Sri Lanka›From Colombo›Trincomalee & Nilaveli
Colombo to Trincomalee & Nilaveli by train, flight, bus or road
About 260 km. The flight is fastest at 3 h; the train is cheapest, from ₹150 per person.
Fastest
Flight
Cinnamon Air to Trincomalee (China Bay) (small plane)
3 h door to door
Cheapest
Train
Train to Trincomalee
from ₹150 per person
Best value
Flight
Cinnamon Air to Trincomalee (China Bay) (small plane)
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Train to Trincomalee | 8.5 h | ₹150–₹890per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Bus | Air-con bus to Trincomalee | 7 h | ₹220–₹870per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Private car | Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | 6 h | ₹8,320–₹15,780per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Flight | Cinnamon Air to Trincomalee (China Bay) (small plane) | 3 h | ₹14,960–₹22,280per person | A few a week | flight search ↗ |
- Train, Train to Trincomalee: One day train and one night mail a day, as last known; reserve 2nd class.
- Private car, Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle: Via Kurunegala, Dambulla and Habarana.
- Flight, Cinnamon Air to Trincomalee (China Bay) (small plane): Small planes with tight baggage limits, from Bandaranaike or Colombo's Ratmalana airport. Some sources say the route flies only as a charter: check cinnamonair.com for a scheduled seat before you plan round it.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out; change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Train · Train to Trincomalee | ₹300–₹1,780 | ₹600–₹3,560 |
| Bus · Air-con bus to Trincomalee | ₹440–₹1,740 | ₹880–₹3,480 |
| Private car · Car with driver / PickMe, per vehicle | ₹8,320–₹15,780 | ₹8,320–₹15,780 |
| Flight · Cinnamon Air to Trincomalee (China Bay) (small plane) | ₹29,920–₹44,560 | ₹59,840–₹89,120 |
Once you’re in Trincomalee & Nilaveli
- Best time: May – September
- Typical stay: 2 days
- November: Better avoided: November is outside the recommended season (May – September). Against it: North-East Monsoon: East Coast Off Season; Pigeon Island and Whale Boats Off Season. Deepavali can fall this month.
Related
Plan Colombo and Trincomalee & Nilaveli
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.