Sri Lanka is a country full of attractions—UNESCO World Heritage sites, scenic tea-train journeys, safaris, and beach resorts.
However, public transportation is not well developed, so planning a private tour on your own can be quite challenging. In those cases, a car hire service with a driver can be a great help.
In this article, I’d like to clearly explain what LankaMe is and what kind of service it offers for arranging a private driver in Sri Lanka.
No overcharging！ Fare is fixed in advance
When using taxis or private cars in emerging countries, the biggest thing to watch out for is unexpected additional fees.
In some cases, you may think the agreed price covers the trip, only to be charged extra later due to “excess distance” or similar reasons.
EmmaIn fact, when I first visited Sri Lanka, I was surprised to be charged nearly twice the amount we had originally agreed on.
In Sri Lanka as well, it’s common to have a flat rate up to a certain distance, but once you exceed, for example, 100 km or 150 km, you’ll be charged a higher rate for the extra distance. What makes it worse is that the mileage is often self-reported by the driver.
RaviThere are even cases where you actually traveled only 150 km, but it is reported as 220 km.
EmmaWhen the total cost isn’t fixed from the start, you may end up spending your trip feeling anxious every day about how much you’ll be charged.
On the other hand, with LankaMe, they estimate the expected driving distance in advance and provide you with a fixed, flat-rate price. Below are LankaMe’s rates. While the quote may vary slightly depending on the season and distance, the base prices are generally presented as follows.
※The Platinum Plan will be explained later in this article.
They offer not only sedan-type vehicles, but also options suitable for larger groups such as van-type and big van-type vehicles. The pricing is structured so that the longer the charter period, the more cost-effective it becomes.
EmmaTo find out the exact quote for your trip, it’s best to contact them and ask!
You Can Arrange a Licensed Driver-Guide
When traveling, many people want to learn more about major attractions such as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For those travelers, LankaMe is a great option. With LankaMe’s Platinum Plan, you can book a driver who holds an official tour-guide license for an additional £8–£10 per day.
In Sri Lanka, there is a qualification for drivers who can also provide sightseeing guidance called the Chauffeur Guide License.
Tour drivers can become a chauffeur guide driver by completing training and passing an exam. It is a strict certification that also requires regular training and license renewals.
With LankaMe’s Platinum Plan, a chauffeur guide driver can be arranged, allowing you to enjoy your trip to Sri Lanka almost as if you had a dedicated tour guide.
EmmaIt’s a fantastic plan—you can enjoy guided sightseeing while keeping costs down!
By the way, even with the Standard Plan, you will be assigned a driver who holds the government-approved Tourist Driver License.
While a Tourist Driver is not allowed to accompany you into sightseeing spots, they focus on providing service as a professional driver—safely and reliably taking travelers to their destinations.
Plan Your Itinerary with an Experienced Local Manager
Sri Lanka has so many highlights that putting together an itinerary can be challenging.
With many mountain roads, it can be difficult to figure out the best routes to visit all the places you want to see.
That’s why LankaMe also offers a service where you can plan your itinerary while consulting with a local manager who has over 20 years of experience as a Chauffeur Guide Driver.
RaviBecause you can build your itinerary together with someone who knows the area inside and out as a chauffeur guide, you can create the best possible travel plan!
EmmaThat means even first-time travelers like me can feel at ease. And it’s also a big plus that you can consult in English!
No prepayment required! Free cancellation up to 7 days before your trip
With LankaMe, you make payment when you meet the driver on-site and again after the service has been completed.
So there’s no need to pay any deposit or prepayment in advance.
RaviHere’s the process from inquiry to the end of your trip
Based on the rough itinerary you provide, they will present the price and service details.
Choose either the Standard or Platinum plan and confirm that you’d like to book. No payment is required at this stage.
Work out the itinerary details with the local manager. You can cancel up to one week before your trip starts.
When you arrive and meet the driver, you pay around 10% by credit card.
Since tipping is customary, you’ll give a daily tip of £5–£10 (€5–€10).
After completing the final day’s itinerary, you pay the remaining ~90% to the driver in cash.
Summary
To summarize, LankaMe offers the following features:
✔︎ A fixed-rate pricing system for peace of mind
✔︎ Government-licensed drivers arranged for you
✔︎ With the Platinum Plan, the driver can accompany you at sightseeing spots and provide explanations
✔︎ No prepayment required
✔︎ You can build your itinerary together with a local manager
Enjoy an amazing trip to Sri Lanka with LankaMe!
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