HUB hero image

How to Travel from

Colombo to Palai

by Plane, Train, Bus or Car

Colombo
→
+0 →
Palai
Transport search to Palai
Simply select points
A and B, and we will create
a convenient route for you 👍
Sri Lanka Colombo Palai
Colombo
→
+0 →
Palai
Building a composite car route
Simply select points
A and B, and we will create
a convenient route for you 👍
To build a composite route, click the "Add point" button.
You can also move and delete intermediate points.
Cheapest
Best Offer!
Car
6 h 9 min
360 km.
from $19
Composite Route Car Only
Schedule

Colombo, Sri Lanka → Palai, Sri Lanka

All
03 May 2026
May 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
June 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
July 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
August 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
September 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
October 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
November 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
December 2026
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
January 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
February 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
March 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
April 2027
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
All days
04 May, Mon
05 May, Tue
06 May, Wed
07 May, Thu
08 May, Fri

Cheapest and Fastest Ways to Travel from Colombo to Palai

Composite routes from Colombo to Palai

Cheapest
6 h 9 min
Car
360 km.
from $19

Transport providers

Airlines

Cinnamon Air

Phone:
+94 11 2 475 475
Website:
cinnamonair.com/
Plane from Bandaranaike International Airport to Sigiriya
Ave. Duration:
30 min
Frequency:
Every day
Estimated price:
$195.65–$489.13

Train operators

Sri Lanka Railways

Phone:
+94 11 4 600 111
Website:
seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/
Train from Colombo Fort to Palai
Ave. Duration:
6h 11m
Frequency:
3 times a day
Estimated price:
$1.85–$6.52

Bus operators

NCG Express

Phone:
+94 76 714 8292
Email:
Website:
ncgexpress.lk/
Bus from Pettah to Pallai
Ave. Duration:
5h 35m
Frequency:
4 times a day
Estimated price:
$8.71
Bus from Dambulla to Palai
Ave. Duration:
3h 5m
Frequency:
Once daily

Questions and Answers

What is the cheapest way to get from Colombo to Palai?

The cheapest way to get from Colombo to Palai is to train which costs $1.85 - $6.52 and takes 6h 11m.

What is the fastest way to get from Colombo to Palai?

The fastest way to get from Colombo to Palai is to bus which takes 5h 35m and costs $8.71 .

Is there a direct bus between Colombo and Palai?

Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Pettah and arriving at Pallai. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 5h 35m.

Is there a direct train between Colombo and Palai?

Yes, there is a direct train departing from Colombo Fort and arriving at Palai. Services depart three times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h 11m.

How far is it from Colombo to Palai?

The distance between Colombo and Palai is 377 km. The road distance is 359.3 km.

How do I travel from Colombo to Palai without a car?

The best way to get from Colombo to Palai without a car is to bus which takes 5h 35m and costs $8.71 .

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

The bus from Pettah to Pallai takes 5h 35m including transfers and departs four times a day.

Where do I catch the Colombo to Palai bus from?

Colombo to Palai bus services, operated by NCG Express, depart from Pettah station.

Where do I catch the Colombo to Palai train from?

Colombo to Palai train services, operated by Sri Lanka Railways, depart from Colombo Fort station.

Train or bus from Colombo to Palai?

The best way to get from Colombo to Palai is to bus which takes 5h 35m and costs $8.71 . Alternatively, you can train, which costs $1.85 - $6.52 and takes 6h 11m.

Where does the Colombo to Palai bus arrive?

Colombo to Palai bus services, operated by NCG Express, arrive at Pallai station.

Where does the Colombo to Palai train arrive?

Colombo to Palai train services, operated by Sri Lanka Railways, arrive at Palai station.

Can I drive from Colombo to Palai?

Yes, the driving distance between Colombo to Palai is 359 km. It takes approximately 6h 16m to drive from Colombo to Palai.

Where can I stay near Palai?

There are seven+ hotels available in Palai. Prices start at $0.00 per night.
→
+0 →
Transport search
Transport search