The East Coast is mainly explored by private car with driver, given the region's distance from Colombo and the dispersion of sites between Arugam Bay in the south-east and Trincomalee in the north-east (5h by road between the two).
The car with driver-guide is the recommended option to reach the East Coast from Colombo and for internal travel. Budget USD 60 to 80 per day all-inclusive, with a Colombo-Trincomalee transfer at USD 100 (6h by road) or Colombo-Arugam Bay at USD 130 (8-9h by road). Prefer splitting long transfers with an intermediate night in the Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa) or at Habarana.
The train links Colombo to Trincomalee in about 8 hours (1-2 trains per day, Classes 1, 2 and 3 available, fares USD 4-15 by class). Uncomfortable but economical journey. No direct railway line for Arugam Bay: option Colombo-Maho/Anuradhapura train then bus, impractical. Avoid the train as the main means of transport on the East Coast itself.
Express buses from Colombo Bastian Mawatha are the most economical but also the most uncomfortable solution: 6h to Trincomalee (USD 4-6), 8-9h to Arugam Bay (USD 6-8), often crowded and without effective air conditioning. To be reserved for travellers on a very tight budget.
A premium option: domestic flight Colombo-Trincomalee with Cinnamon Air or FitsAir (45 minutes, USD 180-220 per person, flights 2-3 times per week), which saves a day of transfer. No commercial flight for Arugam Bay.
On site, at Trincomalee as at Arugam Bay, local moves are by tuk-tuk (USD 3-10 by distance) or by rented scooter (USD 10-15/day, mandatory helmet). PickMe works at Trincomalee but not at Arugam Bay where negotiation remains the norm.
Read also
- The Cultural Triangle — Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Dambulla: the historical and Buddhist heart of Sri Lanka.
- The South Coast — UNESCO Galle Fort, blue whales at Mirissa, tropical beaches: Sri Lanka's south-west coast.
- Sri Lanka — Complete country guide: visa, budget, regions and best time to visit Ceylon.
- Hill Country — Tea plantations, legendary Kandy-Ella train and Adam's Peak: the cool altitude of central Sri Lanka.