First Time in Sri Lanka? Read This Before You Hire a Tuk Tuk

Hiring a tuk tuk in Sri Lanka is part of the travel experience. These little three wheelers run through every city, town, and village, and they are often the quickest way to get around. They also go by a mix of names tuk tuks, tri shaws, three wheelers, or simply taxis. They are perfect for short trips, handy for tours and excursions, and even work for long distances when you are in a pinch. They are not the most comfortable option, and the view can be limited, but they get the job done.

Taxi Apps in Sri Lanka (PickMe | Uber)

Today you can use apps like PickMe and Uber to hire a tuk tuk. Uber mostly operates around Colombo, but PickMe covers a wider range of towns. Even if you cannot book a tuk tuk through the app in certain places, you can still check the estimated fare. This gives you a reference point you can use when negotiating with a driver on the street.

Outside of Colombo

Outside Colombo most tuk tuks are unmetered. This means the fare is whatever you and the driver agree on. Never start the ride without setting the price first. Most drivers are honest and will quote something fair. A small minority will push for whatever they can get. As a guide, meter taxis in Colombo charge around Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kilometer. You can use this as a rough baseline, but expect to pay more in busy cities or major tourist areas. For longer journeys the per kilometer rate should drop, and in tourist hubs the huge number of tuk tuks works in your favor. If one driver will not agree to a reasonable price, another one will.

No Change

Watch out for the classic no change trick. Some drivers will claim they cannot break your note even for a small fare. It can happen with something as simple as paying Rs 170 with a Rs 500 note, only to be told they have ten or twenty rupees in change and hope you give up the rest. If you do not have exact change, make it clear before the ride starts. When you raise it early, the driver will sort out change rather than risk losing the trip.

A bit of preparation goes a long way. Know the going rate, agree on the price first, keep your change ready, and you will find tuk tuks to be a fast, flexible, and fun way to move around Sri Lanka.