Port day · SRI LANKA SHORE EXCURSIONS

The 15 Best Sri Lanka Shore Excursions

32 tours  ·  from $30 a head

Good sri lanka shore excursions sell out weeks before the sailing date and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port area (Shore Excursion) - Meeting the driver at Hambantota Port
Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port area (Shore Excursion)

1.Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port area (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 64 reviews · 5 hours · from $67Our pick

Meet Wild Dreams at Hambantota Port, then ride a safari jeep to Yala National Park for about five hours of wildlife viewing. English-speaking guides such as Ranga, Ishan, and Koshana have helped visitors spot elephants, leopards, crocodiles, monkeys, and birds. Water, snacks, cool drinks, and binoculars are provided, but the park ticket costs extra.

“Excellent your. Guide/driver on time, pleasant, courteous and a good driver. The jeep tour to Yala was great, very experienced driver. Excellent value for money. Highly recommended!”

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Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - The four-hour Yala game drive
Hambantota Shore Excursions, National Park & Nature Shore Excursions, National Parks, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

2.Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · from $75

From Hambantota Port, take a private 4WD Jeep into Yala National Park for about four hours. Your English-speaking driver doubles as tracker, with possible sightings of elephants, crocodiles, leopards, sloth bears, and many birds. Lakshan is one guide praised for careful driving and clear English.

“A trip to Yala is definitely worth it as a shore excursion. Our guide didn’t do much for us, however. When we got to the park, he didn’t point out wildlife, but stopped when we asked him to so we could take pictures of what we spotted. He wRead more”

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Yala National Park Safari |From Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - The four-hour Yala game drive
Hambantota Shore Excursions, National Park & Nature Shore Excursions, National Parks, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yala National Park Safari from Hambantota port (Shore Excursion)

3.Yala National Park Safari from Hambantota port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · from $45

Leave Hambantota Port for a five-hour Yala National Park safari in a private-feeling jeep capped at six people. Your English-speaking driver-guide handles the park roads while you watch for elephants, crocodiles, sloth bears, leopards, and birds. Park admission costs an extra $40 per person.

“Most friendly and fun tour. Just be aware if you’re on a cruise ship, the port is so large that you will may need a ride to the port exit gate to meet the guide. The tour met a bit earlier that the port shuttles were running but we were lucky somRead more”

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Shore Excursion Colombo City Tour Highlights - Gangaramaya Temple and Beira Lake
City Highlights Shore Excursions, Colombo Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion Colombo City Tour Highlights

4.Shore Excursion Colombo City Tour Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 21 reviews · from $50

See Colombo by private air-conditioned car or van with an English-speaking chauffeur and guide. The 4 to 5 hour route includes Gangaramaya Temple, Beira Lake, Independence Square, the National Museum, Jamiul Alfar Mosque, a gem museum, and local shopping. Your group can adjust the pace and stops.

“We were picked up promptly at the cruise port. We had a driver and a separate guide. They were both excellent. The guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions and he catered the tour to our desires.”

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Shore Excursion Kelaniya Temple & Colombo City Tour - Colombo’s Old Port District and Pettah
Ancient Ruins & Temple Excursions, City Highlights Shore Excursions, Colombo Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion Kelaniya Temple & Colombo City Tour

5.Shore Excursion Kelaniya Temple & Colombo City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 21 reviews · from $45

Start at Colombo’s cruise terminal with a private vehicle and guide, then visit Kelaniya Temple, Pettah, Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square, Lotus Tower, Galle Face Green, and more. Guides such as Pradeep, Calli, Kapila, and Chindhaka have earned praise, though vehicle comfort and shopping stops can vary.

“Our driver Calli was brilliant, very knowledgeable and good sense of humour. He took us around all the sites, and was our guide also. While we were visiting one of the temples, there had been a wedding and Calli took us through to where the fRead more”

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Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion) - Leaving Hambantota Port and reaching the park
Hambantota Shore Excursions, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

6.Yala Safari Tour from Hambantota Port (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 20 reviews · from $58

Leave Hambantota Port in a private safari jeep for roughly four hours inside Yala National Park. A chauffeur-guide leads the search for elephants, leopards, crocodiles, birds, and more. Park entry, listed separately from the $58 tour price, is extra, and port delays can shorten your safari.

“Picked up from Hambantota port on time Brilliant safari with our guide. Very friendly and knowledgable. We were lucky to see a leopard, elephants, jackal, crocs, deers, mongoose, other animals as well as all the amazing birds. So beautiful and peaceful. Thank you!”

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Hambantota Port: Yala National Park Safari (Shore Excursion) - Why Yala is worth leaving the port for
Hambantota Shore Excursions, National Park & Nature Shore Excursions, National Parks, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hambantota Port: Yala National Park Safari (Shore Excursion)

7.Hambantota Port: Yala National Park Safari (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 19 reviews · 5 hours · from $49

From Hambantota Port or a Hambantota-area hotel, you ride into Ruhunu Yala National Park in a 4x4 jeep for five hours of wildlife watching. Expect elephants, leopards, crocodiles, buffalo, birds, and coastal scenery. An English-speaking guide is advertised, but communication may vary.

“Provider did not show up. I was let down terribly absolutely devastated.”

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SriLanka Shore Excursion by Genuine Srilankans - Seema Malakaya on Beira Lake
Colombo Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

SriLanka Shore Excursion by Genuine Srilankans

8.SriLanka Shore Excursion by Genuine Srilankans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $140Top rated

Spend a flexible day in Colombo with a private guide and air-conditioned vehicle. Visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, Gangaramaya Temple, Pettah, and the Lotus Tower, with port pickup, water, and light refreshments included. Guides such as Kosala, Nirosh, and Chin are praised for careful driving and clear cultural insight.

“Our purpose for visiting Sri Lanka was to visit the Buddha temples and to pray. Our tour guide Mr. Kosala was an excellent and professional person. He constantly made efforts to explain Buddhism along the journey, and also diligently Read more”

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Colombo Port Private Shore excursion and Tours - Meeting your chauffeur at Gate 1A
Colombo Shore Excursions, Private Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Colombo Port Private Shore excursion and Tours

9.Colombo Port Private Shore excursion and Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $40

Meet your English-speaking chauffeur at Colombo Harbour Gate 1A for a private half-day tour in an air-conditioned car or minivan. Visit Galle Face Green, Gangaramaya Temple, Independence Square, Colombo Fort, and Laksala, with port pickup, bottled water, and drop-off included.

“Great guy - Zak - met us at the port in Colombo. We was quite early but Zak was prompt picking us up at the requested time of 08.30am. He took us to see the historic mosque - Jami Ul Alfar Mosque, followed by a brief stop to grab a couple Read more”

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Colombo City Tour (small group with pickup from Cruise ship) - Pettah: Colombo’s street-level introduction
City Highlights Shore Excursions, Colombo Shore Excursions, Cruise Port Transfers, Shore Excursions, Small Group Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Colombo City Tour (small group with pickup from Cruise ship)

10.Colombo City Tour (small group with pickup from Cruise ship)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $100

From your cruise ship, visit Colombo’s Pettah markets, Seema Malakaya Temple, Old Parliament, Lighthouse Clock Tower, and Independence Square. A driver-guide such as Rangit or Asela Sri handles the port transfer and city driving in an air-conditioned vehicle, with time for short walks and photos.

“Really good trip. Met straight off the ship and then driven out of the port to meet our driver for the day, Rangit. Really nice guide who was happy to take us to all the places we wanted to see and didn't put any pressure on us to visit the shRead more”

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Shore Excursion Colombo City tour - Starting at Colombo Fort and the old lighthouse
City Highlights Shore Excursions, Colombo Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion Colombo City tour

11.Shore Excursion Colombo City tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · from $30Best value

Travel from Colombo’s cruise port in a shared air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver. Visit Gangaramaya Temple, Pettah, Fort, Independence Memorial Hall, and key religious sites, with port pickup, drop-off, bottled water, and WiFi on request.

“At the temple with all the people their praying it was great to see but Viator should tell us that they use other companies when doing this tour it was very frustrating when we are looking for Viator sign with our name on it and we had to get a shuttle bus to outside the gates then a driver to take us to the bus !,,,,,Not good wasted 45 mins trying to find the tour”

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Shore Excursion From Colombo port to Ingiriya Tea Plantation & back for 2 People - Rice fields and the working countryside
Colombo Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Shore Excursion From Colombo port to Ingiriya Tea Plantation & back for 2 People

12.Shore Excursion From Colombo port to Ingiriya Tea Plantation & back for 2 People

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews

From Colombo port, your private driver takes you toward Ingiriya for Ceylon tea, rubber and rice plantations, tea plucking, and factory work, with Colombo sights along the way. The trip lasts about 5 to 8 hours and costs $135.72 for up to two people.

“An outstanding trip, we were really looked after by our guide and had a wonderful day. We would like to have tasted the tea but it didn’t affect our enjoyment of the tour.”

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Yala Full Day Safari from Hambantota Port Shore Excursion - Animals you may look for
Full-Day, Hambantota Shore Excursions, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yala Full Day Safari from Hambantota Port Shore Excursion

13.Yala Full Day Safari from Hambantota Port Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $212

Meet your English-speaking guide at Hambantota Port and ride a private 4WD into Yala National Park. Look for leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, and birdlife across coastal scrub and dry forest. Full-day trips include lunch, water, park fees, and binoculars.

“Henry did a brilliant job from the booking experience all the way through transitions necessary for ourYala safari!! 🤩Dela was an outstanding driver, often driving backwards with skill and speed to site leopards in the brush and provided us opportunities for great videos of the rare Sri Lankan elephants and their babies. We had a fabulous day with DELA‼️”

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Hambantota Shore Excursion: Village and Cultural tour - Temples, customs, and the need for respectful clothing
Historical Tours, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hambantota Shore Excursion: Village and Cultural tour

14.Hambantota Shore Excursion: Village and Cultural tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 9 reviews · from $60

Leave Hambantota Port for a private five-hour tour through southern Sri Lanka. Visit remote villages, temples, countryside, beaches, and wildlife areas, then try local food. Choose a safari, village, or non-safari plan, with English, German, or Russian guiding available.

“It wasn’t quite as we thought as there was no visit to a village but a rather lengthy visit to a temple which incurred a long walk in our socks. We loved the drive, the countryside and the beach. The driver was very kind and drive very safely.”

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Yala Half Day Safari from Hambantota Port Shore Excursion - Animals you might see along the route
Hambantota Shore Excursions, Safari, Safari & Wildlife Shore Excursions, Shore Excursions, Sri Lanka Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Yala Half Day Safari from Hambantota Port Shore Excursion

15.Yala Half Day Safari from Hambantota Port Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $156

Leave Hambantota Port with a private 4WD and English-speaking guide for about three hours inside Yala National Park. Look for leopards, elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles, deer, monkeys, and birds. Dilantha and Sudesh are among the guides named in past bookings.

“Extremely reliable, Excellent communications leading up to the excursion. Staff were very helpful and totally trustworthy. Trip was great and exceeded expectations”

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New in Sri Lanka Shore Excursions

★ 5.0Explore Tangalle’s History and Nature Private Shore ExcursionFrom $1102 reviews
★ 5.0One Day Shore Excursion to Down south Sri LankaFrom $1002 reviews
★ 4.0Colombo Port Shore Excursions Panoramic Colombo City By Tuk Tuk.2 reviews
★ 4.0Shore Excursion to Galle Fort From Colombo PortFrom $652 reviews
★ 4.5Shore Excursions Colombo Port Passenger Terminal -Kalaniya TempleFrom $602 reviews
★ 5.0Shore Excursion to Colombo City Tour & Kelaniya Temple for 2 People2 reviews
★ 3.5Colombo Shore Excursion to Panoramic Colombo with Kelaniya TempleFrom $382 reviews
★ 5.0Shore Excursion Colombo Port To Colombo City Tour for 1 to 2 People3 reviews
★ 4.5Shore Excursion Colombo Port to Mount Lavinia Beach & Colombo city For 4 – 6 Pax3 reviews
★ 4.8Shore Excursion Colombo Highlight Tour from Passenger Pier.From $804 reviews
★ 4.3Colombo Port Shore Excursions Colombo City & Kalaniya TempleFrom $903 reviews

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Private Shore Excursions714Small Group Shore Excursions80City Highlights Shore Excursions272Cruise Port Transfers201Beach & Swim Shore Excursions98Ephesus Shore Excursions213
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