Everything was already booked when my doubts started to kick in.
With only days until our arrival, I still couldn’t tell if driving a tuk tuk around Sri Lanka was the best or worst idea I’d ever had.
Luckily, it was all confirmed and it was too late to change the plans without shifting our entire 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary. There was no going back now.
If it turns out to be a nightmare, I reasoned with myself, then I’m sure I’ll figure out a solution.
It wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s happened to me while travelling.
And, after all, TukTukRental.com have been renting out tuk tuks to tourists for years. They can even arrange drop-off and pick-up all over the country.
If anything goes wrong or it turns out to be too challenging, I can admit my mistake and I’m sure they’ll help me out.
As it turned out, renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka wasn’t just a great part of the trip – it made it.
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Should you rent a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka?
If you’re planning to travel Sri Lanka, there are a handful of ways to get around.
There is, of course, the famous train that connects several of the island’s major tourist spots, most notably Ella and Kandy.
If you’re sticking to the main hubs, the train is a really fun and scenic way to get around.
Unfortunately, though, the network is limited in many parts of the country, especially if you’re there to explore Sri Lanka’s National Parks and safaris as we were.
🚂 TIP: The most reliable way to check train routes or book train tickets is on this website.
There are also a few airports scattered around, meaning it’s possible to take (fairly pricy) internal flights between the major hubs of Colombo, Mattala (for Yala National Park and Bundala National Park), Batticaloa and Jaffna in the north.
When you’re not taking a plane or train, you’ll need to use the roads to get around.
Here, you have three main options: bus, car or tuk tuk.
While I know many people who have used Sri Lanka’s bus network – the most extensive public transport option in the country – I haven’t personally taken one.
I have, however, experienced the buses from the other side – as a passenger/driver in another vehicle. And I can confirm that the buses in Sri Lanka move FAST.
According to the local people I spoke with, they like to race each other – often putting passengers’ lives at risks because those races don’t always end well.
That said, I’m sure accidents are still relatively uncommon and there’s no doubt that the buses are by far the cheapest way to travel Sri Lanka.
At the other end of the spectrum, you have taxis and private transfers.
Even though a private car will often only be slightly faster than a direct bus (I told you they go fast!), the service will cost you a small fortune most of the time.
If convenience and speed are your priorities, private transfers are probably the way to go.
If you’re planning a more budget-friendly trip to Sri Lanka, though, these will quickly eat into that budget.
And that’s where tuk tuks can be a great option.
Tuk tuks – or three-wheelers, as they’re known locally – are EVERYWHERE. In most cases, it’s easier to hail a tuk tuk than a regular four-wheeled taxi.
They’re also an incredibly affordable way to get around, either using a hailing app like PickMe or when negotiated on the street.
But if you want a real Sri Lankan adventure – and complete freedom to explore this beautiful country at your own pace – then renting your own tuk tuk might be the best decision you can make.
That was certainly the case for us!
Whether you’re planning a full on road trip or just want to use the tuk tuk for convenience, renting your own tuk tuk is – in my opinion – the best way to explore.
Benefits of renting a tuk tuk
Despite my initial apprehension about renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, it turned out to be a fantastic decision.
Not only was it a surprisingly convenient way to get around (most of the time), but it was an unforgettable experience that turned out to be a highlight of the trip.
I mean, how often do you get the chance to drive a tuk tuk?!
Some of the best things about having our own set of (three) wheels included:
#1 – The ability to go practically anywhere
We drove our little tuk to places a car just wouldn’t have been able to take us, including some tiny roads in Ella and the dirt track to get to Wild Trails Yala.
Without the tuk, we would have needed to organise different types of transport – and also switch between vehicles on some occasions.
#2 – The freedom to change our minds
Our initial Sri Lanka itinerary looked very different to the route we ended up taking.
We ended up going back to Yala National Park after our stay in Gal Oya to see beyond Yala Block 1.
We also arrived back in time to take a spontaneous afternoon safari in Udawalawe National Park – something that was totally unplanned..
This was all possible because we set our own schedule thanks to the freedom the tuk tuk gave us.
#3 – A fun, immersive experience
Beyond the practical benefits of renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, one of the best parts was getting to travel around like a local.
Tuk tuks are a huge part of life on the island – especially since vehicle imports were halted during the economic crisis – and having our own allowed us to really get a feel for Sri Lankan culture in a way that just wouldn’t be possible in a car.
When someone asks me about Sri Lanka, it’s one of the first things I can’t wait to share.
Renting from Tuk Tuk Rental
If it’s not clear already, I absolutely LOVED our little tuk tuk adventure and can’t recommend the experience enough.
But that’s not to say I felt confident in the decision before arriving.
One of my major concerns before renting a tuk tuk was the legality of it. Lots of websites said it’s illegal… unless you have a Sri Lankan driving licence.
That’s why I would only recommend renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka if you use a trusted company.
I’ve heard it’s easy to pick a tuk tuk up on the streets, but trust me – you don’t want to rent a tuk tuk without a valid licence and insurance.
One of Sri Lanka’s quirks is that you can only drive there with a local licence, even if you have an international driving permit.
Tuk Tuk Rental take care of everything when it comes to paperwork, so you never need to fear when you inevitably get flagged down by local police officers.
They were able to get our Sri Lankan driving licences for us using our Portuguese and Malaysian national licences – no international permit necessary- and had them ready to hand over with the vehicle.
🛺 P.S… If you decide to rent a tuk tuk during your trip to Sri Lanka, click here and use the code ‘ALAJODE‘ to receive an exclusive reader discount!
They also gave us a very thorough driving lesson that lasted around two hours.
The driver made sure we knew exactly what we were doing, were confident on the road and knew where to get help if we needed it before handing over the keys for good.
To be honest, I think he had much more faith in us than we had in ourselves. But the tips he gave us during that lesson turned out to come in useful constantly!
Other things I loved about renting a tuk tuk from TukTukRental.com include:
- The ability to collect and return the tuk tuk all over the country. Even if you don’t want to rent a tuk tuk for your entire Sri Lanka trip, you can rent one for a couple of days.
- The possibility to take the train from Ella and have a driver deliver the tuk tuk to the end point (for us, that was Hatton, but most people take the train from Ella to Kandy or Nuwara Eliya).
- That they can provide a cooler! Our cooler came in SO helpful, especially on long drives and when staying at safari camps because we could fill it up with drinks and snacks.
- The 24/7 support available via a WhatsApp group and dedicated app. Apart from when we stayed at Gal Oya Lodge, where there is no WiFi and little cell service, this meant we always had access to help if needed.
📞 TRAVEL TIP: Having mobile data on the road is always useful, and even more helpful when you’re travelling independently.
The last thing you want is to get stuck without any way to contact or search for help, and that’s why I ALWAYS recommend installing a local sim card.
I used a Nomad eSim during my Sri Lanka trip.
Sri Lanka was included as part of an APAC regional eSim that I also used in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, but they also have great options for Sri Lanka sims starting at as little as $4 per week.
Nomad lets you choose the length of validity, the amount of data AND the network you wish to use. For Sri Lanka, always choose Diaglog because the coverage is much better. It even worked in the Gal Oya Valley!
You have up to 30 days to activate it after installation, so you can get everything sorted long before your trip and have internet access from the second you arrive.
Things to know before renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka
I went into renting a tuk tuk with next-to-no knowledge of how tuk tuks work, what it would be like or if I would even be able to drive the thing.
Despite a small learning curve at first, it wasn’t half as terrifying as I’d imagined – about 5% terrifying, 5% frustrating (they’re not the most reliable vehicles!) and 90% exciting, if I had to quantify it.
That said, there are definitely some things I wish I’d known before arriving in Negombo.
TRAVEL TIP: Have a long flight into or out of Sri Lanka? Don’t miss this charming boutique hotel near the airport!
Here are a few important points to keep in mind before renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka!
Renting a tuk tuk is an adventure!
When you sign that rental contract, you’re signing up for an unforgettable adventure like no other.
Unforgettable for the right reasons, most of the time. But an adventure nonetheless.
If you see the tuk tuk as an activity in itself – rather than simply a mode of transportation for getting around Sri Lanka – you’ll have a great experience.
Rent from a reputable company
Before I travelled to Sri Lanka, people told me it’s possible to rent a tuk tuk once you arrive.
However, given the strict rules about driving licences, I didn’t want to take any chances.
Having seen the traffic on some Sri Lankan roads, I would recommend making sure you have all the paperwork – and insurance! – when renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, no matter who you book with.
It’s not something to mess around with.
The one thing you should never travel without
Even though you hope you’ll never need to use it, travelling with insurance will make sure you’re covered if anything goes wrong.
Even though your tuk tuk should be fully insured by the provider, it’s always good to have your own travel insurance for everything else.
I use Heymondo because it’s the most comprehensive cover I’ve found – they even cover the more adventurous activities that other insurers won’t.
As a partner of Alajode, they’re offering an exclusive 5% discount for my readers. Click here to find out more, get an instant quote and save even more!
Tuk Tuk Rental is probably the best known provider on the island. Their annual tuk tuk tournament is sponsored by Red Bull, so you can be sure they do everything in the legit way.
Not only that, but the company is a social enterprise that supports the local community.
Rather than renting out their own tuk tuks – which would indirectly compete with local taxis – they work with local tuk tuk owners to rent out their vehicles, providing an extra income.
That means that every time somebody rents a tuk tuk through TukTukRental.com, part of the money is going directly to the driver – AND you can be sure that everything is legal.
👉 If you also decide to book with TukTukRental.com, use the code “ALAJODE” to receive an exclusive reader discount.
You’ll be taking the scenic route
Tuk tuks have a maximum speed of about 60kmph but the speed limit is 40kmph. For this reason, they aren’t allowed on Sri Lankan highways.
That means that you’ll be forced to travel on the regular roads wherever you go.
The good news is these roads are MUCH more scenic. The bad news is the road conditions aren’t always as good – but never too bad.
I actually found this to be one of the best things about driving a tuk tuk, and it meant we got to see some of the most beautiful places that we would have otherwise bypassed in favour of speed.
Set time in your schedule for the tuk tuk driving lesson lesson
With plans to spend the first night in Rekawa – in hopes of spotting turtles! – we decided to pick up the tuk tuk in Mirissa on our first day.
The drive from Colombo Airport would have taken a MUCH longer time by tuk tuk and we didn’t feel comfortable having our first tuk tuk driving experience in one of the major cities…
This turned out to be a great idea, but we messed up in not allowing enough time for our lesson. It took quite a long time because it’s thorough (as it should be!) and there’s also some paperwork to fill out.
Once we finished the 2-hour driving lesson, we still had an hour’s drive to our hotel for the night.
That meant we arrived just after sunset and had to finish the first day of driving – after a flight AND intense driving lesson – in the dark. Not ideal.
Renting a tuk tuk requires a bit more planning
While you won’t need to worry about arranging transfers, trains or taxi, driving a tuk tuk does require other types of planning.
Most importantly, you’ll need to research petrol stations (they’re usually marked on Google Maps) and plan for regular fuel stops.
The small tank size means you ALWAYS need to keep an eye on fuel and track your mileage carefully because a tank will only take you about 100km.
You may encounter wild elephants and macaques
Given Sri Lanka’s rich biodiversity and amazing safari opportunities, it’s always possible to encounter wildlife when you’re not trying to.
The two animals you’re most likely to face when renting a tuk tuk are monkeys and elephants.
The latter is an almost guaranteed issue if you decide to drive the B035 road that cuts through Yala National Park.
We were warned that monkeys like to rummage through tuk tuks sometimes, but the only time we had macaques get inside our tuk tuk was when we stopped to look at Ravana Waterfall.
Aside from that, we only had the occasional spider try to hitch a ride!
If you’re planning to rent a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka, it’s worth learning about how to deal with some of the wild animals you might encounter, especially if you haven’t travelled around wildlife before.
You’ll want to pack wisely
Even though the tuk tuk was more spacious than I expected, there isn’t really any dedicated storage space.
You could comfortably fit two people on the back seat, but your luggage needs to go here too.
We took one large Osprey backpack, plus our individual laptop and camera backpacks, as well as a cooler, speaker and tote of miscellaneous items.
Once we’d packed it up a couple of times, it was surprisingly easy and still left plenty of room for the passenger.
However, you definitely won’t want to bring too much stuff for this one!
Like most things, a little preparation goes a long way when it comes to renting a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka.
If you decide to go ahead and book, make sure you use the discount code “ALAJODE” to save on your booking and check out my post full of tips for driving in Sri Lanka.
