How to rent a Tuktuk in Sri Lanka

We rented our tuktuk from Croos Tours . To book, we messaged them on whatsapp a couple of weeks before arriving.

Note: You will need an international driving permit. Your tuktuk rental will get a Sri Lanka license for you using documents you send them in advance (IDP, national drivers license, passport). This takes 1-2 days so make sure you have everything organised before arriving in Sri Lanka. When you collect your tuktuk, you will have a 1 hour driving lesson. I was very grateful for this as driving a tuktuk was much harder than anticipated!

Driving in Sri Lanka

Not to be dramatic, but the roads in Sri Lanka are INSANE! There is simply no way to explain the chaos, you have to experience it. Between cars, tuktuks, crazy bus drivers, dogs, cows, elephants and a few more creatures, driving in Sri Lanka is not for the fainthearted.

The roads themselves are very well maintained. While the cities are towns are extremely busy and chaotic, outside of that, the drives were quite enjoyable. The terrain in Sri Lanka is general flat, however be prepared for some seriously steep hills in Ella. I did drive to Ella, but decided to leave the tuktuk at our hotel for our 2 nights to avoid the stress of driving in the mountains.

Important to note that tuktuks are not allowed to drive on the motorways!

Locals also found it very entertaining seeing two girls driving their own tuktuk- expect lots of smiles and waves!

Animals & B35 Road

I am sure that you are aware that there is plenty of wildlife in Sri Lanka. Cows roam freely and often cause traffic jams on the roads. There are also many stray dogs, many of which are unpredictable and run out onto the road.

If you are feeling brave and want to see elephants up close, travel the B35 road from the south to Ella. This is the road through Yala national park with the infamous Raja elephant collecting his toll from passing buses. We actually passed two elephants on this road (I mean literally ON the road). While it is an exceptional experience, give the elephants plenty of space and don’t get out of the tuktuk.

Luggage

Fitting our luggage into a tuktuk was definitely a concern. We are avid over-packers. We managed to fit 2 large suitcases, 2 carry on bags, and 2 backpacks and my sister still had plenty of space (or she didn’t complain at least!) There are different sized tuktuks so if you are concerned, make sure you ask your rental company before arriving.

Overall, would I recommend renting a tuktuk in Sri Lanka? Yes, but only for very experienced drivers. Renting your own transport gives you great freedom and flexibility but it definitely comes with it’s challenges.