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Local tour operator Sri Lanka

We live here. That is the whole advantage.

Ceylon Lanka Trails is a family-run, SLTDA-licensed tour operator based in Dambulla, at the centre of the island and forty minutes from Sigiriya.

Our story

Three years, one road at a time

Sampath Swarnathilake started driving visitors around Sri Lanka in 2021, in a borrowed Toyota with a hand-drawn map on the dashboard. By 2023 enough of those guests had sent friends that a company became inevitable. Ceylon Lanka Trails was registered that year with one vehicle and one telephone.

Today we run three vehicles, employ three people and have taken more than 50 trips across the island. What has not changed is that the person who plans your holiday has driven the route, slept in the hotels and knows which viewpoint is worth the extra hour.

We are deliberately not the biggest. We turn down group departures and coach contracts because they would change what we are good at. Everything we sell is private, and everything we sell we have done ourselves.

ceylon-lanka-trail-sigiriya

50+

Tours completed

03

Years operating

150

Happy guests

07

Countries served

Our mission

Make it easy to travel well, and fair to the people who make it possible

Tourism in Sri Lanka is a chain of small businesses — drivers, cooks, boat crews, village hosts, estate workers. Our job is to connect you to the best of them and to pay them properly and on time. Guides are salaried rather than commission-dependent, so nobody is steering you into a gem shop. Village hosts keep the full fee. We do not sell elephant rides at any price.

The commercial version is simple: when the people on the ground are treated well, your holiday is better. That is most of what fifteen years has taught us.

Licences & memberships

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority · SLTDA/TA/1842    SLAITO Member    IATA Accredited Agent    TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2025    Registrar of Companies PV 00218842

Reviews

What our guests say

EXCELLENT
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5
Based on 30 reviews
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Paule L profile picture
Paule L
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Alex Best person We meet in Sri Lanka , thanks a Lot:))
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Neža T profile picture
Neža T
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Good choice Our host in Sigiriya recommended our driver to us, and we couldn’t have made a better choice. He drove us throughout our entire 10-day trip around Sri Lanka. He showed us hidden gems, took us to places off the beaten path, and was always happy to stop whenever we wanted. He is discreet, communicative, friendly, and never intrusive. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable and pleasant driver in Sri Lanka. He made our trip even more enjoyable!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Laurette H. profile picture
Laurette H.
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“An unforgettable road trip through Sri Lanka with the best driver/guide!” Our road trip through Sri Lanka with Aleksander was truly an unforgettable experience. We first met Aleksander last year during our first trip to Sri Lanka, when he was our driver. That journey was already amazing. We were so impressed by his knowledge, kindness and enthusiasm that we decided to return this year for a longer road trip – of course with Aleksander again. This trip lasted 22 days, and not for a single moment were we bored. Every day brought new surprises. Aleksander took us to the most beautiful places, often real hidden gems that you won’t find in any travel guide. From impressive temples and stunning waterfalls to beautiful beaches, wildlife, culture, tea plantations and rice fields. We went on safaris, explored jungle areas and experienced the incredible diversity that Sri Lanka has to offer. It was simply fantastic. Aleksander is not just a driver or guide to us anymore – he has become a true friend, even more than that, he feels like family. One of the absolute highlights of our trip was that he invited us several times to his home. His family welcomed us with open arms and we enjoyed delicious traditional food together. These are moments we will never forget. For this we would like to sincerely thank Aleksander and his family. If you want to experience an incredible journey through Sri Lanka and discover authentic and hidden places, we can wholeheartedly recommend Aleksander. You will rarely find someone like him. He is a wonderful person to travel with: always smiling, friendly, warm and genuinely caring. He truly makes you feel comfortable and does everything possible to make your trip perfect. Whatever you ask, nothing is ever too much for him. He also always gives you enough time to explore places without any pressure. He is very punctual, an excellent and careful driver, and he knows his country inside and out. We highly recommend Aleksander. Thanks to him, our journey through Sri Lanka became a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will cherish forever.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Sre Hari R profile picture
Sre Hari R
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Exceptional Tour Experience with a Truly Genuine person We had an amazing tour driver during our trip to Sri Lanka. He was honest, polite, and extremely reliable throughout the journey. Not only did he take us to all the places we wanted to visit, but he also suggested wonderful hidden spots we didn’t know about. The highlight was being invited to his home, where his family warmly welcomed us and treated us to a delicious feast. We truly appreciate his kindness and hospitality — he made our trip unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Pierre L profile picture
Pierre L
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Trajet Ella - sigiryia Trajet efficace et rapide avec Alexander, il s’est adapté à nos attentes et conduit très bien. Merci encore Emma et Pierre
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Peter L profile picture
Peter L
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Best driver and guide you can have! By chance, Alexander became our driver. The plan was for him to take us from Sygiria to Kandy. In the end, he remained our driver for the entire trip, all the way to Colombo! His prices were fair, he was always punctual, and he was completely relaxed. He was always happy to accommodate our extra requests (sightseeing, dining, shopping)! Thank you, Alexander!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Sim B profile picture
Sim B
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
A great time with Sampath! Sampath was a very welcoming and personable person, we felt very safe and comfortable with Sampath as our tour guide and driver. The car was lovely and clean with lots of space. Sampath was always on time and ensured we were well looked after. We would 100% recommend booking any tour guides or car journeys with Sampath.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
NorthStar13828067064 profile picture
NorthStar13828067064
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Beautiful days with perfect guide He is an educated man and knows all the tourist details of country and the right times for the trip and he was very dealt during the trip in fact he was the main role in making it a beautiful vacation Thank you, Alexander.🌹
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
David B profile picture
David B
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Driving Service with local guidance We had a wonderful experience. Alexander was reliable, professional, and very knowledgeable about Sri Lanka. The car was comfortable in good condition, and he drove safely at all times. We truly appreciated his flexibility and punctuality. Thank you for the good trip – we highly recommend him!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Sanna profile picture
Sanna
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Sigiriya-Kandy, Yala-Deniyaya, Deniyaya-Unawatuna drives Very helpful in driving and later organizing a driver for us, very polite and trustworthy. A good car, good people, thank you.

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