. We had so much room both with a window view.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.From Sigiriya Hurulu Eco Park ElephantSafari ticket included

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 44 reviews · 4 hours · from $24

From Sigiriya, Dambulla, Habarana, Minneriya, or Inamaluwa, ride to Hurulu Eco Park for a four-hour private safari with Thilini Jeep Safari. Guides such as Kasun and Prasad help you spot elephants, peacocks, buffalo, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife from an open safari jeep.

“We didn't go to Huluru as a fire had gone through the park. Instead we went to Minereeya where we saw so many elephants. Our guide Indaka knew all the best spots. The only downside was the change of park almost doubled our cost.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Kaudulla National Park Safari | Jeep with Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · from $79

Join a private 4x4 safari at Kaudulla National Park near Anuradhapura. Your driver also tracks wildlife, with room for up to six people, park admission, water, and a king coconut included. Elephant locations can change by season, so your safari may shift to nearby Hurulu Eco Park.

“We originally booked our safari for Kaudulla, but the team informed us in advance that most of the elephants had migrated to Hurulu Eco Park. We really appreciated the transparency, and shifting the safari to Hurulu was absolutely the Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.First Class Scenic Train Ticket From Kandy To Ella

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · from $95

Take a prebooked first-class train from Kandy toward Ella, with a complimentary shuttle to Ambewela under the current schedule. Expect 6 to 10 hours of tea country, misty hills, waterfalls, villages, and large-window views. Seats are reserved, but train time and seat preferences are not guaranteed.

“Would recommend if you want a hassle free travel experience on the famous train .Communication was excellent .Arrived on time took us to the station ,told us the platform and even gave us snack bags Had the best seats We had loaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review