Time Consuming To Travel Around Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is just about 430 kilometers tall and 220 kilometers wide (about the same size as Tasmania, Australia, or Lithuania), and while it may appear to be a blip on the globe map, getting from point A to point B can take hours and hours, especially along the coastal belts. Expect to wait for herds of cows and buffalo to cross the road, the occasional monkey and stray dog tearing through traffic, crazy bus drivers continuously risking head-on collisions, and occasionally even a stubborn elephant in the center of the road.
Booking a private car and driver from point to point (which you can do easily through your hotel) is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Sri Lanka; however, do not expect the prices to be dirt cheap, as fuel prices are not significantly lower than elsewhere in the world, and the standard of living and wages is fairly high.
Hiring a car and driving around on your own is common in Sri Lanka, and the police may ask you to show a special license that can only be obtained in Colombo (and is not the same as an International Driver's Permit) – without the proper credentials, your travel insurance may not cover any expenses if you are involved in an accident. You could definitely rent a car in Colombo, but your best chance for getting about the nation is to hire a driver or take the train.
Train travel is popular in Sri Lanka because it is inexpensive and somewhat reliable (ish), with routes connecting the country's most popular tourist sites. While tickets can be reserved in person at a railway station up to 45 days before the trip or online via this new Sri Lanka train booking service, scenic routes fill up quickly.
Traveling by bus is also quite inexpensive, but it is not recommended because the drivers are utter lunatics! A tuk tuk, or three-wheeler, is the way to go if you are traveling a short distance (less than an hour). Riding in a tuk tuk is an adventure in and of itself; just make sure you and the driver agree on a fare before you get in. This is one of the things about Sri Lanka you should know before travelling.
