Tell us where you want to go. Nipuna will plan the road.
No fixed packages and no set itinerary. Say how many days you have and the places on your list, and Nipuna plans a route that works: realistic drive times, the right coast for the weather, and the stops you would never find on your own.
Your list, his local knowledge.
Send your list
Your dates, where you land and leave from, who is coming, and the places you have your heart set on. A rough idea is plenty.
He plans the route
Nipuna puts the places in an order that makes sense on the road, breaks up the long drives, and works in the train, safaris and beach days around the season.
Change anything, any time
You get the route and a clear price on WhatsApp. Swap things, add a night, drop a stop. Once you are on the road it can still change.
Why a local plans it better.
Sri Lanka looks small on a map, but the drive from the airport to Ella takes six to seven hours. Getting the order right is the difference between a holiday and a week in the back of a car.
He knows the roads
How long each drive really takes, where to break a long one, and which stops are worth it on the way, so the drive becomes part of the trip.
He plans around the weather
Two monsoons hit opposite sides of the island at different times of year. He builds your route so you spend your beach days on the dry coast.
He knows the seasons
Whale watching off Mirissa runs from December to April, and the elephant herds gather at Minneriya and Kaudulla in the dry months. He times your stops for them.
He books ahead
Second-class seats on the hill-country train to Ella, with your luggage driven ahead so it is waiting for you. Safari jeeps and entrance tickets sorted before you arrive.
Which side of the island, which month.
This is the pattern Nipuna plans around. Weather is never guaranteed, which is exactly why it helps to have someone on the ground who can move a day around.
The south and west are drier
The north-east monsoon brings rain to the east coast and the north. A good time for the south-west beaches, Galle and Mirissa.
Between the monsoons
Afternoon thundershowers are possible over most of the island. Plan the long drives and the outdoor sights for the mornings.
The east coast is drier
The south-west monsoon brings rain to the south-west and the hill country. A good time for the east coast: Trincomalee and Arugam Bay.
Between the monsoons again
Afternoon thundershowers are possible over most of the island. A route with some flexibility built in works best.
Seasons as described by Sri Lanka's Department of Meteorology. Year to year the timing moves by a few weeks.
Pick the places. He will join them up.
A few of the places people most often put on their list. Any of them can also be a day out with a driver from wherever you are staying. Tap one to start a message.
Sigiriya and Dambulla
The Lion Rock and the painted cave temples.
Kandy
The Temple of the Tooth, the lake and a cultural dance show.
Nuwara Eliya
Tea estates, Ramboda Falls and Horton Plains at dawn.
Ella and the train
Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam's Peak and the famous railway.
Yala
Leopards, elephants, crocodiles and sloth bears.
Udawalawe
If elephants are your priority, this is the park.
Galle and Mirissa
The Dutch fort, the beaches and whales from December to April.
Trincomalee and Arugam Bay
Snorkelling, surf and quiet beaches, best May to September.
Also often asked for: the ancient capitals at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, best explored by bicycle, and Jaffna in the far north.
One clear price for the driving.
Once your route is planned you get a price for the whole thing on WhatsApp, before anything is booked. No hidden charges.
Covered by Nipuna's price
- Your private, air-conditioned car or van and driver for every day of the route
- Fuel and highway tolls
- Your driver's own food and lodging
- Any train seats, safari jeeps and entrance tickets he books for you, agreed up front
Not included: your hotels and meals, so you stay and eat where you like. Tell him your budget and he can suggest places along the route.
The extras he can arrange.
The activities guests ask for most, booked ahead with people we trust.
- Safaris at Yala, Udawalawe, Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu Eco Park, with a private jeep.
- Whale watching from Mirissa between December and April.
- Snorkelling among fish and coral off Trincomalee.
- A Kandyan cultural dance show in Kandy.
- White-water rafting at Kitulgala on the Kelani River.
- The Flying Ravana zip line in Ella.
- Bird watching at Bundala National Park and in the Sinharaja rainforest.
- Gem mines, to see where Sri Lanka's sapphires come from.
Route questions.
Why no set tours?
Because nobody wants exactly the same trip. Some people want four safaris and no temples, others want a week on one beach and two days in the hills. Planning each route from scratch means you only go where you want to go.
How much does a route cost?
It depends on how many days, how far you go and which vehicle you need. Send your list and you get a clear price for the whole route on WhatsApp before anything is booked.
How many days do I need?
Tell Nipuna what you want to see and he will tell you honestly whether it fits. If it does not, he will suggest what to leave out, or what to save for next time.
Can we change the route once we have started?
Yes. If you fall for a place, stay longer. If you hear about somewhere better, go there instead. It is your route.
Will Nipuna drive the whole route?
Ask for him and he will, whenever he is free on your dates. If he is already with another guest, he will tell you straight away and offer one of our hand-picked drivers, with their name, WhatsApp number and car details before you confirm. Either way, Nipuna plans the route and you deal with him.
Do I have to pay anything up front?
No. Reserve now and pay later: you hold your dates and pay nothing today.
Got your dates? Send us your list.
How many days, where you land, and the places you want to see. You will get a route and a price back, with nothing to pay until you are here.