If you are planning to visit Sri Lanka from India, it is usual to wonder what Sri Lanka trip cost from India. Sri Lanka is a beautiful Island country and there are a lot of things to do when you visit.
A well planned Sri Lankan holiday is often cheaper than many long-distance domestic trips within India especially when you book your flights in advance with smartly balanced itinerary. At the same time, it can be easy to overspend if you don’t understand where costs can spiral out of control like private transportation, safaris or peak season resort.
In this blog we will break down the Sri Lanka trip cost from India in rupees including flights, visa fees, accommodation, food and travel as well as transportation, entrance tickets and daily expenses.
Explore Sri Lanka tour packages if you want a ready plan with a smoother budget estimate.
One of the most expensive items you will incur when travelling from India to Sri Lanka is buying flight ticket. Flight ticket prices depend on departure city Chennai/Bengaluru routes may be shorter and therefore cheaper than Delhi/Mumbai. Dec–Jan is peak season and the cost of the flight is higher compared to other seasons.
The cost of flight from New Delhi to Colombo is approximately US$119 one way around ₹10,700 one way at ₹90/USD and about ₹21,400 round trip before bags/add-ons.
Taking a flight from India to Sri Lanka, you can expect prices to vary depending on the season and the time of purchase. In good deal months or on advanced bookings, return airfare per person can range between ₹18,000 to maximum of ₹28,000.
The ticket price of most travelers during normal mid-season would be between ₹25,000 and ₹40,000. You can be paying through the nose if you are flying during very busy holiday periods, or if you’re a last-minute booker, with fares ranging between ₹35,000 and ₹55,000 or even more.
These fares are planning estimates only and are not guaranteed prices, as airfares change on a daily basis based on availability.
Indians have online visa facility known as ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to apply for, if you have Indian passport. For Indian the official ETA fee is 20 US Dollars (about Rs 1,800 at an exchange rate of Rs 90 per Dollar). The application is online and fairly straightforward.
It is not a must requirement, however and many people travel without it. Travel insurance costs somewhere between ₹800 (for a premium coverage) to ₹2,500 per person, depending on your age, the duration of your stay and the amount of cover.
Travel insurance can provide peace of mind by guaranteeing coverage in case of medical emergencies or flight delays or cancellations, just to name a few.
Short distances in cities/towns are best covered by tuk-tuks. A tuk-tuk will typically charge 100-120LKR to start, and in the ballpark of 80-100LKR per kilometer afterwards. At this rate your looking at a base fare of around 29–35 rupees and the per KM. Prices tend to differ slightly by city and whether you haggle or book through a ride-hailing app.
Longer distances and between major cities can be traveled by train, which is prettier. Train is another option and it’s budget friendly, there are some of the most amazing sights in Sri Lanka that await you on your train journey as well. For budget traveling, public buses are the lowest cost means of going from one city to another.
Travel within the city on a small local bus can cost you anywhere from ~₹6–₹44 (short routes), and for longer intercity trips you could expect around ₹29–₹290 depending on the distance and route. For example, it would cost you between 100–150 LKR (just ₹29–₹44) for a bus journey from Colombo to Kandy.
Another option is to rent a car (with or without driver), it's more comfortable (and of course pricier) than train and buses. This is really more for families or those who require that flexibility and convenience too.
Kandy to Ella train is one of the most beautiful trains in Sri Lanka. A train ticket for this route will cost you from 1 USD up to 60 USD. The online one-way fare ranges between ₹5,000 to up to ₹9,300 per passenger depending upon the demand for seats in that particular class. The lower class is cheaper, but more crowded; the reserved seats are more expensive, but provide better comfort.
If you dine in local cafés and small restaurants eating only popular dishes like rice and curry or kottu it is possible to keep to around ₹500–₹1,000 daily. It’s the most budget-friendly option and a great way to eat where the locals eat.
If you like to eat medium cafés and restaurants, meal each day budget ranges ₹1,000–₹2,000 per day for food. But if you are someone who wants to eat at good restaurants or resort dining then cost per day will be around ₹2,000–₹4,000.
The cost of things to do in Sri Lanka ranges wildly depending on the activity. You’ll usually pay for nature activities and admission-based attractions, which are rarely the most expensive items compared to private transport or resort upgrades.
A safari is one of those activities that can get expensive. Non-residents (foreign tourists) are often charged more than locals. The park entry permit is usually in the range of US$25–35 per person (can change by season and park rules) — and this is just the entry fee, not including transportation to get there.
If you take a jeep safari, or get there on your taxi then the cost also start adding up. Jeep fees, driver costs, fuel and sometimes the fee of a guide add to the expense of just getting into the park.
Your spending per day may vary between ₹700 and ₹1,500 or more on lighter sightseeing days.
But there are other must-see places like Sigiriya rock fortress, national parks to go on safari and go whale watching that can be costly. These can cost anywhere from ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 a day or more depending on location and season — and whether transport and guides are included.
The following are practical per person totals for 6 days / 5 nights holiday (average number of days to visit Sri Lanka from India) based on actual expenditure, minus shopping.
Best for: shared hotels/hostels, bus/train travel, plenty of local food
Budget total (per person): ₹45,000–₹73,000
Best for: 3-star to good boutique stays, some taxis, comfort dining
Total per person: ₹66,000–₹1,10,000
Best for: premium resorts, private driver, paid experiences
Total per person: ₹1,20,000–₹2,35,000+
Sri Lanka trip cost from India varies on several factors. An economical and smart-budget traveler, 5–6 days cost just as low as ₹45k per person. That usually entails staying in budget hotels or guesthouses, getting around by bus and train, eating at local restaurants and saving expensive activities for one or two key experiences.
A mid-range comfortable trip generally goes between ₹70,000 and ₹1,10,000 per person for similar duration. That budget will enable better hotels, a combination of public transport or private taxis, and some paid attractions like safaris, Sigiriya or whale watching.
If you want a more relaxed premium experience with a private driver, higher-end resorts and multiple paid activities, then a good starting budget is ₹1.2 lakh+ per person for a long weekend. This sort of trip is about ease, freedom and peace of mind – not cutting corners to save cash.
