Colombo to Trincomalee

Colombo to Trincomalee

Colombo
Trincomalee
Aug 21, 2027
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Colombo to Trincomalee Destination Reviews

BK
Boris K
Susil was an excellent driver. Spot on time and comfortable ride from Colombo to Trincomalee.
Colombo to Trincomalee, taxi Comfort 3pax, Real Lanka Holidays (Real Lanka Holidays), Feb 17, 2026
G
Gangadhar
It was really good, we enjoyed the trip and the driver shanka was a nice guy, brought is safely
Colombo to Trincomalee, taxi Comfort 3pax, Real Lanka Holidays (Real Lanka Holidays), Sep 17, 2025
AV
Andre V
The bus was dirty, and old inside... broken handles and you had to enter quickly, the driver didn't have the time and started to drive when I still didnt have my place. A super vipbus unworthy
Colombo to Trincomalee, Bus Super Luxury, Avro Travels (Avro Travels), Jul 26, 2025
NP
Nishanthan P
Excellent bus driver top much cleaned bus Bus driver kindly help all passengers
Colombo to Trincomalee, Bus Super Luxury, Avro Travels (Avro Travels), Jul 13, 2025
EY
Elizabeth Y
Driver helped me with directions and tuk tuk at the end of the journey
Colombo to Trincomalee, Bus Super Luxury, Avro Travels (Avro Travels), Apr 7, 2022
4.4
33 customer reviews
5
55%
4
21%
3
18%
2
6%
1
0%

Colombo to Trincomalee Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Real Lanka Holidays
Comfort 3pax
Any time
+3h 55m
$79.80
  5.0
Taxi
Tours with Stef Lanka
Comfort 2pax
Any time
+5h 3m
$121.48
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
Second Class
05:45
11:30
$13.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railways
1st Class Seat
05:45
11:30
$17.50
Van
Tuktukdude Leisure
Shuttle + Safari Drive
08:00
20:00
$100.00
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
21:30
05:30
$9.79
  4.0
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
21:30
05:30
$6.08
  3.5
Bus
Sri Lanka Bus Service
Super Luxury
21:45
04:45
$13.84
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
Second Class Reserved Seats
21:53
05:30
$6.08
Train
Sri Lanka Railway
First Class Seat
21:53
05:30
$9.79
Bus
Avro Travels
Super Luxury
22:30
04:55
$9.64
  4.0

How to get from Colombo to Trincomalee

When you want to get from Colombo to Trincomalee, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Flight. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Van ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 325.05. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 10.77.

How far is Colombo from Trincomalee?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Colombo to Trincomalee. Your trip will be a total of 169 miles (271 km). The flying distance is 150 miles (240 km).

How long does it take to get from Colombo to Trincomalee?

The travel time from Colombo to Trincomalee can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 12 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Colombo to Trincomalee?

The cost of the trip from Colombo to Trincomalee varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Avro Travels: travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 10.77 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 325.05.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Colombo to Trincomalee:

  • Train tickets - USD 7.68 to USD 11.55;
  • Bus tickets - USD 10.77 to USD 10.77;
  • Van price : USD 119.56;
  • Plane tickets - USD 214.94 to USD 214.94;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 83.28 to USD 325.05.

How many trips per day are there between Colombo and Trincomalee?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Buses start plying the route from 22:30 - you can also take a bus as late as 22:30. There are 1 available bus trips every day.
  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Colombo to Trincomalee any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Colombo to Trincomalee. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 214.94.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Colombo to Trincomalee

Cinnamon Air

Buses

Taking a bus from Colombo to Trincomalee is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Colombo to Trincomalee. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 83.28.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Colombo to Trincomalee. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Colombo to Trincomalee.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Colombo to Trincomalee

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Colombo to Trincomalee? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 81% decided to go for a bus.
  • 11% decided to catch a taxi.
  • 5% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 3% opted for a van.

Transportation from Colombo to Trincomalee

Facts about the transport from Colombo to Trincomalee

Cheapest Transport$8
Fastest Transport1h
Earliest Departure6:00 AM
Latest Departure10:30 PM
Departures per day10
Distance271 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAvro Travels, Ceylon Roots, Cinnamon Air, Lakpura, Real Lanka Holidays, Sri Lanka Railway, TaxiBazaar, Tuktukdude Leisure