Budget Tours to Sri Lanka
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10 best Budget Sri Lanka tour packages
Compiled by
NinaSri Lanka travel expert at TourRadar
- Simply Sri Lanka
- Dream Path Of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lankan North East Adventure W/Trincomalee Beach break
- "Serenade of Sri Lanka: Nature, Culture, and Wildlife Odyssey" All inclusive
- Sri Lanka Express
- Sri Lanka Uncovered
- 06 Days of Budget Friendly Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka: Spice Gardens & Seasides
- Upgraded - Discover Sri Lanka
- 8-Day Wildlife Wonders Of Sri Lanka
Simply Sri Lanka
13 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The tour was a wonderful experience. Ajith was very knowledgeable, kind and professional.”
Margaret, traveled in January
A week in Sri Lanka costs around $100 per day, covering 7 nights' accommodation and daily breakfasts. The tour features UNESCO sites like Sigiriya Rock and Temple of the Tooth, with optional activities ranging from $20 elephant safaris to $55 urban food tours in Colombo.
Duration 8 days Destinations Negombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Unawatuna, Galle, Matara, Colombo Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Price Per Day $110 Operator Intrepid Travel From $1,175
25% Off- NZ$881You save $294
Dream Path Of Sri Lanka
19 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had an amazing time with Buddhika. He brought us off the beaten track and we experience Sri Lanka away from the crowds.”
PaulSamson, traveled in July
Stays at Kassapa Lions Rock resort cost around $160 per day, including daily breakfast and eight dinners. The package features train journeys, cultural shows, and guided tours, with optional whale watching excursions available.
Duration 10 days Destinations Negombo, Kurunegala, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, MirissaSee all destinations Age Range 1 to 75 year olds Operated in English, German, Spanish, Dutch Price Per Day $156 Operator BH Lanka Tours From $2,077
25% Off- NZ$1,558You save $519
Four-star hotels in Colombo and Trincomalee cost approx. $210 per day. The package includes 9 dinners, all transfers, Wilpattu safari, and UNESCO site entries. Pigeon Island visits are available as optional activities.
Duration 10 days Destinations Colombo, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Negombo Age Range 2 to 90 year olds Price Per Day $314 Operator Wanderful Holidays LLC From $3,488
10% Off- NZ$3,139You save $349
"Serenade of Sri Lanka: Nature, Culture, and Wildlife Odyssey" All inclusive
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“We had a great experience with them. Reliable and kind, you can always trust them!”
Dario, traveled in July
Luxurious 4-5 star hotels like Cinnamon Lakeside and Amaya Hill cost approx. $190 per day. The price covers all entrance fees to Sigiriya Rock, Yala Safari, and Temple of the Tooth, plus private transport and guided tours.
Duration 11 days Destinations Colombo, Negombo, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Yala, Mirissa, GalleSee all destinations Age Range 10 to 59 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish Price Per Day $264 Operator Mango Vacations From
10% Off- NZ$2,908
Sri Lanka Express
16 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was nice. Very chilled, which is what I was hoping for. The age group skewed a bit older which was great.”
Danielle, traveled in September
A comprehensive tour featuring AMBA Estate and wildlife safaris in Udawalawe National Park costs approx. $180 per day. The package includes 6 breakfasts, entrance fees to Temple of the Tooth, and guided tours of Galle Fort. Ella Rock treks start from just $10.
Duration 8 days Destinations Negombo, Kandy, Ella, Galle, Udawalawe National Park Age Range up to 90 year olds Price Per Day $192 Operator G Adventures From $1,919
20% Off- NZ$1,535You save $384
Sri Lanka Uncovered
451 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The experience in Sri Lanka would not have been the same without you. You have an infectious smile and bring joy to those all around.”
Lauren, traveled in August
Boutique hotels and glamping tents cost approx. $140 per day, including most meals. The package features train rides, cooking classes, temple visits and safari drives. Waterfall swims and village dinners are included authentic experiences.
Duration 10 days Destinations Negombo, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Udawalawe National Park, Unawatuna Age Range up to 39 year olds Price Per Day $218 Operator TruTravels From
20% Off- NZ$2,175
Three-star hotels with breakfast and dinner cost approx. $70 per day. The tour includes visits to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, UNESCO sites, and complimentary water bottles and seasonal fruits. Yala National Park safaris are available as optional activities.
Duration 6 days Destinations Negombo, Pinnawala, Dambulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Tissamaharama, Yala National Park, Galle, Colombo Age Range 2 to 98 year olds Operated in English, German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish, Chinese, Dutch, Russian Price Per Day $145 Operator Apple Vacations Pvt Ltd From
20% Off- NZ$872
Sri Lanka: Spice Gardens & Seasides
22 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The culture, the scenery, the local people and the food. It was a wonderful experience.”
Regina, traveled in February
Comfortable hotels and guesthouses across Sri Lanka cost around $90 per day. The tour features breakfast at Sthree Craft Shop, traditional village lunch, and guided tours of Sigiriya Rock Fortress and spice gardens, with optional activities from $5-70.
Duration 12 days Destinations Negombo, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Hikkaduwa Age Range 18 to 39 year olds Price Per Day $88 Operator G Adventures From $1,439
27% Off- NZ$1,050You save $389
For approx. $320 per day, indulge in 5-star luxury at Jetwing Blue Negombo and Heritance Kandalama. Price includes most meals, entrance fees to UNESCO sites, and premium activities like Yala safaris and Colombo street food tours.
Duration 13 days Destinations Negombo, Wilpattu National Park, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Beruwala, Colombo Age Range 16 to 85 year olds Price Per Day $364 Operator Explore! From $5,920
20% Off- NZ$4,730You save $1,190
At $271 per day, experience luxury lodging at Leopard Trails Cloud and Uga Jungle Beach. Price includes half-board meals, private transport, and entrance fees to all parks including Wilpattu and Minneriya. Complimentary airport transfers and English-speaking guide services included.
Duration 8 days Destinations Wilpattu National Park, Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Gal Oya National Park, Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains National Park, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Balapitiya, Kosgoda, Negombo Age Range up to 99 year olds Price Per Day $479 Operator STM Tours LLC From $4,038
5% Off- NZ$3,836You save $202
What people love about Budget Tours in Sri Lanka
- Dream Path Of Sri Lanka
I had an amazing time on this trip. It was a great group of people of mixed ages all travelling to experience the adventure and wildlife.Our guide was really good and was happy to seek out specialty restaurants and places if we wanted to try something we had read, seen or heard about. I made some new friends and continue to email them about our next trip plans. Our accommodation was great and I felt like we were really close to the nature and not the busy touristy hotel. Food and transportation also equally good. Highlight of the trip had to be the Kitulgala adventure Park - there are so many activities. This is not to be missed. Love Sri Lanka so much!
- "Serenade of Sri Lanka: Nature, Culture, and Wildlife Odyssey" All inclusive
We have just returned from the most wonderful 2 weeks in Sri Lanka. We explored from Colombo to Galle, Mirissa, Yala, Ella, Kandy and finally Sigiriya. Damminka was our driver for the duration and we can honestly say that his sense of humour, generosity and knowledge of his beautiful country made the trip extra special. We cannot thank him and Mango tours enough for giving us a trip we will never forget. Highly recommended.
- Sri Lanka Express
The Sri Lankan Express tour was a great experience. For someone who doesn't tend to join tour groups this one was perfect as it was short- only 8 days but still managed to cover everything I wanted to and more! The accomodation exceeded my expectations in each location and I enjoyed how the tour was broken up into travel days and free days to explore. We had Tiran as our guide and he was wonderful- constantly making sure that everyone was happy, comfortable and looked after. His happy and positive nature couldn't help but smile and have a laugh with him, he definitely contributed to making my experience a positive one!
What our customers ask about Budget Tours to Sri Lanka
What are the best budget-friendly areas to visit in Sri Lanka?
The Cultural Triangle region and hill country areas provide excellent value for budget travelers. In Sigiriya Dambulla and Polonnaruwa you'll find reasonably priced hotels and major cultural sites. Ella and Nuwara Eliya in the hills offer affordable guesthouses and hiking opportunities. Along the southern coast Mirissa and Unawatuna combine budget accommodations with activities like whale watching. Hotels such as Ozo Colombo and Topaz Kandy serve as good starting points for exploring these regions. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Ella was a highlight - great hiking affordable guesthouses and amazing train journey views without breaking the bank."
What is a realistic daily budget for meals not included in the tour?
Expect to spend USD 15-25 per day on meals outside your tour package. A typical rice and curry meal at a local restaurant costs USD 3-5 while mid-range restaurants charge USD 8-12 per meal. Near the Lake Bar Hotel in Kandy numerous restaurants serve authentic Sri Lankan food at reasonable prices. A TourRadar traveler shared: "Food was very affordable - local rice and curry meals were delicious and cost around USD 4 while fancier restaurants in tourist areas were still reasonable at USD 10-15 per meal."
How much should I budget for local transportation costs during free time?
Set aside USD 5-10 daily for getting around. Short tuk-tuk rides within cities cost USD 1-3 and local buses charge less than USD 1. The popular Kandy to Ella train journey runs USD 2-5. A TourRadar traveler mentioned: "Local transport was very affordable - tuk-tuks in Colombo cost around USD 2-3 and the scenic train journey to Ella was incredibly cheap at USD 5 for first class."
When is the most affordable time to visit Sri Lanka on a budget tour?
Travel during April-June or September-November for the best rates and smaller crowds. Hotels like Beacon Beach in Negombo reduce prices during these shoulder seasons. Prices jump 20-30% during peak season from December to March. As confirmed by a TourRadar traveler: "We went in May and got great deals on hotels plus sites like Sigiriya Rock were less crowded and the weather was still good despite occasional rain."
What type of accommodation can I expect on a budget tour in Sri Lanka?
Budget tours typically cover entrance costs for main attractions including Sigiriya Rock Fortress (USD 30) Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and Dambulla Cave Temples. Optional activities cost extra such as Minneriya National Park safari (USD 40-50) or whale watching in Mirissa (USD 35-45). As one TourRadar traveler noted: "The tour included all major entrance fees which was great for budgeting we only paid extra for optional activities like the whale watching which was totally worth it."
What is the average cost per day for budget tours in Sri Lanka?
Daily tour costs range from USD 58-240 with most quality options falling between USD 120-150. This usually covers accommodation transport and some meals. The Sri Lanka Heritage tour at USD 58 per day includes UNESCO sites and stays at comfortable 3-star properties like Galway Forest Lodge in Nuwara Eliya. As one TourRadar traveler mentioned "The tour was really well organised and packed with lots of activities...and lots of beach time too. Great value for everything included."